Friday I had another Graston Treatment done by Dr. Derrick Raymer at Athletic Republic. As many of you know, I have been getting treated every week or two in my quest to a. stay on the roads and b. maintain a major injury-free streak of 12 months or more. I have proven again and again that I cannot do either very well without help!
So cue the most recent foray on the table. After getting some familiar and (oddly) non-painful treatments on the lower legs a couple months ago with successful results, I have come up with a theory that there is a spider somewhere in my legs that likes to put webbing on my joints. Ok not really, but you get the picture....
Being a girl who has the tendency to overthink-especially in things dealing with running, sometimes a simple, often stupid answer works best and then and you just let the pros do their job. So anyway, the 'leg spider', as I am calling it- or more like the spoils of repetitive motion- managed to spin a nice web in my right hip as of lately. Perfectly 'runnable', yet perfectly annoying and takes away from both a smooth stride and my enjoyment of however many miles are prescribed that day.
Tearing down the web today, I'll be honest, did not feel too good. The good news about this technique is that previously treated parts can adapt to the discomfort (notice I didn't call it 'pain'; there is a difference). According to the Doc I had 'ropes' inhibiting my movement in my upper leg and hip range of motion. Basically myofascial growth and maybe some gross inflammation to go with it. Sounds lovely, doesn't it?!
After today's round of treatment, I quickly noticed a big increase in ease of movement and much less discomfort. There will likely be some initial soreness over the weekend, as the procedure does involve some scraping and ART-type work. The end result I feel is worth it. Range of motion is often a deciding factor in performance and injury prevention.
Based on research on the web, GT and myofascial release techniques are not necessarily new, but is becoming more mainstream in sports med treatment.
The key benefits according to the GT website are as follows:
- Decreases overall time of treatment
- Fosters faster rehabilitation/recovery
- Reduces need for anti-inflammatory medication
- Resolves chronic conditions thought to be permanent
Don't like pills? This is a good option. Don't like to be a slave to treatments? This is worth a shot. I also use it merely as a recovery method to prevent future complications. That and it is really nice having joints that move the way they are supposed to, even after all the pounding I give them.
Obviously I recommend this for serious athletes who haven't responded well to more traditional work and I of course highly recommend the always charming Dr. Derrick!
So there you have it, getting stabbed in the leg doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Just have it done by a trained professional!
Stay the course. I'm off to run again.
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