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Deep Tissue Massage | Massage Healing |
Myotherapy |
Reflexology
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Reiki |
Shiatsu |
Sports Massage |
NMT Pressure Points |
Polarity | Manual Lymph Drainage
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How and Why Massage Therapy Works
A short review, by Tom Scott, LMT. Owner of HEALthy Self Wellness Center
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| To understand the basic principals of our body's needs is that our body is programmed to heal itself, as a basis survival technique. When in need, we KNEAD ! Think about the times you rub your eyes, rub your forehead when stressed, or a sore knee. The invasion of touch bring blood to the site as your body thinks it is being attacked. Certainly two fingers rubbing your eyeball is an invasion! Blood brings oxygen and swells the eye, stretching the "fascia" of the eye bringing soothing relief.
FASCIA is found throughout your entire body. Understanding the importance of this substance is important to understand how the manipulation, stretching and flexing this "skin" through massage therapy is important to your sport, your posture, reducing muscle pain, and adding a "quality of life" your body deserves.
What is fascia?
Fascia, a connective tissue, is packing material of the body. It envelopes the muscles, bones and joints and holds us together supporting the body structure and giving us shape. Fascia organizes and separates: it provides protection and autonomy for the individual muscles and viscera. It joins and bonds these separate entities and establishes spatial relationships. Chemically it is the collagen in the fascia that enables it to change.
Collagen, a colloid is capable of changing from fluid to solid, and solid to fluid in response to the forces acting upon it. With chronic tension collagen tends to shorten and harden. A deep massage or "Structural Integration" dehydrates and restores elasticity to the fascia.
Additionally, it may help if you think of your muscles as natural sponges, (not synthetic sponges). Sponges, like muscles depend on liquids to keep them relaxed, flexible and elongated. Take them out of water; they become hard, shortened, and nonflexible. Your muscles a basically the same; they need a supply of blood carrying oxygen to soften, lengthen and thus decreasing intra joint pressure.
Judith Walter, LMT, a respected teacher / lecturer on the subject of pain and Neuromuscular Therapy, a massage modality states:
"There are several ways in which massage will influence pain stimulation and pain perception. One way is thru the physical removal of waste products from the muscle tissue. As the body is kneaded, stroked and heated, blood flow is increased, taking oxygen and nutrients into the area. The waste products are removed, reducing the affects of the pain inducing chemicals. This removal of the chemical neurostimulators, is perhaps the most well understood explanation. However, there are other ways pain is decreased by massage".
The psychological effects of massage may also play a large part in the reduction of pain. The work of Candace Pert and Ashley Montague have shown excellent researched proof that the emotions and touch play a powerful role in the physical and psychological wellbeing of the person, from the immune system to the response to society. These factors cannot be measured easily in the massage session, but can be seen readily on the faces of the emerging newly massaged person.
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Deep Tissue Massage |
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What is Deep Tissue Massage? |
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Deep Tissue Massage is a massage technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the fiber's of the muscles, tendons and fascia.
Deep tissue massage is used to release chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles not with the grain. Deep tissue massage helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue. Deep tissue massage usually focuses on more specific areas and may cause some soreness during or right after the massage. However, if the massage is done correctly you should feel better than ever within a day or two.
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Why get a Deep Tissue Massage? |
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It feels good and it is beneficial to your health. When muscles are stressed, they block oxygen and nutrients, leading to inflammation that builds up toxins in the muscle tissue. A deep-tissue massage helps loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles and get blood and oxygen circulating properly. Because many toxins are released, it's important to drink plenty of water after a deep-tissue session to help eliminate these toxins from the body.
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What is the purpose of Deep Tissue Massage? |
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The purpose is to "unstick" the fibers of a muscle while releasing deeply-held patterns of tension, removing toxins, while relaxing and soothing the muscle. It is both corrective and therapeutic.
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Massage Healing |
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Stages of Massage Healing? |
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There are four main stages of healing through massage: relief, correction, strengthening, and maintenance.
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Relief |
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The first few sessions of massage therapy will be aimed to relieve pain, reduce muscle tension and relax stressed nerves. The relief sessions are aimed at the symptoms of the problem.
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Correction |
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When the pain is gone, the therapist will work on the problem that caused the pain. Techniques will be aimed at stimulating your lymphatic system and freeing knotted and scarred muscle fibers.
