May 15 2008
5 weeks Post-Op and 1st Therap. Massage
Went to a therapeutic massage therapist last night and my leg feels great. By the time she finished with my bad leg, I had better ROM than I did on my good leg. Therapeutic massage isn’t as comfortable as swedish-spa-style massages, but the benefits are amazing. My scar is already less “stuck” feeling. She did some very cool passive stretches as well, pulling my toes up and down to the extent they had never been before. Already booked for another session on Monday. Highly, highly recommended. It also feels good to be able to DO something for my leg before I can get out of the boot, and before I’ve been prescribed PT.
12 responses so far
eriedutchgirl -
Thanks for that info.
Is there a difference between sports massage and therapeutic massage? A gym nearby has a massage therapist that comes in and does sports massage, but I am not sure about therapeutic massage.
By the way, I love the theme that you selected for your page.
(Also, I’ll keep adding to the themes as I find them.)
Dennis,
My understanding is that sports massage is for people involved in sports. You’ll find these therapists at gyms and and sport camps, etc. They work to relieve the stress on muscles and joints that comes with a regular, rigorous exercise program or training (marathon runners, prof. athletes, etc. who strain the same muscles repeatedly and experience activity specific tensions and stresses) Lots of passive stretching and deep muscle work.
I found my therapist on the ABMP website under “find a therapist” looking under orthopaedic specialty. http://www.abmp.com/home/index.html
Therapeutic massage is for people in muscular recovery. This involves the same stretching, but also myofacial work on scar tissue to limit adhesion and promote circulation, and careful deeper work to promote healing with good tissue and limit scar tissue build up. My therapist works out of a Physical Therapy office, so many of her patients are recoverers–not just athletes with chronic tough spots. She used to work in a gym, but prefers the finer tuned work of recovery help. Certainly sports and therapeutic massage are related, but not exactly the same.
eriedutchgirl -
Thanks for the info. I’ve posted it here on the main site:
http://achillesblog.com/rehabilitation/therapeutic-massage/
Erie,
Good news.
Johnk
What would you say the earliest is that you could start having Therapeutic Massage?
I started at about week 7. It was fairly uncomfortable at first. But now I look forward to it.
I’ve been getting some nice, deep massage on my AT during PT. And that’s in Week 3. I guess it depends on how you are healing.
And agree with Jim…I look forward to it. Especially when they work on the calf muscle. Ahhh…I start to dream of walking again.
Then when she starts working on the scar tissue I break out into a sweat and my abs are sore when it’s over.
I am 1 week out of cast and in walking boot . I was FWB with crutches from Friday - tuesday but then tuesday night I had some pain in my groin and hip area - like a pulled muscle - what should I do? I was using thera band and soaking my foot at home and doing ankle cirlcles as well. now Im scared to use the thera band…. and I stopped putting full weight for fear of another injury. I made an appointment with a massage therapist/Pt - Im still pretty weak - is it possible they could be too hard and d more damage than good. Help would be greatly appreciated
Hi Brian, not sure if you still visit, how did the massage go, I have the same concerns
Hi Brian and Ripraproar: I’m wondering how the massage therapy went too?
Thanks
I started seeing a massage therapist once or twice a week and it really, really helps. You are putting so much stress on your other leg and all of your joints that you HAVE TO focus on muscles that aren’t the achilles. I go to Chiropractic with a massage therapist for this reason.