Self myo-fascial release

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”992″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]WHAT IS “SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE”?

 Self-myofascial release is essentially a form of self-massage to muscles and connective tissues in the body. This can be done using either a foam roller or a spikey ball.

 WHY SHOULD WE BE SELF-RELEASING OUR MUSCLES?

 Using a foam roller or spikey ball before or after exercise helps release tight muscles and trigger points or “knots” in our muscles that may be limiting our range of movement and possibly causing pain or increasing our risk of injury. Releasing our muscles increases blood flow and circulation, meaning more oxygen to our tissues. This can assist in:

  • increasing mobility
  • decreasing pain
  • preventing or managing injuries
  • faster healing of muscles
  • improving recovery
  • enhancing performance

HOW TO SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

Choose a tight muscle or area to work on. Apply moderate pressure to the muscles using your body weight on the foam roller or ball. Roll slowly up and down the muscle while staying as relaxed as possible. Pause on tight spots or trigger points for 30 seconds. Avoid rolling directly on bone or joints. Continue for 2-3 minutes on each area. Repeat 1-2 times a day. Caution as releasing can cause some discomfort.

EXAMPLES

 LATERAL LEG (ITB, TFL, LATERAL QUAD, GLUTES) USING FOAM ROLLER[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”2560″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]

  • Lie on outer thigh (just below hip joint) on foam roller, with opposite leg crossed over for support
  • Roll foam roller up and down leg, stopping before the knee joint
  • Use your arm to stabilise your body and control your movement
  • Can also target outer quad and glutes by rotating body
  • Helps prevent injuries such as: runners knee/patellofemoral pain, ITB friction syndrome, jumpers knee/patella tendinopathy, gluteal tendinopathy, hip bursitis

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]PIRIFORMIS USING SPIKEY BALL[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”2561,2562″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]

  • Sit buttock directly onto spikey ball with leg extended (top picture)
  • Use arms by your side to control movement and support your body weight
  • Roll ball in circular motions on piriformis muscle
  • Can cross leg over into a number 4 position (bottom picture) to place muscle on a stretch for a deeper release
  • Helps in managing lower back pain and piriformis syndrome
  • Good for individuals with jobs that involve prolonged sitting

Enjoy, Stef!

Stef works full time at our Como Clinic. To book an appointment with Stef, call 9583 5165 or simply book online.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Shockwave Therapy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you suffer from a tendon or soft tissue injury?  Keep reading to find out how Shockwave Therapy can assist you.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment using radial pressure waves that travel through the skin to stimulate pain relief and tissue repair, and is applied repeatedly to an area of injury.

This treatment helps reset and enhance healing patterns while reducing pain and improving function and muscle recovery.

Shockwave helps increase metabolism by influencing tissues at a cellular level, improves blood circulation promoting tissue healing and regeneration.

What conditions does it treat?

Disorder of tendon insertions:

  • Plantarfasciitis, heel pain or heel spur
  • Achilles Tendinopathy
  • Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
  • Golfers / Tennis Elbow
  • Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome
  • Patella Femoral Pain Syndrome
  • Shin Splints
  • Greater Trochanteric Syndrome

Myofascial Trigger Points

  • Localises and deactivates

Activation of muscle and connective tissue

  • Increases circulation
  • Pulse vibration massage

Shockwave Therapy alone is not the answer. It must be used a part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Call Enhance Physiotherapy to find out more about this treatment and how it can help you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Dry Needling

Dry Needling
Dry Needling
Dry Needling

Acupuncture, or Dry Needling as we sometimes refer to it, is starting to become common practice amongst Physiotherapists today. At Enhance Physiotherapy all our Physiotherapists are trained in the use of Dry Needling and we use it on a daily basis to help manage pain and muscle tightness amongst other things. But what is Dry Needling? How does it work?

Although there are differences between the terms ‘Acupuncture’ and ‘Dry Needling’, we will use them interchangeably throughout this information. In practice we use Dry Needling, but often refer to it as Acupuncture so people know what we’re talking about.

Dry Needling involves inserting a very fine needle into a muscle. Once the needle is in position it is left in the muscle for a short period of time (normally anywhere from 5 seconds to 15 minutes) before it is removed. Your therapist may choose to adjust or ‘twirl’ the needle while it is in place to maximise the effects. Sometimes your therapist will insert just one needle or they may insert several, depending on the area being treated and the desired effect.

Myofascial Trigger Points (MTPs), more commonly known as ‘knots’ in a muscle, are a common cause of pain and disability in the neck, shoulders and lower back. But they occur naturally in all muscles. When a muscle is put under stress, either due to poor posture or from excessive workload, these trigger points become exacerbated and increase in tension. What this means is that the muscle fails to relax adequately and remains active. This overall increase in muscle activation depletes the muscles energy, which can lead to further muscle tension as muscles require energy to relax.

Dry Needling helps by breaking this cycle of muscle tension, fatigue and aching. Inserting a needle into these MTPs elicits a twitch in the muscle which helps to release the bonds between muscle fibres, allowing the muscle to relax. Dry Needling also causes stimulation of nerves which transmit pain. This activates cells in the brain and spinal cord to suppress pain signals. As well as breaking down trigger points and suppressing pain signals, Dry Needling also triggers an increase of blood flow to the area being treated. Adequate blood flow is essential in the healing of body tissues because it supplies nutrients and blood cells to allow healing to take place, and it removes debris and dead cells caused by the initial injury.

Is Acupuncture safe?
Yes. Dry Needling is an EXTREMELY safe form of treatment. Side effects include:

  • Bruising: Occur in 3% of treatments
  • Infection: very rare; occur in 0.014% of treatments
  • Fatigue: prevalence not known (but in our experience is uncommon)
  • Fainting: very rare, but can occur particularly in patients who have never had it before and if patients are afraid of needles in general.

All our therapists are trained in the proper use of dry needling and we use sterile, single-use needles only to avoid side-effects.

At Enhance Physiotherapy we use Dry Needling on a regular basis, but often in conjunction with other therapies or treatments to form a holistic treatment approach. We think acupuncture/dry needling is a fantastic tool to have at our disposal. For those clients who feel anxious or uncomfortable about the use of needles in their treatment we will always be able to provide different forms of therapy to effectively manage their injury.

If you would like to give dry needling a try, or have any questions about needling then ask your Physiotherapist.