Sha Zen Massage A2

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 [...]

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 [...]

A growing body of research indicates massage therapy can benefit the immune system, especially important during winter months. People looking to fend off cold and flu as the winter months arrive should speak to a massage therapist about prevention strategies. Regular massages have been shown to make the immune system stronger, according to studies. “Researchers working with patients with compromised immune systems have found massage therapy can improve how the immune system functions,” said Jeff Smoot, 2015 President of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). “Those same benefits can translate to people seeking to fight off the common cold, flu and other seasonal illnesses.” Massage therapy increases the activity level of the body’s white blood cells that work to combat [...]

Often forgotten in conversations regarding overall health, the value of the lymphatic system has been bolstered by recent scientific breakthroughs. This research, which changes how we look at the lymphatic system and the circulation of cerebral spinal fluid, is causing gradual shifts in massage therapy. The January/February 2016 Massage & Bodywork cover story by Bruno Chikly, MD, DO, and Alaya Chikly looks briefly at the historical journey of our ongoing understanding of fluid dynamics, unveils some of the newest and most exciting discoveries concerning the circulation of lymph and cerebrospinal fluid, and offers some effective manual therapy techniques for lymph drainage that can help facilitate the natural exchanges between these fluids.

An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from a known hypothyroid condition, and 10 percent of adult American women may have some degree of such conditions, according to endocrineweb.com. January is National Thyroid Awareness Month, sponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, a time when massage therapists can learn how clients with thyroid disorders might benefit from massage therapy. Signs of a Challenged Thyroid The term hypothyroidism encompasses any condition witnessing the thyroid gland’s inability to produce adequate levels of hormones known as T3 and T4. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune inflammatory condition that destroys the thyroid gland, is the leading cause of hypothyroidism. The other major cause indicates a broad medical treatment term that includes surgical procedures to remove [...]

For people with fibromyalgia, massage therapy may help soothe symptoms to some degree. Marked by chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia typically causes tenderness throughout the body (especially in the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs) and triggers sleep troubles, headaches, memory problems, and irritable bowel syndrome. Although massage therapy isn't proven to provide long-term relief of fibromyalgia symptoms, early research shows that receiving massages may help fight pain and enhance well-being in fibromyalgia patients. Fibromyalgia Soothe Massage Fibromyalgia Pain Relief Back Pain Support Treatment of Sciatica Benefits of Massage for Fibromyalgia Patients While massage has yet to be extensively tested for its effects on fibromyalgia, the existing studies show "modest support" for its use in treating the condition, according [...]