Monthly Archive for April, 2009

Medical Massage On The Upswing

Published
by
Gary
on April 24, 2009
in massage and health, massage career, massage specialties, medical massage and types of massage
. 0 Comments

By Gary Eaton, LMT

Most people think of massage as a way for people to relieve stress and relax.  Although that is true, the benefits of massage go far beyond just relaxation.  As a result of this outdated belief, the medical community has been slow to recognize massage as a legitimate form of treatment for patients with injuries and disease.

Lately, however, massage and its many benefits have caught the attention of the medical field.  Thanks to research studies performed over the last decade, massage is starting to be accepted by doctors as a legitimate and effective option for their patients.

As a result, massage schools are starting to respond by offering medical massage curriculum, and there are more continuing education classes available that train massage therapists in medical massage.  But the big question most people have is, “what is medical massage?”

I personally would classify myself as a medical massage practitioner.  But what people need to understand is that medical massage is not a massage technique.  Medical massage is really a unique approach to massage.

Medical massage combines advanced soft-tissue techniques with patient-specific treatment plans.  It isn’t relaxation massage, it isn’t about reducing stress, and it rarely includes a full-body treatments.  Medical massage is region-specific in that we focus on patient complaint areas that are specific to injury or disease.  Sessions are rarely more than one hour, and many ar as short as 15 or 30 minutes.

The goal of medical massage is to treat specific injuries, such as whiplash, or specific regions, such as the lumbar-pelvic region.  In short, medical massage is really just a term to distinguish advanced, condition or injury specific massage from general relaxation massage.

Medical massage can be performed anywhere.  It isn’t exclusive to a hospital or doctors office.  What separates medical massage from relaxation massage is that it isn’t just a one-size-fits-all body treatment that is choreographed.  Rather, it is a treatment massage that is specifically created for each individual patient based on their injury, pain or condition.

As such, medical massage requires more preparation.  The massage therapist must have a complete case history of the patient.  It also requires the therapist to perform postural and movement assessments in addition to soft tissue assessment.  After this initial assessment, a treatment plan is designed and implemented, and there are regular reevaluations and adjustment to the treatment plan.

What makes medical massage different from other forms of massage is the uniqueness of each patient.  Unlike general relaxation massage that may be the same procedure day after day, medical massage is different with every patient.  This requires a better knowledge of the body, but provides much more diversity and variety.  There is no chance of getting bored performing medical massage.

If you are looking to become a massage therapist and are interested in medical massage, be sure to check with your prospective massage schools to find out if they offer medical massage in their curriculum.  More and more massage schools are adding this as an additional option for massage students and as demand grows it is a great career option for new massage therapists.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

Deep Tissue Massage – Part II

Published
by
Terry
on April 24, 2009
in deep tissue, swedish massage and types of massage
. 0 Comments

Drawbacks of Deep Tissue Massage

Although deep tissue massage isn’t meant to be painful, it tends to be more uncomfortable than other types of massage. This is because many of the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue can only be manipulated by intense pressure. Discomfort is usually expected, but prolonged pain is not. Excessive discomfort might actually indicate that the problem cannot be correct by massage or that the masseuse is using an incorrect technique.

Most masseuses recommend plenty of water and relaxation after a deep tissue massage. This is because the purpose behind deep tissue massage is to increase the flow of blood and the release of toxins in muscle tissue. Water helps to flush out the bad fluids and promote healing.

Icing the sore areas after deep tissue massage is also a common practice. Applying cold helps to reduce swelling and stiffness and to decrease some of the pain that commonly occurs after a deep tissue massage. In most cases, the pain that can be expected is similar to what is experienced after a day of heavy exercise.

Specializations in Deep Tissue Massage

No special certification is required for a practitioner to specialize in deep tissue massage; however, like Swedish massage, it is a fairly large field and is taught at the basic level at almost all reputable massage schools. Most massage therapists who work solely with deep tissue massage either offer it as part of a wider range of services or work in a spa or sports physical therapy facility.

