No Pain, No Gain – Half Truth!

Is no pain no gain true? This concept was adopted in gyms and sports arenas. It has also been applied incorrectly as a general belief to areas where it is not so true. In an exerted exercise work-out the muscles rip on a microscopic level. They hurt a little. Following the repetitive motion, the muscle memory keeps pumping lactic acid in the muscles. When insufficient or no stretching follows a hard work-out, excess lactic acid builds up in the muscle causing pain! The pain from the excess lactic acid is greater than the microscopic muscle tear.

Did you know that stretching after a work-out is also a trigger to turn off excess lactic acid production in muscles? The cool down starts this process to slow down lactic acid production. Therefore, proper repeated stretching following a work out will allow you to be only slightly uncomfortable the next day. It is possible to have no soreness the day after a work-out. Surprising isn’t it? That’s one change of perspective. 

“Active Isolated Stretching, “assisted by a trained professional, releases toxins and congestion, from the muscles. It also warms the fascia or web-like connective tissue for greater flexibility. When you find the massage therapist or a medical professional that knows these techniques and others, you may experience a calm relief.  Most people think to relieve tension in painful areas that it has to hurt during a therapeutic massage. That is also not true.

Some massage therapist use bodywork methods that allow the muscle to release the tension without force. One method is called, “myofascial sustained release”. In this method of working with muscle memory, the therapist forms a pocket of comfort where the tension is located. After sustaining that position for awhile, this triggers the proprioceptors in the muscle structure to release the tension naturally, without pain. The method may have other names, too.

Licensed massage therapist MaryAnne Palumbo’s style is a medical result with a spa feel. She can be reached by calling 407-756-4947.MA38837