Massage Therapy

By Chris Woolston From an early age, we learn that the touch of a hand can ease pain. When a toddler bangs his knee in a tricycle accident, he'll instinctively rub the sore spot. Likewise, an office worker with stiff shoulders will probably try to knead them. And if a dancer can't shake the throbbing pain in her back, she just might schedule an appointment with a massage therapist. The healing power of a well-placed hand is so apparent that just about every culture in history has used massage to relieve pain. Massage faded into the background with the arrival of modern medicine, but a growing number of people are turning (or returning) to hands-on relief. According to a 2008 [...]

By Lia Stannard Overview Patients with multiple sclerosis have problems with their immune systems attacking their nerves, resulting in nerve damage. MedlinePlus explains that multiple sclerosis affects the brain and spinal cord, causing pain, movement problems and other symptoms. While the treatment for multiple sclerosis often involves medication to control symptoms, some patients may opt to include massage therapy as part of their treatment program. Pain Reduction Many multiple sclerosis patients experience pain when the disorder affects their sensory nerves. MedlinePlus notes that patients can have facial pain or a burning sensation in their limbs. The pain from multiple sclerosis may impact other functions. For example, if a multiple sclerosis patient has pain in her legs, she may have difficulty [...]

When you think of massage, odds are you think of an hour of relaxation – a little “me” time. Massage certainly offers a great way to escape from the stresses of our everyday lives, but more and more studies are showing that regular massage gives you so much more: a range of emotional and physical benefits. Here are the top 10 reasons to incorporate more massage in your life. Massage reduces stress – A single massage can lower your heart rate, cortisol and insulin levels, all of which are tied to how stressed you feel. Massage helps you relax – Long after your massage is over, you will still benefit from a host of brain chemistry responses that encourage feelings [...]

The jaw or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a major target for an array of joint disorders. Disorders of the jaw are typically referred to by the same name, TMJ. The temporomandibular joint connects the mandible to the skull’s temporal bone and contributes to the acts of biting, chewing, swallowing, speaking and making facial expressions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states over 10 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ problems. Symptoms Pain is the most common TMJ symptom. The pain is often described as a transient, dull ache in the jaw joint and nearby areas, including the ear. Instead of pain, some sufferers only have problems in the use of their jaws. Additional symptoms of TMJ can [...]

Nothing beats a professional massage. It can soothe your body, mind and spirit by improving immunity, circulation and anxiety. You’ll even sleep better. But before you head off for your massage, there are some things you need to know. Avoid awkward moments, wasted cash and potential pain with these 15 tips. 1. Be early, please... Your massage therapist wants to work on you for your entire scheduled appointment. If you arrive 10 minutes early, this allows time for consultation and time for you to undress and get on the table by your scheduled start time. By choosing to arrive when your appointment is scheduled to start, puts us behind by 5-10 minutes and your time may be cut short to [...]

By Kray Kibler, CFO, Massage Warehouse May 23, 2014 Adequate sleep is necessary for healthy functioning, and quality sleep is vital to health and wellness. But an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans experience sleep issues that affect their health,1 often leading to low work performance, slowed reaction time, obesity, higher risk of long-term disease, and substance abuse.2 Chronic insomnia causes extreme fatigue and problems with concentration, and can adversely affect a person’s mood and well-being. For healthcare professionals, helping patients overcome insomnia is critical for fostering overall health and wellness.3 According to Ralph Pascualy, MD, medical director of the Swedish Sleep Medicine Institute (SSMI) in Seattle, both the quantity and quality of an individual’s sleep directly affect their health.4 [...]

By Susan Santi Susan Santi is a certified massage therapist and owner of Ahhh Massage in Virginia, MN. HTF Columnist I have a client whose spouse has Parkinson’s and they passed along some information to me about the benefits of massage for those with Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease can be debilitating, causing muscle rigidity, muscle cramps and inflexibility with body movement. Massage is known to help combat Parkinson symptoms, helping to bring improved flexibility and mobility to the body. It can bring much needed relief both mentally and physically to the body affected with this horrible disease. According to Nicole Cutler, L. Ac., “Parkinsonism (Parkinson’s disease), results in a degeneration of dopamine producing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine is a [...]

Paraffin Hand Dips The therapeutic and aesthetic values of paraffin can be traced to ancient civilizations. The Romans poured hot oil and waxes on the body as a heat-inducing prelude to massage. The French brushed melted paraffin on wounds, while the British established paraffin as a modality for orthopedic disorders in the military hospitals of WWI. Today, the medical community, rehabilitation specialists, massage therapists and the spa industry embrace paraffin for its therapeutic qualities. What are the benefits of a Paraffin Hand Dip? Once a client has experienced a paraffin hand or foot treatment, they often comment, “This would be great on my face and entire body.” The process conditions your skin, cuticles and nails leaving your hands feeling great. [...]

Have you experienced shooting pain that seems to start in your back and travels down your leg to your foot? This often excruciating pain may actually be sciatica, a symptom of irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Massage therapy has long been used to effectively alleviate and prevent sciatic pain and discomfort. What is Sciatica? The sciatic nerve starts at the lower back and branches to run down the buttocks and the backs of the legs. Sciatica may be experienced along the range of a dull ache to debilitating pain felt going from the back and down the back and/or outer side of the leg. The pain and discomfort of sciatica are usually felt on just one side of [...]

by PATTI KELLY Last Updated: Jan 22, 2014 Overview The face is full of nerves and pleasure points, so it makes sense that a facial massage is a desirable form of pampering. Give yourself a facial massage or visit a professional. Whether you are looking for a quick midday pick-me-up or a soothing escape, the luxury of massage is easily justified by some of its more practical benefits. Get in a Better Mood Facial massage decreases anxiety and can improve a negative mood, according to a study conducted by the User Science Institute. Psychological tests administered after 45 minutes of facial massage showed significant improvements in both mood and anxiety levels, according to the 2008 study. A relaxing facial massage [...]