Massage can do wonders for people suffering from a repetitive strain injury. Learn how massage can help with repetitive strain injury treatment here.
Keyword(s): repetitive strain injury treatment
Repetitive strain injuries (sometimes referred to as overuse injuries) often affect athletes, especially those who specialize in a sport early in life. They’re common among office workers, too. In fact, repetitive strain injuries (or RSIs) cost employers between $17 billion and $20 billion per year in workers compensation. No matter who you are or what you do, RSIs can have a serious impact on your performance and quality of life. The good news, though, is that there are lots of treatment options available, including massage. Read on to learn about the benefits of massage for repetitive strain injury treatment.
What is a Repetitive Strain Injury?
As the name suggests, a repetitive strain injury is a type of injury that occurs when you spend too much time repeating the same movement over and over again. Just about anyone can develop an RSI. A baseball player might experience an RSI to their shoulder from throwing the ball in the same way over and over again without adequate rest. A computer worker might develop an RSI to their wrists if they spend too much time typing without resting their hands. RSIs cause tightness and inflammation in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make up a particular joint. There are lots of different types of RSIs, including the following:
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Tendinitis
• Plantar fasciitis
RSIs can be quite painful. They also can make it harder for you to move your joint through a full range of motion.
RSI Symptoms
Pain is the most common symptom associated with an RSI. You’ll likely notice pain when you perform a specific movement or after you’re finished performing it. As the injury progresses, you may start to experience pain while doing unrelated activities. Some other symptoms include hypersensitivity and poor coordination. You might experience tingling or numbness in the affected area as well.
Traditional RSI Treatments
Often, when a person is diagnosed with an RSI, there are a few different treatments their doctor will recommend. Common treatments include the following:
• Medication (including over the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory drugs)
• Hot-cold therapy
• Steroid injections
• Surgery to correct nerve/tendon issues
Sometimes, these treatments are the only option to help you heal from your RSI. In many cases, though, there are other, more natural remedies that you can utilize first.
Why Use Massage for Repetitive
Strain Injury Treatment?
Massage therapy is a great alternative or complementary treatment to some of the popular treatments listed above. There are lots of reasons why you may want to consider massage therapy to help with your RSI before you turn to other treatments, including the following:
Non-Invasive Treatment
The idea of undergoing surgery to fix your RSI probably doesn’t appeal to you. If you don’t want to deal with an invasive treatment and drawn-out recovery, you’re definitely better off using something like regular massages first. Massage helps to promote healing and improve your ability to move your joints in a pain-free, non-invasive way.
Minimal Side Effects
With anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers, you can experience relief from your symptoms. They don’t get to the root of the issue, though. They also can come with a lot of potentially dangerous side effects. This includes things like digestive issues, dizziness, and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
Reduced Pain and Soreness
You don’t need painkillers to help you feel relief from the sore muscles and discomfort brought on by RSIs. Massage therapy can help to loosen up tight muscles and provide relief from any pain you might feel. Massage also triggers the release of endorphins. Endorphins are feel-good chemicals that can help alleviate pain.
Improved Circulation
Massage also helps to promote better blood circulation throughout the body. When your blood can flow through your body in an efficient way, your muscles, tendons, and ligaments can get rid of waste products and heal more quickly. This, in turn, can help to reduce your pain and make the recovery process much more efficient. The increased blood flow brought on by massage can help promote faster tissue regeneration, too.
Improved Range of Motion
As you joints, muscles, and tendons begin to heal, you’ll find that it’s much easier for you to move your joints through a full range of motion once again. You won’t have to worry about compensating with other muscles and will be able to move in the most efficient and effective way possible.
Decreased Injury Risk
In addition to helping you move better, regular massages can help to decrease your risk of developing RSIs in the future. Often, when an RSI occurs, it’s because you’re not taking proper care of the joint (or joints) that you rely on most often. By making massage a priority, you can ensure that those joints get the attention they need in order to function well. As a result, you’ll be less likely to need to take time off and rehabilitate them later on.
Improved Relaxation
Getting regular massages to help with your RSI can also help you relax and feel less stressed out, too. When you’re relaxed and managing your stress in a more effective way, your body has more resources at its disposal to help you heal. This, in turn, will help you get back to work or back to your sport of choice much sooner.
Get a Massage for Your RSI Today
As you can see, there are lots of reasons why you might want to use massage as your repetitive strain injury treatment of choice. Massage works well on its own or paired with other modalities to help minimize pain and improve your range of motion. If you want to experience all the benefits of massage, though, you need to make sure you’re working with the right massage therapist. If you live in or around the Saratoga Springs or Malta areas, we’re here for you at Saratoga Sports Massage. We use a variety of massage techniques to help you move better and feel your best.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.
