When the body experiences an injury (minor or severe) the nervous system quickly goes into 'protection mode' by adapting an automatic guarding pattern that CONTRACTS the tissues at and around the injured site to restrict movement when the brain senses that full range of motion might be painful, giving the body time to mend and heal. Resting an injury is very important at the beginning of the healing process (while pain & swelling is present), but if function (flex & stretch) at the injured site is restricted for too long, it can create muscle imbalances, pain and a prolonged healing process.
Flex & Stretch Mobility Therapy is designed to speed up the recovery process by disrupting guarding patterns and restoring normal function to quickly improve range of motion & strength.
Techniques used in treatment:
*Massage Therapy: Relaxes the nervous system and prepares the body for deeper therapy.
*Gentle Myofascial Scraping: Irons out myofascial tissue to improve muscle glide & decreases inflammation.
*Vibration Therapy: Temporarily desensitizes painful tissues to improve range of motion.
*Trigger Point Therapy: Addresses the muscle fibers that are in constant contraction (guarding).
*Isometric Muscle Contractions with resistance:
Gently contracting & relaxing 'guarding' muscle fibers, within a small range of motion, can quickly restore
muscle function (flex) and length (stretch) without pain.
The muscle contractions are performed with the client lying comfortably on the massage table during a massage session. As therapy progresses, Isometric contractions can also be performed with the client fully clothed on the table and also standing up, to help restore balance and function of 'real life' movements that the client struggles to perform without pain in their everyday life.
*Home exercises:
Clients are given simple, yet effective exercises to perform at home, between therapy sessions, to help restore muscle balance and function.
