Massage Therapy Beneficial to Injuries After Car Accidents
Have you been injured in a car accident? Warnett Hallen LLP will work with you to assemble a team of practitioners to get you healthy and pain free. Today we’re talking to Jodi Blasco, a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) with Alliance Wellness, a one-stop shop providing integrated health and wellness services and practitioners, located on Vancouver’s west side. Jodi is an expert in treating soft-tissue injuries that are often the result of car accidents, and she was able to walk us through some of the different treatments available through massage therapy, and how they can help accident victims get on the road to recovery.
WH: You are at the top in your field in massage therapy – tell me why you chose this career?
JB: I really enjoy helping others. Being injured is both a physical and mental challenge and being part of someone’s journey back to health is an amazing feeling! I was introduced to massage therapy when I was a college athlete, and I was instantly intrigued. I had always wanted to be part of the health care field and this profession was the perfect fit for me.
WH: You specialize in a few different types of massage therapies – can you tell us a bit about them? What they are and why they are so effective?
Massage therapy is excellent for soft-tissue injuries. Massage can decrease swelling and inflammation, increase circulation, lessen muscle adhesions, and help with headaches and nerve pain.
Joint mobilization is a manual technique where I apply passive force to address issues inside the joint. This is done to address many issues, particularly when a client needs to stretch the tissue, or manage pain. I’ll also use it to address range of motion (ROM) issues, when a client is having trouble extending a limb or muscle as far as they normally could.
Trigger points – irritated nodules with tight muscle fibers – are painful, and are common in shortened muscles due to incorrect posture, injuries, sleeping positions etc. I use compression and release techniques to treat these.
The fascia is the connective tissue that wraps and protects structures in our bodies such as muscles and organs. When it becomes restricted and painful through trauma, overuse or inactivity, I use contractile myofascial release techniques that combine manual therapy and range of motion exercises.
WH: You are also trained in therapeutic exercise for lumbopelvic stabilization. Tell us about that and when would you use this type of treatment/technique on a patient and for what type of injuries?
JB: Lumbopelvic stabilization teachings are important for everyone. People often assume that your core refers to only abdominals, but your lumbopelvic area, or lower back and pelvis, is also a key. These techniques strengthen this area, and are taught to patients who are experiencing imbalances in their core muscles, and/or are unable to correctly activate their core muscles. These imbalances are common in individuals who spend the majority of their time sitting, or who have incorrect technique at the gym. It’s also great for patients who are pregnant/ post- pregnancy and individuals with lower back and pelvis dysfunctions.
Fortunately, because of our integrated clinic, I am able to refer injured patients who require in-depth teachings about lumbopelvic stabilization to our physiotherapist for further help.
WH: Many of our clients at Warnett Hallen LLP have suffered injuries in car accidents; frequently they are battling soft-tissue injuries, whiplash and chronic pain. Can you tell us how massage therapy can help with these sorts of car accident injuries? Are there specific types of massage you would recommend for these injuries?
JB: Massage therapy is excellent for soft-tissue injuries from car accidents. Massage can help decrease swelling and inflammation, increase circulation to an injured area, lessen muscle and fascial adhesions and restrictions, and help with symptoms like headaches and nerve pain.
A wide range of techniques can be used to address a patient’s specific injuries – fascial techniques, Swedish massage, joint mobilizations, range of motion exercises and more can all be integrated into the treatment.
WH: What advice would you give to people to help them start their recovery after a car accident or other personal injury?
JB: When you’ve been injured in an accident, you should make an appointment with a practitioner or therapist as soon as possible. The sooner you can be assessed and have a treatment plan created for you, the sooner the treatment and recovery process can begin.
We take car accident injuries seriously and will work with you to assemble a team of practitioners to get you healthy and pain free. We don’t just practice law; we help you get better. If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the most responsive Vancouver car accident lawyers at Warnett Hallen LLP.
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