If you’ve been in our sports medicine clinic for a sports injury, then we’ve probably talked to you about the benefits of using a foam roller for soft tissue and myofascial work. If you haven’t had to limp across our doorway with a sports injury, even better…here’s a new sports therapy product that should keep you from meeting us too soon (and as the added bonus of being more environmentally friendly)

Trigger Point Therapy has launched  their Grid Foam Roller which far exceeds traditional foam rollers is a lot of ways. For one, the Grid Foam Roller is  made out of EVA (the same stuff used to make the soles of running shoes) and as a result, the Grid Foam Roller doesn’t break down as quickly as a traditional foam roller. The Grid Foam Roller  also has this really cool matrix shape and contour withs different texture and densities. Essentially, you’re getting three different foam rollers combined into one. The EVA is wrapped around a hard tube (which is why the Grid is hollow – all the support and firmness is from the tube.

What else makes the Grid Foam Roller unique? The Grid also has a much smaller profile – just 13 inches long compared to the typical 3 foot long foam rollers we used to use here at Coastal Sports and Wellness (yep, we’ve switched over to the Grid Foam Roller for the clinic). Plus, the final big point for me – there is a one year warranty on the Grid. IF you can wear it out, break it down, etc, Trigger Point Therapy offers a one year warranty on it. Granted it costs a little more than that typical foam roller, but if you figure that the Grid should last through at least a year of regular use, that will end up saving you money in the long run. I usually see our the foam rollers break down after about 3 to 4 months of use, so do the math…$40 for the Grid for a year, or buying a new foam roller every 4 months at $20 a pop…plus you’re not tossing the old foam roller into a landfill somewhere…

The Grid Foam Roller is a great new therapy tool for athletes suffering from a range of maladies from iliotibial band syndrome to hamstring strains and quadriceps and calf muscle injuries.

for $39.99 + shipping from the Trigger Point Therapy website.

One of the most common misconceptions in the athletic world is that massage for triathletes, or other types of athletes is not good within 3 days of participating in a sporting event. This is simply untrue, as pre-event massage for triathletes can be very important to enhancing an athlete’s performance. The secret is, a pre-event massage for triathletes should not consist of deep tissue massage, as this could cause muscle pain and reduce performance.

When massage for triathletes is done correctly it can help to increase an athlete’s flexibility, and reduce the risk of receiving a muscle injury while participating in an event. Another benefit of massage before an event is that it will aid in promoting good circulation, and increasing range of motion. In addition to pre-event massage for triathletes, it is also helpful to get a massage after participating in an event, as well as in the case of muscle injury. Post event massage for triathletes should be given as soon after an event as possible. A post event massage is very important for reducing the risk of an athlete developing sore muscles later.
Massage for triathletes focuses on the lower body; in some cases a deep tissue massage may be appropriate if there are muscle spasms or other concerns.

There is also massage for triathletes if an injury should occur. This type of massage focuses on the injured area, and can be quite painful. It is far better to receive a massage before an event to help prevent injuries from occurring in the first place, but if an athlete has suffered an injury, massage is one of the best ways to heal that injury and be up and training for your next event.

Sports massage helps to heal the injured muscle and joints much faster, and can be very helpful in eliminating chronic pain due to a new, or old injury. If you suffer an injury while participating in a triathlon event, don’t delay getting a massage for triathletes that focuses on injury rehabilitation; the sooner you begin treatment, the faster you’ll feel better
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If you are a triathlete, it is in your best interest to look into the many different advantages of massage for triathletes. Massage can help you prepare for an important event, aid you through training, as well as speedup your recovery after an event. With massage for triathletes, you’ll perform better, as well as reduce your risk for injury.

Looking for a San Diego massage therapist that understands the specific sports massage needs of triathletes? Check us out at http://coastalsportsmedicine.com

Today, two of the most effective alternative medical treatments available are acupuncture for injuries and recovery massage. When used to enhance a traditional medical treatment; they are very effective for both pain management and long term healing.
For thousands of years the Chinese have used the technique known as acupuncture for injury treatment. This is the practice of inserting fine needles into certain points of the body in order to alleviate pain, and promote healing. Acupuncture can be used for many types of ailments, from strained muscles to anxiety.

Although the success of using acupuncture for injuries is not completely understood, it is believed that it works due to natural pain relieving chemicals being released into the body as a result of the needle insertion. This is only one theory, another theory on why using acupuncture for injuries helps to relieve pain is that it directly influences the signals to the brain from the nerves. No matter which theory is correct, it stands as fact that in most cases acupuncture is a great way to manage pain and promote healing.

Recovery massage is another highly effective means of promoting the healing of injured muscles. This type of treatment is especially useful for athletes who would like to speed up the healing process after they have overused their muscles and caused injury.
Many athletes prefer alternative medicine to help treat sports injuries because there are no harmful side effects associated with treatments such as acupuncture and recover massage. This can be very significant for an athlete who is experiencing chronic pain, but does not want to be slowed down by taking traditional pain medications.

Recovery massage is so effective at treating injuries because it focuses on the area of concern; the therapist pays more attention to the injured area and provides a massage designed to relieve pain and speedup the healing process.

Whether you are an athlete, or have received an injury due to work or some other type of activity, the use of acupuncture for injuries and recovery massage are two of the safest, and most effective methods of treating your injury. In addition this, these treatments can also be very affordable when compared to the cost of traditional medical treatments.

If you have suffered an injury and are interested in the advantages of acupuncture for injuries and recovery massage, consult a certified San Diego massage therapist or San Diego acupuncturist for advice.

The study looked at 12  healthy volunteers that completed a hand-grip exercise and then had blood flow in the forearm muscles measured before after after massage as performed on the forearm muscles. The researchers also measured lactic acid levels by taking blood samples both before and after the post-exercise massage was done on the test subjects.