Nerve Entrapment involves compression of a nerve or nerve root, causing pain, numbness, tingling, sensitivity and/or weakness. Many times it is caused by overuse and strain of muscles from sitting at a desk all day or driving all day.
Repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or thoracic outlet syndrome are common injuries due to the number of jobs that require typing, computer services and many hours at a desk or behind the wheel of a car or truck.
Massage therapists will not only massage the muscles of these areas, but also provide stretching techniques to help release the impingement. Sometimes these stretches will be painful, as they require a shortening and lengthening of an already inflamed nerve.
Muscle spasms or "twitching" may also be felt, as well as muscle weakness or inability to hold or carry for any length of time.
Some of these nerve impingement syndromes are:
A massage practitioner may use a combination of massage techniques to treat the problem and encourage healing including: Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy, Active Isolated Stretchingand/or Trigger Point Therapy to loosen the nerve, release the trigger point, and release the impingement.
Nerve mobilization massage techniques for nerves and surrounding muscles allows the massage therapist to accurately identify the nerve (sciatic, tibial, etc.) that is being pinched and how/where to massage and encourage release.
Muscle Energy Techniques may be used to actually lengthen the muscle and improve muscle strength and balance.
Regular massage of the area, along with rest, exercise, drinking lots of water, and stretching will often produce the return of normal functioning to the affected area within a few days.
This DVD, Nerve Mobilization teaches specific techniques to reduce nerve entrapment, specific evaluation methods to determine impingement, how to determine median, ulnar, and/or radial nerve involvement and how to know exactly where they are impinged. This highly-rated video leads you through evaluation of over 65 different techniques including common nerve issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, numbness, tingling, wrist pain, and epicondylitis.
This is a clip of that DVD:
Find a therapist who is trained to work with nerve mobilization issues. Always discuss impingement issues with your physician as well, if massage therapy does not relieve your pain.
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