Archive for the 'accupressure' Category

Accupressure Article Posted On Massage Schools Guide

Published
by
Terry
on April 22, 2010
in accupressure
. 0 Comments

We recently completed a comprehensive article explaining the philosophy and practice of acupressure and have posted it on our main website at http://www.massageschoolsguide.com/acupressure_massage.htm.

Acupressure combines the beliefs of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the philosophies of energy flow and pressure applications similar to those used in acupuncture. From a modern medical perspective, acupuncture and acupressure are not completely understood. The existence of qi is disputed by many in the mainstream medical system; however, the benefits of TCM have been experienced for thousands of years without a need for medical intervention at all.

Get the facts and judge for yourself. There is a demand for acupressure and for trained therapists. Read about the benefits of acupressure on our website today.

Massage Students Should Gain Exposure to Eastern and Western Techniques

Published
by
Terry
on July 22, 2009
in accupressure, asian massage, deep tissue, massage techniques, myofascial, swedish massage, thai massage and types of massage
. 1 Comment

By Courtney Slivka

Put quite simply, most massage traditions are categorized as either Eastern or Western. Yet travel around the world and you will probably find both Eastern and Western offerings in each city, sometimes even offered within the same establishment, and even by the same therapist. So what differentiates Eastern massage techniques from Western massage traditions? The categories arise from the origins of each form of massage.

Eastern traditions of bodywork are often thought to be the oldest traditions in the world. Many of these techniques arose in the ancient civilizations of Asia, yet the traditions are still practiced even today. Eastern forms of bodywork include Shiatsu, Thai massage, and acupressure, though there are numerous other techniques as well. Many of these schools of thought focus on the traditional Asian ideas of medicine and the human body, which varies in many ways from today’s modern beliefs about human science.

The Western theories of massage are much newer in comparison to many of the Eastern techniques. Today the most popular form of Western massage theory is Swedish massage. It is a therapeutic form of massage meant to enhance overall well-being by promoting relaxation. In addition, deep tissue, sports massage, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release have all evolved from the basic techniques of Swedish massage.

Many American massage schools focus primarily on the Western techniques of massage since it is the one most commonly practiced in American spas, gyms, health clubs, and more. Nevertheless the Eastern bodywork traditions are also quite popular, and even schools with a Western based curriculum include at least basic introductions to some of the Eastern techniques.

As a student of massage therapy, it is advisable to at least get a taste of a number of different techniques. Then you will have the information and experience to choose a tradition to study further, or incorporate into your own practice. Along with learning each tradition in school, take time to schedule sessions with professionals in each of the different areas of massage. You can experience the different types of massage first hand, and see which type you would most like to perform on a regular basis.

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)