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Using a Foam Roller - Mike McGurn

 

More about Mike McGurn ...

 

A foam roller can be an effective way for you to help relieve your own trigger points .... but there are some important rules that you need to follow

Self-myofascial release (SMR), also known as “foam rolling,” has transformed from a once mysterious technique used only by professional athletes, coaches, and therapists to a familiar everyday practice for people at all levels of fitness.

A foam roller can be very effective for warming up ‘cold’ muscles before stretching and loosening knots or ‘trigger points’ in muscles that may otherwise be difficult to access.

Bear in mind that you don’t always have to roll over the knots, sometimes it’s sufficient just to pause on them with the roller, breathe and let the tension melt away.

Trigger Points

The term trigger point was first used in 1942 by Dr. Janet Travell who came up with the phrase to describe the painful lumps, or nodules, felt within tight bands of muscle. Since then, we've learnt a lot more about trigger points and the features they have in common:

- Pain, often exquisite, at the specific point

- A nodule set deep within a tight/taut band of muscle 

- When pressed, pain radiates out in a specific way that can be reproduced (referred pain map)

- Pain that us felt often remotely from where the trigger point manifests - The pain felt, often cannot be explained by a neurological examination

General Instructions

While rolling out you must keep your muscles as relaxed as possible and keep your breathing steady throughout the entire exercise.

We strongly recommend avoiding using the foam roller on your knees and elbows; it could cause pain and injuries.We would advise you initially to use the foam roller under guidance.

Whenever rolling on the foam roller, hold at any trigger points for 10-20 seconds or until you feel the pain diminishing. Always stay on the muscle and don’t roll onto the tendons or bones.

Build up the pressure slowly and sensitively on those sore spots. Remain on the sweet spot until it releases but NOT longer than 1-2 minutes.

Take note of these rules before you start:

Know the muscle that needs treating. There is a high probability that the trigger points are not in the same location as the pain!

There are commonly known “referred pain patterns” that indicate the likely location of trigger points. Do your homework; use a guide; or ask your therapist before you start self treating!

Do not apply pressure tools (or anything else!) to the spaces between joints. Avoid any form of pressure contact especially with the back of the knee, inside of the elbow, armpit, and the front and sides of the neck.

Take special care to seek professional advice before applying any pressure to any area of the head or neck, especially if you have neck pain.

Whether you are sitting, standing, or laying down, make sure that you are relaxed, and that the muscle to be treated is relaxed (do not tense the muscle during treatment).

Stretch the muscles after treatment. Always start slowly. Have fun! Below you will find details of 3 of our favorite foam roller exercises for the shoulder:

 

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Learning more skills increases the services that you offer and provides more opportunity for specialization.

Every NAT course is designed to build on what you already know, to empower you to treat more clients and grow your practice, with a minimal investment in time and money.

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About Niel Asher Education

Niel Asher Education is a leading provider of distance learning and continued education courses.

Established in the United Kingdom in 1999, we provide course and distance learning material for therapists and other healthcare professionals in over 40 countries.

Our courses are accredited by over 90 professional associations and national accreditation institutions including the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). Full details of all international course accreditations can be found on our website.  

Printed course materials and other products offered on our websites are despatched worldwide from our 3 locations in the UK (London), USA (Pennsylvania) and Australia (Melbourne).

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NAMTPT AWARD 2017

We are honored to have received the 2017 "Excellence in Education" Award from the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists.

Since 1999 Niel Asher Education has won numerous awards for education and in particular for education and services provided in the field of trigger point therapy.

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Award Winning Instructors

Niel Asher Healthcare course instructors have won a host of prestigious awards including 2 lifetime achievement honorees - Stuart Hinds, Lifetime Achievement Honoree, AAMT, 2015, and Dr. Jonathan Kuttner, MD, Lifetime Achievement Honoree, NAMTPT, 2014.

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In addition to national accreditation for continued education, each course that we offer includes "NAT Learning Credits". By taking and completing courses you can accumulate NAT credits to qualify for NAT certification.

There are currently 3 levels of NAT certification. Certifying NAT is a valuable way to show your clients that you take continued education seriously, and to promote your skills and qualifications.

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NAT courses are accredited for continuing education by over 30 professional associations in North America, United Kingdom, Australia, and European Union countries. These include The National Academy of Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy Board of California, AAFA, National Certification Board for Manual Therapists and Bodyworkers, Sports Therapy Institute, and Myotherapy Australia.

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Niel Asher Technique

Since 1999 the Niel Asher Technique for treating trigger points has been adopted by over 100,000 therapists worldwide, and has been applied to the treatment of a number of common musculoskeletal injuries.

The Niel Asher Technique for treating frozen shoulder was first introduced and published in 1997 and has been widely adopted by therapists and exercise professionals working within elite sports and athletics.

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Most of our courses are available as either "Printed" or 'Download" editions. When you purchase a download edition, you receive immediate lifetime access to all course material. Course texts can be downloaded and printed if required. 

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This trigger point therapy blog is intended to be used for information purposes only and is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or to substitute for a medical diagnosis and/or treatment rendered or prescribed by a physician or competent healthcare professional. This information is designed as educational material, but should not be taken as a recommendation for treatment of any particular person or patient. Always consult your physician if you think you need treatment or if you feel unwell. 

 

  

   

 

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