Check out the infographic below for a few quick facts about Massage.
Your calves are used in nearly every activity you do; walking, running, jumping, hopping and even standing on your tippy toes to reach for something high. And for females wearing high heel shoes. This is why it is not so surprising that many people suffer from calf and lower leg discomfort or pain. There are 2 main muscles that compose the calf: Gastrocnemius and Soleus. Together these 2 muscles work to contract and relax in order to create movement. Not only are these muscles related to your lower leg, but as you will see below, they also attach to the Achillies tendon which runs into the back of the foot and ankle. Most of us may have experienced a calf cramp at some stage in our life, and no matter to what degree the pain, it's a crippling experience. It can be caused by a lot of things like dehydration, fatigue, lack of magnesium or temperature. Also not having enough salt intake in your diet may cause muscles to cramp. And no doubt you will continue to feel the after effects of this unless you receive the the correct advice. Sometimes a simple stretch may help to ease some of the pain and even stop a cramp from happening, however if the muscle is in need of relief consult your myotherapist. Below is a video that demonstrates some stretches you can use to help calf pain. In some cases, tight calves and calf pain can be the cause of your shin pain. This will be explained in our next blog. So stay tuned!
Do you ever find that sitting at your desk all day can be really taxing on your body? Below are some stretches you can do whilst at your desk to help reduce pain and discomfort. Why not get the whole office involved!
Carrying a bag around on a daily basis is essential for most, particularly as a convenient means to hold many items. Whether it be your gym bag, computer bag, briefcase, tote, or handbag, these necessities may be contributing to your physical pain. Even your wallet can be causing you pain! TIPS: Alternate Shoulders When carrying your bad for long periods of time, move your bag from shoulder to shoulder. This will avoid one shoulder having to strain itself the entire time. Depending on the bag you are using, you may be able to sit the strap diagonally across your body, which would also be ideal to avoid straining one shoulder over the other. Avoid Thin Straps A thicker strap distributes the weight of the bag evenly over your shoulder. Thin straps or 'chain' handles are likely to dig in to your shoulder, causing pain and irritation. Smaller Bag Using a smaller bag limits the amount of objects you can fit. This is more desirable than carrying a larger bag, which can fit more, resulting in a much heavier bag. You may even consider using a clutch which will allow minimal objects. Just be mindful that you should alternate hands used to carry it. Consider Other Bag Styles Different decorations or fabrics can add to the weight of your bag. Consider shopping around for a bag that feels lighter in weight. It's also important to consider the placement of inner compartments. If they are distributed evenly around the bag, this will avoid one heavy load. Consider A Backpack A backpack, or a bag with evenly distributed straps, is always preferable to avoid straining one side of your body. In saying that, it is also important that backpacks are worn appropriately. Using both straps, keep the back of the backpack against your back. When packing your backpack, heavier items should be placed so that they are closest to your back when wearing your bag. Don't let the backpack fall loose, so it ends up hanging toward your bottom. These tips are also important to consider with your children's schoolbags. Click here to discover more about the effects your child may be experiencing as a result of a heavy or inappropriately worn schoolbag. You may also find some useful information for yourself. Empty Your Bag Regularly Clean out your bag on a regular basis, and only leave items in your bag that you need for the day, as opposed to carrying around extra items that do nothing but add to the weight of your bag. If you require many items or heavy items, and cleaning out your bag doesn't help, perhaps consider investing in a carry bag with wheels. Other Tips When carrying a bag, never use the crook of your arms! If you're resting your bag strap over your shoulder, do not ever raise your shoulder to accommodate slipping straps. You may wish to consider using your hands to hold your bag, being sure to alternate between hands regularly. As mentioned earlier, aches and pains from carrying around a bag can be felt throughout the body in various ways.
In addition to the solutions provided above, visiting your Myotherapist can also help alleviate some of the unpleasant symptoms experienced with carting around your belongings all day. Term one of the school year is done and dusted. One thing you may have noticed, is an increase in complaints from your children since the commencement of term one, specifically related to aches and pains, or sore shoulders and back. What you may not have realised is, these complaints could be related to those nasty heavy school backpacks your children are lugging around.
