Our beautiful Central Oregon landscape offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities, but the physical demands of these ventures can sometimes lead to discomfort or injury. Regular bodywork does more than just relax the mind; it strategically targets areas of restriction, soreness, and injury, freeing up your body to move with greater ease and efficiency.
Activity-Specific Complaints and Support
Golf
Golf involves complex rotational forces that can strain the low back, while the grip and swing can cause problems in the shoulders, elbow, and wrists. Trunk rotation during the swing can lead to lower back pain, while the repetitive motion can cause tension in the neck and upper back, shoulders, and arms. Massage can combat gripping issues and restore proper alignment for a more fluid swing.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikers frequently experience tension in the low back, and upper and lower leg muscles from riding position while maintaining balance and powering up hills. Shoulders, forearms, and wrists can get tight from grip, handlebar spacing, and riding position. Deep tissue massage and active stretching can restore movement patterns and relieve tension. Importantly, massage can provide specialized recovery for whiplash from crashes, targeting the deep muscles of the head, neck, and upper back to alleviate trauma and stiffness.
Hiking
Whether you are tackling a steep trail or a long-distance trek, hiking puts significant stress on the body but the views are totally worth it! Hikers often experience tension in the low back, hips, hamstrings, quads, and calves. Knee pain from the descent is a common complaint as well. In addition to a full body massage, your therapist can perform a gait assessment to see what patterns may be holding you back, and then use tools in their toolbelt to help restore balance.
Pickleball
The fast-paced nature of pickleball often results in rotator cuff strains or overuse injuries in the shoulders. The constant movement on the court also strains the lower legs and plantar fascia while the sprints to catch that fly-away ball can cause calf strain. Massage modalities can assist with prevention and treatment of these ailments.
Clinical Modalities and Therapeutic Application
Clinical massage therapy to treat ailments associated with the above activities utilize a comprehensive toolkit of modalities and add-ons to customize every session to a client’s specific needs. Examples of modalities used include:
- Deep Tissue Techniques: Accessing deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to release tension, adhesions, and restore blood flow (and it doesn’t always require deep pressure to be effective).
- Myofascial Release: A gentle yet firm technique that opens and mobilizes fascia to eliminate pain and restore motion. Picture saran wrap around each fiber of muscle, whole muscle, and groups of muscle–myofascial release separates the saran wrap when it gets stuck to itself.
- Stretching (passive, active, and facilitated/PNF): Active and facilitated stretching techniques that reset muscle length and improve flexibility.
- Cupping: Using suction to stimulate blood flow, release fascia, and promote healing in an area. We’ll often use cupping to actively provide benefit to one area, while we work on another, thereby maximizing our time and outcomes.
- Gua Sha: An instrument-assisted technique that brings fresh blood and lymph flow to an area, breaking up adhesions and decreasing pain.
- Range of Motion (ROM) work: Facilitates movement and restores joint flexibility in small incremental steps.
- Moist heat: This deep heat penetrates up to 1” into the tissue to relax muscles and enhance blood flow to the targeted area.
- Ice massage: Helps reduce inflammation and provides localized pain relief.
- Acupressure: Uses targeted pressure to alleviate tension and discomfort, and restore flow of energy and blood throughout the area.
- Trigger point work: Targets specific tight spots in muscles to restore function and relieve pain.
- Breathwork education: Teaches breathing techniques to assist in stress management and recovery and restore normal breathing patterns after stress or trauma.
Your Journey to Better Movement
Effective clinical massage is most impactful as a cumulative practice. A consistent schedule helps regulate cortisol, improves circulation, and maintains tissue elasticity. By prioritizing regular maintenance, you prevent the accumulation of micro-trauma, reducing the risk of overuse injuries and chronic pain, ensuring your body stays resilient for the activities you love.
About Synergy:
Synergy Health & Wellness is a comprehensive center for clinical massage therapy, diabetes education, and nutrition counseling. Our team is comprised of 5 Licensed Massage Therapists, and 4 Registered Dietitians and Diabetes Educators. We provide evidence-based, person-centered care that focuses on building confidence, community, and body trust in our clients.
synergyhealthbend.com • 541-323-3488
