Recommendations for use RSL sculpting in the formation of healthy lifestyle

The processes taking place in the modern world make the development of healthy lifestyle habits even more important. Investments in health are of special importance nowadays, when trends for the prevention of premature aging have become predominant in society. Physical activity is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, many people don’t realize that proper preparation for a gym session and subsequent recovery are just as important as the workout itself, since it is impossible to achieve any results only by increasing training load and intensity.

There is a common misconception that massage treatment before and after training is intended solely for professional athletes. But it doesn’t mean that ordinary gym goers cannot benefit from massage. The massage allows to:

• Improve efficiency and prevent injuries;
• Promote the release of endorphins, which are known to relieve pain and improve symptoms of anxiety and depression [1].

Thereby, methods of preparation for gym sessions and subsequent recovery are of paramount importance for both ordinary gym goers and professional athletes. The article provides a summary of body preparation for and recovery after a workout.

RSL sculpting using the Beautylizer device is one of the most effective methods of preparation for a workout and subsequent recovery. It is based on the vibration and compression effect of spheres and high-brightness red light on all skin layers, hypodermis, and muscles, due to which the following is achieved:

• Vasodilating effect: Compression and subsequent restoration of tissue volume due to its elastic properties provide vasodilation and a significant increase in microcirculation;
• Draining effect: Rhythmic pulsation stimulates lymph flow, facilitating the removal of excess fluid;
• Relaxing effect: The device has a stretching effect on muscles, effectively relieving muscle spasms;
• Analgesic effect: Exposure of the skin mechanoreceptors by vibration can significantly reduce the intensity of pain;
• Improvement of skin mechanical properties: LED therapy can optimize the tissue healing process and stimulate cell turnover; it stimulates production of TGF-β by fibroblasts, which leads to the increased density of collagen and elastin fibers [2–5].

The RSL sculpting has a complex positive effect on your body by leveraging reflex, neurohumoral, and metabolic processes regulated by the central nervous system [6]. The initial step in the mechanism of massage using RSL sculpting is the mechanical irritation of numerous and various skin receptors, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and vessel walls. The flow of nerve impulses arising from the irritation of these receptors enters the central nervous system along sensitive nerve fibers, where a generalized complex reaction of the body is formed and manifested in the form of functional shifts in various organs and systems. The nature of the body's response will depend on the functional status of the higher parts of the central nervous system and the functional status of the receptive field that is exposed to [7].

Humoral factor plays a key role in the mechanism of RSL sculpting. It was clinically proven that histamine, heparin, acetylcholine, and other biologically active substances are activated and released from cells, causing certain effects, under mechanical effect on tissues. In particular, histamine dilates capillaries, activates local and systemic blood flow, thus increasing skin temperature and promoting red coloration. Heparin thins the blood and improves blood supply to all body parts, regardless of exposure spot. Acetylcholine performs a mediator function and increases the rate of nervous impulse transmission from nerve cells to skeletal muscle cells, which has a positive effect on muscle activity [8].

Direct mechanical effect of RSL sculpting on the human body helps increase blood flow and lymphokinesis, decongest, increase the temperature of the massaged body area, and trigger metabolic processes [7]. Under the influence of RSL sculpting, the temperature of the massaged body area increases, which helps accelerate metabolic processes; skin hyperemia occurs, corneocytes (dead, terminally differentiated keratinocytes) are removed, the excretory function of the sebaceous and sweat glands involved in the process of heat transfer is stimulated; the expansion of functioning capillaries and the opening of reserve capillaries occurs, the work of the heart is facilitated, the contractility of the myocardium increases, the outflow of venous blood and lymph increases, congestion in both circles of blood circulation decreases, and the absorption of oxygen by tissues improves; the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of the massaged area increases, thus accelerating removal of metabolic products from them, including lactic acid; muscle elasticity, their contractility, strength, and performance increase, muscle fatigue decreases, the speed of recovery of muscles after physical work increases; muscle atrophy decelerates [7, 9, 10].

The functional status of joints and the conjoined tendon improves under the RSL sculpting procedure and manifests itself through an increase in synovial fluid secretion, ligament elasticity improvement, joint flexibility improvement, and stimulation of edema resorption [7]. When applied to the chest and respiratory muscles, the procedure helps increase ventilation of the corresponding lung segments and blood flow [11].

The RSL sculpting procedure can cover either the entire body or some specific body part. Under the influence of preliminary (preparatory) massage using RSL sculpting immediately before training, the psychoemotional state is normalized, the process of its development is accelerated, skin and intramuscular temperature increase, blood flow, lymphokinesis, and thermoregulation are improved, metabolic processes are accelerated, tissue oxygenation is improved, elasticity, contractility, strength, and endurance of muscles increase, and also the range of motion of a joint increases [9, 11, 12]. Pre-training RSL sculpting procedure helps reduce the risk of injury in basic exercises, blood flow is stimulated, the load on the cardiovascular system is reduced, physical parameters are improved in the short term, and the effect of lactic acid on the body is reduced.

RSL sculpting procedure should be performed 10–20 minutes before training or 1 hour after it. The procedure should be focused on the most-flexed muscles.

Thus, preparatory massage using RSL sculpting is an effective method of injury prevention, which contributes to better preparation for the exercise and psychoemotional load.

Massage with RSL sculpting is widely used to accelerate the restoration of efficiency and relieve fatigue after training. The restoring massage helps eliminate excessive nervous tension, pain, and fatigue; normalize muscle tone, improve blood flow and lymphokinesis; activate oxidation-reduction, reduce lactic acid levels in muscles; and restore and improve physical efficacy [9, 11]. The maximum effect is achieved when performing the procedure after water procedures (warm shower, 5-12 minute baths, swimming in the pool) or vapor bath, which relaxes muscle tissue [13].