When your sore after shoveling your muscles feel like they have been injured…and they have! You use muscles that may not be used in other physical activities you participate in and they definitely feel the effects.
Your muscles are attached to your bones and pain in your muscles is controlled by your nerves. Stiff, tight and contracted muscles usually point towards nervous system and skeletal issues. Regular chiropractic adjustments insure that your vertebrae are moving as they are supposed to.
Massage after an injury can help by manipulating the soft tissue layers of your muscles. Massage works by breaking up any stuck muscle fibers or connective tissue that were injured or tightened during shoveling. Any type of massage can help relieve the pain but concentrated Trigger Point or Deep Tissue can be very effective in loosening tight muscles. If you can’t handle deep pressure, Swedish Massage can be effective in relaxing your muscle and bringing more blood flow to the area which is beneficial as well.
Chiropractic and massage increase in effectiveness when used together.
Faster Healing –The spine and soft tissue depend on each other to function and are often both impacted from an injury. Patients who receive both therapies will often experience a faster and more complete recovery as a result of the less isolated treatment.
Improved Circulation – Massage can improve blood flow through congested areas and release lactic acid, while chiropractic relieves pressure on nerves due to subluxations.
Greater Range of Motion –Much like spinal adjustments, massages are able to improve the flexibility and mobility of impacted areas such as muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue.
Easier Adjustments – Massage relaxes the body and reduces muscle tension, allowing for easy and effective adjustments.
A combination of chiropractic and massage can help insure that you are back to your old self in time for the next snow storm!
When snow does strike keep our Snow Shoveling Safety Tips in mind!
• Keep up with the storm.
• Give yourself time to shovel, don’t rush! A good pace while shoveling is 15 scoops per minute.
• Take a few minutes to warm up your muscles. Stretching before you start shoveling will help prevent injury and fatigue.
• Wear breathable layers.
• Wear good boots.
• Stay hydrated. You should drink the same amount of water as you would if you were running 5 miles.
• Push don’t lift or throw the snow.
• Don’t twist your upper body.
• Ask for help.
• Rest afterwards!
