Massage

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Massage Therapy Reduces Health Care Costs
Research conducted by John Dunham & Associates (JDA), a leader in the field of tax
and regulatory economic impact studies, found that integrating massage therapy into
medical care can reduce health care costs. The American Massage Therapy Association
(AMTA) has released the research to reinforce the relationship between massage
therapy and costs of care.
Patient Savings
“The research findings indicate that integrating massage therapy into ongoing care has a positive outcome for patients and in many cases lowers health care costs,” said Jeff
Smoot, AMTA President. “The information in this study can help support a national
dialogue on the detailed cost effectiveness of massage therapy and provide a starting
point for conversations among patients and their health care providers.”
Significant Cumulative Savings
  1. When the total number of treatments is analyzed cumulatively across approximately 66 million outpatient services, the research indicates that private insurers could save as much as $4.55 billion in costs annually, if they were to cover massage therapy nationally.
  2. For individuals, the benefits of massage therapy accrue when taken as part of a comprehensive treatment system, and the data indicate that visiting a massage therapist in place of additional hours at the hospital or doctor’s office, or substituting massage in place of some other treatment, is where the savings truly emerge.
  3. A growing number of medical centers throughout the U.S. now fully integrate massage therapy into patient care, including the Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Duke Integrative Medicine program, Cleveland Clinic and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
Economic Impact of Massage Therapy
The economic impact of massage therapy is significant in the U.S. It is estimated to be
an $11.7 billion industry in 2014. U.S. consumers continue to seek out professional
massage to support their health and wellness goals. According to the annual 2014
American Massage Therapy Association Consumer Survey, between July 2013 and July
2014, roughly 32.6 million adult Americans (15 percent) had a professional massage at
least once.

Natural Ways To Relieve Sinus Pressure and Congestion

Sinus congestion can turn an otherwise perfect day upside down. The pain, inflammation, and general discomfort can drive a person crazy. Thankfully, however, there are some natural ways to relieve nasal pressure and congestion.

Humidifier

You might be surprised to learn that a humidifier can relieve sinus pressure. Many people experience nasal congestion during the winter because of the dry air. Low humidity causes the sensitive mucus membranes lining the nasal passage to dry out and even crack, resulting in painful inflammation. This inflammation squeezes the nasal passage together, making it difficult to breath through your nose. continue reading »

The Surprising Benefits of Using a Foam Roller

foam-rollerFoam rollers have become increasingly popular over the past few years. Featuring a simple log-shaped piece of foam, they offer a wide range of benefits from soothing muscle pains to preventing injury. Of course, these are just a few of the many reasons why you should use a foam roller.

One of the great things about foam rollers is the countless number of ways that you can use them. One of the easiest techniques is by getting in the “crab crawl” position with the foam roller placed under one of your legs. As you glide back and forth, the roller will massage the calf muscle. continue reading »

Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Joint Pain With Massage

hand-351277_1280Do you suffer from the chronic inflammatory joint disorder known as rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? If so, you aren’t alone. According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. have the disease (source). While it’s more common in adults over the age of 35, both men and women of all ages can develop RA.

To better understand RA, you must first take a step back to view how the body responds to foreign invaders. When bacteria, mold or other invaders attempt to enter and attack the body, the immune system responds with its own attack. With RA, however, the immune system views the soft tissue surrounding the joints as foreign invaders – thus creating a wide range of unpleasant symptoms. continue reading »

Benefits of a 90-Minute Massage

massage-389716_1280While massage therapy is most beneficial if you have it done on a regular basis, it’s also true that even a single 90-minute massage session can have a profound impact on your physical and mental well-being. A skilled massage therapist can identify and target “problem areas” within your body, kneading out myofascial trigger points (muscle knots) while leaving you feeling fresh and rejuvenated. continue reading »

Tired of Painful, Achy Feet? Try These Remedies

legs-434918Do your feet feel tired and achy regularly or at the end of some days? Foot irritations may present in the form of minor tenderness or swelling, or may have transitioned to the level of pain, which could even restrict your ability to run/walk. Given the demands we place on our feet, it’s easy to imagine how they can become overused or abused.

You might be surprised to learn that there are 24 different bones in the average person’s foot, along with the hundreds of nerve endings. If your foot is injured, or even one of these bones becomes misaligned, a wide variety of symptoms, including pain, swelling and tenderness may result.

More serious conditions are sometimes evident, and you should consult your physician if pain is extreme or becomes persistent. Taking care of your feet is essential to preventing future pain and problems from developing.  continue reading »

2 Powerful Ways To Treat Myofascial Pain Syndrome

freeimages.co.uk medical imagesMyofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a chronic condition that’s characterized by muscle spasms, aches and pains. Individuals experiencing this condition often have “trigger points” (TPs) which manifest these symptoms. Direct pressure applied to a TP area may activate localized sharp pain and aching sensation – a precursor to some level of pain or other nerve irritation occurring in another area. Symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome vary depending on the individual and his or her bodily reactions. Some people experience a very minimal light pain in the affected region, while others report severe, debilitating pain. continue reading »

What You Should Know About Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

shoulder-diagram-01Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a medical term used to describe the compression of nerves and blood vessels in the narrow upper-body passage known as the thoracic outlet. This is a small area that’s located between the collarbone and first rib. If it becomes squeezed, either by nearby muscles or even bones, an individual may experience dull, aching pains in the neck, arm and back, and often numbness & tingling down to the fingers. continue reading »

Do You Suffer From Arthritis? Try Massage Therapy

arthritis-massage-01Arthritis is classified as a joint disorder in which one or more joints becomes inflamed. This inflammation often results in sharp pain and limited mobility, making it difficult for individuals to perform otherwise normal tasks, such as lifting or gripping objects. If you suffer from arthritis, though, you may find relief in massage therapy. To learn more about this condition and the healing power of massage, keep reading. continue reading »

The Surprising Benefits of Thai Massage

Classical_Thai_Massage-11-17-14Also referred to as the yoga massage, Thai massage is a unique system of massage therapy that originated out of Thailand some 2,500 years ago. It’s characterized by kneading, rolling and even pulling on various parts of the client’s body. Unlike most forms of massage, however, a specialist performing a Thai massage may use his or her thumbs, palms, knees, elbows and forearms. To learn more about this unique system of massage and the numerous benefits it offers, keep reading. continue reading »