Massage Therapy

Aftercare advice for Manual Lymphatic Drainage Loosen tight clothing to encourage the lymph flow Increase your water intake over the next few days after your treatment Reduce your caffeine intake Avoid hot baths, saunas, etc, for at least a couple of hours Avoid alcohol for 24 hours try to reduce smoking (if you smoke) Make time to relax and rest - this allows for the blood pressure to return to normal if it has dropped during a treatment Diet is important; a light diet of raw foods is recommended so that the body does not need to concentrate on a sluggish digestion. ​Try full body dry brushing daily just before your shower or bath is best with a soft body brush specifically meant for [...]

What Is Cupping Therapy? Posted on February 19, 2019, by Henry Ford Health Staff Share Cupping has become a hot topic in recent years with news of models, movie stars, and Olympic athletes using cups to ease aches and pains and enhance health and well-being. But cupping isn’t just for celebrities. “It can be beneficial for almost anyone,” says Ruth Lehmann, an acupuncturist at Henry Ford Health. “Instead of using medication to achieve a certain outcome, we use cupping to help trigger the body’s own healing mechanisms.” FAQ: Cupping Cupping is a form of therapy that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. It has been used in the West for decades to encourage healing. We asked Lehmann [...]

What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST)? Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on treatment that may provide relief from a variety of symptoms including headaches, neck pain, and side effects of cancer treatment among many others. CST uses a light touch to relieve tension in the central nervous system promoting a feeling of well-being by eliminating pain and boosting health and immunity. The focus of CST is a gentle placement of hands to assist the release of the body’s connective tissue, or “fascia.” Fascia (Latin word for “band”) is a covering found throughout the body including organs, glands, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, brain, and spinal cord. This covering forms a body-wide connective network. CST is based on the idea that [...]

Why Do I Need Lymphatic Drainage Massage? Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. Lymphatic drainage massage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to help lymph move to an area with working lymph vessels. What is a lymphatic drainage massage used for? Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, is a gentle form of massage used to relieve painful swelling in your arms and legs caused by lymphedema. Lymphedema often affects people recovering from breast cancer surgery. Lymphedema happens when your tissues retain fluid left behind after your cardiovascular system sends blood to your tissues and organs. The remaining fluid is called [...]

By Jackie Waters If you suffer from chronic pain, you’re well aware of that before an official diagnosis. But something about being diagnosed with a chronic pain condition can trigger an extra bit of fear and stress. If you’ve recently been told you have a condition, you’ve also been told that it could be something you live with for quite some time. You may be asking yourself where in the world do I start? Here are some tips for how to begin to cope. Don’t be afraid of exercise The stronger your muscles and the more flexible your joints, the less your chronic pain will affect you. Good ol’ fashioned exercise is the only tried and true way to achieve [...]

Massage therapists versed in lymph drainage massage are in a position to assist the growing population of women who have received breast cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be over 252,000 new cases of breast cancer in 2017, the most common type of cancer in the U.S., accounting for almost 155 of all new cancers. It’s the most prevalent type of cancer, and the risk of developing it increases with age. Incidence of Breast Cancer The National Cancer Institute statistics review states that fewer than five percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. are younger than 40. Rates begin to increase after age 40 and are highest in women over age 70. Further, the median [...]

The word “sciatica” can sound scary if you don’t know exactly what it is. I know from personal experience, having suffered from it during pregnancy. If you’ve landed on this page it’s probably because you are suffering from, or are worried you might have sciatica. First let me say, you are not alone. Your pain can likely be managed and sciatica does not have to be as scary as it seems. While sciatica is painful to deal with, it’s rarely a permanent condition and can almost always be treated non-invasively. Only severe cases require more in-depth treatment options. The best news I have is that you likely already have common tools within your own home that can help relieve your [...]

DISCLAIMER: It is understood that these techniques are for the purpose of education and contributing to the well-being of the individual.  These home care activities are designed with prevention as the primary goal and are not to be used as treatment modalities.  These Home Care activities are not intended to take the place of treatment by licensed medical professionals.  The publisher and author disclaim any liability or loss, personal or otherwise, resulting from procedures in this program. Do not continue with any of these Home Care activities if you experience any Sharp Pain!!   Self Care Stretching Table of Contents Hip Flexor Stretches (Psoas, Iliacus, Quadriceps) …………………………………………………………………… 1 Hip Flexor Stretches with Ball (Psoas, Iliacus, Quadriceps)……………………………………………………. 2 Leg / Hip [...]

By Amy Wallace   |   April 3, 2017 Researchers at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis found real-world massage therapy is an effective treatment for chronic low back pain. The small study included 104 patients with low back pain who were referred by their primary care providers to participate in 10 massage therapy sessions with community practicing licensed massage therapists. The participants were measured at baseline and after massage therapy at 12 and 24 weeks. The researchers tracked participants for 24 weeks, comparing pain levels at the start of the study, at 12 weeks and at the end of the 24-week trial. The results showed 55.4 percent of patients who reported clinical improvements in symptoms [...]

by Heath and Nicole Reed Osteoarthritis is a painful joint disorder involving inflammation and the loss of healthy cartilage in one or more joints. By far, the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease. May is National Arthritis Awareness Month—and since osteoarthritis is a growing problem in the U.S., massage therapists need to know how their touch benefits the many clients suffering pain from arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 27 million American adults have received an osteoarthritis diagnosis—and this number is rising, particularly as our society ages and becomes more sedentary. Conventional medical treatments for arthritis include pharmaceutical medication and surgery and have limited [...]