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A Powerful Ally
There’s no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives
we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons
we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management),
massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.
Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress
related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally,
than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in
this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt,
help manage stress. This translates into:
* Decreased anxiety.
* Enhanced sleep quality.
* Greater energy.
* Improved concentration.
* Increased circulation.
* Reduced fatigue.
Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity
after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can
often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical
benefits.Research continues to show the enormous benefits of massage from treatment of injuries to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles.
The Benefits Of Massage
What exactly are the benefits of receiving massage or bodywork treatments? Useful for all of the conditions listed below and more, massage can:
* Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
* Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
* Ease medication dependence.
* Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
* Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
* Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
* Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
* Increase joint flexibility.
* Lessen depression and anxiety.
* Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
* Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
* Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
* Reduce spasms and cramping.
* Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
* Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
* Relieve migraine pain.
Profound Effects
In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows that with massage:
* Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
* Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow.
* Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
* High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
* Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
* Preterm infants have improved weight gain.
Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site massage practitioners and even spas to treat postsurgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.
Increase the Benefits with Frequent Visits
Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.
Please note: Massage, bodywork and somatic therapies specifically exclude diagnosis, prescription, manipulation or adjustments of the human skeletal structure, or any other service, procedure or therapy which requires a license to practice orthopedics, physical therapy, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, or any other profession or branch of medicine.
Types of Massage
There are over 250 types of bodywork and massage, here are some of the ones Danielle specializes in...
DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE
Techniques that utilize deep-tissue/deep-muscle massage are
administered to affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia. These
techniques require advanced training and a thorough understanding of
anatomy and physiology. The muscles must be relaxed in order to
effectively perform deep-tissue massage, otherwise tight surface
muscles prevent the practitioner from reaching deeper musculature. It
helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation and reduces
inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis. It is
generally integrated with other massage techniques.
INTEGRATED/ECLECTIC MASSAGE
This practice indicates a combination of
various massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy techniques utilized by a
practitioner in the course of a session.
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Myofascial release is the three-dimensional application of sustained pressure and movement into the fascial system in order to eliminate fascial restrictions and facilitate the emergence of emotional patterns and belief systems that are no longer relevant or are impeding progress. First, an assessment is made by visually analyzing the human frame, followed by the palpation of the tissue texture of various fascial layers. Upon locating an area of fascial tension, gentle pressure is applied in the direction of the restriction. Myofascial release is an effective therapeutic approach in the relief of cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches. Click here to find a Myofascial Release practitioner.
MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT THERAPY
Based on the discoveries of Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons in which they found the causal relationship between chronic pain and its source, myofascial trigger point therapy is used to relieve muscular pain and dysfunction through applied pressure to trigger points of referred pain and through stretching exercises. These points are defined as localized areas in which the muscle and connective tissue are highly sensitive to pain when compressed. Pressure on these points can send referred pain to other specific parts of the body.
SWEDISH MASSAGE
One of the most commonly taught and well-known massage
techniques, Swedish massage is a vigorous system of treatment designed
to energize the body by stimulating circulation. Five basic strokes,
all flowing toward the heart, are used to manipulate the soft tissues
of the body. The disrobed client is covered by a sheet, with only the
area being worked on exposed. Therapists use a combination of kneading,
rolling, vibrational, percussive, and tapping movements, with the
application of oil, to reduce friction on the skin. The many benefits
of Swedish massage may include generalized relaxation, dissolution of
scar tissue adhesions, and improved circulation, which may speed
healing and reduce swelling from injury.
SHIATSU
Developed in Japan, shiatsu is a finger-pressure technique utilizing traditional acupuncture points. Similar to acupressure, shiatsu concentrates on unblocking the flow of life energy and restoring balance in the meridians and organs in order to promote self-healing. With the client reclining, the practitioner applies pressure with the finger, thumb, palm, elbow, or knee to specific zones on the skin located along the energy meridians. The treatment brings about a sense of relaxation while stimulating blood and lymphatic flow. The benefits of this treatment may include pain relief and a strengthening of the body’s resistance to disease and disorder.
SPORTS MASSAGE
Sports massage is designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery. There are three contexts in which sports massage can be useful to an athlete: pre-event, post-event, and injury treatment. Pre-event massage is delivered at the performance site, usually with the athlete fully clothed. Fast-paced and stimulating, it helps to establish blood flow and to warm up muscles. During the massage, the athlete generally focuses on visualizing the upcoming event. Post-event massage is also delivered on site, through the clothes. The intent here is to calm the nervous system and begin the process of flushing toxins and waste products out of the body. Post-event massage can reduce recovery time, enabling an athlete to resume training much sooner than rest alone would allow. When an athlete sustains an injury, skillful massage therapy can often speed and improve the quality of healing.
EQUINE MASSAGE
The practice of soft-tissue manipulation applied to
horses.
Both pets and performance animals experience soft-tissue
damage in their daily lives just as humans do. Therapeutic massage
provides significant relief, stimulates healing, and promotes stress
reduction and relaxation. Other benefits include enhancing performance
by increasing range of motion, maintaining muscle tone and joint
flexibility, increasing blood and lymph circulation, increasing oxygen
to reduce muscle spasms, flushing toxins from muscles and joints,
improving disposition, preventing injuries, stimulating areas affected
postoperatively, recovering from skeletal and muscular surgery or
injury, relieving muscle pain by releasing endorphins, and relieving
discomfort from arthritis, lameness, and hip dysplasia. Animals also
can receive pre- and post-event massage for competition.
Information taken from www.massagetherapy.com
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