By: Megan Lambert

What is voodoo flossing?

Contrary to your first impression, voodoo flossing is a modern method of injury rehabilitation, workout recovery, and joint mobilization, not a medieval torture device.

In essence, it is an extreme form of compression. Pressure is applied to an area of the body using a thin, stretchy band like the one shown below.

Once, lets say, your ankle is wrapped with the voodoo wrap, all you have to do is perform normal movement patterns. For example, one would walk forwards and backwards, do body weight squats and calf raises, while wearing the wrap.

After leaving the band on for up to two minutes, the band is removed and normal blood flow is restored to the area.

This modality is useful for athletes recovering from workouts, individuals rehabbing tendon or ligament injuries, and anyone striving to attain greater joint mobility.

Why do you use flossing?

It’s no secret that your body’s tendons and ligaments have a smaller blood supply than your muscles. These connective tissues receive less oxygen and nutrients from the blood, so when injury occurs, it takes longer for the tissues to heal. One way to help these tissues heal faster is by increasing the blood flow to the area. Enter voodoo flossing.

Wrapping the flossing band around the injured area limits the amount of blood that can enter the area. When the wrap is removed, the blood rushes back into that area of the body. Not only does this bring a greater amount of blood to the area than before, but it also brings with it more oxygen and nutrients.

How does Indy Core use flossing?

Recently, we used flossing to alleviate peroneal tendon pain for one of our clients. At the risk of sounding like a boring anatomy professor, this tendon is located on the lateral side of the leg and runs from the head of the fibula, down the leg and inserts near the base of the big toe. After examining his leg, we discovered that the source of the pain was in the peroneal and calf muscles, not behind in his ankle where he felt the most discomfort.

Consequently, we wrapped the band around his upper calf (like the picture below) where we felt the most scar tissue and tissue adhesion.

After approximately two minutes of walking backwards and forwards and doing squats and stretches, the client took the band off and felt relief from the pain. This is just one example of how we utilize this modality in our practice every day.

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for a video detailing more about flossing.

For more information about how you can utilize flossing in your workouts, call Indy Core at (317) 430-0063.