Tennis players and fly fisherman often experience lateral epicondylitis from overuse of the extensor muscles in the forearm. Whether swinging a racket or rod, this pain in the elbow can keep them from doing what they love. A combination of deep tissue massage to enhance circulation in the extensor muscles, and friction therapy to break up adhesive scar tissue in the tendons is often an effective treatment to get clients back on the court or back in the river in no time.
Athletes who suffer from patellar tracking disorder describe pain that comes from underneath the kneecap. Typically this pain increases after activities involving repetitive knee flexion and extension like running, jumping, or dancing. Frequently it results from a sudden increase in activity levels, like when beginning a new training program, or when performing athletic activities without prior conditioning. Treatment of this pain condition involves reducing the hypertension in the vastus lateralis to allow the patella to track normally. Focused strength training on the vastus medialis will also keep the knee tracking straight and free from pain in the future.
The soleus muscle in the calf controls ankle stability during the heel-strike phase of hiking. It also contracts during the push-off phase. When this muscle gets a tight knot from overuse or dehydration it can refer pain to other parts of the body. This knot is known as a trigger point. The trigger point in the soleus refers pain to the heel and is commonly misdiognosed as plantar fasciitis. The soleus also acts as a “second heart” to pump blood from the legs back up to the trunk. Trigger point activity can compromise this pumping action and produce edema or swelling in the lower legs. Releasing this trigger point can alleviate referred pain and allow blood and lymph to circulate freely again.
The psoas muscle that's located along the front of the hip helps snowboarders to carve with control, stability, and strength. When the psoas is tight the low back suffers and, as a result, injury can occur. Three signs of a tight psoas are pain upon rising from a seated position, an anterior pelvic tilt causing an exaggerated lumbar curve, and breathing with short breaths that only reach the chest. Standing and twisting at the waist without moving the feet, which is the essential movement in snowboarding, causes great discomfort. Trigger point release of the psoas can feel uncomfortable and even painful at times, but will get a boarder back to making precise and powerful turns on the mountain again.