As a Massage Therapist, tight muscles and muscle injuries on clients are the reason why we are in business. A lot of clients ask why their muscles are so tight when they believe that they are not doing anything to cause muscle shortening. What many of them don’t see is that posture and positioning they do at work can have a direct effect on muscles by shortening them or by making them become weak.
Tight muscles need to be stretched on a regular basis. Your pectoral muscles don’t need bench pressing at the gym on a regular basis to get a work out. If you sit at a desk in front of a computer eight hours a day, they are most likely already tight and short. The opposite affect is done to the back muscles when sitting and typing all day. The back muscles between your shoulder blades tend to be stuck in a lengthen position for long periods of time. These muscles (your rhomboids, mid and lower traps) tend to need more strengthening exercises to help balance out your chest muscles and keep your body in postural alignment. The same issues can arise in the lower body. Your hamstrings (the back of your upper leg) rest in a contracted position for long periods of time while you sit at your desk. These muscles tend to feel tight or sore and need to be lengthened through stretching.
Stretching and strengthening the right muscles can help you live a more pain free life. Massage therapy can also help to relieve achy over used and tightened muscles while stretching between your treatments can help maintain what your therapist has done for you. If you are suffering from tight muscles, book a massage therapy treatment today!