Happy Muscles: Suggestions for Quick Relief using self massage after a nice soak in your hot tub.

COLLETTE GLASS, a massage therapist in Atlanta, offers her top three moves for leg relief from an article in The New York Times, Thursday, December 3, 2009, “Becoming Your Own Massage Therapist”.

When you’re at home or work and there’s no chance for a getting a professional massage, try these moves for muscle relief either before or after soaking in your Hot Spring Spa.  The results will likely be better after soaking as your muscles will have warmed up and the tenseness will have subsided somewhat.  I used the calf  move on the Saturday we had our Toys for Tots event at the Fife store.  Having stood outdoors for two hours on hard concrete, my calves were sore! I jumped in the tub when we got home and massaged my tired legs after wards. Bliss.

CALVES

Standing, place one leg on a low chair or bench. Reach down and place thumb and forefinger of one hand on opposite sides of the top of the heel. Squeeze your fingers and slowly raise your toes, flexing your foot. Lower the foot. Repeat two more times, then move a half-inch up your leg and repeat the sequence, continuing up to the back of the knee. Repeat on other leg.

TIBIALIS POSTERIOR

To reach the tibialis posterior – the muscle behind the shin – stay in the same position as for the calf massage. Starting just above the ankle, poke a thumb into the muscle behind the shin and twist your wrist, as if you’re trying to push your thumb under your shin. Flex and lower your foot three times, then move up a half-inch. “It will be most tender about three-quarters of the way up” to the knee, Mrs. Glass said, noting that this is a common place for stress fractures. Repeat on other leg.

QUADRICEPS

Sitting so your knees are bent 90 degrees, make a relaxed fist with one hand, and press the knuckles into the muscle above your kneecap on one leg. Slowly straighten the leg. Lower, and repeat three times before moving up in half-inch segments to the top of the leg. If the pressure isn’t enough, apply more with your other hand, or use the heel of a hand. Repeat on other leg.

SANUM PER AQUA. Latin for Health through Water.