Warm days, cool nights, and bluebird groomers everywhere can only mean one thing: we are rounding the corner on winter and staring full-throttle down the throat of spring. Or, as I like to call it, ACL season.
Why ACL?
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is the most
commonly torn ligament in the knee. Along with the posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, it helps form a front-to-back X shape inside the knee joint.
ACL tears can happen a number of different ways, such as the result of a sudden twisting motion, landing incorrectly from a jump, or through direct contact or collision. There are three grades of tears, but most common is the complete rupture of the ligament. A brace or PT can help maintain the stability of the knee, but a fully torn ACL won't heal without surgery.
Note: There's a saying in Steamboat that you're not a local until you've blown a knee or a shoulder; please note that we do not advise going this particular route in the name of fitting in. Trust me, there's easier ways to make friends.
So what does all this have to do with massage?
Once the mountain closes in
April, a lot of locals who have hobbled through the ski season on their knee braces finally suck it up and go under the knife. Massage can be extremely beneficial during the acute post-op phase to decrease swelling and associated pain. We can also apply kinesiotape to continue to reduce swelling and bruising over a period of several days.
But what about when the swelling goes down? How can massage help me then?
If you've never spent any time on crutches, consider yourself blessed. As unpleasant as the knee surgery itself can be, it's the recovery that's the real PITA. Being on crutches changes your posture and gait, often resulting in whole-body aching and soreness. Massage helps to ease that discomfort and stiffness and make the recovery process much more bearable.
In addition, massage can help speed the healing process by increasing blood flow to the injured area. Collagen fibers in ligaments are arranged crossways like plywood, creating a structure with a minimal amount of blood flow. Increasing the blood flow helps bring in oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissue, fueling the recovery and diminishing one's down time.
Massage can also aid in keeping the muscle tissue and fascia supple in the surrounding area. This can help speed recovery of range of motion in the joint as well as decrease or prevent adhesions from scar tissue forming. Many people will also work with physical therapists during this phase of the injury; massage is a wonderful compliment to PT.
Not just for knees
So the next time you're dealing with some sort of injury that may well require surgery, keep massage in mind as a tool for your healing arsenal. (That metaphor really doesn't parse well, does it?) Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does, swing on in and see how much better we can make you feel.
Why ACL?
The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is the most
commonly torn ligament in the knee. Along with the posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, it helps form a front-to-back X shape inside the knee joint.ACL tears can happen a number of different ways, such as the result of a sudden twisting motion, landing incorrectly from a jump, or through direct contact or collision. There are three grades of tears, but most common is the complete rupture of the ligament. A brace or PT can help maintain the stability of the knee, but a fully torn ACL won't heal without surgery.
Note: There's a saying in Steamboat that you're not a local until you've blown a knee or a shoulder; please note that we do not advise going this particular route in the name of fitting in. Trust me, there's easier ways to make friends.
So what does all this have to do with massage?
Once the mountain closes in
April, a lot of locals who have hobbled through the ski season on their knee braces finally suck it up and go under the knife. Massage can be extremely beneficial during the acute post-op phase to decrease swelling and associated pain. We can also apply kinesiotape to continue to reduce swelling and bruising over a period of several days.But what about when the swelling goes down? How can massage help me then?
If you've never spent any time on crutches, consider yourself blessed. As unpleasant as the knee surgery itself can be, it's the recovery that's the real PITA. Being on crutches changes your posture and gait, often resulting in whole-body aching and soreness. Massage helps to ease that discomfort and stiffness and make the recovery process much more bearable.
In addition, massage can help speed the healing process by increasing blood flow to the injured area. Collagen fibers in ligaments are arranged crossways like plywood, creating a structure with a minimal amount of blood flow. Increasing the blood flow helps bring in oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissue, fueling the recovery and diminishing one's down time.Massage can also aid in keeping the muscle tissue and fascia supple in the surrounding area. This can help speed recovery of range of motion in the joint as well as decrease or prevent adhesions from scar tissue forming. Many people will also work with physical therapists during this phase of the injury; massage is a wonderful compliment to PT.Not just for knees
So the next time you're dealing with some sort of injury that may well require surgery, keep massage in mind as a tool for your healing arsenal. (That metaphor really doesn't parse well, does it?) Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does, swing on in and see how much better we can make you feel.
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