How Soft Tissue Mobilization Therapy Can Help Your Athletes Get Back To the Game Sooner

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Research has proven the benefits of therapeutic massage. It encourages healing, relieves pain and increases blood flow to various parts of the body. Soft tissue therapy is more targeted. It improves your body’s stressors, both tensile and compressive, so you can heal quicker. These are the benefits of soft tissue therapy.

Soft Tissue Damage

Soft tissues include the tendons, ligaments and fascia, that move your muscles and bones. These small, soft tissues are damaged when your body is not adequately prepared for physical activity or when ligaments are stretched too far. Soft tissue injuries are sprains, strains and tears in these tissues.

Removing Trapped Liquid From Trauma Areas

Injuries tend to hold in fluids, including toxins. These liquids cause swelling and inflammation that increases pain and limits movement. This swelling can impede or prolong healing.

Soft tissue mobilization relieves the pressure of this liquid. It pushes it through the body so that the soft tissues can begin healing more rapidly. In addition to gaining more rapid healing, you will feel less pain because the inflammation is reduced. This will allow you to get back to physical activity sooner.

Manual lymphatic drainage is one technique used to remove fluid and improve circulation in your limbs and injuries. It also benefits headaches.

Assisting With Mobilization of Injured Areas

Soft tissue therapies also target the injured area. This allows them to break up rigid tissues. These massages can also break up or soften scar tissue that may be causing pain or rigidity. This will also allow your muscles, ligaments and tendons to relax. Because it improves blood flow, your white cells have the opportunity to flood the area and start the healing process, so you can get back on your feet faster.

ASTYM treatments break down scar tissue using a plastic tool, while the Graston technique uses a stainless steel tool. The use of this tool also encourages muscle improvement and regeneration. It also loosens your joints.

Chronic mobility can be improved through trigger point therapy. It also reduces tension and loosens your tissues.

Improving Range of Motion

Less severe injuries can significantly limit your range of motion. Your physician may suggest you search for a physical therapy near me who offers soft tissue therapies because they can increase your range of motion through massage, stretching and other techniques. These therapists can work to lengthen tendons and ligaments so that you can move more freely in a wider range.

Reducing Pain

Injuries are painful, but soft tissue techniques can encourage quick pain relief. For example, during strain-counterstrain treatments, your therapist will move your limb in a position that impacts a specific pain point. The position is held for up to three minutes. This passive positioning releases your muscles, tissues and joint, relieving pain. It also improves stiffness.

Scar Prevention

When you are injured, scar tissue forms in and around the injury. Therapies like cross friction can prevent scarring and break up scar tissues. This therapy also promotes the regeneration of the tissues.

You can experience significant benefits from soft tissue physical therapy for sports injury. Consult your physician and local physical therapy clinic that specializes in soft tissue therapies to discuss how this process can help you.

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