Sha Zen Massage Medical Massage

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 [...]

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 [...]

Massage May Provide Healing Relief for People with Multiple Sclerosis Researchers at Shepherd Center are gauging whether massage helps improve debilitating MS symptoms and quality of life. Human touch can have a powerful effect on health, and research has found it may even promote healing. Therapeutic massage is known to help relax muscles, enhance range of motion, improve blood flow, and reduce stress. Researchers at Shepherd Center are investigating whether routine massage can help improve pain, spasticity, and overall quality of life among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This small study – one of the first to look at how massage might influence these measures in MS – will enroll 25 participants. Individuals will receive standardized massages – for [...]

MassageNerd.com I often incorporate stretching into your Deep Tissue/Clinical massage, which is so valuable to your muscle health!

Exercise Is Better With Massage Source: American Massage Therapy Association From beginner athletes to elite professionals, massage therapy has shown to have major benefits regardless of the participant's fitness level. Athletes seeking enhanced performance, improved conditioning, faster recovery, injury prevention and assistance in maintaining peak fitness can benefit from Massage Therapy! Massage has been shown to have myriad positive effects including: Reducing muscle tension Helping athletes monitor muscle tone Promoting relaxation Increasing range of motion Improving soft tissue function Decreasing muscle stiffness and fatigue after exercise Improving exercise performance Decreasing delayed onset muscle soreness Reducing swelling Reducing breathing pattern disorders Enhancing athletic performance Helping prevent injuries By combining your exercise routine with a massage therapy treatment, you will be able to [...]