The Two Basic Therapies
Circulatory and Trigger Point Massage

In this segment we’ll show the two basic therapy techniques that will be used throughout the arm, hand and elbow.  The first therapy technique is circulatory massage.

Slowly begin to move your arm in specific strokes keeping your attention on the center ball.  As you increase the pressure, feel which muscles may be tighter than others.

Many repetitive strain problems are located at the mound of muscles just below the crease of the elbow on both sides of the arm.  Pay special attention to these areas while stroking the entire arm.

You’re performing two functions with this motion.  Most importantly you’re exploring which exact points are painful and sore. Secondly, the muscles are being flushed and gently stretched to allow fresh blood and nutrients into the tissue.

The next therapy method we’ll show you is intended to release tight, painful spots in muscles that are known as trigger points.   Trigger Points are best described as a small area of knotted muscle fibers usually no bigger than the size of a quarter and they’re found anywhere there’s muscle tissue.  One reason they’re called trigger points is because they trigger the whole muscle to tighten and pull on the ends of where the muscle is attached to bone. 

When you were doing the circulatory massage you probably found a few painful areas that are tighter than others.  Place the center ball on one of these spots.  Make a fist around your thumb and slowly, very slowly make as big a circle as you can while you exert pressure on the spot with the center ball.  The idea is to stretch the muscle at the same time you put pressure on the trigger point.  Adjust the angle and the placement of the center ball to find other sore and tight areas nearby. 

Learn to create different movements with your hand that best stretches the muscle while holding the Armaid center ball on tender spots.

Use as much pressure as you need to create a sensation I call “useful pain”.  It’s the feeling that something good is happening to your muscles.  Nothing is gained by pressing too hard and creating the “OW” kind of pain.  Be slow and gentle and learn your needs and limits. Use Armaid two to three minutes, two to three times a day in the beginning. Watch the video segment on Pain to learn more on how to use pain as your guide.

Reverse Armaid for the other side of your arm and follow the same procedure.   When both sides of one arm are done, change the position of Armaid to the other thigh.  Repeat the same steps, noting what differences there may be between your two arms.

This trigger point massage technique is one of the most effective and incredibly rapid methods of relaxing tight muscle tissue and regaining full range of motion.  Learn to use it throughout the hand, arm and elbow wherever tight muscles are found.