Being a certified massage therapist and neuromuscular bodywork therapist I feel it is imperative that I share with you the tremendous benefits of a massage therapy regimen.
Whether your need is to have a moment of relaxation, reduce muscle tension or attain relief from chronic pain, a therapeutic massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well-being.
Listed are 25 reasons to include therapeutic massage in your healthy life !
There is the much needed relaxing Swedish massage, and there are two other modalities that are important to practice. Myofacial Release and Neuromuscular / Trigger Point Therapy. You can expect fabulous results regarding pain relief and your body’s range of motion. I’ll explain…
Fascia (pronounced FUSH-ah) is very densely woven spider web-like connective tissue that is wrapped around every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as, all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord in our body.
From the man himself, John F. Barnes, who developed the Myofascial Release Approach® in the 1970’s- “Fascia plays an important role in the support and function of our bodies, since it surrounds and attaches to all structures. In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When one experiences physical trauma, emotional trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted, and a source of tension to the rest of the body. Trauma, such as a fall, car accident, whiplash, surgery or just habitual poor posture and repetitive stress injuries has cumulative effects on the body. The changes trauma causes in the fascial system influences comfort and function of our body. Fascial restrictions can exert excessive pressure causing all kinds of symptoms producing pain, headaches or restriction of motion. Fascial restrictions affect our flexibility and stability, and are a determining factor in our ability to withstand stress and perform daily activities.”
I wanted to give you an idea of what facial looks like. If you have ever cooked a chicken breast, then you've seen fascia! It’s the sticky, clear film just under the skin and encases the meat. Pictured here…
As mentioned above, when our fascial becomes “stuck,” tight, dry and restricted, it causes a source of tension to the rest of the body. It causes pain, headaches, and restricts our range of motion, among many other issues. Typically the therapist does not use any oils or lotions when working with fascia release.
In the hands of a certified massage therapist who has experience and a certification in Myofascial Release Therapy you don’t have to suffer! It takes time and consistency to get your fascial healthy again! Stay hydrated! Drinking plenty of water will certainly assist when the fascia is dry and dehydrated.
NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY (NMT)
Neuromuscular Therapy is a highly specialized type of soft tissue therapy designed to relieve pain and return injured tissues to normal function. It utilizes specific, targeted soft tissue treatment, flexibility stretching and self-care to eliminate the causes of most muscular aches and pains. It can provide long-term pain relief where other approaches have failed. Neuromuscular Therapy balances the nervous system with the muscular and skeletal systems and naturally brings the body back into alignment. It addresses postural and muscular imbalances, nerve entrapment, ischemia (reduced blood flow to an area of the body) and muscular trigger points.
Identifying and treating Trigger Points (TrPs) is a significant aspect of Neuromuscular Therapy. TrPs are hyper-sensitive, pea-sized nodules, or “knots”, which develop in injured muscles. Trigger points can cause pain either at the site of the TrP or refer pain throughout the body. They can also cause tingling or numbness, muscle stiffness, fatigue, and/or weakness. Examples of referred pain include: sciatica-like symptoms, carpal tunnel- like symptoms, TMJ Syndrome and headaches. If not treated correctly, Trigger Points often cause debilitating pain which can last for years. Some causes of injury resulting in TrP pain may be activities that require repetitive motion, chronic physical or emotional stress, a fall or accident, and postural or muscular imbalances. Poor nutrition can also play a role in the development of TRPs.
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REGULARLY ALLEVIATED WITH NMT
- Daily Living Pains and Strains
- Neck/Back/Shoulder Pain or Discomfort
- General Muscular Aches and Pains
- Arm and Hand Pain/Tingling
- Leg and Foot Pain/Numbness
- Tendonitis
- Whiplash
- Muscle Strains
- Chronic Conditions
- Headaches
- Arthritis
- Circulatory Problems
- Reduced Flexibility
- Sciatica
- TMJ Syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
NMT WILL BE USED TO ADDRESS 5 ELEMENTS THAT CAUSE PAIN:
- Ischemia:Lack of blood supply to soft tissues which causes hypersensitivity to touch
- Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles which refer pain to other parts of the body
- Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage or bone
- Postural Distortion: Imbalance of the muscular system resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes
- Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal system resulting in faulty movement patterns (i.e., poor lifting habits, bad mechanics in a golf swing of tennis stroke, computer keyboarding)
A little history on Neuromuscular / Tigger Point Therapy…..
In the 1930′s Dr. Stanley Lief, and his cousin Boris Chaitow , both a trained Chiropractor and Naturopathic Physician experimented with neuromuscular treatments for muscular pain. It was such a successful that their neuromuscular massage technique became common practice in osteopathic and sports therapy venues all over Europe. Fast forward a few decades; Dr. Janet Travell and Dr. David Simons published books full of documentation, research, and references that the Source of most pain is “knots” in your muscles.
Dr. Janet Travell went on to become the first woman White House Physician and the personal physician to President John F. Kennedy.
President Kennedy credits her Trigger Point Neuromuscular Massage Therapy as the only effective treatment for his debilitating back pain that was so crippling he considered stepping down as President.
I hope this has educated you if you didn’t already have this information. Be sure you take the time to look for a certified therapist who specializes in these modalities. Massage is just one of the steps in keeping our bodies / life in balance!
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