Massage Education Links

James Waslaski - Orthopedic Masssage

Richard Hoff - MFTC Seminars - Myo Fascial Release

Paul St. John - Neuromuscular Therapy

Paul St. John - Neurosomatic Therapy

Art Riggs - Deep Tissue Massage

When Massage Hurts

Often new clients will make comments like "You can't push hard enough", "I like really deep work", "It's ok if it hurts as long as it helps me", or my favorite "No pain, no gain right?"

What I really think my clients are really trying to tell me by this is "I want you to find where it hurts and address the problem."

Many of my clients may have experienced a general massage treatment that does not address the specific area what needs work or a massage that includes a lot of intense specific pressure that may bruise tissue yet still missing the area that needs attention leaving the client feeling like they need more pressure.

Massage can be ineffective or even cause more harm than good.

Orthopedic massage addresses the bodies muscles and connective tissue. When applied effectively it should include a number of important elements.

Effective listener: The therapist listening skills go a long way toward understanding what areas need work.

Great assessment: Assessment skills are also an important part of solving the clients orthopedic problems.

Effective Technique: The right massage technique, the ability to treat each area specifically, a great knowledge of anatomy, and experience with a wide variety of orthopedic conditions are all important parts of effective treatment.

Appropriate pressure: I like to tell my clients if the discomfort they feel causes them to tense up or interrupts their normal breath pattern it is to much. Also if the tissue is not letting go or the pressure doesn't feel like it fades after a few seconds then progress is not being made. The right amount of pressure can make all the difference in effective massage release.

Presence and focus: Nothing is worse than getting a massage from a therapist who is lacking focus. An effective massage treatment requires thoughtful and well directed energy on the part of the therapist. If you experience this in a massage you will know the difference.

Knowledge of limitations: If massage cannot effectively help the clients condition they need to know it. Solving orthopedic problems must involve a holistic approach to treatment. This means encouraging the client to get treatment that is appropriate for their condition.

In conclusion the most effective massage work must include, the right amount of pressure, using the best technique, applied to the specific areas of the body that need attention.

www.benkingmassage.com

Muscles need pure water

Our bodies need a lot more water than most people think.

Within one day our body needs half our body weight in ounces.
For instance if you weighed 150 pounds you would need to drink 75
ounces of water per day.

Exercise takes more water. For ever half hour of exercise our body needs another 8 ounces of water.

Increased energy, improved circulation, improved digestive function, reduction of muscle tension and pain, and improved flexibility are just a few of the ways water improves your body's overall health.

Hands of Hope Massage

Trigger Points - a common source of pain

How to recognize Myo-Fascial Trigger Points

Hard lumps or knots that you can feel in your muscle or connective tissue.

They are in persistent spasm and stretching a portion of your muscle.

They are extremely painful when pressed upon.

They often refer pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and itching along fairly predictable nerve pathways.

Myo-Fascial Trigger Points can be:

Active - Causing immediate pain, muscle shortness, and weakness.

Latent - Unnoticed until pressure is applied, no immediate pain, feels dense and fibrous to touch.

What can cause Myo-Fascial Trigger Points?

Overuse =

Actions including posture, inefficient movement, poor body mechanics, & muscle strain. Also can be aggravated by being overweight, being unfit, carrying an overweight purse or pack, & poor posture due to furniture or car seats.

Unavoidable muscle abuse =

Accidents including, falls, sports, & motor vehicular collisions. muscles over contracted or over stretched.

Unsuspected muscle abuse =

Immobility - braces, slings, and casts.
Surgery - Muscles cut, stretched, and trauma injections - shown to lead to sciatic nerve pain. Steroids - Can mask the pain without treating the underlying myo -fascial condition. Overuse can degrade connective tissue, muscle, bone, ligaments, and tendons.
Pain medications - Anti-inflammatory response can limit healing process, also masking pain can postpone proper treatment.
High blood pressure medications - Calcium channel blockers can irritate and perpetuate trigger points.

Other contributing factors =

Vitamin b-6, magnesium, vitamin c, folic acid other vitamin deficiencies.
Underlying visceral disease, arthritic joints, or other trigger points.
Ulcers, renal colic, myocardial infarction, gall stones, kidney problems, or irritable bowel syndrome.
Chronic infection from a viral or bacterial disease.
Skeletal asymmetry such as short leg or pelvic imbalances.
Hypoglycemia, thyroid malfunction, or anemia .
Food allergies or intolerances. Most commonly wheat or dairy products.
Toxicity due to exposure to organic chemicals or heavy metals.

Stress

Stress comes into our lives in many forms. Relationship challenges, traumatic life events, or maybe just to much responsibility.

Whatever the cause it can have the same effect on our bodies. It slows the restorative processes, decreases the bodies ability to assimilate food, raises blood pressure, overworks the adrenal glands among other things, yet what we all notice is the muscle tension and areas of pain.

Headaches are a common result of stress, along with tight neck and shoulder muscles and strain on areas of the body that have been injured in the past.

If this condition sounds familiar to you, massage can help your whole body get back on track. It can be an excellent tool to reduce tension and pain. It can support your body in the natural restorative processes to restoring peace and a sense of well being.

I have seen many clients benefit from massage in this way in my practice as well as receiving massage personally and enjoying these benefits.

Chronic and Repetitive Strain

Chronic pain can be brought on over a period of time. It can greatly limit the daily activities of the individual suffering from this condition.

When a person's pain arises directly to their muscles and connective tissue massage can often help to relieve the pain and even directly address some of the cause.

Such pain can be due to receptive muscle strain, imbalanced postural patterns, or old injuries.

Understanding the process by which a person reached this condition along with functional and postural analysis can provide a greater understanding the pain patterns themselves.

Massage can then be used to release restrictions, reduce trigger point patterns, and restore movement and function. The end result being the reduction and in many cases the relief from pain.

Over the years I have encountered many different conditions of chronic pain and injury which massage has successfully treated.