Self help and maintenance – what you can do to to keep yourself in good condition between massages.
In order to look after yourself and treat your body well, good practice should involve warming up muscles before exercise. Gentle, repetitive movements work best, similar to those which will be involved in the main activity. They can also be a dynamic stretch: movements, like normal stretches, but which do not hold the muscles still. It’s not advisable to stretch a cold muscle. Static stretches are best after exercise when muscles are warm and elastic.
There is also a range of tools you can use to target specific areas.
Self help tools
The most basic and common piece of
equipment that people have at home is
the roller. These are often made of foam
but also come in harder plastics and are
great on legs as a general massage. But
beware, they can be painful!
Another self help tool is the spiky ball. These are much more intrusive and good for tight spots, also know as trigger points, in the glutes or lower back (keep well away from the spine).
The third and pricier option is the massage gun which is able to vibrate at different speeds against the muscle to soften it.
https://www.physique.co.uk/Massage/Massage-Tools
All of these tools require a certain level of knowledge to be used safely and effectively so do be careful and seek advice or do some research beforehand.
If you have any queries, feel free to give me a shout: abi@tawvalleysportsmassage.co.uk