relief of aching legs using the World Run Recovery System

Hairdressers Aching Legs

Aching legs caused by being on them for long periods is an occupational health and safety issue because the long term effect of them on peoples health is very real-from hairdressing schools to salon, if you are a working as a hairdresser to are going to get tired legs
(see www.hazards.org/standing)

While the health hazards are well known, the most general practical suggestion on relieving them is usually related to elevating the legs to let gravity drain the fluid out of them so that fresh blood can flow into the muscle tissues to help them recover

This is far too time consuming as well as being difficult to do in the salon on busy days

What someone who relies on their legs to stay in their occupation and who needs to maintain the health of their legs is a simple practical recovery solution they can do during a break and after they have finished working

Gravity and the weight of fluid in the body

Water is subject to pressure-the deeper it is the more pressure there is at the bottom; on the surface the swimmer feels none, but the deeper he goes the more it affects his body as the pressure increases.

Blood in the body is similar, at the head, the pressure is almost non-existent, but at the feet the lowest part of the body the pressure is higher.

The term for this is Hydrostatic pressure (Hydro-water Static-standing still) and is measured in mm hg.

Head -10 mm hg

Feet +90 MM hg

In a standing person, pressure in the veins is low at the top of the head and high at the bottom; the pressure and weight that is placed on the veins in the legs is very high; the only thing preventing all the fluid running out of the feet is the ends of the toes!

This means there is a lot of weight in a column of fluid with all the pressure at the bottom

When it just sits and stagnates, there is no fresh blood going to the leg muscles so they fatigue and feel heavy; water (lymphatic fluid) starts to separate from the used blood into the tissues and as it can't be pumped up the legs back to the body fast enough the ankles swell.

On subsequent days it may be harder to get the shoes on because the feet are still swollen

With that column of bodily fluids bearing down on the feet in and all that weight in the veins on a consistent
basis it comes as no surprise that over the long term, varicose veins develop.

(These are caused by the pressure from the weight of the blood widening the diameter of the vein and allowing gaps in the one-way valves to open allowing blood to flow back towards the feet ( www.hazards.org/standing)

'Flat Floor Syndrome'

Salon floors are flat areas with very little contrast in their surfaces; this is good for safety and cleanliness but they are not people friendly to those who have to work and walk on them for hours

Some salons have rubber mats next to the chairs to make it easier on legs and to make standing a little more comfortable and they are soft on the feet-but unless you actually move, it makes no difference no matter how many breaks or sitting down you may get-the legs still ache

Taking care of your tired heavy legs can be as simple as having better foot and shoe comfort; good shoes can prevent ankle and foot pain.

No matter how much you take care of the feet, it still cannot take care of the aching legs after the day's work and the legs have developed that aching throbbing feeling when the legs are filling up with fluid.

Problems caused by calf muscle pump inefficiency include

• Poor circulation

• Lymph system inactivity

• Venous return reduced

To keep the circulation in balance in the legs and reduce muscle fatigue, the same volume of blood should come out of the legs as goes into them

How to reverse the fluid build up in the legs?

The most advised way of helping the legs recover from a day on the stands it lie with the legs elevated higher than the body to let the used blood and fluid in the ankles flow back; it took the legs hours to get like this-how long is it going to take for gravity to drain it all back?

The Calf Muscle Pump

To keep the circulation in balance in the legs and reduce muscle fatigue, the same volume of blood should come out of the legs as goes into them.

The the arteries take blood away from the heart to the rest of the body and the veins which have one-way valves in them take it back to the body again; in this, way used blood gets back up the legs so that it can be replaced by fresh blood

The calf muscle pump is made up of all the muscles in the legs, but the prime movers, or motors that provide the power for the pump are the calf muscles

The calf muscle pump forces used blood against gravity up the legs back to the body for recycling by alternately putting pressure on the venous system and releasing it-as the muscles squeeze, they open the valves, letting blood pass through them; when the tension is released, they close stopping the blood flowing back down towards the feet.

Oxygen depleted blood is progressively moved from the lower legs back up to the body where it is re-nourished with oxygen and nutrients and sent back out again to various parts of the body through the arteries

First aid needed for fatigued leg muscles

The faster the legs receive help during or after a long day, the faster they recover but it is important they get it as soon as possible before soreness and stiffness limits what can be done with them

Elevation is too ‘passive’ and obviously not too efficient as there are so many lost days off work still through industrially caused diseases

Active Recovery means taking a pro-active role in helping the calf muscles to work the pump at moving the fluid up the legs

This is applied through

The latest in non-technical, non-invasive 'cutting edge' solutions to fatigued aching legs relief-Light Manual Muscle Relaxation

The advantages of using this system for the hairdresser

• Do It Yourself recovery

• No disrobing

• Works with the muscles not on them

• No oil used

• Non invasive

• User friendly

Light Manual Muscle Relaxation-A tested Trusted Alternative-for aching legs relief, anything else is aluxury or not necessary

What is Light Manual Muscle Relaxation?

