Trigger Point Work

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Do you have tension in your muscles that cause you pain when you move? Then you may be dealing with a trigger point. Loosen Up Bodywork in Walnut Creek, CA is here to help you better understand what these knots are and how to prevent them. Keep reading to learn how we can help you get rid of these spots of muscle tension then contact us to set up your appointment!

Man in green shirt holding is shoulder in pain

What Are Trigger Points?

A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. These points, also called knots, can be sensitive to the touch. When pressure is applied to these areas, it often feels as though the muscle tension is referring pain to other parts of your body.

Woman wearing black shirt holding her neck in pain

What Causes Trigger Points?

Anytime overworked or injured muscle fibers become unable to relax, a  mini contraction may form that stretches the muscle band on either side of the knot, resulting in pain. A number of things can cause these trigger points to form, including:

  • Poor posture
  • Repetitive motions
  • Dehydration
  • Weakness

Woman cyclist on her bike taking a break and holding her shoulder

How Can You Prevent Trigger Points?

If you find that you are frequently having to deal with trigger points, you may need to make key changes to your lifestyle to help prevent them. Regular stretching and exercise, better nutrition, and quality sleep can all help you avoid these painful muscle knots.

Older man in blue shirt and khakis sitting on couch holding his shoulder in pain

Loosen Up Bodywork Can Help

To get rid of your trigger points, you may need to see a professional massage therapist. At Loosen Up Bodywork, we provide both deep tissue and myofascial release massages that can help loosen these knots and eliminate them completely. Schedule an appointment with us today to start feeling yourself again!

Stop letting the pain of trigger points control your life and get the professional help you need from Loosen Up Bodywork! With our wide selection of massage techniques, you can finally get the relief you need. Schedule now!

What are the Benefits of Myofascial Release Massage?

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At Loosen Up Bodywork, we provide sports and rehabilitative massage to help our clients achieve pain-free movement. One of the massage services that we offer is Myofascial release massage. Even though it is one of the most common forms of massage—and accessible in your own home—many people do not recognize the benefits of myofascial release massage. Here are some of the many benefits of myofascial release massage! For some of the best sports massage services in San Ramon, reach out to us today!

What is Myofascial Release Massage?

Myofascial release massage is a form of massage that targets the connective tissue within your muscles to release tightness and relieve pain. Myofascial tissue spreads throughout your body, presenting a great opportunity to not only target a specific part of your body, but also relieve pain and tightness in just about every area of your body. Pain that has to do with myofascial tissue occurs where this tissue intersects. At Lesson Up Bodywork, we are able to target this tissue and relieve tightness all over your body.

Reduces Pain

By getting a myofascial release massage, you can loosen up tight muscles and release soreness from physical or other kinds of activities. After you workout or participate in any athletic activity, your muscles have likely undergone stress, and that soreness is the result of them becoming more used to physical activity. By getting a myofascial release massage, that soreness can be worked out of a muscle and accelerate your recovery process.

Reduces Stress

Tight muscles are a huge cause of stress. Just think of the last time you had someone rub your back or neck. Did you feel less stressed afterward? Odds are the answer to that question is ‘yes.’ Myofascial massage can help to release tightness in your muscles that may be causing emotional tension in addition to physical tension. Reach out to us today if you are in need of a relaxing massage.

Improves Your Range of Motion

Flexibility is vital in any athletic endeavor. Being flexible can help you to perform better and protect you from injury. But, when muscles and the surrounding tissue become tight, flexibility will drop off slightly. Getting a myofascial release massage can loosen up those muscles and help your flexibility to recover. With regular myofascial massages, your range of motion can actually improve past its current state. If you are looking to become more flexible, getting regular myofascial release massages can help your flexibility to grow!

At Loosen Up Bodywork, we are committed to helping you recover and grow your athletic abilities. From myofascial release and trigger point massage to lymphatic drainage and more, we offer a wide variety of services to improve your physical and emotional wellbeing. Schedule an appointment and book your myofascial massage today!

