BeYOND MASSAGE THERAPY: September 2009

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Hand Stretch

Hands can cramp when overworked and tired. Our hands are our tools. They're constantly working. In roping cattle, many throws are directed by the hand's position on release. Keep hands and limber enough to completely open your palm and stretch out your fingers when you need to.

FLAT HAND STRETCH: Place both hands on a table or any flat surface. Press evenly through your palms and feel the pull through the length of each finger as you stretch them out. Do not bend your wrist past 90 degrees. Just focus on flattening the knuckles evenly into the table.

Dupeytren's Contracture

Stretch to avoid or slow scar tissue forming in the hands which will severely limit use of the hand. Dupeytren's Contracture is a disease where the membranes in the palm slowly contract, pull the fingers closed making it difficult to completely open the hand.

Surgery is the final treatment, but still not the cure since it usually returns calling for repeat surgery. Therefore self treatment is crucial to maintaining the heath and use of your hand. Stretch and myofascial massage are excellent self care techniques.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Roping Stretch: 4. Tricep Stretch

Finally stretch deeper into your shoulder by letting one hand fall down your back by bending the elbow. Then add gentle traction either with the opposite hand on the elbow or by using a rope to pull the forearm down. Repeat with the opposite arm. This opens the shoulder even further by stretching the triceps and latissimus dorsi muscles.

Stretch only as far as you can feel slight discomfort but no pain. Don’t force it and don’t bounce. Hold each stretch for 3 – 5 slow breaths. Repeat 3 times every day and you’ll see fast improvements. With looser muscles and greater range of motion, you’ll notice easier swings and longer throws. You’ll be able to rope more often with less soreness.

Roping Stretch: 3. Overhead Stretch

Next keeping the arms extended, raise your arms above your head. This allows your should blade to move outward. You should feel it at the back of your armpit.

Roping Stretch: 2. Arm Extension

Then interlace your fingers and stretch your arms straight out in front of you, opening the palms as much as you can. You should feel a stretch from your shoulders through your arms to your hands.

Roping Stretches: 1. Prayer Stretch

Keep shoulders and arms flexible with these simple and inconspicuous stretches that can be done anywhere. 1) Start by placing the palms of your hands together as if you’re praying. Press evenly through the palms and the length of each finger. Arms should be at a 90 degree angle from your hands. This stretches your forearm muscles, the palm of your hands and fingers.

SHOULDER STRETCHES FOR BETTER ROPING

If you rope, chances are you’ve suffered from ‘Roping Shoulder’ at one time or another. Easily recognized as sore, aching muscles resulting from days of roping and usually ignored until scratching your head becomes an impossible feat.

Roping is a dynamic movement requiring incredible fitness and flexibility from your entire arm from your finger tips to your shoulder. A clean catch depends on so many subtleties from your palm direction to your arm height. Therefore the fitness of your arm and shoulder tremendously impacts roping success.

Your typical week probably includes enough grunt work to tighten up your back and arms enough to limit your mobility. In order to perform in the arena, add some stretches to your routine and give yourself the advantage of loose, flexible muscles. A stretched muscle is stronger and reacts faster than a tight muscle, plus has the added advantage of not aching or cramping.