Cross Train and Massage Therapy to Optimize Muscle Movement Efficiency

If you have a specific sport you dedicate large amounts of time to, I highly recommend you cross train in another activity. You should also consistently get massages. By cross-training, you take a break from the repetitive joint stress produced by your sport. You also challenge your neuro-muscular system to coordinate with different muscle activation patterns. If you’re a hardcore runner, which is a sagittal plane (forwards/backwards) movement, try Zumba, Capoeira or Yoga. Move sideways, move diagonally, invert, do cartwheels, Cha-Cha! The idea is to vary your movements. Challenge your body at all angles to keep it fluid, strong, and prepared for the unpredictable movements of life!

Massage therapy effectively decreases muscle tension. It breaks up stuck muscle fibers and increases circulation. This improvement enhances the flow and exchange of fluids and hydrates connective tissue. Muscles sometimes strangle themselves, in a sense. When tightness is chronic everything will be compromised – mobility, breath, mood, and sleep, to name a few. Some massage work may be painful. This is especially true if the muscle harbors “trigger points” (taut bands of muscle fibers within the muscle). However, the pain should remain tolerable. Each treatment builds upon the previous one. Each subsequent session will feel more tolerable. This allows for deeper work and results in greater benefit.

Massage feels awesome! It’s therapeutic, improves sleep quality, invigorates, and strengthens the immune system. It benefits a slew of chronic conditions. Doctors should prescribe it. Health insurance should cover it as part of their preventive wellness plan. It’s not a luxury!

Two one-hour sessions a month is a good start for health and wellness. Weekly sessions for a shorter duration if you want to address a specific issue. It’s worth it! Your future you will thank you!

Stand Tall, Breathe Deep-
Corina,
ACE/NASM Certified Trainer
NYS Licensed Massage Therapist