February is American Heart Month. A multitude of research shows a correlation between massage therapy and improved cardiovascular health. Read the full article on the American Massage Therapy Association website: Read the AMTA article here…
High-Heeled Dangers
High heel shoes may be the fashion now, but they can become problematic for the people that wear them. The shoes are stylish; they give the wearer added height and elongate the leg. However, many problems can arise from being the wearer of these shoes.
The Achilles tendon shortens and tightens up when the front of the foot becomes lower than the heel. Achilles tendonitis may develop. Calf cramps can also occur. This is because the calf muscles (either the gastrocnemius or the soleus) contract to adjust for the angle created from an elevated heel.
The knee is also affected. Walking in high heels puts excessive force on the medial side of the knee. The low back is affected as well. Additional effort is required to sustain upright balance because high-heeled shoes throw the entire weight of the wearer forward. Extra muscular effort is needed to keep from falling forward. This effort is concentrated in the lower back, producing an exaggerated arch, which can contribute to back pain.
If one must wear high heels, wear them only for special occasions and for short periods of time. Your feet and your body will thank you.
Relief for Low Back Pain
Chronic low back pain is a common complaint among many, and can be difficult to treat as there may be varying causes to the pain. In my practice, I see many clients that have been unable to find relief, until they have tried massage therapy. That is why I was happy to find this article in the Massage Therapy Journal, AMTA, which gives more in depth information about the benefits of massage therapy on chronic lower back pain:
“Massage therapy may be more effective in dealing with low-back pain than other more traditional medical intervention as new research suggests…
“…The two groups of patients receiving massage therapy reported their back pain was significantly improved or gone altogether.
“Although previous studies on massage therapy and low-back pain have concentrated primarily on effectiveness of deep tissue massage, researchers are hopeful about the success of relaxation massage modalities offering significant benefits. Two reasons are that relaxation massage is oftentimes more widely available and cost-effective.”
My clients experience significant pain relief from chronic back pain when I apply the relaxation massage techniques. If traditional remedies are not working effectively, consider using massage therapy.
For more information about this study, visit Massage Therapy Journal, AMTA.
Massage Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms
The Natural Standard, an Authority on Integrative Medicine, reports a new study of how massage therapy may improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
“Massage is a broad term encompassing a variety of approaches to the manipulation of soft tissue to achieve health benefits. Massage techniques have been practiced for thousands of years in many cultures. Practitioners primarily use their hands but may also use their forearms, elbows or even their feet in some methods. Lubricants are often added to reduce friction and discomfort during the application of massage techniques. Early scientific evidence suggests that people with Parkinson’s disease might have reduced symptoms after massage…
“The researchers found that walking speed, shoulder stiffness and the severity of other symptoms all improved after massage therapy. The authors concluded that massage therapy in combination with conventional medications may benefit Parkinson’s disease patients.”
Read this interesting article in naturalstandard.com.
Wall Street Journal on the Benefits of Massage Therapy
Much research has been done on massage therapy. We all know how good massage feels, and how much better our bodies feel after a treatment. The benefits of massage go a long way, from stress reduction and decreasing pain to increasing the range of motion in the body.
Now, documented in the Wall Street Journal, is a great article about the benefits of Massage Therapy. According to the Wall Street Journal:
“Research over the past couple of years has found that massage therapy boosts immune function in women with breast cancer, improves symptoms in children with asthma, and increases grip strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Giving massages to the littlest patients, premature babies, helped in the crucial task of gaining weight.
“The benefits go beyond feelings of relaxation and wellness that people may recognize after a massage. The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society now include massage as one of their recommendations for treating low back pain, according to guidelines published in 2007.”
Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal on Massage Therapy for more important information.