Resiliency requires a balance of both physical and mental health. Some physical recovery options also support mindset and resiliency, or the ability to recover from everyday physical or mental stress.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stress accounts for two-thirds of family doctor visits. Other studies show an even higher percentage. One of the best ways to combat stress—both body and mind—is with muscular and myofascial therapy.
What are my options?
There are a variety of physical manipulations that are designed to help release stress, relieve chronic or acute pain and improve flexibility. From classic relaxation to deep tissue and sports massage, tailor your recovery plan to help reduce stress, increase resilience, prevent injury and revitalize body and mind.
Swedish Massage uses a soothing, medium pressure primarily characterized by long, gliding strokes and geared towards stimulating muscle tissue to enhance blood and lymph circulation.
Deep Tissue Massage is similar to Swedish massage but with deeper pressure that is beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension. The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints) and may incorporate range of motion, body mobilization and stretching.
Trigger Point Therapy is the most effective type of massage therapy for lower back pain caused by soft tissue injury. This therapy consists of alternating levels of concentrated pressure applied with the fingers, knuckles or elbow on the areas of muscle spasm.
Sports Massage is a therapy geared towards athletes of every kind and level. The treatment focuses on areas of the body that are overused and stressed from repetitive and often aggressive movements. Sports massage promotes flexibility, reduces fatigue, improves endurance, helps prevent injuries and prepares the body and mind for optimal performance.
Myofascial Release uses a slow and subtle technique to treat chronic pain and injuries, as well as general aches and pains.
Pre/Post Natal Massage techniques reduce pregnancy discomforts and concerns and enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and baby. In the postpartum period, specialized techniques rebalance structure, physiology and emotions of the new mother.
Myofascial Cupping is the technique of placing special cups on the skin to produce suction. The suction helps decompress the muscular fascia much like massage, but without disrupting the underlying tissue. Mercy Fitness Center massage professionals use FMT RockPods to facilitate tissue gliding, traction and decompression with easy to use myofascial cups.
If you need help deciding which therapy could be best for you, speak with a Mercy Fitness Center massage professional. They’ll talk with you about your goals and challenges and recommend the modality that will address mental and physical resiliency through recovery and relaxation. Request more information about massage today—you’ll be glad you did!