Suffering from a joint injury is both frustrating and painful. If you're used to mobilising with ease, having to limit your movements has a negative impact on your life. Seeing a physiotherapist is a positive step forward, especially when you're seeking long-term recovery. Your physiotherapy team may recommend using massage to make your recovery journey easier. If you're uncertain about doing so, now's the time to learn how this approach improves your joint mobility.
Reducing inflammation
When you encounter a joint injury, your body responds to a series of chemicals and hormones that send signals from the area. In addition to producing pain, those signals induce inflammation. Although some inflammation is helpful for protecting the area as it heals, too much can result in reduced mobility. As a result, you'll enter a cycle of increased pain and less movement.
Massage can help to improve lymphatic flow in the area of your injury, which then decreases inflammation. As a result, you should be able to move it more. Movement in itself can help to reduce inflammation but do make sure you receive appropriate guidance from a professional. Your physiotherapy team will be able to tell you how much movement is appropriate for the different phases of your recovery.
Alleviating pain
One of the most frustrating parts of having a joint injury is the amount of pain you experience. Pain can put you off engaging in recovery exercises, plus it can limit your range of movement. Although pain medications are available, you may not want to rely on them too much.
Massage therapy can relax the muscles surrounding your joints, which then lowers the number of painful contractions they make. Additionally, it replaces your painful sensations with one that's more comfortable, which results in positive signals reaching your brain rather than painful ones. When you feel less pain, you're more likely to move your joint around.
Limiting stress
By focusing on massaging other areas of your body, you can reduce stress and anxiety. Your risk of stress and anxiety may be higher after an injury, as injuries make it difficult to move around as normal. By attending regular massage sessions, you may feel calmer, which results in a more positive recovery.
If you're experiencing insomnia, using massage to promote a better night's sleep could speed up your recovery. As your body undergoes a lot of healing while you sleep, it's in your interests to get more of it. Reach out to a physiotherapy professional to learn more.