Find Muscle Pain Relief With Myofascial Release Massage

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Do you suffer from muscle pain? If so, you may want to consider a Myofascial Release Massage from Loosen Up Bodywork in Danville, CA. Myofascial release is a type of massage that can help relieve pain and tension in the muscles. Our experienced massage therapists are passionate about natural healing and will listen to your pain relief needs. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of this massage.

Woman getting a massage

Relief From Pain

Direct myofascial release is an attempt to relieve pain by bringing about changes in the myofascial structures. The practitioner utilizes a variety of depths and oblique strokes to achieve length, mobility, and increased circulation. This improved circulation then lets the muscles begin the healing process that leads to pain relief.

Woman getting a massage

Increased Range of Motion

The therapist will work to release the restrictions in your muscles and tissues through the stretching or elongation of the mobilizing adhesive tissue, or fascia. This can help reduce pain by allowing your muscles to move more freely. 

Man getting a massage

Improved Posture

Good posture is critical for back and spine health and helps to reduce instances of back and neck pain. Our therapists will work on releasing the tightness in the muscles and tissues in your back, allowing you to stand straighter for better posture.

Person getting a massage

Muscle Tension Release

Fascia is the continuous band of connective tissue that surrounds the muscle. By working that tissue through a myofascial release massage, it can change the structure of the fascia which helps relieve pain caused by muscle tension.

If you are looking for relief from muscle pain, a myofascial release massage from Loosen Up Bodywork can help. Our therapists are experienced in providing this type of massage and can help you to feel better quickly. Book your appointment today at our studio in Danville or Walnut Creek, CA.

Single Sided Sports Recovery

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With the French open in full swing, I thought it would be fun to give some tips on recovering from sports with some specific examples if you play tennis.

Many sports require excessive single sided use without a good option for training to develop our non-dominant side.  Tennis is a perfect example. If your sport if choice requires lots of single sided use, then warm up and stretching will be even more important for you.

Warming up pre-practice and light stretching afterwards, however minor it may seem, makes a significant difference in how we recover. A good warm up will provide fresh fluids to your muscles to lubricate them and provide the compounds necessary for proper performance.  Elasticity is also increased post warm-up, which will reduce your risk injury.  Here’s a simple example of a warm up routine:

The stretching piece rings your muscles out of all the used up fluids that are now oxygen poor and rich in metabolic wastes.  That fluid is replenished when your stretch is released once again with nutrient dense fluids to aid your muscles in recovering.  There is a second added benefit of reminding your central nervous system of your full range of motion.  Pecs and adductors are highly used in tennis; here are a couple of good examples of how to stretch those:

     adductor stretch

 

We always love giving our clients tools to help them recover from the sports they enjoy, so if you would like to have a specific routine for your particular sport, schedule your appointment today.  Keep moving and we hope to see you soon.

Habits We Form

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I’ve spent the first month of this new year thinking about habits.

Sharing some wonderful conversations with a friend of mine who practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has taught me that the habits we form, both mentally and physically, are very similar and can be interconnected.  If we can understand the effects of the patterns we form, it will help us approach our bodies in a more supportive and productive way. 

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It’s All Connected

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“It’s all connected.”   

I hear the phrase “it’s all connected” often in my treatment room, as well as from other therapists.  

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Repetitive Stress

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I’m often asked by clients, family, and friends how I manage to keep up with the physical demand of being a massage therapist.  I’ve always felt that if the techniques we were taught in school delivered effective results on the promises they made regarding the benefits people may experience then I should be able to keep up.  After all, I now know how the soft tissue works and can surely correct it if I ever have a problem.  Right?

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Importance of Communication

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If I were granted a single wish, it would be to get clients and therapists alike to understand the importance of communication in therapeutic bodywork.

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Struggling With Sleep?

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At Loosen Up we often receive questions regarding ideal sleep recommendations; best positions, pillows, mattresses, etc. These are tougher questions to answer than you would think. There are many contributing factors to preferred sleeping position, pillows, and mattresses; previous injuries, room orientation, or sleeping companions. How we sleep is a personal topic and effective tips and tricks vary for each person.

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