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Natural Awakenings Northwest Florida

Bodyworks by Bull

Spring has sprung all right. Just ask H. Earl “Bull” Tullock, a longtime licensed massage therapist and the owner of Bodyworks by Bull, in Fort Walton Beach. He’s already seen lots of sports injuries this year in his new office. 


“With everyone being locked up for so long, we’re all ready to bust out and start getting physical again,” he says. “Unfortunately, along with all that fun come some common pains like plantar fasciitis, knee injuries, hip pain, sore shoulders and plenty of back and neck problems. Also, so many people have been working from home and stuck at an ergonomically disastrous desk—kitchen table, kitchen counter, floor, even bed. In some instances, weight has been gained and muscles have atrophied.”

 

On the other hand, there are those who took advantage of the “down time” to get in shape, hitting the home gym hard with new equipment and online classes. 


But Bull (who goes by his first name professionally) says training too hard and too long can be painful in and of itself. Too much strain on joints and muscles or far too many reps can add up to repetitive use syndrome or strains and sprains.

    

Active Release Technique

Bull’s solution to alleviate those aches and pains is Active Release Technique, or ART, which creates relative motion between each muscle.


“When you have knots in the muscle fibers, they can usually be released with ART,” he says. “This knot is caused, a lot of times, when the muscles are adhered to one another. This is one way our bodies are designed to guard the injured area.”  


Bull says he’s been using ART for more than 15 years, with many clients reporting excellent results. He stays current with the modality through continuing education. 


“A major part of the process is for me to get recertified every year to learn the latest techniques that will get people back and pain free in their busy and healthy lifestyle,” he says.

  

Other Natural Pain Relievers

Among the many tools Bull and his team use regularly are Cryderm and Pain-A-Trate, natural topical pain relievers.


“These are proven products that we use at the end of a session. We may also apply a kinesiology tape or Rock Tape to help promote the healing process,” he says. “This type of tape is specifically used to separate the top two layers of skin, where many nerves and our lymphatic system are located.” 


Massage has come a long way since Bull began practicing in 1980. 


“What was once considered just a luxury is now widely recognized for its therapeutic qualities,” he says. 


Since opening his own therapeutic massage practice in 2004, Bull has continued to expand his knowledge and hire staff who are trained and certified in specialized modalities, like MediCupping and manual lymph drainage. 


“There are many options to try to get people out of pain and back to enjoying their active lifestyle,” he says. “If we cannot fix someone, we’re happy to refer out to chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists or an orthopedic surgeon. Anthony Brothers, M.D., at Andrews Institute has been putting me back together for years.”


Bodyworks by Bull is located at 211 NE Hollywood, Fort Walton Beach, FL. For more info, call   850-651-2286 or visit BodyworksByBull.com


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