Sometimes patients come for treatment for an apparent hamstring or calf strain when persistent massage and/or stretching has not helped.

Muscle tissue tends to recover from injury quickly due to the rich blood supply; it is designed that way in order to repair and restore mobility as quickly as possible, so if it does not seem to be improving, the chances are it is not just a ‘muscle problem’.

In fact a problem is rarely isolated to just one muscle; the chances are that associated muscles will be involved, (both those that assist it and those that do the opposite movement), and the joints that are moved by the muscle action, since these are all part of an integrated musculo-skeletal system. Also, the fact that body movement tends to require a cascade of multiple joint motion and muscular coordination implies that an apparent strain in one place may be the symptom that something else is not able to do its job properly, and the pull won’t resolve until the primary cause is corrected. In addition, all these structures rely on constant and plentiful blood nutrient supply, waste product drainage and controlling nerve supply to function adequately.

All these factors are important considerations when dealing with an apparent muscular impairment, and osteopathy can assist the process towards optimal recovery by suitable evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.

Incidentally, I have seen several cases where a muscle injury turned out to have been exacerbated or even caused by excessive stretching itself. In particular, watch out after exercise when muscle fibres are already fatigued, and stretch slowly and gently to restore normal working length rather than going for broke.

In general, my take on stretching does not focus on specific muscles per se; I think of it as moving the joints through their full normal range of motion (and not beyond). After all, that is the function of muscle action, and if the joints are healthy and happy, then the muscle groups tend to take care of themselves.

Training for the London Marathon? You probably realise there are just 3 weeks to go! If you would like a sports massage in Ealing (or deep tissue massage) or Uxbridge – please get in touch.