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Strengthening |
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Strengthening is important in a badly damaged area. Weakness at the injury site can mean recurring problems. Techniques will be aimed at strengthening the tissues near the injury enabling them to provide adequate support when the injury is healed.
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Maintenance |
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Maintenance is the final stage in healing and the first step in preventing other injuries. Maintenance techniques are aimed at treating the problem and preventing the occurrence of new problems. |
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Myotherapy |
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Reflexology |
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What is Reflexology Massage? |
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Reflexology is a gentle form of therapeutic treatment applied to the feet and sometimes to the hands. It evolved around 1913 from the work of Dr. William H. Fitzgerald, an ear, nose and throat surgeon in the United States. Reflexology is considered to be a holistic healing technique that aims to treat the individual as a whole, in order to induce a state of balance and harmony in body, mind and spirit.
Reflexology is based on the belief that there are reflex areas on the feet (and hands) corresponding to all the parts of the body including major organs. It is believed that applying pressure to specific areas on the feet, hands and ears can affect internal organs and body systems, and therefore promote good health.
The therapist stimulates and works these organs and systems through the reflexes areas on the hands and feet, applying pressure to the feet with thumb and fingers. Pressure is applied to clear out congestion and restore normal functioning and health.
Reflexology was brought to America in the early 1900's by Chinese immigrants.
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Treatment Time? |
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A treatment usually lasts between 40 minutes and 1 hour.
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Benefits of Reflexology? |
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Reflexology has many benefits. It feels good. It is pleasant and soothing, and it relaxes the body. Each person responds to a reflexology in a unique way and on occasions may experience a variety of short term reactions, for example, extreme relaxation, tiredness, lethargy or tearfulness. Reflexology is not a ‘cure-all’. However, it does help releive pain associated with migraine, sinus problems, breathing disorders, digestive problems, circulatory problems, back problems, tension and stress.
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Reiki |
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What is Reiki? |
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Reiki is a form of massage therapy. It is a healing technique that originated in Tibet and has been practiced for over 2,500 years.
Strictly speaking, it means Universal Life Force Energy. It is one of the more widely known forms of healing through direct application of Chi, or a force very similar to Chi.
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Chi? |
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Chi is the term used by the Chinese mystics and martial artists for the underlying force the Universe is made of.
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What does Reiki do? |
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It is believed that reiki can relieve pain, boosts the immune system and relieves acute problems. This is believed because physical manifestations of pain are often linked to emotional, mental and spiritual states. Chronic illnesses may take a series of treatments, depending on the specific nature of the disease. Reiki goes beyond the symptoms to treat the root cause of the disease. When we treat only the symptoms, we do not always get to the true basis of the illness.
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How is Reiki performed? |
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Reiki practice consists of the practitioner places his or her hands upon the person to be healed with the intent for healing to occur, and then the energy begins flowing.
The reiki practitioner uses their hands to channel energy from the universe to your body so your body can heal itself.
The main distinction between Reiki and other energy healing techniques is that a practitioner can channel the Reiki energy through their hands into their own body.
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Shiatsu |
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Sports Massage |
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What is Sports Massage? |
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Sports Massage is a special form of massage and is typically used before, during, and after athletic events. The purpose of the massage is to prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries.
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Purpose of Sports Massage? |
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The main purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. The massage will help prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Sports massage can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete or a once a week jogger.
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Types of Techniques? |
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Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of techniques are used. The technique often involves a blend of traditional Swedish Massage and Shiatsu specifically designed to treat professional athletes.
Each type of sport has different demands on the players. Each sport uses muscle groups in a different way. Sports massage is designed to address those specific concerns and may differ according to the sport the athlete plays. Sports massage can be aimed to help heal strained muscles and allow healthy ones to reach peak performance and maintain it while minimizing the risk of injury.
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Benefits of Sports Massage? |
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Sports massage has many benefits. In addition to FEELING GOOD, it reduces the heart rate and blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, reduces muscle tension, improves flexibility, and relieves pain. Each sport and athletic event uses muscle groups in a different way.
Sports Massage can also include pre-event, post-event and maintenance techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance, lessen chances of injury and reduce recovery time.
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What is a Swedish Massage? |
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The term "Swedish Massage" refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart.
