Stretching has been proven to increase flexibility (range of motion/ROM). Most studies attribute this to stretch tolerance. A research study from University of Colorado tested to see if altering sensory input during stretching would influence stretching outcomes. The modulation of sensory input that was tested included transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and self-massage with therapy
Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating symptom experienced by cancer survivors, yet treatment options for this condition are limited. In a study from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, researchers evaluated the efficacy on persistent cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors of weekly Swedish massage therapy versus an active control condition (light
A lifeguard’s job can be physically challenging because a lifeguard needs to react as fast as possible to initiate a rescue. Some studies have shown that lifeguards need approximately 5 minutes to rescue a victim who is 75-100 meters from shore. This is an exhausting task which results in very high blood lactate concentrations.
Non-local effects of muscle stretching have been well documented. For example, unilateral hamstring stretching can cause increased flexibility of the contralateral hamstrings. In addition, stretching of the lower body (hip joint) can cause increased flexibility of the upper body musculature (shoulder joint) and vice versa. The increase in range of motion (ROM) flexibility is
Massage therapy can increase the regrowth of muscle tissue after an injury, even on the opposite, non-massaged limb, according to a new research from Colorado State University and the University of Kentucky. Massage therapy has multiple health benefits, some long-understood and some recently claimed. Among the benefits recently asserted for massage therapy is the hypothesis
The delay between vastus medialis obliquus and vastus lateralis muscle onset has been suggested as a possible cause of patellofemoral pain syndrome. However an Italian study dispels this idea. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS or runner’s knee) is a common musculoskeletal condition in running and jumping athletes, presenting with anterior knee pain, and aggravated by physical
A recent article published in Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies by authors from Israel attempted to objectively define deep-tissue massage to provide an evidence-based therapy. However, massage therapist and instructor, Art Riggs, commented that gallant as their effort is, the task of defining deep tissue massage is not only impossible, but is unproductive. Deep-tissue
A new research from orthopeaedic surgeons from Austria shows the existence of a deep layer of the ITB. Fascia Latae and Iliotibial Band (ITB) The thigh is enveloped in a layer of fibrous tissue known as the fascia latae, which thickens in the lateral thigh and is described as the iliotibial band (ITB). The ITB
“Could it be that longus muscles act as length-variable sensors, contributing to stability and adaptability, via their rich mechanoreceptor capabilities ?” – Til Luchau. Anterior view of the longus colli on the right and the longus capitis on the left. Copyright Joseph E. Muscolino, used with permission. The longus colli and longus capitis are
In the past few years, the lumbodorsal (thoracolumbar) fascia has been proposed as one of possible sources of “idiopathic low back pain” (pain that is stated as having no known cause). Authors Jan Wilke, Robert Schleip, Werner Klinger, and Carla Stecco wrote a review in Biomed Research International investigating the possible role of the lumbodorsal