It is system developed for ultra marathon runners and walkers leg recovery and has been tested on long distance events worldwide (ultra marathon is any distance over marathon-42.19 kilometers/26.385 miles)
Ultra marathon is very long distance competition where they have to run or walk as far as possible in a given time;it can be over 6 hours-24 hours-48 hours-6 days-16 days or even around the world www.worldrun.org

It is basically making the calf muscle pump work again to take some of the pressure away from the lower legs and let fresh blood into the muscle tissues to help the legs recover

A group of athlete's most similar to the hair dresser and which suffer similar problems are ultra marathon runners and walkers-the main similarity between them is that their muscles are always sore, stiff, and fatigued and the muscles are angry-this can interfere with their sleep because their muscles cannot cut off and stop moving

They have to get up and get back on the track or road on a constant basis whether they want to or not to achieve their objective-the person with occupational aching legs also has to get up and go to work on a constant basis whether their legs have recovered or not www.hazards.org/standing

Sometimes a long shift can make the legs feel as if they have done a marathon

Some References

Michael’s methods of massage and blister care helped me to stay mobile throughout the race and to recover quickly afterwards. His techniques are safe and gentle.

Unlike some treatments, which put the runners and walkers at risk of muscle tears or infection, Michael’s techniques are gentle, safe, reassuring, and highly effective. They enhance comfort and flexibility, build confidence, and promote success.

This booklet will help others to learn and practice Michael’s methods. It is recommended reading for everyone who walks and runs and who wants to go further, go faster, or just to enjoy life more!!'

SANDRA BROWN 1996 Ladies 1000 Mile World Record Holder

1999 Ladies 100 mile Race walking World Record Holder
“I know that your massage kept a number of competitor<>s in the event. The cold weather of Saturday afternoon and night certainly got to many of the walkers and your prompt action had them back in the race after a short stop.

In years past, that would have ended up as a non-finish. A number of walkers were able to keep going for the full 24 hours on the basis of your expert help.”

Tim Ericson Secretary Australian Centurions Club

'I have known Michael Gillan for many years and have always got quick relief for my aches and pains from the stretching he performs'.
CLIFF YOUNG-75-80 24 Hour World Record Holder (150.07 kilometers)

A word from Jesper Olsen World Runner about Light Manual Muscle Relaxation

“If I hadn't had the qualified help from the excellent masseur Michael Gillan, taking several thousands of km out of my legs, I could spare myself the effort!”

“My crew for the current stages, Michael Gillan, has proven to have other talents than the quite taxing job of taking care of all the requirements of a really tired ultra runner!
He has since years back been working on a new approach to stretching and muscle-rebuilding for ultra runners. I have the last two days tried his careful stretch and massage, and a bit to my surprise the muscles are beginning to feel like before the start back in Greenwich, London!!

Usually I doesn’t take massage as the legs of an ultra runner will often be quite sore during the long time events (and especially in an multi-year event like this...), and getting a massage can at times cause more injury and cramping up than good. For example my last massage was some 12 000km ago when I ran the 12-hour competition in Finland. And so far that has been the only one.

But Gillan came with best recommendations from my main contact in Australia, Phil Essam, who besides being vice president in the Australian Ultra runners Association has heaps of good knowledge to share. And this new kind of mild massage for ultra runners is definitely one of the good tips! There should be a fair chance that I actually get fresh enough to do some decent running at the 6 Day Race that I have coming up in Colac from the 21.November. I quite look forward to that, even though I can’t expect to make a top class result :-)”

He won! 756.2 kilometers (Jesper holds the record for the longest run in history over 26000 kilometers and the first person to run around the world Taken from www.worldrun.org


Win! Win!
It is very difficult for the 'Accidental Athlete' to win any races as they are competing with themselves on a daily basis, but in this situation everyone wins.

The Hairdressers Legs Manual $US 20

Hairdresser Aching Legs Relief

*Many people diagnose themselves as having restless legs which is a sleep disorder and its origins may be medical; there are treatments for these so it recommended that a visit to a physician to get it identified would be the first course of action.

ANGRY muscles are giving a reaction to overuse by standing or walking on a consistent basis-they do not have chance to recover properly before repeating the same action over and over.

Some Links

http://www.cardiovascular-exercise-equipment.com

http://www.promote-health.org

http://www.feet-and-legs.com

http://www.holidays-all-inclusive.net


Contact mgillan@hotmail.com








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