Swedish massage was developed in the 1700's by a Swedish doctor named Per Henrik Ling.
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Purpose of Swedish Massage? |
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The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles.
Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load. It stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable. Swedish Massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves at the same time. It reduces stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested in a regular program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.
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Swedish Massage Techniques? |
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Swedish massage techniques include: long strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, percussion, vibration, effleurage, and shaking motions. The usually sequence of techniques are:
1. Effleurage: Gliding strokes with the palms, thumbs and/or fingertips
2. Petrissage: Kneading movements with the hands, thumbs and/or fingers
3. Friction: Circular pressures with the palms of hands, thumbs and/or fingers
4. Vibration: Oscillatory movements that shake or vibrate the body
5. Percussion: Brisk hacking or tapping
6. Passive and active movements: Bending and stretching |
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Benefits of Swedish Massage? |
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Swedish massage feels good, is relaxing and invigorating. It affects the nerves, muscles, glands, and circulation, while promoting health and well being.
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NMT Pressure Points |
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What is NMT Pressure Point Therapy? |
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NMT Pressure Point therapy is a bodywork technique that involves the applying of pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Sometimes massage and NMT Pressure Point therapy are performed together.
NMT Pressure Point therapy is also called myofascial NMT Pressure Point therapy. It was developed by Dr. Janet Travell in the United States in the 1940s.
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What are NMT Pressure Points? |
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NMT Pressure Points are areas of tenderness in a muscle. There are two basic types of NMT Pressure Points: active and latent.
Active NMT Pressure Points cause muscular pain and will refer pain and tenderness to another area of the body when pressure is applied. Latent NMT Pressure Points only exhibit pain when compressed, they do not refer pain to other areas of the body. Latent NMT Pressure Points are believed to be one of the causes of stiff joints and restricted range of motion of old age.
NMT Pressure Points may be associated with myofascial pain syndromes or fibromyalgia. NMT Pressure Points are very common. They are also referred to as muscle knots.
NMT Pressure Points differ from acupressure points. Acupressure points are concentrations of energy or blockages of the body's energy pathways. NMT Pressure Points are physical phenomena that can be felt by touch.
The pain caused by NMT Pressure Points may be the biggest cause of disability and loss of time in the workplace.
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What Causes NMT Pressure Points? |
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NMT Pressure Points have several causes. Some common causes are: birth trauma, an injury sustained in a fall or accident, poor posture, or overexertion.
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What is the Purpose of NMT Pressure Point Therapy? |
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The purpose of NMT Pressure Point therapy is to eliminate pain and to re-educate the muscles into pain-free habits. After several treatments, the swelling and stiffness of neuromuscular pain is reduced, range of motion is increased, tension is relieved, and circulation, flexibility and coordination are improved.
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What is Cranial-Sacral Massage? |
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Cranial-sacral massage is a very gentle therapy that improves physical, mental and emotional health by freeing restrictions of movement in the cranial-sacral bones. Your therapist will concentrate on the head-sacrum-pelvis corridor, using light direct finger pressure to relax the target area, thus the entire body, restoring flow of energy to reinstate physical, emotional and mental well-being.
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Polarity |
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Polarity is a flow of energy. Different words are needs to describe the universal life force or power of spirit. It is not the word of the interpretation of the meaning of the word that is important but how you apply the energy to the way you live.
Polarity treatement uses gentle touch and pressure applied to the flow of energy in the body. Subtle energy blockages are released, restoring balance, vitality and creating a sense of well being.
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Manual Lymph Drainage |
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Manual Lymph Drainage is an advanced form of massage that aims to stimulate the lymphatic system to remove congestion and stagnation from within the body, and so help it return to a healthy condition. Dr Emil Vodder, who was able to show that many chronic conditions could be alleviated with lymphatic drainage and massage techniques, developed it in the 1930's
A true therapist will be trained in a recognized method such as Vodder or Casley-Smith. The treatment will involve a consultation and a massage using gentle rhythmic pumping techniques. Follow up advice on diet and other ways to stimulate the lymph may also be given.
Symptoms that are said to respond well to MLD are a weakened immune system, chronic congestion (sinus etc), rheumatoid arthritis and the healing of wounds, burns and scars. MLD is also often incorporated into the treatment and control of Lymphoedema.
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