Well you all know that I will hype up the whirlpool untill everyone says they have tried it. I love sports massage but its so expensive. And im in richmond. Where the heck do you go around here. I was at the ymca the other day which is literally in the middle of no where. I cant explain it. But if your car breaks down then you might be in trouble. I step out of the car and I hear “ponygirl” you can now enter the pony pasture. An equestrian was going on across the street at the pony course. Of course I should have known. I have never seen anything like it in my life.
Tim, I used it for about 3 x 8 minutes - temp about 90 degrees celsius. In between I went into the hydrotherapy pool and then the cold shower.
Regarding the whirlpool, do you find the general whirl feeling or bubbling of a jaccuzzi more relaxing to the muscles than powerful water jets? We have water jets and my muscles do not feel as relaxed when using them. I know my circulation may be enahnced more so, but I wonder whether my tone is lowered as much?
I swear that is an excellent question. I know what your talking about. I have seen a gym that lets their members use the old-style type tin wirlpool with the handheld jet. You actually have to put the jets in the tub yourself. Im not sure if this is what you have used? The only experience I have with this is I bought a hand held jet at cvs put it in my tub and it basically did nothing. Keep in mind this jet was made for bathtubs. Do not stick a jet that is otherwise not made for tubs kids. I think that it depends on the positioning of the jets. I prefer whirlpools where jets which are properly positioned symetrically both correct height and width. Does anyone sell whirlpools on here. Maybe they could explain. Also its important to have a place to sit. These are the signs of a good whirlpool. I dont really like the jets too powerfull, its not relaxing to me. It might be to deep for the muscles. Another controversial theory here. I dont think its wise to slam your whole body against the jets like I see many people doint nowadays. And I dont advise sticking a bodyparts near the jets to heal them faster. I prefer to sit in the middle so the jets come over and under me. But not really hitting my body directly. Again it depends on the power of the jets. Im sure doc might even argue that it doesnt hit the muscles that hard either way. Im not sure. I find that more jets at a lower power are better then just one big jet trying to do all the work. It doesn’t make the tub whirl either. Seriously. I think that the whirlpool effects tone greatly. Be carefull. With the combination of the pool. Using cyles. It can be done for an hour. With breaks of course and in cycles. Be careful though. Thats the advantage on the cold cycle of using pool water of say 85-75% vs. 55 degree water. Heres my protocol. 3 minutes hot, one minute in cold (pool). Repeat 4 times. Break 10-15 minutes. Repeat again.
Is the lowering of tone such an issue post-training?
After a hard day of practice I seriously doubt it… Charlie?
Tim, the jets I have used are of different powers and can be local and intense, or general and of low to moderate intensity.
No23 and Tim, I also believe increased tone post training is natural and not necessarily worrying. However, if the increased tone lasts until atleast the day after a session, then interventions such as hydrotherapy may be beneficial. Then we need to know the best therapy; other than massage if this is not affordable.
Agreed, Richard.
I would also include various stretching methods (AIS, microstretching?) as a therapy and perhaps foam rollers, though I haven’t used them myself.
I agree stretching helps. BTW, the most effective tone lowering procedure I have found has not been the jaccuzzi, water jets, stretching or even ice, it was simply submerging my whole body in a bath of cold tap water for 1 minute. I felt a systemic effect may have been acting on local inceased tone in my hams, and this being more effective than locally applying ice. I did post this not long ago but thought it may be worth posting again. I have not had massage for high tone but I am sure this would also be very effective.