OSTC BANNER

08/21/2017

OSTC  
Orthopaedic and Sports Therapy Center
940-692-4688
SPOTLIGHT Massage Therapist

Jaclyn “Jackie” Malone, LMT

Massage Therapist

Jaclyn “Jackie” Malone is a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). After graduating from Henrietta High School, Jackie attended Hands on Therapeutic School of Massage and received her license from the Texas State Department of Health as a Massage Therapist. Jackie is also a member of the National Association of Massage Therapist. She has been practicing massage therapy for over 10 years and is certified in multiple massage techniques. Some techniques Jackie specializes in are: Swedish, Hot rock, Sports, Prenatal, Lymph drainage, and Carpal tunnel massage. She currently lives in Wichita Falls with her husband DJ. In her free time, Jackie enjoys spending time with friends and family.


What People are Saying about OSTC:

Shane is great!! Front desk is great and all the people in the exercise room are also great!!

Lucas is the best at identifying when challenge needed to be increased.

I enjoyed coming to OSTC and I learned a lot about how to cope with my disease and how to improve my body.  Everyone was so nice.

OSTC Therapist Practice Cupping

Thanks to Michael Phelps and several other summer Olympians, cupping has made its world wide debut.  At OSTC, we have been practicing this therapeutic technique for several years.  Many of the physical therapist have seen tremendous benefits of using cupping along side other modalities and exercises, especially in dealing with hamstring and quadriceps strains.  Some of these benefits include; increased range of motion, decreased pain and decreased inflammation in the area of injury.  Cupping is most notable for the circular "bruises" it leaves behind on the patient.  These marks are not painful and usually go away in a few days when the technique is properly applied.   Dry cupping is the use of negative pressure to release tension on the muscle and increase blood flow to the area.  Though cupping alone is not a cure-all, it is one of the many tools available to the therapists at OSTC.  Our therapists pride themselves on having as many options available to create a unique and individualized therapy program to best suit the needs of our patients.  

 cupping

Massage Matters: What is a Knot?

Defining a Knot: A "knot" is scientifically known as a myofascial trigger point, or a tight area of tissue from an overworked muscle. Think of a knot as a muscle spasm, that cannot fully relax. Normally, muscle fibers operate in an "on and off" fashion, enabling them to perform rapid and intense movements of short duration, like weight training or throwing a ball. They fire or contract during exertion, but when the exertion is completed they quit firing. It is when they continue to fire without releasing that a spasm or "knot" forms. There are direct and indirect causes of a knot. Some of the most common causes are overworking the muscle, trauma, such as car accident or injury and stress. During times of stress, the neck muscles constrict and the shoulders rise, causing the shoulders and neck to contract for too long and therefore causing "tension knots."

 massage

How can Massage Help?

The number one benefit of a massage is relaxation. When a person experiences a massage the nervous system enables them to rest and relaxation is activated. A massage can also directly and indirectly have an effect on the removal of by-products toxins contained in the knots by increasing blood flow to the area.

Physical Therapy and Hamstring Health

The body has three muscles (collectively known as the hamstring) in the back of the thigh that can be injured, with the most common cause being participation in sports and athletic endeavors. The hamstring muscle allows people to extend the hip and bend the knee.  Once a hamstring muscle has been injured, it can be up to six times more likely to be injured again.

Hamstring muscles are typically injured when an individual:

Hamstring Cramp

• Rapidly accelerates or stops suddenly while running

• Changes direction quickly

• When jumping

• Sprinting, hurdling or kicking

• During heavy lifting

Individuals are at increased risk if they don’t warm up and stretch sufficiently before engaging in new, unfamiliar or strenuous activities. Muscle fatigue, a prior injury and weakness in the hamstring or glutes are all factors that contribute to an injury. The damage can range from mild and feel like a cramp. Some people don’t realize they’ve even sustained an injury until they rest or during the following day.

In a severe hamstring injury, the individual may feel a “popping” sensation or a sharp pain in the back of the thigh that extends into the buttock. The area may be swollen, bruised and tender to the touch and there may be difficulty sitting, lifting the leg or stretching it out fully. If the muscle is torn, surgery may be needed to repair the damage.

Non-Invasive Healing

With proper care and physical therapy, a mild hamstring injury will take 2-10 days to heal, while a severe injury can take up to 10 weeks. Full rehabilitation can take up to six months, depending upon the severity of the injury.

Hamstring injuries are more prevalent in older individuals and adolescents whose muscles and bones grow at different rates, but can occur at any age. Physical therapy is an essential component of the healing and rehabilitation process and has a variety of benefits that include:

  • It’s non-invasiveHamstring Stretch

  • Eases pain and discomfort

  • Maintains range of motion and      flexibility

  • Re-establishes muscle strength

  • Retrains the body in how to move  properly

  • Rehabilitation if a surgical repair is  required

 Many people try to return to their regular  activities too soon or place too much stress on the leg before the injury is sufficiently healed or full strength and mobility has been regained. It’s essential that patients exercise patience to prevent re-injury and making the condition worse.

Physical Therapy for Happy Hamstrings

The exact course of treatment will depend on the severity of the injury and your ultimate goals. Your physical therapist may recommend cryotherapies, elevation, compression, or immobilization to prevent swelling and further damage until the injury has stabilized sufficiently to begin physical therapy.

Your treatment will typically begin with gentle stretches to maintain flexibility and range of motion. During your rehabilitation, you may require crutches or a brace to keep weight off the leg. As the healing process progresses, specific strengthening exercises will be added, along with those to stabilize posture, balance, and agility.

A wide range of complementary therapies may be employed to speed your healing. Your physical therapist can provide information and training on the proper way to lift, warm up and stretch before activities. If you require aids for mobility, your therapist will assist you in learning to use canes and crutches.Ham Work

Soft tissue treatment and LASER may be incorporated into your treatment plan to improve circulation, maintain flexibility and ease pain.  It’s beneficial for relieving the stress that many patients experience while they’re healing and recuperating. Electro-stimulation, hydrotherapy and biofeedback may also be used.

During an injury, many people develop unusual or improper behaviors and patterns of movement as they try to protect the affected leg. Gait training is a critical part of rehabilitating a hamstring injury that helps the body relearn how to move the way it did before the injury.

The focus of your physical therapy will be to ease pain, heal and return your hamstring and leg to full functionality. You’ll also receive information and methods to help reduce the risk of injury in the future. Physical therapy provides a pathway to healing and rehabilitation that allows you to return to your activities as soon as possible.

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Orthopaedic and Sports Therapy Center #1West Medical CT Wichita Falls TX 76310 Phone: 940-692-4688