Joints that are hot and inflamed must not be worked on in this way as they can be made worse by heat and movement. These areas need to be helped by stimulating the energy to move through by massaging points on fingertips and toes. If your ankle is hot and swollen squeeze points around the base of the toenails. If it is hard to do this then visualise the limb, stretching it in your mind. Picture the painful joint stretching and becoming filled with healing energy.
Research shows that visualisation can prompt tissue changes to take place.
Much muscular pain is probably caused by muscles being fatigued. Once this happens painful trigger points can arise. These are extremely sensitive points lying within tight bands of muscles which elicit a powerful response when pressed. Tense muscles can be extremely tender and painful and can lead to a vicious cycle of pain leading to tension which creates more fatigue and thus further pain. It is vital not to overuse these muscles.