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Massage Therapy is an excellent treatment for numerous health concerns. The one health concern that commands the most awareness is back pain. Most people are well aware that massage therapy is one of the most successful forms of treatment for muscular issues. Most injuries to the back are muscular in nature and about 95% of cases of low back pain are the result of muscular problems.

Most concerns will be treated similarly with general back pain treatments, other concerns will be customized depending on the condition. In general, massage treatments of the back are most effective when used in conjunction with a personal trainer. The abdominals, glutes and hamstrings should be massaged and strengthened. These muscles support and alleviate strain on the back when functioning properly.

A bulging disc is another common back problem. A bulging disc is not the same as a herniated disc. A bulging disc develops gradually over time and a herniated disc is usually the result of trauma to the spine. A bulging disc does not rupture and does not always cause pain. The pain associated with a bulging disc is typically due to the bulge impinging a nerve. This can cause pain and muscle spasms. Deep massage work is avoided in the areas of severe pain. Rocking, gliding and gentle kneading strokes are effective in this area.

A herniated disc, also known as a ruptured or slipped disc is another problem. A herniated disc opens and allows the soft central portion to spill out and put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve root. The rupture may cause the release of inflammatory chemical mediators and cause severe pain even without nerve root compression. Massage treatment for a herniated disc focuses on controlling muscles spasms and managing pain. Deep work is avoided in the areas of severe pain.

Spondylolysis is an abnormal separation front and rear of a vertebra. It is most common in young people that have back pain for no apparent reason. Massage treatments for Spondylolysis focuses on reducing muscle tightening in the area. Broad based compression and gliding strokes are used to break up the muscle tension.

Sciatica pain is often associated with back pain even though the majority of the pain runs down the back of the leg to the foot. Muscle spasms, neurologic issues, vertebra spurs and impingement from a disc are some of the potential causes of sciatic pain. Massage treatment is more successful with some causes than others. Massage has been proven to be very effective when sciatic pain is being caused by muscle spasms. The piriformis muscle is located beneath the glutes and can entrap the sciatic nerve. This is called piriformis syndrome and massage therapy has shown to be successful to decrease symptoms.

Massage therapy performed by a trained professional can alleviate a lot of symptoms. Through consistent treatments and strength training a lot of back problems can become non-existent. In addition to treating the specific muscles, the increased blood circulation aids in the healing process. After symptoms have dissipated, it is highly recommended to begin a monthly massage preventative program. This will help to ensure that the body does not return to the previous state.

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This article authored by Brittany Talley NC LMBT# 9931. Read more informative articles from Brittany and others at www.desteneesalonandspa.com.

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People that have jobs or hobbies that require a combination of repetitive wrist or finger motions are at an elevated risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Pinching, gripping or working with vibrating tools are examples of activities that can increase a person’s risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Furthermore, women are three times more likely than men to develop the syndrome. Other contributing factors to elevating the risk developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are age, weight and taking oral contraceptives.

There are several options for addressing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The massage option can be extremely effective and is considered the first option by many. A splint or brace can be used to minimize the movement in the wrist. This is not an option in most people because a repetitive movement is typically a necessary movement. If the movement is required to complete your job, it would be difficult to wear your brace and perform your job. For instance, if you were a massage therapist it would be extremely difficult to perform a quality massage wearing a splint or brace. There are steroids and non-steroidal drugs designed to treat the symptoms. These drugs can be effective at times, but can involve painful injections and side effects must be considered. When all else fails, there are surgical options. The endoscopic option is the least invasive and preferred, but when it isn’t an option the surgeon will perform an open incision surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve.

The best way of stopping the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is by not performing the repetitive motion that caused the condition. This is not an option for some people because they can’t perform their job any other way. Massage therapy can be an excellent alternative for these people. Massage therapy can be used to treat existing symptoms or as a preventative measure to insure that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome doesn’t develop. As a preventative measure for a person in a high risk category it is recommended to set up a schedule with a massage professional that can be tailored to your specific situation. These schedules are typically on a monthly basis and incorporate a lot of range of movement into the massage. The massage professional may also provide the client with exercises to do at home between sessions. Massage therapy as an intervention will be scheduled more frequently. The sessions are typically set up weekly until a breakthrough in pain is achieved. During these sessions the massage professional will perform thorough strokes on the hand, wrist and forearm flexors. The massage professional may determine that the nerve is constricted where it leaves the spinal area. In this situation, it may be necessary to include the shoulder and upper back area in the massage treatment. Gentle range of motion exercises are also incorporated. The client will be given exercises to do between sessions and as pain subsides, sessions will become less frequent.

