robotic massage
Hi Jody:
Sorry I disappeared for awhile. Rough week...
Yes, I can tell you about the robotic massage. would you like that to be a new thread? There is a lot of information about it.
Basically it looks at the musculoskeletal system as a series of cables (muscles) working to operate a variety of levers (bones). When one of the cables shortens, it affects the entire system and causes pain in the joint and in the muscles, and the tissue surrounding that joint.
TIf the muscle is hard, it is shortened. If you move against a shortened muscle, it hurts. Range of motion is lost and the shortened muscle has lactic acid in it that causes it to be tender to the touch. If you move quickly or are pushed quickly against a shortened muscle, you will tear the muscle or dislocate the joint.
The lactic acid andwaste products in the shortened muscle cause chronic pain and skeletal and neurological disorders.
The robotic therapy lengthens the shortened muscles ridding the muscles of toxic waste and restoring normal blood flow, allowing the muscle to relax and lengthen to its normal state.
The robot was developed by an engineer in Florida who has Fibromyalgia. You lay on a table. The robot arm comes down from above and applies pressure to the tightened muscle. It is very sensitive. If the muscle tightens and fights the robot, the robot backs off a fraction of an inch. If the muscle lengthens and relaxes, the robot pushes a fraction of an inch more.
For me they started off on the iliacus and psoas muscles. As the robot lengthened those muscles, I could feel all of the muscles in my back readjusting. Over time, certain chronic pains and muscle weaknesses lessened or disappeared.
An example would be getting out of the car and standing there until I could put weight on my leg. I don't have to wait anymore. Now I just get out of the car and walk.
I had a lot of chest pain, but it wasn't a heart problem from a muscle problem. Lengthening the Pec major and minor muscles relieved that pain.
Working on them and also areas on the top of the shoulder by the neck reduced certain types of neck pain and headaches.
Foot pain was relieved by the robot lenthening the muscles in the calf and bottom of the foot.
The robot can be purchased as a portable unit, a joystick unit or a professional unit for a Doctors office. Prices are $2,500, $7,500 and $21,000.
My Doctor initially sent several patients to another clinic to try this therapy. I could tell by the end of two treatments that it would be of help.
Eventually he purchased two units and I began therapy. In October I tried to do therapy 2 - 3 times a week, and I progressed very rapidly. I have experimented by skipping a couple of weeks, or by going only once a week. I don't have good results then.
He would like me to do therapy every day. The reason is, you only work one body part at a time. I would love to have one at home and have a month long concentration of daily therapies to build upon and see just how much progress I can make.
Initially the movement of the muscles lengthening causes some discomfort. After several therapies any discomfort during the treatment ended, and it only helped to reduce my pain level and increase my activity level.
Obviously my goal is to have my own unit so I don't have to waste time driving (45 min one way) pay for gasoline, and spend energy on the whole experience of getting to the appt. Tampa Bays traffic leaves something to be desired...
I have the goal, just not sure how to reach it right now. What I do know is that I have made a lot of progress with this therapy. The robotic therapy along with Prolotherapy are what allowed me to get off of the pain medications.