Due to the increased pressure behind deep tissue massage, it does require more strength on the part of the massage therapist. Many therapists offer it as part of a full massage session in order to avoid straining their own muscles in the process.

Deep Tissue Massage – Part I

Published
by
Terry
on April 20, 2009
in deep tissue, sports massage, swedish massage and types of massage
. 0 Comments

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage that goes above and beyond traditional techniques to get to the underlying layer of muscle and connective tissue that give the body strength. Like Swedish massage, which seeks to improve circulation, ease muscle pain, and increase flexibility, deep tissue massage uses long, smooth strokes to get maximum results.

However, most deep tissue massage techniques are more intense and more focused than Swedish or traditional massage techniques, which means that the client gets a more concentrated massage – usually with the end result of releasing knots or points of tension in various points of the body.

How Deep Tissue Massage Works

Deep tissue massage works as part of an integrated system of care to release the tension and knots that build up due to stress, sports injuries, or regular body “wear and tear.” Some of the best masseuses recommend additional practices (including exercising, improved postures, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques) as part of a whole body wellness approach. In fact, this approach is so effective that deep tissue massage is considered by many to be more beneficial in reducing pain than medication, acupuncture, or even regular chiropractic visits.

Deep tissue massage relies on slow movements and strong pressure on the body. In most cases, the pressure goes across the fibers of the muscle as a more concentrated way to release tension. It works primarily by reducing adhesions (or knots) in the deep muscles that form due to injury, overuse, and bad posture – all of which usually develop over time. These ailments contribute to pain, swelling or inflammation, decreased mobility, and allover discomfort. Deep tissue massage works primarily by breaking these adhesions down through strong physical manipulation using the fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and even forearms.

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Because deep tissue massage really works at the underlying muscle and connective tissues of the body, it promotes a strong sense of healing and athletic recovery. Popular among athletes who work strenuous schedules, it is also used for those suffering from chronic pain that has its origins in stress or muscular maladies.

Despite it’s advantages, however, deep tissue massage isn’t for everyone or every condition. In most cases, it is used as a way to treat problems that traditional massage or pain relief methods have not had luck with in the past. It is used for a variety of recuperative and therapeutic reasons, often to:

  • Eliminate of underlying scar tissue (due to surgery or injury to the muscles or joints)
  • Provide pain relief for athletes or those who have had an injury
  • Ease tension in the body, which may or may not be contributing to pain
  • Increase mobility

Many people also get regular deep tissue massages for medical conditions – typically when traditional healing methods have failed. These conditions include:

  • Chronic pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Edema
  • Muscle cramps or tension
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Osteoarthritis

(Coming Soon – Part II -Drawbacks and Specializations)

Trigger Point Massage – Part II

Published
by
Terry
on April 15, 2009
in accupressure, massage specialties, myofascial and trigger point massage
. 0 Comments

Benefits of Trigger Point Massage

Many individuals seek trigger point massage when other attempts at pain relief have failed. This means that there is often an understanding of the location and source of pain prior to the first appointment, which the massage therapist can use to help determine what trigger points to target during the massage. Other individuals may need to undergo a thorough exam to determine where to focus the massage – most often in areas where tension or injury has shortened the muscle.

Trigger point massage is used to treat pain associated with:

•    Everyday stress
•    Injuries due to overuse or muscle strain
•    Tennis elbow
•    Carpal tunnel syndrome
•    Accident injuries, particularly whiplash or other muscle-based disorders
•    Fibromyalgia
•    Arthritis
•    Sciatica

For most types of chronic pain, it is necessary to get trigger point massage on a regular (oftentimes weekly) basis. That’s because although it has proven effective in the management of pain, it is only a temporary solution for diseases or disorders that constantly wear on the body and the muscular system. For example, individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia often use regular trigger point massage sessions as a way to get to the root of the pain, since many individuals believe that the disease as its origins in trigger point pain and muscle problems.

