Massage Therapy for Workman’s Compensation

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 [...]

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 [...]

Author: Anita Shannon, L.M.T. Photo Courtesy of Anita Shannon Cupping therapy, or vacuum therapy, can be used for a variety of applications, from head to toe. One special focus is the head, neck and face, as these are often areas of pain and dysfunction. Headaches, sinusitis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, lymphatic issues, chronic inflammation, and surgical preparation and recovery are common concerns for many people who come to see massage therapists. Massage to Facilitate Drainage Many traditional and effective massage techniques gently traction the neck and necessitate upward movement to the occipital ridge. Integrating downward movements into massage of the head, neck and face can enable the drainage of cranial lymph and add an enormous benefit to soft tissue [...]

How to Prolong the Benefits of Bodywork By Barbara Hey A massage works in wonderful ways, easing stress and pain, calming the nervous system, increasing circulation, loosening tight muscles, stimulating internal organs, and enhancing skin. The multiplicity of physiological responses sends a simple, clear message to the mind: Massage feels good. Of course, you want to hold on to that just-had-a-massage feeling -- total body relaxation, muscles relaxed and at ease, and fluid movement restored -- for as long as possible. But how long that bliss lasts depends on the state of your body. If you're suffering from chronic pain or recovering from injury, then it may take more sessions and perhaps different modalities before optimal health is restored. If [...]

By Barbara Hey A massage works in wonderful ways, easing stress and pain, calming the nervous system, increasing circulation, loosening tight muscles, stimulating internal organs, and enhancing the skin. The multiplicity of physiological responses sends a simple, clear message to the mind: Massage feels good. Of course, you want to hold on to that just-had-a-massage feeling -- total body relaxation, muscles relaxed and at ease, and fluid movement restored -- for as long as possible. But how long that bliss lasts depends on the state of your body. If you're suffering from chronic pain or recovering from injury, then it may take more sessions and perhaps different modalities before optimal health is restored. If massage is part of your regular [...]

By Cecilia Comperatore LMT-Florida MA 54038 Many people wait for an injury in their life to seek out massage therapy. Those that have car accidents are a typical example, wanting relief from whiplash and other accident related injuries. Massage therapy is an excellent choice to assist you in healing from a car accident. After an accident, people are most likely to feel like they have the flu or describe the symptoms as feeling like they got hit by a car. Weakness in the neck may also be felt due to whiplash. Whiplash is the sudden jerking of the head, backward and forward, that is felt during impact of the vehicle. The symptoms: pain and aching to the neck and/or back, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]