Soft tissues are cells that surround your skeletal system and organs. Examples include muscles, ligaments, skin, nerves, tendons and more. Soft tissue therapy treats and prevents any injury in these soft tissues. It is a mobilization technique wherein the therapist applies optimum pressure on the affected area using their hands. It is quite a common treatment option for muscle pain and stiffness. You can find this therapy in most physiotherapy clinics in Brampton.
What is Soft Tissue Therapy?
Soft tissue mobilization therapy targets the injured soft tissues in your body. It is a direct hands-on manipulation technique used to reduce compressive and tensile stress on your body. Consistent sessions also speed up the healing process of your body.
Soft tissue therapy includes different techniques such as trigger point therapy, nerve pain release technique, myofascial dry needling and more. The physiotherapist assesses your injuries to decide the right techniques for your complete recovery.
How Does Soft Tissue Treatment Help?
Soft tissue treatment benefits a wide range of conditions. Some of the most common ones include muscle tears, muscle aches, tennis and golfer’s elbow, headaches, migraines, whiplash and more. Here’s how it helps people restore good health.
Better range of motion
Exercises form an integral part of soft tissue treatments. The therapist guides you through specific exercises that improve your range of motion and help you move pain-free. Soft tissue injuries can occur with age or due to workplace accidents and sports accidents. No matter what the cause is, it often hinders your normal flexibility. It becomes painful to move around or do even the simplest daily tasks.
Soft tissue exercises, however, restore normal flexibility and help you get back to an active lifestyle. There are usually three types of exercises involved in this case such as active, active assisted and passive.
Reduced muscle tension
A sedentary lifestyle is the most common cause of muscle tension among adults. Sitting and working on the desktop prevent your muscles from relaxing, which causes muscle pain, stiffness and discomfort.
Soft tissue therapy relaxes the affected muscles. Once relaxed, the blood flow also improves throughout the area, thereby reducing your pain and muscle tension.
Enhanced blood circulation
Micro-injuries and traumas prevent the supply of well-oxygenated blood to the affected area. Thus, the pain increases and the natural healing process subsides. In soft tissue therapy, the therapist manipulates the area using their hands and by applying an optimum force. This enhances the blood circulation in the area, thereby reducing pain.
The technique also improves the lymphatic circulation. This removes metabolic wastes and toxins from your body, thereby reducing your pain.
Better sleep routine
Not many people are aware but soft tissue therapy can get you better sleep. The therapist uses neuromuscular techniques to stimulate the release of pain-relieving hormones such as endorphins, which reduce your discomfort and promote sleep.
Poor sleep patterns arise due to several reasons. You may be stressed with your work or have muscle stiffness. No matter what the reason is, a few sessions of soft tissue massage therapy can improve your sleep. It also relieves mental stress and brings relief to the back, neck and shoulders.
Muscle relaxation
Muscle stiffness or tension can occur due to injuries or an unhealthy lifestyle. Soft tissue treatment relieves this tension and promotes blood circulation in the area. The therapist identifies the trigger points within your muscles. These points are responsible for pain, immobility and discomfort in your muscles. Once identified, they use soft tissue massage techniques to release the knots and relax muscles. The goal here is to stretch and contract the muscles to bring them to their normal state.
Is It The Same as Massage Therapy?
No, soft tissue therapy and massage therapy are not the same thing.
Massage therapy encompasses a wide slew of healing techniques that reduce muscle tension and pain. Some common types include trigger point therapy, Swedish massage, deep massage, sports massage therapy and more.
Soft tissue therapy, on the contrary, encompasses a treatment plan that prevents and treats injuries and movement problems. It begins with a physical examination. The therapy can be equipment-based or completely manual. There can be several other treatments combined with soft tissue treatment to bring you relief.
How Many Sessions Do You Need?
Typically, patients need two sessions per week for the first two weeks. Once the condition stabilizes, they can attend sessions once every two to three weeks. However, the number of sessions you need varies depending on the severity of the injuries. You can even take one session every month after consulting with the physiotherapist in Brampton.