The Future of Trigger Point Massage

Although trigger point massage is adopted by many medical professionals and massage therapists, it is not embraced by the medical community as a whole. Like acupressure or acupuncture, much of the medical basis lies not in Western medical “rules,” but in Eastern philosophies and whole body wellness. Massage therapists can get specialized training at certain schools around the United States that offer programs in trigger point.

Trigger Point Massage – Part I

Published
by
Terry
on April 14, 2009
in accupressure, health issues, massage specialties, trigger point massage and types of massage
. 0 Comments

Trigger Point Massage – Overview

Trigger point massage is a type of massage used primarily to treat chronic pain. It identifies and heals areas within the myofascial tissue of the body that contribute to muscle pain, spasms, and difficulties in posture.

Trigger point massage works primarily by combining the Eastern techniques of acupressure with a more Western approach to massage. The trigger points of the body are closely aligned with the traditional areas of acupuncture focus. By manipulating these areas through massage, professionals are able to relieve many types of pain that are unidentifiable by modern technologies (such as MRIs).

What are Trigger Points?

The body’s trigger points are natural areas within the muscle that get “injured” due to regular body wear and tear, injuries, and ailments like fibromyalgia. They appear in the myofascial structures of the body, which includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and even scar tissue. In most cases where trigger point massage is used as a way to reduce pain, the problems are located in the muscles.

Trigger points are responsible for aches, pains, tingling sensations, and even feelings of hot and cold. In more severe cases, they are believed to contribute to symptoms in other parts of the body, as well. This includes nausea, headaches, earaches, blurred vision, and dizziness.

Trigger points can usually be felt in the muscle tissue as tender knots surrounded by regular muscle. Direct pressure on the points results in a twitchy or tingling sensation. By working the trigger points in this way along with a gentle stretching of the surrounding muscle tissue, blood flow is increased, oxygen flow is increased, and pain is reduced.

These trigger points occur all along the length of the body, typically in the axial muscles (the muscles responsible for moving the body from side to side). They are closely aligned with the muscles used to keep the body erect, which is why they are commonly associated with pain related to posture or everyday stresses.

How Trigger Points Work

There are actually several different types of trigger points. Key trigger points are those that are the “cause” of pain, in that activating the point results in pain at that location or elsewhere in the body. Satellite trigger points are those that are located on the trigger point “pathway,” which means that it can be activated elsewhere but still give all the appearance of being the cause of the pain. (For example, trigger point pain in the forearm might actually be caused by a trigger point in the shoulder.) Trained trigger point massage therapists are able to determine where the real source of the problem lies, which means that the area of focus for the massage may not occur in the same area as the pain.

Following this same format, there are active and latent trigger points. Active trigger points typically cause ongoing and persistent pain, while latent trigger points only hurt when physically manipulated. In many cases, latent trigger points are the cause of satellite trigger point activation.

(Part II – Tomorrow- The Benefits of Trigger Point Massage – The Future of Trigger Point Massage)

Lymphatic Massage – Eliminate Toxins, Boost Immune System

Published
by
Terry
on April 8, 2009
in massage and health, massage certification, massage specialties and types of massage
. 0 Comments

Lymphatic massage is a type of physical manipulation that encourages the movement of fluids through the body’s tissues and muscles. It is intended to move toxins out of the body and stimulate the production of healthy lymph, which in turn boosts the immune system and increases energy.

Although most people link lymphatic massage with toxin release, it is also used for the traditional benefits of massage (including recovering from sports injuries or simply relaxing). In fact, almost all types of massage are “lymphatic” in some form or another, since in working with the body’s tissues, it is inevitable that fluids will be pushed through the system.

The Lymphatic System

Lymphatic massage is used primarily as a way to help the body’s natural ability to heal and to keep diseases at bay. That’s because it deals primarily with the lymphatic system, a network that carries non-blood fluids (known as lymph or interstitial fluid) through the body.

Lymph is a clear, watery fluid that moves around the body via organs, ducts, and nodes to distribute immune cells and other factors. It is vital in fighting off infection and in draining out “bad” fluids from the body, acting as a kind of cleanser that reaches almost every cell in the body. However, unlike most other body systems, there is no central “pump” (such as the heart) that pushes the fluid around. Instead, the lymphatic system is dependent on body movements, breathing, and manual manipulation.

