When I started working with professional athletes as a massage therapist in 1980, there was just a handful of us in the entire country. I knew at that time that it was only going to grow from there and that one day most if not all, pro athletes would make massage therapy a priority in their healthcare routine. Not only high-level athletes but millions of ordinary health conscience consumers in this country are now using massage therapy regularly. In the critically acclaimed book, Sports-Massage, by Jack Meagher, the author claims that sports-massage will give the athlete a 20% advantage in performance, recovery, injury prevention, and career longevity. I have seen firsthand just how accurate that claim is. I was fortunate to work with hundreds of the world’s best pro athletes, most recently, I was the massage therapist for the Chicago White Sox baseball team. The players who worked with me consistently played some of the best baseball of their careers. I believe that without my contribution, we wouldn’t have won the World Series in 2005. Two athletes who have embraced massage therapy in more recent years are Lebron James and Tom Brady. Both of these players have been incredibly successful all throughout their storied careers. Both of these world-class athletes are way past their prime years, James is 38, and Brady is 45. I can say with complete confidence that had they, not prioritized massage therapy, their careers would have ended long ago. Although most of us will never have the need to perform at the level that pro athletes do, we can all see health optimization in our busy lives.
Here are some of the benefits of massage that everyone can benefit from listed by the Mayo Clinic.
1) It lessens pain and muscle tightness.
2) It reduces stress.
3) It increases relaxation.
4) It improves the work of the immune system.
These benefits are excitingly beneficial for everyone; however, massage therapy is expensive and cost prohibitive for many. I began developing patented tools for professionals and consumers alike in 1999. My newest product, The Hall of Fame™ Massage Tool from Acuforce International, Inc. allows virtually anyone to perform valuable massage techniques on themselves. It’s constructed of a sturdy stainless-steel tube and a precision plastisol metal-coated tip that allows the user to reach the entire back of the body. The Hall of Fame™ helps the user treat trigger-points, which are taut painful bands in the tissues. Important research was conducted by Janet Travell, MD & David Simons, MD, in their writings on the subject contained in Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, The Trigger Point Manual. The text teaches that by applying pressure to these areas of our bodies for 8 to 12 seconds, you can quickly achieve a therapeutic result. I have used this important work for decades, and I believe it to be the best massage technique available today.
Again, massage therapy is expensive. For less than half the price a professional massage, you can purchase The Hall of Fame™ and use it regularly at home to improve your health! It’s now available on Amazon.
By John G. Louis
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