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Techniques 5 and 6: Circular frictions and Trigger points
* With either a single thumb, a reinforced thumb as shown (or fingers as shown in video clip), apply pressure in a circular pattern to any tight spots, lumps or bumps (image 6).
* Apply 10 to 20 circular frictions at a time and alternate with stripping and petrissage techniques.
* Frictions can be applied to a specific point in the muscle, or applied over a small area of muscle moving gradually.
* Again, pressure should be firm but not so deep as to cause the muscle to tighten up with pain.
* If the therapist finds any lumps and bumps or particularly sensitive spots then apply deep, sustained pressure to these points using the thumbs. A trigger point is a localised, highly sensitive point in the muscle.
* Increase the pressure on the trigger point until it ranks 7/10 on the pain scale (10 being painful). Hold this pressure until it eases off to 4/10 on the pain scale (usually about 5 seconds).
* Without easing off with the pressure, increase again until it reaches 7/10 on the pain scale once more. Hold until it eases, repeat once more.
* This technique is very hard on the thumbs. It is important to keep the thumb slightly bent (flexed) when applying pressure to avoid damaging the joints.
Finishing off
The therapist can finish off with more petrissage techniques and then finally effleurage again. The whole process should not last more than half an hour.
Massage therapy can be applied every day if it is performed lightly however deeper techniques may result in a days recovery period to allow tissues to ‘recover’.
For rehabilitation of muscle strains, sports massage is very important in softening / preventing scar tissue forming at the site of injury and re-aligning the new healing fibres in the direction of the muscle fibres. This will help prevent re-injury.
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