We found an article from February '11 on that discusses the benefits of receiving a regular massage to help alleviate pain due to sciatic nerve problems...enjoy!
Can Massage Therapy Deliver Lasting Relief from Sciatica?
February 13, 2011 | Author: Leroy Lombard | Posted in Massage
Massages sure feel amazing, don’t they? After a massage session, you feel so relaxed and light. But just how effective is massage as a way to treat sciatica?
Massages can in fact be quite helpful if you suffer from back pain or sciatica. If you can manage to find a massage therapist with knowledge of muscle imbalances, you’ll do much better.
There are quite a few upsides to massage for sciatica. You’ll notice that a lot of massage therapists these days employ a variety of different techniques and styles. Anything from traditional massage to energy work or even correcting muscle imbalances. Many studies have even shown that massage can improve flexibility, decrease back pain, encourage sound sleep, and decrease feelings of depression.
When you’re looking for a therapist to give you a good massage for sciatica, try to find one that has an understanding of muscle imbalances. These types of massage therapists are unbelievably rare, but if you can find one, you’ll be quite happy. Since most causes of sciatica actually come from muscle imbalances, finding someone who knows a lot about it can help tremendously.
What are the benefits of massage therapy for sciatica? Massage can increase blood circulation and help reduce any sort of inflammation. Massage helps to move lymph through your system, which can actually impede circulation and and promote inflammation if it isn’t managed. Not only that, but you’ll be more flexible, be more relaxed, have a better night’s rest, and you have an overall sense of well-being.
Massage can help relax tense muscles that may be putting pressure on your sciatic nerve, as may be the case with conditions such as Piriformis Syndrome. But can it help be an effective treatment in all cases of sciatica?
Well, although you might feel good after a massage, you should not rely solely on massage to treat sciatica. Simply put, massage does not deal with many of the important underlying factors that are responsible for back pain and sciatica such as muscle imbalances, poor posture, or other personal habits we might have about how we hold our body throughout the day.
You will probably see some amazing results if you combine it with other types of treatment out there. But alone, it just doesn’t cut it. Perhaps it would be more effective to use massage together with other forms of treatment like stretching exercises that can restore equilibrium to how you hold your body.
So, go and get a massage. I’m sure it will help you feel better and relax you. But be sure to not stop there. Keep working and untangling the root cause and you’ll find lasting relief.
If you found these tips helpful and you’d like to discover the best sciatic nerve pain exercises and the ones you definitely want to avoid, check out my Bulletproof Back review. This program, combined with massage therapy is quite helpful for relieving sciatica and back pain.
Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Alternative Benefits of a Pregnancy Massage
Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Pregnant women have often received ambivalent responses from the health community regarding the safety and purpose of massage during pregnancy. Modern investigation and research is proving that prenatal massage therapy can be a very instrumental ingredient in women’s prenatal care and should be given careful consideration.
Although most massage training institutions teach massage therapy for women who are pregnant, it is best to find a massage therapist who is certified in prenatal massage. The APA does work with any massage therapist, so it is important to ask about qualifications.
The benefits of prenatal massage or massage during pregnancy:
Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.
Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.
Hormone regulation
Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health, when massage therapy was introduced to women’s prenatal care. Hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (“stress hormones”) were reduced and dopamine and serotonin levels (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression) were increased in women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks. These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when relaxing, therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
Reduction of swelling
Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints, which also improves the removal of tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymph system.
Improvement of nerve pain
Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.
Although most massage training institutions teach massage therapy for women who are pregnant, it is best to find a massage therapist who is certified in prenatal massage. The APA does work with any massage therapist, so it is important to ask about qualifications.
The benefits of prenatal massage or massage during pregnancy:
Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.
Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.
Hormone regulation
Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health, when massage therapy was introduced to women’s prenatal care. Hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (“stress hormones”) were reduced and dopamine and serotonin levels (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression) were increased in women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks. These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when relaxing, therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
Reduction of swelling
Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints, which also improves the removal of tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymph system.
Improvement of nerve pain
Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
..Once again, LIVESTRONG.com has the right idea! here is their take on the Benefits of a Sport Massage.
As an athlete, you can derive significant health and performance benefits from receiving regular sports massage therapy. Sports massage therapy is a form of massage therapy that helps athletes recover from or avoid sports-related injuries, and typically utilizes more vigorous forms of massage to facilitate muscle healing or relaxation. Sports massage therapy should be performed before and after a competition to prevent injuries and loss of mobility and maximize the life of your sporting career.
