Soothing Strides - Discovering Pain-O-Soma's Magic

Strides are short sprints of a mile race pace at 85% to 90% of max effort (roughly your 5k racing speed). They can be woven into easy/recovery runs, plugged in as a warm-up before a high-intensity training session or strides can stand alone as a pre-race workout.

Adding in strides helps us focus on our form in short increments when we are not tired. This allows us to create mental cues that we can use during a race when fatigue sets in.

Pain-o-Soma’s Magic

Pain-o-Soma 500mg tablet is a muscle relaxant that eases discomfort brought on by musculoskeletal diseases. It works by reducing the transmission of pain signals from nerves to the brain and spinal cord. It also helps in reducing stiffness and tension and promoting a healthy sleep cycle. It may be used in combination with rest and physical therapy for maximum benefits.

The generic name for this drug is carisoprodol and it is a centrally-acting muscle relaxant. It is often prescribed short-term to relieve pain from muscle injuries, such as strains or sprains, and to treat muscle spasms. This medication can cause side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and unusually fast heartbeat. It can also interact with other medications, so it’s important to tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you use.

Take this medicine by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Too much Soma can cause serious side effects, such as vision problems, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, fever, sweating, shivering, fast or shallow breathing, loss of coordination, muscle stiffness, seizures, or death.

Trigger Point Therapy

In the 1950s, physical therapist Janet Travell noticed that her patients who complained of pain in their back, neck, or shoulder often had a tender spot she referred to as a “knot.” She began studying these knots and found they caused referred pain—pain felt in a different location than where it originated. This is a result of trigger points, tight muscle fibers that feel like nodules or taut ropes. They occur when muscles are overworked and the tightly wound fibers can’t relax on their own. Trigger point therapy can help to release these knots by using manual pressure.

During a session, your therapist will find the trigger point with their fingers or hands and then gently press on it, hold for 4 to 8 seconds, and then release it. This repeated pressure on the trigger point is meant to release the tension and relieve the pain. This technique is a form of myofascial release, and it can also help to elongate the muscle, which can reduce its tightness.

Another method of treating trigger points involves injecting them with a numbing agent. This is called a trigger point injection or TPI, and it’s usually done in your doctor’s office. The injection isn’t painful, but the numbing medication will make the knots less sensitive and reduce the referred pain.

Some therapists also use an acupuncture-like technique called dry needling. Your provider will pin the trigger point between their fingers and stabilize it, which may be uncomfortable, and then insert a needle into the knotted muscle. This can be very effective in relieving pain and tension. It’s important to note that dry needling is not a type of massage, and it’s recommended that you seek out a physical therapist who is certified in this treatment.

Trigger point therapy is a great way to alleviate pain caused by injury, overuse, poor posture, and even sleep problems. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, ask your doctor about trigger point therapy or schedule an appointment with Kids in Stride! Our physical therapists are certified in multiple techniques and can provide the best care for your injuries.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a gentle form of stretching that helps rebalance the tension patterns in the soft tissues of your body toward symmetry. The approach is based on the osteopathic philosophy that sometimes the body needs help getting past impairments and restrictions that prevent it from continuing its natural self-healing journey.

Fascia is the dense network of connective tissue that surrounds, supports, and connects all muscle, bone, and organ systems in your body. It is usually relaxed and flexible but can become tight when the body is injured or in pain. These dysfunctional areas are often referred to as knots or adhesions and contribute to pain, stiffness, and limited movement.

Unlike muscle and other tissues that respond to short-duration mechanical pressure, fascia requires longer periods of sustained traction to facilitate the reorganization of the type II gel matrix. When a therapist applies a slow steady stretch the myofascial sheath of the muscle or other tissue reorganizes in a way that improves circulation, elasticity, and flexibility while alleviating pain and restoring motion.

Another advantage of Myofascial Release is that it can reduce pain in areas of the body not easily identified with other diagnostic tests such as X-rays or MRI scans. The therapist can feel the fascial sheath releasing and rehydrating as the tissue moves, and then locate the area of tension or pain by following the feeling.

The Myofascial Release technique utilizes a combination of techniques including massage, joint mobilization, and trigger point therapy to reduce muscle and fascial restrictions and improve function. It also incorporates elements of other techniques including Active Release Technique (ART), Neuromuscular Therapy, and Craniosacral Therapy.

Several studies have shown the effectiveness of Myofascial Release as a treatment for numerous conditions and types of pain. For a summary of the evidence see this review of RCTs of MFR by Thomas Barnes, MD, CCSP.

Neuromuscular Therapy

A neuromuscular massage is a specialized form of manual massage that uses digital pressure and friction to release areas of strain in your muscle. These areas are called tender or trigger points, and they are often the source of your pain symptoms. They are hypersensitive, and when activated, they can cause a phenomenon known as referral pain. Referral pain occurs when an active trigger point sends signals to a different area of your body, such as your head, upper back, or shoulder.

Trigger points are formed when a muscle is tight and doesn’t receive enough blood and oxygen. When this happens, the muscle fibers become overly sensitive and irritated by compression. This can lead to a cycle of stress, tension, and pain. Neuromuscular therapy is designed to break the stress-tension-pain cycle by releasing tension in your muscles and helping you develop greater awareness of your posture, movement, and your body’s imbalances.

The goal of neuromuscular therapy is to help your body develop greater balance and mobility through precise manual techniques. Neuromuscular therapy practitioners are highly skilled in muscle anatomy, connective tissue work, trigger point therapy, and manual manipulation.

During a session, your neuromuscular therapist will palpate the soft tissues to find any tight bands or muscle nodules. They will then apply a medium-paced thumb or finger glide to uncover and release these nodules. This helps to create a more comfortable massage and maintain a relaxed and lengthened muscle.

In addition to manual manipulation, your therapist may also incorporate prolotherapy and/or electrical stimulation into your session. Prolotherapy is an injectable solution that contains biologically neutral compounds such as dextrose, saline, or lidocaine that irritate the affected tissues and stimulates your body to grow new normal ligament and tendon fibers. This is especially helpful for myofascial trigger points and joint pain.

In combination with a full postural and movement assessment, a neuromuscular massage can reveal imbalances in your muscles, fascia, and kinetic chain. This will help you understand why you have aches and pains, as well as how to fix them at home with proper posture, movement, and a consistent workout program.

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