We have found this helpful infographic (below) which described the impact of carrying around those hefty school bags, on your kids' young bodies. Make the most of these school holidays and spend the time investing in a new backpack with extra back support for your children. A new bag will allow your kids some relief from their aches, which will give them the opportunity to focus on their school work for the rest of the year to come. If your child continues to suffer and a new backpack does not work, schedule an appointment with our Myotherapist for treatment and advice. You can book now by clicking here. Whether you are pregnant yourself, or you know of someone who is, you will understand that while these women are creating new life, aches and pains coincide with their changing body shape. This is why many women in this situation need, and hopefully seek out myotherapy treatment. What may not have been known is, that Myotherapy is more than suitable to assist women who are pregnant. There is no need to search far and wide for the specialised 'pregnancy massage'. Using specialised body cushions and techniques, your Myotherapist will provide you with a safe and comfortable treatment session, after which you will discover many benefits. To learn more about body cushions, techniques and benefits of Myotherapy, click here. Allow yourself some relief from the stress pregnancy places on your body. Book your Myotherapy appointment today by clicking here. Often when we injure ourselves, we use the terms 'sprain' and 'strain' interchangeably. The reality is, that these two terms describe two different types of injuries. The table below provides you with a brief explanation of the differences between a sprain and a strain. We've also found a video (below) that you might be interested in watching for further information.
Although sprains and strains vary in many ways, they actually have one thing in common - their pain management technique. Both sprains and strains can be treated using the R.I.C.E. technique:
Now you know a little more about sprains and strains. From here onwards you can use these terms correctly (and tell others who are not!). We do recommend, however, that in the event of any injury, that you seek opinion and treatment advice from a health practitioner, such as your local Myotherapist.
Don't forget, we enjoy reading your thoughts and comments! We welcome ideas and opinions, so please comment below.
Are you getting pain from your hip pocket? Do you carry your wallet in your back pocket? Or maybe even your phone or handkerchief? It seems a convenient way to carry our items that we don't want to hold, but it can cause your body a lot of pain. Sitting in the office all day, driving too and from work or even going out for dinner and sitting at a restaurant can all be contributing to the problem. Below is an image that shows just what is happening to your bones when you sit down with something in your back pocket. One side of your pelvis is lifted higher than the other, causing an abnormal tilt.
There are many people out there who say that they have sat with things in their wallet for a long time with no pain. This is due to the surrounding muscles in the hip and lower back, compensating for the way the pelvis is rotating. Yes, you may feel fine, but your body is being put under immense stress to make up for the positions you place yourself in. Visiting your myotherapist for some corrective exercises can help to allow your body to get back in correct shape. Now everyone has heard of a "pain in the back pocket" but the wallet is not the only culprit, sitting with anything thick in your pocket such as a phone, handkerchief, cash, credit cards or even receipts have the ability to cause damage to your back Most of this pain can be prevented by removing whatever is in your back pocket when you sit down, placing it in a secure drawer nearby, placing it in a jacket pocket instead or even placing it inside a small bag.
But don't give up hope! There are a number of strategies to look out for to determine if you have poor posture, and many helpful tips on how to correct it.
To make it easier for you, we have compiled a detailed, easy to refer to guide with all the information you need to know. Click here to find out more about what you can do to help your posture, which leads into many other natural health benefits.
So why not do the same with your body? Your body cannot be replaced, but can certainly be maintained and improved for optimal wellbeing and health. Regular maintenance with your Myotherapist can give you better quality of life and long term pain relief. If left untreated for long enough, you'll be burdened with significant pain, restriction, loss of muscle tone, stiffness, sleepless nights, and eventually increased costs associated with a poorly maintained body. This can be avoided by having regular treatments with your Myotherapist which is not a luxury but a necessity of LIFE. Your Myotherapist can decrease the pressure in your muscles and loosen those stiff joints that can cause debilitating pain such as arthritis and many more. Why not not call your body mechanic (myotherapist) now for a service and reap in ALL the benefits today. Now that spring/summer is in full swing, most of us want to be out enjoying the sunshine. For most people, the easiest way to do this is in the garden. While surrounding yourself with nature and nurturing the plants that grow around you can be relaxing and relieve stress, it can also come with the pain of the physical demand.
Below are some common ways that gardening can affect your body and cause you pain. We came across this great video and wanted to share it with you. Check it out below. This clip demonstrates a number of good fascial stretching and general strengthening exercises. Some of them look really tricky! Let us know your thoughts. More information on Fascia coming soon. |
BLOG AuthorLena Yammine is the author of the Inner Outer Health Blog. Myotherapy Previous Posts
May 2024
Myotherapy Categories
All
|