Physical Benefits
According to SportsInjuryClinic.net, the physical benefits of sports massage therapy include the following: improved blood flow and nutrient delivery to your muscles, efficient clearing of harmful metabolic byproducts, tension reduction in your fascia, reduction of your scar tissue, improved tissue elasticity and improvements in your tissue's ability to absorb nutrients, also known as micro-circulation.
The physical benefits of sports massage therapy are important for all athletes, especially those engaged in sports where physical contact and bruising are likely, such as football, rugby or ice hockey. Endurance athletes also are excellent candidates for sports massage therapy, as the long training hours and the nature of competitive endurance activities, such as running, cycling and cross-country skiing, place considerable strain on your musculoskeletal system. Sports massage therapy helps relieve stress on your joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Home Ultrasound Unit Relieve Pain, Speed Healing At Home 100% Guaranteed & Dr Recommended UltrasoundCure.com
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Physiological Benefits
The principle physiological benefits of sports massage therapy include pain reduction and relaxation; two important benefits that can keep you healthy and competitive over time. Sports-related pain can result from a muscle strain, a contusion or bruise or excessive use of a muscle. Overuse of a muscle or muscle group may result in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a phenomenon that's long been associated with increased physical exertion, according to Len Kravitz, Ph.D., an exercise scientist at the University of New Mexico.
A 2005 study published in the "Journal of Athletic Training," concludes that massage therapy is effective at alleviating DOMS by approximately 30 percent and reducing swelling, but it has no effects on muscle function. Muscle relaxation is another important physiological benefit of sports massage therapy. Muscles relax when they're exposed to heat, receive increased blood circulation and are stretched appropriately; all common results of an effective sports massage therapy session. A reflex relaxation also is caused when your mechanoreceptors--tiny sensory receptors that respond to pressure or changes in tissue length--are stimulated during massage.
Psychological Benefits
The psychological benefits of sports massage include a reduction in your approach anxiety, enhanced feelings of invigoration and rejuvenation and an increased awareness of your mind-body connection, according to SportsMassageTherapy.info. Approach anxiety, which is the anxiety you feel about an upcoming match or event, is a common part of sports participation.
A massage therapist skilled in the art of sports massage will know what techniques to use to help counter your anxiety. The simple act of having your body worked on can give you a psychological edge that reduces your anxiety. After you've received a sports massage, it's likely that you'll feel a little sore, but you'll also feel invigorated and refreshed, ready to compete again at your highest level. The restorative effects of massage therapy and the corresponding psychological benefits are crucial for your continued athletic success. So too is an awareness of your mind-body connection, which massage therapy supports. Massage therapy can provide you with an awareness of your body that few other therapeutic modalities can match.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/115532-benefits-sports-massage-therapy/#ixzz1ABsBexFh
Physical Benefits
According to SportsInjuryClinic.net, the physical benefits of sports massage therapy include the following: improved blood flow and nutrient delivery to your muscles, efficient clearing of harmful metabolic byproducts, tension reduction in your fascia, reduction of your scar tissue, improved tissue elasticity and improvements in your tissue's ability to absorb nutrients, also known as micro-circulation.
The physical benefits of sports massage therapy are important for all athletes, especially those engaged in sports where physical contact and bruising are likely, such as football, rugby or ice hockey. Endurance athletes also are excellent candidates for sports massage therapy, as the long training hours and the nature of competitive endurance activities, such as running, cycling and cross-country skiing, place considerable strain on your musculoskeletal system. Sports massage therapy helps relieve stress on your joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Home Ultrasound Unit Relieve Pain, Speed Healing At Home 100% Guaranteed & Dr Recommended UltrasoundCure.com
Sponsored Links
Physiological Benefits
The principle physiological benefits of sports massage therapy include pain reduction and relaxation; two important benefits that can keep you healthy and competitive over time. Sports-related pain can result from a muscle strain, a contusion or bruise or excessive use of a muscle. Overuse of a muscle or muscle group may result in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a phenomenon that's long been associated with increased physical exertion, according to Len Kravitz, Ph.D., an exercise scientist at the University of New Mexico.