Sometimes, lymph can collect in one location in the body – usually in the arm or leg. Known as lymphodema, this can cause painful swelling and, if allowed to remain untreated, infection or abscess. Lymphatic massage is actually one of the few ways to safely treat this condition, especially when performed by a CMLDT (Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist), who is usually a nurse or massage therapist with special training in working with the lymphatic system.

How Lymphatic Massage Works

Lymphatic massage works by using traditional massage techniques combined with light pressure and soft pumping movements toward the lymph nodes (although the lymph nodes of the neck are the most well-known, they are actually distributed all over the body). This moves the fluids out of the muscular tissue to where they can be “cleaned” and transmitted to other parts of the body.

Although almost every type of massage should be followed by drinking water to flush away the body’s toxins, it is never more important than after a lymphatic massage. Because the focus is on moving toxins around and out, water is vital to get things moving as quickly as possible.

Benefits of Lymphatic Massage

Lymphatic massage helps to keep the lymph fluids moving along in a healthy and proper fashion. It’s sort of like manually pushing water through the pipes in order to avoid the “clogs” that can eventually lead to worse problems. In fact, when done correctly, lymphatic massage can actually increase the volume of lymph flow by up to 20 times.

In most cases, lymphatic massage is used to treat disorders that are the result of a lowered immune system or lymph blockages. This means it can be performed to:

  • Prevent or treat cold and flu infections

  • Ease pain associated with arthritis or the joints

  • Treat pain associated with menstrual cramps

  • Treat pain associated with breastfeeding

  • Increase appetite

  • Boost metabolism

  • Decrease fatigue

  • Regulate moods or depression

  • Increase circulation to injury or scarred sites

  • Before surgery as a way to promote healing later on

Lymphatic massage is also related to cosmetic issues in the skin, including acne or cellulite reduction. That’s because the skin is considered a part of the larger lymphatic system, and many people swear by relying on fresh interstitial fluids to create a brighter, more healthy looking appearance.

In addition, lymphatic massage may be beneficial following Swedish massage or deep tissue massages. These massage types target reducing edemas or knots in the muscles, and lymphatic massage helps to dissolve the knots even further. Many massage therapists specialize in all of these types of massage as a way to offer comprehensive massage care.

Drawbacks of Lymphatic Massage

There are some proponents of lymphatic massage who assert that it decreases the chances of developing cancer, particularly in the breasts. While there is some discussion on the validity of this statement, most massage therapists feel that there is little harm in getting lymphatic massages regularly as a preventative treatment. However, it is not recommended for those who are currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment, since it can affect the way the body absorbs the medication. Moving the chemicals through and out of the body too quickly can negate the benefits.

It is also best to avoid lymphatic massage in clients with major heart problems or malignant tumors. In some cases, cancer is spread through the lymph nodes, and getting a lymphatic massage may actually help the disease in spreading. Individuals concerned about whether or not lymphatic massage is right for them should seek the advice of a medical professional or Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist.

New Article About Infant Massage and Career Options

Published
by
Terry
on April 2, 2009
in infant massage, massage career and massage specialties
. 0 Comments

Tina Allen is an internationally renowned expert on infant and pediatric massage therapy. She is a children’s health advocate and has managed and introduced pediatric massage programs at some of the most prestigious hospital on the West coast. in addition, she developed a program of compassionate touch that targets women and children that have experienced domestic abuse.

Ms. Allen has written an article for Massage Schools Guide that focuses on infant massage. In the article, Tina presents the history of this ancient practice and describes the benefits of infant massage. The application of touch in a gentle but systematic manner provides a variety of nourishing and nurturing benefits for a baby. Ms. Allen pasionately believes that touch can provide a myriad of positive experiences for developing babay. Read about the approach to infant massage and the opportunities for massage school students to consider another specialty and career option.