Effects of stretching and manual therapy on shoulder range of motion

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Effects of stretching and manual therapy on shoulder range of motion

It has been documented that changes in rotator cuff stiffness are associated with the ROM deficits in pitchers, so rehabilitation programs that decrease tissue stiffness and improve range of motion have potential clinical implications for injury prevention.

If the goal is improving shoulder range of motion, a number of papers have demonstrated the effects of soft tissue mobilization or stretch training on tissue stiffness, shoulder internal rotation and horizontal adduction.  

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Massage Therapy and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Massage Therapy and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Massage therapy as a therapeutic intervention is being embraced by the medical community, it is simple to carry out, economical, and has very few side effects. One area that is being explored is the use of massage therapy for patients who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. 

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Traumatic muscle fibrosis: From pathway to prevention

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Traumatic muscle fibrosis: From pathway to prevention

This is a great research paper follow up to my last post - Sports Massage - The Science is Emerging. My last post was a brief look at the psychological & physiological responses to massage therapy.

In this post I wanted to share some excerpts from a recent review of traumatic muscle fibrosis published in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. This paper may provide some insights for therapists wanting to learn more about the interconnected adaptive responses within the nervous system and soft tissue structures. 

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Building a Tour de France-winning body: know your muscles

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Building a Tour de France-winning body: know your muscles

"The key force behind the Tour is the rotation of the bicycle cranks driven by the force of skeletal muscles. While the major part of this muscular force is produced by the lower limb muscles, the trunk and upper limb muscles are also contributing to the pedalling movement to varying degrees depending on a cyclist’s technique or position on the bike."

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