From the category archives:
Massage
Pregnancy massage – If you are currently wondering if there are actually benefits to having a pregnancy massage, you should know that there are a lot of benefits from it. As a matter of fact, if people are advised to have massages during normal circumstances, it is more advisable for a pregnant woman because of the benefits it can bring. However, you should also be aware that along with these benefits, there are precautions that you have to take not of.
First of all, one of the benefits that you will get from having a massage during your pregnancy is that your body will have an overall better blood circulation. And because the flow of the blood in the body will be fixed, the rate of your heartbeat will also become more stable. Another good thing about having a massage while pregnant is that your muscle spasms and cramps will be relieved; this will be a good thing most especially because you don’t have that much ability to move freely since you are carrying another body inside you. In relation to this, your neck and back pains will be lessened because of the pleasurable pressure you will feel in your body through the massage. The other parts of the body that will be relieved and will feel better because of the massage are the ankles and hands for the swelling will be lessened. And as unbelievable as it sound, because of these regular massages during pregnancy, you can be sure of having a more bearable and easier delivery.
Although these benefits may prove that experiencing massages once in a while is a good thing for a pregnant woman, you must still be informed that being pregnant is a fragile condition. Therefore, there should still be precautions involved when being in a massage. The first thing you have to keep in mind is to look for a massage therapist that really specializes in massaging pregnant women. In addition, you also have to make sure that you are in a reclining position and that you lie on your side supported with pillows that can be as many as possible. The most important thing to remember is to not put too much pressure on the ankles and the area in between the index finger and thumb because when done so, you might be forced to go into labor.
It is true that having massages once in a while during your pregnancy is a good thing considering the fact that you can benefit from it a lot. But you also have to keep in mind some of the precautions to avoid being in danger and/or putting your baby in danger as well.
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Massage is frequently very helpful for individuals having problems with muscle pain and rigidity, but it is not cheap to regularly see a massage therapist. Many of the very same benefits are readily available to the consumer through the use of handheld massage therapy devices. These machines have gotten better and better over time, and it is now possible to get a top notch therapeutic massage all by yourself.
Muscle pain is possibly the single most common complaints that patients tell their doctors about. Usually, there is nothing abnormal about these feelings. These things just happen. But any kind of discomfort could significantly interfere with your ability to live normally and enjoy your life.
Massage therapy is easily among the most simple and direct remedies for these symptoms. Many people find that it can reduce the pain and help you regain your full range of motion. Most patients also report that it is profoundly relaxing and rejuvenating. Naturally, there is little need to remind you that you should check with your doctor right from the beginning to get some assurance that the pain is not being caused by some unknown illness. And when you are sure you are in good health, massage may be a suitable answer for you.
Again, the major problem is that professional massage therapists is too expensive for many people to justify, particularly in this poor economy. If you could benefit from regular professional massage, the bills can really add up. However, you’ll be happy to know, a lot of people find that home massage equipment is almost as good. Here’s a quick example: Dr. Scholl’s DR7537QVC All Around Massager
Home massagers range from little handheld and portable massage therapy devices that simply vibrate in your hand, to larger machines which are designed to massage specific parts of the body. You may find, for example, that you can find specific head and neck massagers, massagers that only focus on the feet and calves, or special pads for back massage. Although certain people might balk at the upfront cost of high end massage devices, you will find that these machines can pay for themselves pretty quickly when you end up going to the masseuse less frequently. Again, there are plenty of examples but a good one is here: Sunny Health Fitness Foot Massager
The ideal method that you can know whether a certain make and model of massager will do the trick is to test it on your own body. A select few retailers will have working massage therapy machines that you can test out on yourself to see if the way a specific machine works will do what you need it to do. If you can’t get access to try them out, look at the reviews online and pay special attention to see how the machines are working on pain that sounds similar in nature and origin to your own, and use that information to decide whether a given massager may be able to help you with your problems.
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Massage is one of the oldest healing arts: Chinese records dating back 3,000 years document its use; the ancient Hindus, Persians and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments; and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems.
Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching. As an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs, massage therapy has also proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, and more. And, as many millions will attest, massage also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness.
What Is Massage Therapy?
Massage is defined as the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body. There are more than 200 variations of massage therapy, and many practitioners utilize multiple techniques. The application of these techniques may include, but is not limited to, stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, and pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body. This may also include non-forceful passive or active movement and/or application of techniques intended to affect the energetic systems of the body. The use of oils, lotions, and powders may also be included to reduce friction on the skin. Click here for more information on what to expect.
The Benefits of Massage.
Massage provides relief to people of all ages, from infants to seniors, and from all walks of life…the weekend or competitive athlete to the home gardener or overstressed, overworked executive.
Treating the Body
Massage therapy addresses a variety of health conditions, the most prevalent being stress-related tension, which, experts believe, accounts for 80%-90% of disease. Massage has been proven beneficial in treating cancer-related fatigue, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, low back pain, immunity suppression, spinal cord injury, autism, post-operative surgery, age-related disorders, infertility, eating disorders, smoking cessation, and depression, to name just a few.
Bodywork offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach based on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Massage has many physiological effects, such as:
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Increasing circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
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Stimulating the lymph system, the body’s natural defense, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer.
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Relaxing and softening injured and overused muscles.
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Reducing spasms and cramping.
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Increasing joint flexibility.
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Reducing recovery time for strenuous workouts and eliminating subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.
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Releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller. For this reason, massage is being incorporated into treatment for chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain.
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Reducing post-surgery adhesions and edema and reducing and realigning scar tissue after healing has occurred.
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Improving range of motion and decreasing discomfort for patients with low back pain.
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Relieving pain for migraine sufferers and decreasing the need for medication.
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Providing exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reducing shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.
- Contributing to shorter labor and reduced tearing for expectant mothers, as well as lessening the need for medication, minimizing depression and anxiety, and shortening hospital stays.
It’s important to note that there are some conditions where massage is not recommended. For example, massage is contraindicated in people with:
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Certain forms of cancer
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Phlebitis
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Some cardiac problems
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Some skin conditions
- Infectious diseases – Your practitioner should ask you about your specific health conditions and determine if massage, bodywork or somatic therapies are a good idea. In some cases, the practitioner may need your doctor’s permission before providing services.Treating the Spirit
Massage also provides another therapeutic component largely absent in today’s world: tactile stimulation, or, more simply, touch. In 1986, the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami published groundbreaking research on the effects of massage on premature babies. The preterm babies who received massage therapy showed 47% greater weight gain and six-day shorter hospital stays than the infants who were not receiving massage. But is this study evidence of what loving touch can do spiritually, or rather what massage can do on a physiological level? Regardless, babies are not the only benefactors.
Many adults have reported cathartic experiences on the massage table. As a therapist carefully unwinds a client’s stressed and tired muscles, the therapist may very well be unwinding the taut, pent-up emotions that one doesn’t always have time to process in the middle of the day. And the feeling of being touched in a safe, caring, compassionate manner can be a very powerful experience, reminding the client that she or he is not alone in the world.
As studies continue to reveal the link between kinesiology and physical and emotional health, the effects of massage will be further documented. However, one need only experience a good massage to know it’s beneficial to body and soul.