How having monthly treatments can help avoid getting injuries.
Over the 12 years I have been practicing Structural Bodywork, I have seen how often people leave it until they are in pain before receiving treatment. In some ways, this is understandable, as a lot of us take our well-being for granted. and don’t consider the stress and strains we put our bodies through, until that day when something goes wrong, and we are not able to function because our backs are locked up and all the muscles are in spasm.
Another example I see a lot is people who, with good intentions, suddenly decide to take up running or some other type of exercise or sporting activity, often after years of not really participating in such activities. Initially their bodies cope and benefit from their new exercise regime and they feel really good about making a positive change in their lives – then suddenly the body starts to run into problems. The muscles might get tight and tired and become aggravated and susceptible to injury. Or maybe your muscles get over-toned and start to pull in an unbalanced way, for example, the pelvis may become unbalanced leading to stress and strain on the lower back. Eventually, there is a painful acute or chronic problem.
This is when people get on the phone and book in for an appointment and want to get better as quickly as possible. Sometimes the problem can be helped in 1 or 2 treatments but more often it takes at least 4 to 8 weekly treatments and sometimes more to properly get the problem better. What we really need to be considering is using these treatments as a way of preventing these problems in the first place, by keeping our muscles and joints healthy and resilient and allowing them to cope with the new exercise or sport that we are doing.
How can regular Bodywork and Massage prevent injuries?
When our muscles are worked hard they can often become short, tight, and dehydrated. This leaves them more susceptible to injuries like torn muscle fibers, which we call muscle strain. Tight muscles may also restrict joint movement or create compression on the joints, which can lead to the ligaments and other soft tissues around the joint becoming compromised.
Regular bodywork and massage encourage increased hydration and blood flow in the muscles, allowing any exercise-induced micro-injuries in the muscle tissue to heal, as well as allowing them to remain supple and keep their elasticity. These benefits allow the muscle and joints to accommodate the new exercise and can help hugely in preventing injury and problems that put us out of action.
Preventative treatment only needs to be one hour every 4 to 6 weeks to be effective. So it makes sense to include a monthly treatment as part of your exercise program. Take positive action now to avoid the inconvenience of an injury that could force you to stop your new exercise regime due to pain and recovery time. See for yourself how regular preventive treatment can improve your performance and potential for health. Book your first treatment today, and I will help you decide what kind of treatment is best for you.
