The next workshop is coming up! Join me March 10-11 in Hartford, CT to learn Sports Massage for the Upper Body.
This two-day seminar (14 contact hours) will focus on the muscles and common conditions of …
Anatomy and biomechanics relevant to sports massage
Working with athletes or active clients
My personal reviews of products and services
Research articles regarding massage therapy and sports massage
Tips for finding the root cause of the injury
A study at the Human Movement and Function Laboratory (UK) looked at the effects of a single 30-second static stretch versus a 6-second agonist contraction PNF (Muscle Energy) technique on the hamstrings.
While the results showed a significant increase from both types of stretching, they found the PNF/MET stretching provided an better increase in range of motion (ROM). The static stretch resulted in an average of 7.53 degree increase in ROM, while the single bout of 6-second PNF stretching resulted in an increase of 11.80 degrees.
One thing to note is they did not specify how much effort was used by the participants during the PNF technique. There is a wide-range of thought on the effort of PNF stretching, from 10% of maximum contraction, up to a full 100% effort.
Take this study into account as you are working with athletes. I have found similar results in my practice, and utilize PNF/MET stretching often to release muscles before and/or after any hands-on massage techniques.
O’Hora, J, Cartwright, A, Wade, CD, Hough, AD, and Shum, GLK. Efficacy of static stretching and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretch on hamstrings length after a single session. J Strength Cond Res 25(6): 1586-1591, 2011
Over the past year, I have been fortunate to be involved in the creation of a new sports medicine/physical therapy clinc (http://www.runinstitute.com). As great as this experience has been, it has unfortunately forced me to …
Those of you who have taken my Upper Body Sports Massage Course have heard me carry on about how incorrect scapular movement can lead to shoulder impingement. Here is information on a study regarding just …
On top of my private massage practice & Muscle Wisdom classes, I have been given the opportunity to become part of a new business venture. Starting in September 2010, I became the Associate Director of …
A study performed in the United Kingdom looked at the effects of lower limb compression tights and massage on the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage in women. Test subjects performed 100 plyometric drop jump exercises …