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pressure on "tightness"?

CalG

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What is the mechanism where "tight", hard, and sore muscles are made better by the application of localized PRESSURE?

I roll out my sciatic on the floor with a la Cross ball. I've just "helped myself" with direct pressure on the neck and shoulder to soften a stiff muscle that comes from jerking around a snow machine mired in three feet of soft snow.

I'm happy such simple efforts are sufficient. I wonder why? Perhaps you can advise......
 

kimmyt

My Rack Is Bigger Than Yours
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Simple answer? The physiological mechanism is not really understood. Sure, there are theories (Gate Theory, mechanoreceptors etc) but they haven't been proven.

There are a few studies that show that massage can have an effect on tissue, but thats about it.

(And I'm a massage therapist, so this is my bread and butter, but my strong feeling about it is that our brains think it helps and so therefore it helps)
 
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CalG

CalG

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Thanks for that clarification kimmyt.

Now I can stop wondering,...even if the discomfort keeps me awake in the early morning hours. ;-)
Motrin seems to work......
 

kimmyt

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Motrin works because it reduces inflammation. Massage has actually been shown to do that, as well (theres a fairly well-designed if small-sample-size study on athletes showing a reduction in DOMS with post-sport massage therapy) but the thing is they just don't know how.
 
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