Soft Tissue Work: Prior to a workout

Our clinic has been growing over the past coupe of weeks, we are now looking into to expanding in a new building and adding new Health Care Practitioners like Physio and Chiropractic.

As we are expanding our facility, we are also expanding our tools. Last week, I brought in a new set of Tools called SASTM, or also known as Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation Tools. These are similar to the Graston techniques tools, but I prefer them because they are practitioner/patient friendly, may be more specific, have more tools, sleeker design. The acoustic properties of his current instruments are an evolution from his former metal instruments. So how does IASTM work? The instruments are used as an alternative to the therapists fingers to provide deep friction massage. The acoustic properties of the instruments can aide in the diagnostic locating of scar tissue. The deep friction massage of IASTM reintroduces microtrauma to the damaged site and sets in motion the healing cascade. During the inflammatory stage, scar tissue can be reabsorbed by the body.

Everthing I bring in, I also put through a trial run. If you are a frequent reader to this blog, you are aware that I have a major shoulder issues from years of following in proper training styles, like focusing on bench press and bicep curls, and a couple of seasons playing defense line in highschool. I thought I could put these tools to work. I used the SASTM tools to break adhesions in the fascial and tissue's around my anterior shoudler and Serratus anterior haf an hour prior to doing a "push" workout.

I spent 12 Minites (total of 6 per shoulder) breaking down tissue and adhesion prior to the workout. This is what I looked like:

Now, do not be alarmed, this looks a lot worse then it felt. The red is a sign of Petechia, which demonstrates increased blood flow and a break down of adhesions and scar tissue.

Conclusion? - How did I feel during the workout??

GREAT! - My range of motion with shoulder abduction and external rotation increased 10' (Degree's), no pain the the Glenohumeral capsule during exercise like the bench press Dips.

The Biggest Goal during the workout was the weight increased. I week prior on my Push Day workout, my bench press lift was 235lbs for 5 repetitions, today, after the SASTM treatment I lifted 242lbs 4 repetitions.

GREAT RESULTS!!

Now we still have one more consideration to take place, and thats how muscles soreness the next day. If there is ever any joint instability or pain during activity, the is usually soreness 24 hours post-activity. My goal of the treatment was to increase ROM (range of motion) to decrease any joint restriction and shearing.

That is our therapy technique of the day! We will see you on the web very soon,

Yours in Health, Balance, and Fitness,