Myofascial Pain relief through Kamala Ingrid’s
Active Release Therapy Balls®
Active Release.Therapy® set of 3
QUICK TIPS ON HOW TO RELIEVE MUSCLE PAIN WITH MY ACTIVE RELEASE THERAPY BALLS®
Many people have muscle pains from time to time and some even develop myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Instead of relying on Ibuprofen, I want to share a few tips to treat that pain properly by loosening up the fascia, a connective tissue covering the muscles.
What causes muscle pains?
Poor posture over time, pressure on the muscle, emotional stress, repetitive motions, joint problems, and surgical incisions can all cause acute muscle pain. As a result, a cycle of pain, inactivity, and even disability can happen to any of us.
Over my years of working with professional athletes who suffer from muscle pains, I have developed a variety of safe, simple, and effective treatment methods. One such method is an introduction to a gentle yoga practice based on deep stretching and holding poses during a series of breathing exercises. I combine this practice with Active Release Therapy Balls® positioned on key trigger points to release tight or tense muscles.
The Active Release trigger point therapy combines manipulation and movement and is easy to do in the comfort of your own home. And even better, when you follow the instructions in the videos below, you can do it by yourself.
This type of therapy should be done in combination with lifestyle changes such as sitting better and with other treatments like massage therapy or the use of a percussion massage tool. If the muscle pain persists or is such that you cannot perform your daily tasks then I recommend you see a doctor.
The movements with the balls are extremely specific and deeply work the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Recently I launched my own Kamala Ingrid Active Release Therapy balls. Usually, when you shop around, the balls only come in one size. I found this to be restrictive and unhelpful in dealing with various muscle pains that afflict many of us.
The Kamala Ingrid Active Release Therapy Balls® difference
The set of 6 balls by Kamala Ingrid come in 3 pairs and all have their own purpose. Each pair has a different size to target different muscle groups. The orange set is the largest and can be used for the hips, back, hamstrings and glutes. The blue set is used for almost every muscle group and is the next step after we have released tension at certain points. The purple set is the densest and targets deep tissues. Each pair comes in a tote bag to keep them tight together and spaced properly for working out specific muscles, such as those along the spinal cord.
Have a look at the videos below to learn which ones to use, when, and how. The therapy balls are now available at the bottom of this page for purchase.
How to release stiff hips
Tightness around the hips is very common, especially in the hips flexors, a group of muscles that connect the upper leg to the hip. They are important for movements such as when we bend at the waist or raise our legs. Active Release Therapy® helps to release the tension and improve the range of motion in the hips.
How to release the tension in your neck
Depending on what causes our neck tension, we can try a series of neck stretches to relieve tension. I recommend the Active Release Therapy® as an additional treatment to these stretches. Have a look at this video where I use a yoga block (or a box) and two different balls.
How to relax your back
In addition to stretching our back in order to relieve tensions, the Active Release Therapy® can help reduce general stiffness. In the video below, I pair the balls for a better result and suggest starting with the orange set.
How to avoid shin splints
Shin splints, a pain in the front region of our lower leg, are caused by the inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around our shins. For many people, and especially runners, the Active Release Therapy® can help prevent shin splints.
How to massage your feet
Foot rolling is an exercise that helps relax our plantar fascia, which is the ligament that connects our heels to our feet. The Active Release Therapy® is a great way to self-massage and minimize all the tensions that accumulate in our feet. After all, the feet are so important as they support us all day. Taking care of them will contribute to our overall health.
Anti-hunch care solution
Nowadays, when many of us work at our computers and take part in seemingly endless Zoom meetings, it’s easier than ever to find ourselves slouched or hunched for hours at a time. Being locked on a screen for long periods of time, especially when one is not positioned correctly, can take its toll on muscles, joints, and ligaments. In this video, I show you how to use the Active Release Therapy Balls® to help open up your shoulders. Additionally, you have to remind yourself to sit up straight, stand tall, and move around while you use your computer. You can do some other exercises including wall-sit, plank, child pose, and shoulder blades squeeze to prevent hunching your back.
