Self massage techniques

[chewymix]

As mush of my pain seems to centre around low back/top of hamstrings what techniques do others use to address this area. I have heard people using teracanes but what else? Is the Theracane the way forward? I seem to have really tender areas on what appear to be bones where the top of the hamstring is at the back - Anyone else get that?

[inflamed]

for your low back espically at sides of hip I find a tennis ball works well.

put tennis ball in between yourself and wall, with your back to the wall, and turn away from the wall you will probably find some trigger points I have at least 3 I treat this way.

[CppsDad]

I've done a similar thing with a baseball sitting on the ground. I basically lower myself onto the ball, which hurts a lot, but eventually it works its way through all the muscles and feels pretty good.

Mike

[chewymix]

i have tried a tennis ball as per Claire Davis instructions but never really felt like I was getting down there into the muscles that much. I guess the Theracane really is the way to go as I see quite a few of you using them.

When massaging hamstrings with the Theracane the bits at the top where they connect to the pelvis do these often feel really hard and painful? It really feels like bone to me but the fact that its tender makes me think that perhaps its not? I guess massaging this won't do any harm though

thanks

[Richie]

My problem is the front lower pelvis. I use a short broom handle and hold on painful deep spots for 60 seconds or so each. This process takes about 1/2 hour before I have hit all the spots. After 3-4 days this seems to be having dramatic positive results for me.

I also quit coffee altogether this week.

[chewymix]

interesting - my abs hurt - just below my navel but only on palpatation. My PT also has been working on my Psoas and !!!!! I have never felt as much pain as I have from the psoas. One question about your abs, is there any danger of getting the 'wrong' spots down there? I mean are there any delicate structures to be aware of?

i KNOW you are not giving me medical advice :)

[Richie]

While its certainly possible to damage something, I have not hurt anything yet and I am really digging deep and "looking" to find painful spots then pressing.

[CppsDad]

I went over this with my PT carefully, and after looking at diagrams of the abdomen, I can safely report that it is basically coverred in muscles, two to three types of muscles deep. Check out Grays Anatomy on-line. I too thought I was hurting intenstines, but there really is a TON of muscle there. I spend a long time massaging this every week. The Theracane is the best for abdominals. It would work for hamstrings, but probably not quite as great.

[webslave]

Anatomy, all you ever wanted to see, and more:
http://anatquest.nlm.nih.gov/AnatQuest/ ... taway.html