Sobadora Massage Therapy

12/19/2025

12/14/2025

The calf muscles, primarily the gastrocnemius and soleus, are often referred to as the "second heart" due to their critical role in ensuring efficient blood circulation, specifically the venous return of blood from the lower extremities back to the main heart. The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood down through the arteries, but getting the oxygen-depleted blood back up from the legs—against the force of gravity—requires assistance.
This assistance is provided by the calf muscle pump. Every time the calf muscles contract, such as during walking, running, or even subtle movement, they squeeze the deep veins in the lower legs. This compression acts like a pump, pushing the blood upward. The veins contain one-way valves that prevent the blood from flowing backward, ensuring that the blood only travels toward the heart.
An efficiently working calf pump is vital for overall cardiovascular health. It reduces the workload on the main heart, promotes healthy veins by preventing blood from pooling, and significantly lowers the risk of conditions like varicose veins, leg swelling (edema), and blood clots (DVT). Studies have even linked weaker calf muscles to poorer heart performance and reduced circulation efficiency. Specialists recommend frequent movement and exercises like walking and calf raises to keep this "second heart" strong and active.

12/03/2025

11/22/2025

Phelps’ Test -
Phelps’ Test helps differentiate whether limited hip abduction is caused by muscular tightness rather than joint pathology. Phelps’ Test is designed to assess contracture of the gracilis muscle, one of the medial thigh muscles responsible for hip adduction and knee flexion. Tightness of this muscle can contribute to gait abnormalities, hip mobility limitations, and problems such as crouched gait in children with neuromuscular conditions.

The gracilis is a long, thin muscle that runs along the inner thigh. It originates from the p***c bone and inserts on the medial aspect of the proximal tibia. The gracilis serves dual functions: it adducts the hip (brings the leg toward the midline) and assists in knee flexion. When the knee is extended, the gracilis functions primarily as a hip adductor, but when the knee is flexed, its tension across the hip joint is reduced.

11/15/2025

11/14/2025

11/12/2025

10/30/2025

10/28/2025

El Señor va delante de ti hoy; Su favor abre camino, Su paz te sostiene, y Su bondad te seguirá en cada paso.
(The Lord goes before you today; His favor makes a way, His peace upholds you, and His goodness will follow you in every step.)

10/28/2025