A 2005 study published in the "Journal of Athletic Training," concludes that massage therapy is effective at alleviating DOMS by approximately 30 percent and reducing swelling, but it has no effects on muscle function. Muscle relaxation is another important physiological benefit of sports massage therapy. Muscles relax when they're exposed to heat, receive increased blood circulation and are stretched appropriately; all common results of an effective sports massage therapy session. A reflex relaxation also is caused when your mechanoreceptors--tiny sensory receptors that respond to pressure or changes in tissue length--are stimulated during massage.
Psychological Benefits
The psychological benefits of sports massage include a reduction in your approach anxiety, enhanced feelings of invigoration and rejuvenation and an increased awareness of your mind-body connection, according to SportsMassageTherapy.info. Approach anxiety, which is the anxiety you feel about an upcoming match or event, is a common part of sports participation.
A massage therapist skilled in the art of sports massage will know what techniques to use to help counter your anxiety. The simple act of having your body worked on can give you a psychological edge that reduces your anxiety. After you've received a sports massage, it's likely that you'll feel a little sore, but you'll also feel invigorated and refreshed, ready to compete again at your highest level. The restorative effects of massage therapy and the corresponding psychological benefits are crucial for your continued athletic success. So too is an awareness of your mind-body connection, which massage therapy supports. Massage therapy can provide you with an awareness of your body that few other therapeutic modalities can match.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/115532-benefits-sports-massage-therapy/#ixzz1ABsBexFh
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
3 Reasons to Get a Massage More Often
Why a regular massage should be a fundamental component to your overall wellness program.
We'd all love to get massage on a regular basis. If that sounds more like a luxury and not a necessity, check your facts. Health experts recommend regular massage therapy with good reason!
Consider these three excuses to get a massage as often as you like:
1. Your pain wasn’t built in a day.
You didn’t develop that ache or pain or health condition overnight. Pain comes from things you do over a period of months and years, like working at a desk or computer. And it’s likely to reoccur simply due to the routine of everyday life and the toll that it takes on your body.
A regularly scheduled massage helps you keep on top of your health rather than playing catch-up all the time. American comedian and actor, Bob Hope received a massage almost every day of his life and he lived to be almost 90.
Think about how much money you spend on healthcare to treat symptoms like chronic pain, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression — and to diagnose you when you’re sick — and consider then how much you could save by adding a preventive treatment like regular massage.
2. Stress happens — all the time.
Your stress triggers are always with you, not just on days when you decide to treat yourself to a massage. Sure, there are bigger, one-time events that are intensely stressful, like losing a job. But low- to moderate-level stress triggers — crazy traffic, difficult people, delayed flights — are an ongoing part of everyday life. And experts widely agree that this chronic, continual stress is the underlying cause of 80 to 90 percent of all health conditions.
Stress leads to all kinds of serious, chronic health conditions including high blood pressure, insomnia and obesity. And there’s more and more research showing that stress alone can lead to certain types of cancer.
You can’t stop stressful situations from happening. Even if you practice stress management techniques like meditation, it’s challenging to completely prevent the natural chemical reactions that stress triggers in your body. But you can manage its lasting effects on your health by “stress-detoxing” on an ongoing basis. Frequent and consistent massage helps your body sustain its stress resilience mechanisms and keeps stress hormones in balance, in turn reducing the risk of chronic health conditions and illnesses.
Therapeutic massage can become a part of a regular stress management program. Making this is a priority can help you maintain a healthy weight, sleep better, and even alleviate depression in certain situations.
3. Quality of life isn’t just for special occasions.
At Elements Therapeutic Massage about half our clientele comes in for regularly scheduled massages. Some of the longtime clients become concerned if they can’t come in for their regular session — because it helps keep them healthy and enables them to lead an active lifestyle.
Even if you’re not experiencing pain or mobility challenges that keep you from hiking, biking, golfing or other physical activities you enjoy, massage can simply be the breather you need to keep your sanity and perspective in a hectic society. Think about how that can improve your outlook, attitude and relationships with your spouse, kids, family, friends, coworkers, boss....
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Not sure how often you should have a massage? Almost everyone can benefit from a monthly massage. Depending on your health situation or concerns, a more frequent massage may be in order. Ask us about how a regularly scheduled massage regimen could help you save on healthcare costs like over-the-counter remedies for stress-related symptoms and illnesses. We’ll take the time to discuss your unique situation, lifestyle and health concerns, and help you decide whether an ongoing program could benefit you
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