Baby Boomers Angry Muscles

Baby Boomers Angry Muscles-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist

Baby Boomers Angry muscles and Aching Legs What are ‘angry muscles’? Not to be mistaken for ‘Restless Leg Syndrome’ which is totally different-just to make sure, please get the legs checked out by a medical professional before doing anything

Angry muscles are caused by too much use or overuse of the leg muscles-they have simply been used to the extent that the muscles and nerves in them are so irritated that it is impossible for them to cut off on resting Many baby boomers are the victims of their own leg muscles-they have ‘Angry Muscles’ caused through too much use and abuse of their legs Much of this abuse is brought about because we just don’t know (or won’t admit) that we have been on our feet, standing, walking, running, for too long for the day How do you know the muscles are ‘Angry’?

They feel sore, and tight, pain and aching increase as the day does-on resting they seem to recede into the distance but after 25-20 minutes on standing to walk the legs have stiffened up in the sitting position and it is difficult to walk At the end of the day you are so fatigued so all you want to do is get home and get the shoes off because they feel tight-when you do, the feet are hot and the ankles may be swollen

After a shower or bath, everything feels better so you sit down and watch television or something, but when you start to move-oops! Everything has stiffened up! In bed at night, you try to relax, but somehow the legs will not stop moving, they may cramp as you turn over again, and again, the feet have been aching as well-the legs feel irritable When morning finally comes, you feel as if you have not been to sleep at all and it is time to go off again to continue your day-by the end of the week, it can take your whole weekend to wind down and get a good night’s sleep Angry muscles can lead to aches and pains that are difficult to adjust to and can lead to loss of sleep or constant tiredness and consequent mental fatigue (see www.hazards.org/standing) Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan 1 http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html

Baby Boomers Angry Muscles-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist Where did the term angry muscles come from? I was working at the 2007 Antibes (France) 6 Jour event as the official masseur

After 4 days of running an American athlete came to me complaining that while he was walking without too many problems his muscles were ‘angry’ he was exhausted and was having problems sleeping as the legs would not stop moving and he was having strange feelings in the muscles He had heard that Light Manual Muscle Relaxation was very gentle and thought this approach may help to calm them down so he could rest for a while and recover This runner has me to help calm his legs down-but that leaves millions of people who may have angry muscles without any way of calming them down-those with them have had no training or recovery plan to deal with their short or long term effects See www.hazards.org/standing Non-medically related ‘angry muscles’, are caused by too much standing, sitting, walking, can be a health danger and while they can’t be fixed because they are usually an occupational related cause, and this is ongoing They may be relieved on a temporary basis but can’t be cured because like the ultra competitor the person with them probably has to get up and do the same thing on an ongoing daily basis Before doing anything with ‘angry muscles’ they should be checked out by a physician to see if there is a medical component contributing to their development

These are 2 people who have just been running for 3 days around a running track in all weathers they have ‘angry muscles’ Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan 2 http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html

Baby Boomers Angry Muscles-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist Ultra Marathon runners and walkers suffer from ‘angry muscles’ Also from sore feet, sore legs, swollen ankles, stiffness, wasted muscles, muscle cramps, tiredness, mental fatigue, restless legs, sore skin, night pains, muscle spasm, muscle wastage, swollen ankles, hyperthermia, hypothermia, temper tantrums, vomiting, food sensitivity, allergies, rashes, loss of judgement While it is difficult to deal with most of these many of the muscular related problems are simpler ‘Angry Muscles’ are like angry people If you poke and prod them they will get angrier-you can’t relate to them If you calm them down-they are easier to deal with and you get more cooperation

Here I am giving a demonstration of leg recovery in Denmark using Light Manual Muscle Relaxation Why conventional massage systems can’t calm ‘angry muscles’ down Working in ultra marathon, the conditions are the worst in extremes of track, weather and other conditions-the muscles become angrier than most people with them only more so because they compress the time and provocation effects on the muscles Using conventional recovery systems and working into the muscles with the fingers stimulates the already overstimulated pain receptors in the muscle structures and makes them even angrier Conventional massage systems are both user, patient and problem specific-they can be divided into basic groups-sports massage-relaxation massage-remedial massage and many sub groups and sub sub groups-ways of approaching what they are designed for are dependent on the teacher, where and how they are developed and taught. They come under different names and have different themes with different ways of using the hands to work on the muscles and all need quite specialized teaching to learn and use Also conventional systems need massage oils, towels, massage tables and associated equipment to be used-this makes them difficult for the average person to use easily and it is this that makes them difficult to use in ultra marathon where time and space are limited It is this that also makes it difficult for the average person with ‘angry’ muscles to use

Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan 3 http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html

Baby Boomers Angry Muscles-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist ‘Angry Muscles’ need Calming Down not Provoking However the ‘angry muscles’ are developed whether you are a non-athlete working at a job that causes them on a daily basis or an athlete who runs around the world-everyone has the same thing in common and that is how to calm them down The secret to calming angry leg muscles-do not use the fingers to stimulate them even further than they already are The differences between provoking and calming angry muscles The Ski Effect

