More often than not, I hear people say that they think getting a massage is just a luxury they can't afford. Well I'm here to agree to disagree. Prioritizing massage into your schedule can be one of the most important tools in keeping you healthy and stress free. The anatomy of the body is an amazing concept. We all have pain for a reason, and it's not because there is a lack in Advil or Tylenol. It is there to let you know that something is not functioning properly. Fixing the root of the problem (releasing trigger points and freeing up adhesion's) will result in sustained relief from pain instead of a short termed cover up of your symptoms with a pill.
According to the American Massage Therapy Association recent research has shown the effectiveness of massage for many health related issues such as reducing low back pain, boosting the body's immune system, decreasing carpal tunnel syndrome, and lowering headache frequency. Doctor's and health care professionals are highly recommending massage therapy to their patients for the year 2009, which is up 11% from the year 2008! So my recommendation is this: listen to your doctor or health care professional and receive regular massages. Start 2010 off rite - live healthy and be pain free!
Frozen Shoulder or One Too Many Trigger Points?
Have you ever tried to reach for something from the top shelf but couldn't because it hurt your shoulder? Or maybe you've tried to reach behind you to put your seat belt on but couldn't because of the pain? Some of you might immediately think FROZEN SHOULDER, but I, being a Massage Therapist, think NO PROBLEM!
Our shoulders are very complex - with the joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles that all work together to make them function. There are 24 different muscles associated with the shoulder and those 24 muscles could be the culprits behind your shoulder pain. If you have trigger points in any of those shoulder muscles, you could experience a plethora of different painful symptoms, some of which are:
*headaches
*sinus congestion
*numbness or swelling in hands
*clicking or popping in the shoulder
*tennis elbow
*limited range of motion in head and shoulders
*pain between shoulder blades
*breast tenderness and
*pain on exhalation and inhalation.
Trigger points are certain muscle fibers that continually contract even after you tell that muscle to relax, resulting in small nodules that feel like knots in a rope. Because of this continuous contraction, the muscles become rigid and tense and can interfere with your nerves resulting in referred pain. So when one muscle gets a trigger point, other muscles have to compensate for it and it just snow balls from there.
Medical doctors will tell you the answer to treating "Frozen Shoulder" would be to inject you full of drugs or even surgery! I will tell you to release the trigger points that are causing all of your unnecessary pain. So to everyone who suffers from shoulder pain, my question to you is this: Do you want to spend $3000 on surgery and up to a year in physical therapy or do you want to spend around $200 on a couple of sessions receiving Deep Tissue Trigger Point Therapy with me?
Understanding Stress
Lets take a look at stress: What is actually happening to our bodies when "we are under stress?" First off, stress is defined as any psychological or physical situation that causes strain or tension. So when your body thinks it's under stress your adrenal glands start to secrete adrenaline, which we all know hightens our senses and prepares our muscles for maximum exertion. As a result of increased adrenaline in your body your blood pressure rises, your digestion slows way down, and your sugar cravings go up (because your body thinks it needs quick energy...so that's why you crave CARBS). All of these things are natural and should happen for a short period of time, BUT here's where the real problem comes into play: most of us load ourselves up with so much stress that the body can't decipher when to stop producing adrenaline. The long term effects of too much adrenaline can lead to numerous health problems and even death! Our bodies live in two different states: Fight and Flight (when we are producing adrenaline) and Rest and Digest (when digestion turns back on and we can relax). My job is to help people get back to rest and digest. Massage is an effective and valuable tool to relieve stress. Massage sends positive sensations to the brain - which tells the adrenal glands to stop over producing adrenaline. In turn your blood pressure lowers, your breathing slows down and your body begins to RELAX! If you feel that you need help relaxing - give me a call. 703-9672:)
The Benefits of Massage
The purposes of massage are to increase circulation of blood and lymph, which help eliminate toxins in your body and to loosen adhesions and scar tissue. Think of scar tissue as super glue, merging your skin to your muscles resulting in limited mobility and burning sensations in the affected area. Massage Therapy holds many positive outcomes including relief of anxiety, lower blood pressure, and metabolic restoration. Here is a list of the different massage modalities that I provide: Swedish Massage: Relax away unwanted stress with a full body treatment. Swedish massage is manual manipulation of the soft tissues of your body for therapeutic benefits such as increasing blood circulation and relieving stress. This massage modality is very relaxing and also benefits pregnant women.
Deep Tissue Trigger Point Massage: This massage focuses on eliminating referred pain by getting rid of trigger points (knots) by applying deep pressure to problem areas. Trigger points refer pain to other areas of the body such as headaches and are found in taut bands of muscles fibers. Many toxins are released when trigger points are eliminated so drinking plenty of water is highly recommended.
Reflexology Massage: Deals with the principal that there are reflex areas on the feet and hands that correspond to all the organs of the body. Using thumb and finger methods on these reflex points creates homeostasis throughout the body.
Reiki: Is a Japanese healing art form of laying on of hands. It helps you relax and become centered so the body can begin to heal itself.
TAKE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! Call for your next appointment 703-9672 You'll be glad you did!
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