Musculo-skeletal pain

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 »

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 »

Do You Suffer From Sciatica? Try Massage Therapy

back-pain-1014Sciatica, also known as lumbar radiculopathy, is a painful condition in which one or both sides of the sciatic nerve is compressed. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, stretching from the lower back and splitting into two at the pelvis, with one nerve going down each leg. It is responsible for sending and receiving electrical impulses from the brain, essentially telling the muscles in the legs and feet when to contract.

There are several different factors known to play a role in the formation of sciatica, including weight gain, spinal disc herniation, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, pregnancy, and trauma to the spine or surrounding tissue. Normally, the sciatic nerve remains unconstrained, but there are certain conditions, diseases and injuries that will compress the nerve, resulting in sciatica. continue reading »

Your Body’s Response is the Key to How Massage Works

Massage therapy is a wonderful form of healing art that causes major physiological changes in your body by triggering mechanical and relaxation responses.

Mechanical responses are simply the physical effects that take place when varying amounts of direct pressure are applied to the soft tissues of the body. One of the major benefits that occurs from effective massage therapy is improved blood and lymph circulation, which initiates a chain reaction of sorts. The improved circulation enhances the delivery of oxygen to the muscle cells. This, in turn, leads to reduced swelling in the tissues and also allows them to function more efficiently. continue reading »

Here’s the latest research on how massage helps heal sore muscles

runner-05052014After vigorous exercise, a good massage feels really great. It helps to ease muscle soreness and relax away muscle tension. Massage therapists and athletes have long known that massage reduces signs of inflammation and reduces muscle tightness. Until now it was unknown how massage helps stressed muscles. However, a recent research study published in Science Translational Medicine shows how massage affects muscles at the cellular level. continue reading »

How to Determine if it is Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

If you’ve been feeling pain in your pelvic region, don’t assume that it’s not a valid condition. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a condition where the individual experiences pelvic pain that lasts six months or longer. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) can be a symptom of another condition or can be a problem on its own. Sometimes pelvic pain can develop for no apparent reason, without any definitive source or cause. However, there has been a significant increase in research in the past decade to study the cause and optimal treatment for chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

There is no known “cure” for chronic pelvic pain syndrome, but there are many forms of treatments that can alleviate the pain; as well as relieve the psychological and emotional stress  caused by the chronic pain. continue reading »