CHARLOTTE – Well, I finally did it. I was reaching for something in an unfamiliar shower and I fell. Slow-motion fell, as I was fully aware of what was going on and I knew I could seriously get hurt. As I laid on the floor, I did a quick inventory of what I was feeling. First of all, nothing felt broken. In fact, there wasn’t much hurting at all. But I know from experience, that pain can show up later in the day and especially the next day.
What muscles were in danger of being strained or hurt? What joints might I have issues with? Any of my adductors could have been pulled or strained. The gracilis muscle is a common one, located down the inside of your thigh. Its job is to adduct (pull your leg into the center of your body), medially rotate (rotates inward, with hip flexion), laterally rotate (rotates outward), flexes the hip and also aids in flexion of the knee. This beauty will normally catch the shock of any fall where you slip in the bathroom or even while walking (then slipping) on ice.
Another danger might be landing on your shoulder and injuring your rotator cuff muscles, generally because you’ve tried to catch yourself before hitting the ground. But I’d say the most important issue in any fall is if your head hits the floor. That could cause a multitude of dangerous issues, such as a concussion or a whiplash-type of injury. Luckily I didn’t hit my head. Massage can help ease the pain of all the above. Get clear with your doctor if necessary, but let your therapist know what has happened so they can help in the healing process.
Take note if you’re sore, bruised, have a headache or any type of pain, swelling or blurry vision. Massage can certainly help with swelling (the bodies natural protection after trauma). It can also be used to manage pain and encourage healing. The Center for Disease Control released it’s findings in 2019 that there were almost 38,000 deaths associated with falls, so be careful and take extra precautions in the bathroom.
-Lisa Lane (LMBT#13098) has been a massage therapist since 2013 and owns her own business, Massage Sanctuary, in Mint Hill. Contact her by voicemail or text at (704) 773-6863.
