Active Release/Rolfing/Deep Tissue Massage Question(s)

[Your_Moms_Kneepads]

I'm looking to hear from people who have used or know about deep tissue massage/rolfing for treatment of an injury-in this case a shoulder (right) that from what my chiropractor said is an imbalance of pec strength to rear delt.stabilizer strength.
When I was examined I had ALOT of PAINFUL trigger points in my right pec and right around the GlenoHumeral area he palpated and massaged where the biceps tendon inserted and I was in PAIN.

He reccomened (and I am following his advice) to lay off almost all chest and shoulder work except very light dumbell presses and flyes on the swiss ball as well as internal/external rotatation exercises and rear dumbell laterals (train this fairly hard).
Let me know what kind of experience any of you have had with deep tissue massage/rolfing.
BTW active release is a type of deep tissue massage that helps with my sort of problem but practiitioners are rare.

 

[Night Fly]

I have never had either of these, but I have a friend who has had several of both.

He says that the deep tissue massage is very good, but quite painful, and that you will be sore for a few days after before you feel the effects of it.

He said that the other kind was better for injuries, simply because it does not cause as much pain and it allows the muscle to heal a bit quicker.

Don't know if that will help any, but thought I would give you my input....

 

[BackDoc]

If you want to see if there is an active release trained doctor near you, go to:

http://www.activerelease.com/locator/index.cfm

It will tell you essentially how far it is to their practice as well as provide a number for that specific office.

Rolfing is a great technique, and if you can find one near you it might be worth a shot if you can't find an ART doctor. I'll tell you however, that the comparison of pain you will experience with a rolfing practitioner will be much worse than with an ART doctor. Probably because rolfing takes anywhere up to 11 treatments to reestablish proper muscular function and each treatment can last an hour or more. The treatment for your type of injury, degree of damage aside, will be quite painful regardless of which you choose. As long as you don't have a serious injury, then I would suspect 4 or 5 treatments (lasting around 10 minutes each session with an ART doctor) will likely give you the improvement you are looking for.

Both techniques work, but personally, I think ART would be better suited.

 

[Your_Moms_Kneepads]

thank you both for the replies. I am going to look into finding an AR practitioner here in the area.

 

[DocJ]

I can't tell you how many BB's I've helped rehab with shoulder problems. The main problem areas that I find in almost every case are in the teres minor and infraspinatus, many times with an associated shortened pec major AND minor. I think you'll have good results going with the ART route, good luck.

 

[Froggy]

What NightFly said is right you will be sore for a few days. I had one done but not for medical reasons.

Note: You might really want to make sure you drink alot of water to flush any toxins that are released in your system.