21 Mar Can Massage Guns be Harmful?
Massage guns, also referred to as theraguns, are known medically as percussive therapy. Just as with any other sort of massage tactic, these guns are helpful in some situations and not in others. We’re going to evaluate the use of these massage guns in relation to therapeutic massage El Segundo.
Massage therapy in El Segundo via guns is a great way to prevent muscle soreness post-workout and alleviate muscle stiffness after it’s already set in. Much of the research on these guns is focused on muscular recovery. However, some have been given to treating patients with fibromyalgia. The theory behind this method is that the massage gun overrides natural pain signals of the body that go to the brain. This effectively helps to manage chronic pain for patients.
Treatment Restrictions
Our chiropractor El Segundo will be able to give you a rundown of when percussion therapy is effective and when it should be avoided. While you may think that massage is good for you no matter what, that’s not always the case. Rather, there are some specific scenarios where massage guns should not be utilized on the body.
Strains
Percussion massage in El Segundo should be avoided when a patient is dealing with a muscle strain, also called a pulled muscle. This type of injury occurs when a muscle is stretched past its normal range of motion. This is mainly a result of improper form, sudden motions, and muscular overuse. The powerful hammering motion of therapeutic massage El Segundo can actually further damage your muscles. Instead, opt for the RICE method when dealing with a muscular strain of the body.
Sprains
Our chiropractor El Segundo will avoid using percussion therapy on patients who have undergone a known sprain. A sprain occurs when the muscle or ligament is actually torn. This typically happens from sudden movement when the muscle is stretched past its normal capacity. Patients who suffer sprains often hear a popping noise when their injury occurs. Just like with muscle strains, massage guns can cause further damage to sprains of muscle and ligaments.
Inflammation Injuries
The body is known to become inflamed when it is injured. This is a natural response that helps to supply more blood to the region to get it to heal. Common inflammation conditions include tendinitis, fasciitis, bursitis, and periostitis. Patients who actively have inflammation should not be recommended to undergo percussion massage therapy in El Segundo.
Broken Bones
While this one may seem like a no-brainer, people have tried it before. Broken bones shouldn’t undergo any hammering motion from percussion therapy. This goes for patients who have been cleared for exercise as well. Any bit of hammering can cause the newly mended bone to fracture or break.
As you’ve hopefully learned from this short article, percussion therapy has a time and place to be used. The above conditions should put up a red flag and you should deny any sort of percussion massage in El Segundo treatment at the time. While massage guns can be extremely helpful for muscular recovery, they can also be harmful in some scenarios.