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Schedule a tour nowThe Dreaded Muscle Spasm: Alleviate With Massage
Posted on: August 22, 2014
Muscle spasms can range from mild pain to intense pain. They can be caused by soft tissue injury, dehydration, overexertion, and other stress-related conditions. Muscles can only do two things: contract and relax. Muscles that stay contracted cause cramping. Muscle spasms that do not go away after a short time can lead to intense cramping. Luckily, there are many way we can eliminate muscle spasms and cramping pains. One of those ways is through massage therapy. A good massage can grant relief from muscle spasms almost instantly. It should also relieve tension in your muscles for a few days.
The Physiology Behind It
Muscles usually spasm because blood flow is being restricted to them. Therefore, they are not receiving oxygen. You may notice this if you exercise often. The worked muscle spends more time in a contracted state. Therefore, lactic acid builds up, causing initial soreness. As the muscle relaxes, that soreness should start to disappear. Sometimes, muscles need some help to relax. Massage therapy, if done correctly, should improve blood flow to these tense areas, thus helping to remove the toxins and relieve soreness.
Types of Massage Therapy
There are different massage techniques that can help relieve muscle spasms and soreness. Meuromuscular massage therapy focuses on alternating levels of pressure that are concentrated on the area of muscle spasms. The massage is often done with the therapist's knuckles, elbow or fingertips. Once pressure is applied, that same degree of pressure should be maintained for ten to thirty seconds. Deep tissue massage is a common technique used by therapists. Deep tissue may be painful at first, but it will relieve stress and tension for a great amount of time. If you experience chronic pain and muscle spasms, try massage therapy. There's no need to live a life with aches and pains.
