*all recommendations are generalized: check with your doctor if you have special conditions that require modification to any activity; I'm a Lisenced Massage Therapist, not a Doctor.
ONCOLOGY MASSAGE |
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Cancer affects the body, mind and soul in a variety of ways. Skin, the largest organ of the body, can become very sensitive to touch during this new and unwelcome time of your life. Which is why the pressure scale helps let you know that massage can still work for you. While some oncology massage clients will be fine with pressures 3 & 4, the majority will need pressures 1 and 2, with pressure 3 being used sparingly, or not at all. Through conversation with your Massage Therapist, the best pressure to be used for you will be determined, and it can change from session to session. You, the client, are in control of the touch to your body. Massage at this point in your life, can help soothe your body, mind and soul; remind you of caring touch, provide an hour or more of focused time for you (not your cancer....YOU). Relieve stress, soothe the nervous system, which can improve your sleep quality and quantity, provide muscle ache relief and more...
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ARTHRITIS &
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Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis (the two most common) affect millions of Americans. While there is no known cure for arthritis, therapeutic massage is known to help slow down the process and help you live more comfortably. How does Massage help? Massage addresses the most common side effects of painful and stiff joints: muscle tension and pain, poor circulation, and limited range of motion during everyday activities and exercise.
Around the affected areas, it is important that massage never causes pain or discomfort (keep communicating with your therapist within the sessions, as needed). Extra care is taken if you're on medication to suppress your symptoms, since this interferes with the natural bio feedback. Extra extra care is taken during flare ups of rheumatoid arthritis, which can include no massage at all on the affected joints, concentrating gentle work in other areas to relieve tension and improve your overall comfort; or rescheduling. Some techniques that are known to help include: hot stones (warm to touch/not "hot"), Neuromuscular therapy (trigger point), Swedish, shiatsu and gentle stretching. The techniques that are right for you are determined together in your consultation. |
BACK & SHOULDER PAIN: Personal Habit Factors |
Various reasons for your back and shoulder pain:
Kids can experience moderate to severe muscle pain. Backpack wearers should use both shoulder straps. It may seem easier or more comfortable to sling the pack over just one shoulder, but that’s a bad habit that can lead to back or shoulder pain. A thirty minute session bi-weekly, weekly or every other week when the pain is acute can help them get back on track- followed by using the back pack correctly and/or modifying the weight, distribution of weight or purchasing one that better suits their needs. Visit: http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/quick-tips-using-backpacks-safely-get-started, to learn more. Heavy Purse Offenders- you ladies know who you are! What do you actually need in that bag everyday? Consider paring it down. A cross shoulder bag is an alternative. But if you absolutely, definitely need a full makeup bag, portable screwdriver set, compact mirror, one pound wallet, cell phone, 20 keys, nail care set, three pairs of glasses, business cards, hair brush, kleenex, notepad, 5 pens, glasses repair kit.... then consider scheduling regular massages to help counterbalance your myoskeletal frame. Whether it's an hour every week or every 5 weeks or anywhere in-between- self care, helps you care for those you love, even better- improves your overall health and just feels good. Office Chair Jockeys/ Chronic Computer Users. Your back is screaming for attention. Whether you're slouching in an office chair, hiking one shoulder up when using a mouse, or just stuck in a cubicle for hours on end, the human spine needs movement. If the pain is acute, then weekly or bi-weekly massage can help you get on top of the pain, followed by a regular schedule, since massage benefits are cumulative. Using massage as a band-aide can help in the moment, but it's like taking a pill for a headache, and then expecting to never need another pill for a headache again! Various things you can do to help: ergonomic chair, adjusting chair height, aligning keyboard and screen, lumbar pillow, stretching, Pilates, yoga, Epsom salt baths, topical agents (Tiger's Balm...), major life change involving a new job or hobby that involves more movement throughout the day, and regular massage, twice a month, once a month or whatever works best for you. |