Flow Shiatsu RMT Clinic

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『TAD Method16』 Two consecutive falls from the balance beamWith the consent of the patient and …

"TAD's Method for Checking the Health of Your Legs and Hips"

Today, I will introduce a simple method for checking the health of your legs and hips. This method is based on my own assessment, ranging from patients suffering from back pain to Olympic gold medalists.

◆ TAD's Leg and Hip Health Check Method ◆

Stand upright with your feet parallel.
Slowly bend your knees and ankles while lowering your hips without lifting your heels off the floor.
You will end up in a position similar to what is commonly called "yankee sitting."
If you can lower your hips to the end without lifting your heels and without losing balance, you pass. If you can only lower your hips partway, it's likely that your legs and hips are fatigued.*** Why can't you lower your hips? ***It's often due to fatigue in the ankles or buttock muscles.*** What problems arise from fatigue in the ankles or buttock muscles? ***Poor ankle mobility can lead to easy falls and slower running. Tight buttock muscles can restrict movement at the hips and the base of the legs, leading to back pain.
How to prevent it?A well-known method for relieving ankle fatigue is the "person watching the sea at the pier + thinking person" introduced in my 18th column. (It can be found in the Health & Beauty category on TORJA's website.) Additionally, the method I want to introduce today is "self-massage."

◆ TAD's "Self-Massage" ◆

Sit in a cross-legged position and carefully search for the knotty area behind the inner ankle bone (near the bone).
The area to target is about 5 cm above and below the back of the ankle.
Apply sustained pressure for one minute. (Once you find a tight spot, apply continuous pressure for one minute, making it feel comfortable.)

BenefitsThe key to "self-massage" lies in touching the problematic areas yourself. By touching and loosening hard-to-reach areas while in a stretching motion, you can expect a 100% effective method. This means you can prevent situations where you've been doing it every day yet see absolutely "no effect." As these areas likely haven't been properly tended to for years, improving them could potentially alleviate chronic symptoms such as "pain" and "movement restrictions" in about a week. This approach is effective not only for ankles but also for relieving fatigue around other joints.

Do children get stiff shoulders too??I often receive questions like, "Do children also get stiff shoulders?" Basically, since adults and children are composed of the same body elements, children can also experience stiff shoulders. The causes of stiff shoulders are similar to those in adults, including overexertion (such as from sports or studying) and stress from interpersonal relationships. Generally, the reason why it might be thought that "children don't get stiff shoulders" is because children may not often complain to their parents about such discomfort due to a lack of awareness of stiff shoulders. On the flip side, when children seem tired, having a third party touch their muscles, such as shoulders, back, and thighs, to assess and release their physical fatigue can be a very effective way to manage their physical condition. Releasing "body tension = stress" may lead to improved blood circulation, increased oxygen supply to the brain, and even effects like "improved intelligence⁉". This is supported by feedback received from many students who report increased reading speed and sustained concentration after receiving treatment for study fatigue. Checkpoints for "body tension release" include 1) tension on the side of the neck, 2) tension around the middle of the shoulders, 3) tension on both sides of the spine, 4) tension in the thigh muscles above the knee cap, and 5) tension on the shins. Recently, when children experience inefficiency in studying, lack of concentration, or frequent injuries during sports, changing the perspective a little and releasing physical fatigue and discomfort often leads to improvement.

Tad: What does weight training entail?

Sato: Typically, in team sports, everyone follows the same training regimen provided by the team.

As a specialist in kicking, I question the relevance of performing the same exercises as defensive players who engage in intense contact, as it may develop muscles unnecessary for kicking, leading to compromised movements. Thus, I incorporate additional exercises focused on building quality muscles essential for kicking.

"The most important aspect of weight training is to prevent injuries!"

This may sound cool, but it stems from bitter experiences during high school. There was a prevailing atmosphere where lifting heavy weights in awkward positions to show off was considered admirable, leading to a back injury from competing with friends.

Tad: That's a common mistake.

Sato: This injury prompted me to reconsider weight training. I learned about body structure from team trainers and started analyzing why the injury occurred and how it could be prevented. Now, I prioritize lifting weights with proper form, even if it means reducing the load by 10 kg.

Tad: Are there still players competing in weightlifting?

Sato: Some players focus on building impressive muscles for appearance.

Tad: Could you share your approach to injury prevention?

Sato: Simply put, it's about building a strong body capable of withstanding stress and ensuring thorough warm-up and cool-down before and after physical activity.

When I injured my MCL in high school, I initially didn't understand what it was. However, by embracing the guidance and explanations from trainers, I developed an interest in understanding the body's mechanics, stress distribution, and preventing injury recurrence.

MCL = Medial Collateral Ligament (supports the inner knee and is susceptible to damage from strong impacts from the side)

Tad: Meeting excellent trainers laid the foundation for your fundamental training concepts.

Sato: Acquiring proper form is also crucial. Even intense movements, when done with correct form, can prevent injuries and strain on the body.

Sato: Ultimately, the key is how high one's awareness of injury prevention is. For professionals, a high level of consciousness toward injury prevention and seriousness towards conditioning sets them apart from amateurs.

Tad: I agree. I consider my job to advise young players with zero awareness of body management to adopt the mindset of players like Sato before getting injured.