There is a growing trend towards massage therapy being the first option as treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and studies have shown a lot of success. More people are choosing to take medication as a last resort and most everyone elects surgery when all else fails. Massage may not be the answer for everyone’s situation, but given the high success rate it has achieved, massage therapy should be tried before jumping into a surgery. Book an appointment with a massage professional at www.desteneesalonandspa.com.

Swedish Massage is a systematic and scientific manipulation of the soft tissue of the body. This manipulation is performed to promote good health. There are five primary strokes involved in Swedish Massage. They are the effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration. Effleurage strokes are long flowing strokes that allow the therapist to spread the lubricant and feel the muscle tone. Petrissage is a kneading stroke that lifts and squeezes the tissue and it helps flush out metabolic waste in that area. Friction is a strokes that involves fast short movements to create heat. This is good to bring blood flow to that area and is great for loosening ligaments. Tapotement is a series of light blows to the body designed to relax a muscle. This is the stroke most people are familiar with and sometimes looks like alternating karate chops. Vibration is a stroke that is used to create movement in the entire body and when done properly, is very relaxing.

Deep Tissue is a series of slow, specific and deliberate strokes and is best suited for postural deviances and abnormal muscle tone. The Massage Therapist will choose between several strokes depending on the size of the muscle that they are working on. They will “hook in” and start a slow moving down the muscle as it lets them. A good Massage Therapist will never force pressure into the muscle. They will continue to apply pressure until the muscle pushes back against them. The muscle will then slowly begin to release and allow the therapist to move along it. The pressure used should not be painful, but should walk a fine line between pleasurable release of tension and a pain-blocking response from the body (tensing up). The standard misconception in Deep Tissue work is “No Pain, No Gain”. This is simply not true. Pain causes the muscle to tense up and actually makes the massage less effective.

Unless you have an injury to a specific muscle or have postural concerns, I recommend you book for a Swedish Massage. You should communicate with your therapist about how much pressure you like. It is much more difficult to ascertain how much pressure a client needs in Swedish Massage than in Deep Tissue. Some clients have expressed that they don’t ask for more pressure because they feel like they are asking the Therapist to work harder. This is not the case. A Massage Therapist will use proper body mechanics to use leverage instead of strength to apply pressure. Our Therapist want you to have the best experience possible. To achieve this goal requires education and communication. Never be afraid to ask a Massage Therapist to back off of pressure or to apply more.

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Aside from the general advantages massage offers, there are certain qualities that abdominal massage offers that are unique to it. The abdomen is an area that is often overlooked in massage. Some therapists will simply perform a few light strokes over the area. Other therapists may avoid the area all together. The abdomen is a very important area and needs specific attention. Massage in this area improves the oxygenated blood supply to organs. This stimulates the liver, gall bladder and pancreas allowing the release of metabolic waste products. Massage in this region aids in proper digestion and relieves constipation. By strengthening weak and relaxed abdominal muscles, it can take strain off of the lower back. A massage therapist can release deep muscle tissue spasms and help align pelvic bones.

Women have certain benefits from abdominal massage that are gender specific. This massage has shown to alleviate painful periods and ovulation. It has also helped correct irregular menstrual cycles and ease symptoms of PMS. Some studies show that abdominal massage can be helpful with the symptoms of Endometriosis.

There are a few gender specific benefits for men. The abdominal massage ensures full blood circulation to the prostate and prevents swelling and inflammation. Abdominal massage has also shown to help alleviate the need to urinate frequently.

The abdomen is an area of the body where vital organs are located. It is the area responsible for digestion, reproduction and elimination. It is the core of the human body and should not be neglected in your massage routine.