If you suffer from regular pain or tightness in your body, your first port of call for immediate relief can be home remedy. A heat pack, ice pack or foam roller are common first tools you can reach for on those occasions. The latest trend in therapeutic relief is a massage gun. This tool was developed to relax muscle tightness and help improve blood flow in your body. The question is: are they a good idea? Dr Andrew McHardy will try answer that for you below: What’s clear is that using local massage vibration (where vibration is applied directly to the muscle) for treatment isn’t new. In fact, studies that investigate sensory afferents, reflexes and motor response have been conducted for nearly 60 years. Here at our clinic, we provide our customers with the top rated back pain massages in Sydney.

Muscle response to vibration

 Studies demonstrate that high frequency vibration preferentially stimulates type Ia sensory afferents (dynamic muscle spindle). This results in much less stimulation of type Ib sensory afferents (golgi tendon organ) and type II afferents (static muscle spindle afferents). Research suggests that length, stretch and increased tension in the muscle being vibrated increases facilitation of receptors, including type Ib and type II afferents. Local vibration results in simultaneous agonist inhibition and tonic contraction (known as the tonic vibration reflex or TVR), and reciprocal inhibition of the functional antagonist. Also, local vibration may result in a reduction in muscle tone (H-reflex sensitivity), while potentiating the reactive component of stretch reflex (T-reflex) associated with performance of sport and power activities such as running and jumping. Studies imply that additional mechanoreceptors (Pacinian corpuscles, Ruffini endings, free nerve endings) play a significant role in motor control and muscle activity, and that Pacinian corpuscles are the receptor most likely to respond to local vibration. 

The benefits - sports recovery Sydney

 The potential benefits of a massage gun can be broken down into two categories: pain and muscle performance.  

1. Local Massage Vibration and Pain

 Research appears to show that the use of vibration in conjunction with another popular self-help tool - foam rolling - has a significant effect on DOMS, pain pressure sensitivity, and proprioception. Pre-exercise vibration reduces the chemical markers associated with DOMS including decreased cytokinase, LDH, interleukin -6, histamine, lymphocytes, and increased neutrophils. Vibration may also benefit addressing acute muscle pain. A simple back pain massage at Sydney can alleviate a lot of strain on the muscles and help you with recovery. We provide the best-in-class care for local massage places in the Sydney area.

2. Local Vibration and Muscle Performance

 In deconditioned muscles/individuals, local vibration alone may be sufficient to increase strength. For example, it may help in post-surgical rehabilitation. Pre-exercise local vibration improved muscle performance when exercise was performed on subsequent days. However, the application of pre-exercise local vibration should be limited to no more than 5 minutes per muscle. As one of the premier local massage places in Sydney, we know how to take care of you.

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At Sydney Spine and Sports Clinic, we put you first. We believe in offering chiropractic care that enables you to make informed and educated choices about your health. If you are suffering pain and would like to talk to us about how we can help you get mobile and active again – get in touch right here.