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Apart from this, if she has been wearing them for a long time, much of the damage has been done-the calf muscles will be tight and
short, making it impossible to go back to low heels and walk without suffering from calf muscle pain and damage from muscle
fibers ripping-to fix this would require an intensive muscle stretching regime to lengthen the muscles or surgery
It is made up of all the muscles in the legs but the main power to work it comes from the calf muscles which as we walk and move
compresses the veins opening the one-way valves in the vessels letting fluid pass through them on its way back to the body
This system seems to be generally ignored by many people until there are problems with swollen legs, varicose veins, or many other
problems which can affect general health (see www.hazards.org/standing)
On return to Blood
body blood is pumped from
renourished heart through
and recycled arteries under
pressure
Calf muscles
act as pump
motors
By the time the blood reaches the feet, all the pressure has been used, and there is none left to return the blood back up the legs to the
body against gravity again
It is when the pump is not working properly through circumstances such as too much standing, walking, sitting, muscle tightness or
soreness through activities such as sport or occupation that gravity is allowed to take over and affect the legs ability to pump used
blood and by-products from the legs back to the body for recycling
As the circulation starts to slow, there is less movement of fluids; as the used fluid remains trapped in the lower legs, it prevents the
supply of fresh oxygen filled blood to the muscle tissues, and as the muscles need a constant supply of oxygen, to maintain optimum
performance, the legs start to fatigue
Fresh Tight
blood calf
reduced muscles
Poor
blood
return
• Drugs
• Vitamins
• Massage
You can service the legs in different ways-you can do it passively or do it actively
The accepted passive way of recovering the legs when they are tired and fatigued is to use gravity
Being upside down with the legs elevated takes advantage of gravity to open one-way valves in the veins in the legs to
let used fluid flow through them back to the body
This does provide the calf muscles with the stretch they need after being on high heels but it also adds
pressure to the veins and reduces their diameter-so reduces flow back to the body-it does not give the
vessels the pumping action they need to work properly
Passive servicing is a slow way of doing things and while generally accepted there are disadvantages to doing this
• It needs time to do
The alternative is to take a pro-active role in the servicing, care and maintenance of the legs
• Pressure
• Levers
• Movement
Blood circulation is as it says-a constant circulation and turnover of new blood for old which keeps the tissues healthy if not much
depleted fluid is removed from the legs-not much fresh blood enters the muscle tissues so they fatigue-the legs need servicing
When thinking of servicing the legs, many people may think massage
The main obstacles to effective massage systems for those who are not usually involved in such things are
• Affordability
Lack of financial reserves-ability to study-facilities such as massage schools and teachers for learning the handskills required for
modern massage techniques impact on the benefit that flow from massage were it available
The method I use is called Light Manual Muscle Relaxation-it can be done
• Simply
• Easily
Leg servicing will not fix problems caused by wearing high heels-but it will go a long way towards relaxing
the calf muscles and helping to keep the circulation in the lower legs moving
Light Manual Muscle Relaxation works with the muscles not on them
Because it uses the 'snowshoe' effect of spreading the load, weight and pressure of the hands and fingers it does not
stimulate pain receptors or produce friction or heat-therefore it can be done 'on demand' or as often as required
The latest in non-technical 'cutting edge' solutions to substitute complicated massage therapies that only trained
practitioners can do (if they are available) for a simple maintenance system that can be used by anyone
Light Manual Muscle Relaxation-anything else for a quick leg service is a luxury or not
necessary
Poor medically caused leg health should be referred to those best qualified to deal with it-the doctors, but
there are non-medically related problems that can be dealt with by some simple activities
http://womensweb.aching-legs-relief.com/high_heels_leg_servicing.html
To: mgillan@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Emailing: m gillan reference.doc
Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 16:48:31 +1000
Hi Michael,
COBURG 24 HOUR CARNIVAL
For many years Coburg Harriers has conducted the Victorian 24 hour Track Championship and the Australian Centurion
24 Hour Race Walk, the overall event being the Coburg 24 Hour Carnival, which also includes a separate 6 Hour run/walk
event.
This type of event is very demanding on Competitors, and each year, in addition to First Aid support, we seek to have
the services of a masseur who can work on tired legs and also treat blisters in order to keep entrants on the track.
We have been privileged for many years to have had the voluntary services of Michael Gillan who with his techniques is
able to coax renewed life from extremely tired muscles and legs to get athletes back on the track when they were
thinking that they would have to retire.
Michael has a very well deserved reputation in the "Ultra" running and walking fraternity who look forward to his
presence at our events as they know he gets results without causing further injury with his treatments.
It is rewarding to see exhausted competitors come from the track in the early hours of the morning, convinced that they
are unable to continue, only to see them return to the event after being treated by Michael.
Our Organising Committee at Coburg is grateful to Michael for his dedication to the sport and can commend his
techniques to Athletes.
Yours Sincerely, Bernie Goggin Raceday Director / Referee Coburg 24 Hour Carnival 2009
http://www.coburgharriers.org.au/joomla1/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
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 BROWN1996 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."
'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
If someone is considering massage, they should be aware of what is happening; using the example from Sandra Brown
to stress how important the correct approach to muscles is.
"The second tear (at least I have matching legs with old tears on both sides) was caused, to my great annoyance at the
time, by an overenthusiastic physio who was supposed to be helping me to warm up gently before a 24 hour race and
got carried away. I am now more wary of having physio at any time, and make sure that I stay in control, by saying at
the outset what I want and don't want to be done to me. Having never had a persistent injury (my varied training
pattern means that any niggles have the chance to heal quickly, rather than get hammered and go critical,) I have never
had regular physio or a steady relationship of trust with any physiotherapist who knew me and my needs. The closest I
have come to this was receiving massage from Michael Gillan during the Nanango (Queensland) 1000-mile race in 1996.
I had no hesitation in having a massage from Michael again at the end of the Melbourne 100 miles walk in 1999.
Michael's approach is very gentle at all times, and always works with the athlete and puts the athlete in control, thus
minimizing the risk of harm and maximizing the benefit
Source:http://www.surreywalkingclub.org.uk/Training?Advice/Articles/training_for_ultras_by_sandra_br.htm#Training/for
Ultras_SB SANDRA BROWN 1996 Ladies 1000 Mile World Record Holder
"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
(p.209)Physiology: a regulatory systems approach. Fleur L. Strand. Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc.ISBN 0-020979860-4
(P.150) 'Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991 W.B. Saunders Company-ISBN 0-726-3994-0
(P.150) Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991 W.B. Saunders Company-ISBN 0-726-3994-0
http://seniors.aching-legs.org/greypower_leg_health.html