Conventional ways of working with muscle anger involves using as I call it the ‘ski effect’ of gliding over the skin surface with the hands, oil is needed to provide lubrication and prevent friction between the 2 surfaces-this can overstimulate the pain receptors within the skin structures making the area feel sore On the people I work with in ultra I found that this actually made it worse and with some of the competitors the muscles would react by cramping up and causing great pain to them I realized that the body uses cramping and pain as a ‘muscle defence mechanism’ to prevent injury to the muscle tissues and structures The Snowshoe Effect One of the reasons for developing Light Manual Muscle Relaxation was to overcome the inconveniences that ‘skiing’ could provoke and decided to try the ‘snowshoe effect’ Snowshoes do not glide over the surface of the snow-they spread the weight of the body across a wider area of the surface which prevents sinking into the deeper snow If the flat hand is used and placed on the skin, the weight is evenly distributed over a wider area of the muscle tissues and does not provoke the pain receptors to the same extent as sliding over them Using the ‘snowshoe effect’ allows the muscles to calm down and does not provoke the cramping self defence mechanism into operating

The best way to help them is to learn how to work with the muscles If you can use your hands you have the tools to do the job of muscle calm down

Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan 4 http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html

Baby Boomers Angry Muscles-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist Below is a chart from when I discovered working with the muscles rather than on them shows how much things did improve for the runners and walkers Results from 1995 Coburg 6 day footrace Name A Krouglikov

Day 1 237.2 539

Day 2 113.6 284

Day 3 130 325

Day 4 106 365

Day 5 126 315

Day 6 108 Kilometers 270 Laps

T Rusek

215.2 538

98.8 247

98 245

139.6 349

138.4 346

122.4 Kilometers 306 Laps

M T aylor

174.4 436

128.8 322

143.6 359

123.6 309

138.4 302

122.4 Kilometers 223 Laps

B Beauchamp

180.4 451

133.2 333

124 310

117.6 294

110 275

93.2 Kilometers 233 Laps

150 375

134 335

105.2 263

94.8 237

111.6 279

106 Kilometers 265 Laps

138.4 346

108.4 271

106.8 267

116.4 274

106 265

107.2 Kilometers 268 Laps

168 420

119.2 298

90 225

116.4 291

106 180

107.2 Kilometers 247 Laps

G Watts

132.2 328

96.4 241

99.2 248

104.4 261

92.8 232

133.6 Kilometers 334 Laps

C Young

142 355

91.2 228

90 225

97.6 244

88 220

92 Kilometers 230 Laps

138.2 332

86.8 217

90.8 227

95.2 238

94.4 236

84.4 Kilometers 212 Laps

R Hill

128 320

80.8 202

99.2 248

70 175

95.6 239

96.6 Kilometers 241 Laps

K Fisher

164 410

91.6 229

50 125

115.2 288

49.6 124

81.2 Kilometers 203 Laps

P Gray

D Parris

I Davis

D Kettle

G Pollard

T Rafferty

120 74.8 73.6 68.4 69.6 61.2 Kilometers 300 187 184 171 174 153 Laps The above group came in for Light Manual Muscle Relaxation The below group did not or had their own recovery people 141.6 112.8 104.8 101.6 98 96.4 Kilometers 354 282 262 254 245 241 Laps

G McConnel

145.6 363

110.8 277

126.4 287

113.6 284

108.4 271

106 kilometers 265 Laps

G Audley

152.8

110.8

126.4

113.6

114.8

95.2 kilometers

S Scanlon

140.8 352

82 205

84 210

34 0 85 pulled out-blisters

0 Kilometers Laps

J Timms 127.2 98.4 0 0 0 kilometers Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan 574.8 http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html

Baby Boomers Angry Muscles-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist What they say about Light Manual Muscle Relaxation

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 light, 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 competitors 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-Ultra marathon runner Books I have used in my research

Travell S.G. Simons D.G. Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual Williams & Williams 1983 Travell J. Rinzler S.H. The Myofascial Genesis of Pain Post Grad Med. 1952 Modern Treatment for Lymphoedema Casley-smith Judith & Casley-Smith J.R. 5th edition Touching Montague Ashley Harper & Row ‘Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991 W.B. Saunders Company-ISBN 0-726-3994-0 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology-Seeley Stephens and Tate-Mosby Year Book ISBN 08016-0227-0 ‘Textbook of medical Physiology” (Physiology- fourth edition-Robert M. Berne, Mathew N. Levy, Bruce M. Koeppen, Bruce A. Stanton-Mosby ISBN 0-8151-0952-0)

Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan 6 http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html

Baby Boomers Angry Muscles-Michael Gillan Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist Resource Box

Michael Gillan is an Ultra Marathon Recovery Specialist who has been a masseur around many ultra long distance events both in Australia and internationally since he was a student in 1993 In 1995 while working at a 6 day run, he changed the approach to recovery of the athletes from the conventional way of working on the muscles using the hands and fingers to increase muscle blood circulation, to working with the muscles and making them work on themselves The results from this changeover can be seen on the Coburg result sheet on page 5 In 1996 Michael went to the Nanango 1000 Mile 16 day event where it was tested and helped the worlds 4-5 and 11th to achieve their distances Other notable events the World Run Recovery System was tested on was World Run 1 with Jesper Olsen www.worldrun.org and the World Run 2 training camp in Denmark in 2007 How can someone with aching legs benefit?

Because the muscles are being worked with they are actually doing the work-this means that the skills needed to do the recovery after training and competition do not have to be as great or as complicated as when they are being worked on Nothing is being fixed nor is any attempt being made to repair anything All that is happening is that the body is repairing itself-we are just facilitating it’s ability to do that by increasing circulation to the muscles

Aching legs should always be checked out by a medical professional before doing anything to and with them because there are many medical reasons why they may be aching-see a physician first If you want more details on Light Manual Muscle Relaxation go to my website at http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html

Leg recovery using an environmentally friendly recovery system Copyright 2008 Michael Gillan 7 http://seniors.aching-legs-relief.com/angry_muscles_need_calming_down.html