Spring is in the air, which means many of us will get outside to garden, play golf, tennis or even go for a hike. Watch overdoing it! It is easy to get immersed in the garden for a few hours or play golf and forget to stretch. When we overdo an activity using a muscle or area that doesn’t typically get a lot of use, this can lead to the appropriately named “overuse injury”.
What is an overuse injury? An overuse injury is a term used to describe an injury that occurs from tissue damage resulting from repetitive demand over a period of time. Rowing a boat, squatting and pulling weeds, or trying to keep up with a friend who plays golf or tennis all the time are frequent scenarios. When you hear people talking about golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, IT band issues, or even plantar fasciitis, all are types of overuse injuries.
Most treatments call for isolating the muscle with slow stretching and returning to use, or changing the way the joint moves. Those elastic bands you see people wearing on their arms? It’s an attempt to change the way the muscle attaches to the bone, so different parts of muscle get used and allow the overused ones time to heal.
Another option is VibraCool®. Vibration in a specific frequency, also called mechanical stimulation (M-Stim®), separates muscle fibers and improves blood flow. A timed thin intense ice pack then reduces the inflammation. Most therapists recommend using the M-Stim alone for 5 minutes before a workout, then using the ice and vibration after a workout to help warm up the tight muscle.
VibraCool is intended for elbow pain (epicondylitis), bruises, strains and muscular injuries. VibraCool features comfortable, adjustable compression, which is easy to use. The Oscillice® technology blocks the pain on contact, reduces stiffness and speeds healing. Providing you no muss or fuss, VibraCool can help you get you back to the things you love!
By Chris Gellert, PT, MMusc & Sportsphysio, MPT, CSCS, C-IASTM, NASM-CPT