www.massagetherapy.com—your resource for all things bodywork 5
B O D Y T A L K
C O M P I L E D B Y B R A N D O N T W Y F O R D
Improve Your Cardio
with Interval Training
Interval training allows you to reap
the cardiovascular fitness benefits
of aerobic training in less time,
according to Harvard Men's Health
Watch.
What exactly is interval training?
It's simply alternating between short
bursts of high-intensity exercise and
brief periods of rest or less intense
activity. Exercising in this manner
allows you to reach your target heart
rate (the "aerobic zone") faster than you would in steady moderate-intensity
training.
Harvard Men's Health Watch gives three examples of interval training:
• Swimming. Swim one lap as fast as you can. Rest for about the same time as
it took you to swim the lap. Repeat.
• Walking. Walk as fast as you can for a minute or two. Then, walk at a leisurely
pace for the same period. Repeat.
• Gym machines. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, and stationary cycles often
have a built-in interval training function to put you through your paces.
Read the full article at www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/interval-
training-for-a-stronger-heart.
What is Soft-
Tissue Release?
Soft-tissue release (STR) is an
injury treatment technique
developed in Europe with the
world's fastest sprinters. STR
deals directly with the reasons
for soft-tissue dysfunctions and
subsequent referred pain and
nerve entrapment. In acute
conditions, STR affects the way
scar tissue is formed, and in
chronic conditions, STR breaks
up the fibrotic and adhered
mass of scar tissue to quickly
allow the muscle to return to its
natural resting length. The client
is placed in a particular position
so that the muscle begins
to stretch in a very specific
direction or plane. When the
location of the injury has been
defined, pressure is applied
directly into the affected tissue
or along a specific line of injury.
At the same time, the client
is given a set of instructions
that engage the antagonist
of the muscles involved. The
muscle is extended from a
fixed position in a determined
direction under a pinpoint of
pressure. Click here to find a
Soft Tissue Release practitioner.
Use the therapist finder at
www.massagetherapy.
com/find/index.php to
find a neuromuscular
therapist near you.
Definition from
www.massagetherapy.com, "Glossary of
Massage and Bodywork Techniques."
More Evidence for the Effectiveness
of Soft-Tissue Therapies
A systematic review published in Manual Therapy found that manual soft-tissue
therapies are effective in treating certain musculoskeletal disorders and injuries,
including carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis, and plantar fasciitis.
The review critically appraised seven articles published between 1990 and
2015, with the purpose of clarifying the role of soft-tissue therapies in the
management of upper and lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.
The review concluded that:
• Myofascial release therapy was effective for treating lateral epicondylitis and
plantar fasciitis.
• Movement re-education was effective for managing lateral epicondylitis.
• Localized relaxation massage combined with multimodal care may
provide short-term benefit for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.
Read the full review at www.manualtherapyjournal.com/
article/S1356-689X%2815%2900174-5/fulltext.