Massage & Its Healing Benefits

"One imagines tranquility and peace when they hear the word massage, but there are many types that are widely used ranging from the foot to the head, relaxing to therapeutic. Massages can help in instantly relaxing you from fatigue and tiredness and easing muscle pains, with Thai massage being the most relaxing and energizing form of massage technique.

Thai massage originated from India around 2,500 years ago, which then spread to other parts of Asia including Thailand. This type of massage is therapeutic. Thai massage was further developed by a physician Buddha named Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha who is regarded as the ‘Father of Medicine’. For centuries, Buddhist monks have practiced Thai massage for spiritual healing in temples and it is based on the theory that our body is ruled by life forces, an imbalance which can lead to many diseases. The purpose of Thai massage is to balance these forces, and indirectly help in a healing process.

Many places will provide loose clothing for you to change into, but bear in mind that not all do this so wear loose clothing just in case and don’t have a heavy meal prior to going for a massage. Thai massage does not require oils unlike other methods of massage and is performed on a padded mat on the floor. You will be asked to lie on your back on the mat, then they will apply gentle strokes using their hands, knees legs and feet following the energy lines on your body, starting with the legs and moving up to body parts.

A Thai massage is usually carried out on a 1-2 hour session on a monthly basis, but if the condition of the patient is bad it may be carried out 2-3 times a month. Thai massage does not require the removal of clothing as with other massage techniques and is associated with many health benefits such as, blood circulation, improvement of mobility, increase of energy levels, deep relaxation, reduction of muscle pain and spasm, stress, calms nerves, relieves fatigue, clears toxins, headaches, migraines, sciatica along with many more ailments.

Any one suffering from heart problems, blood pressure, osteoporosis, hemophilia, phlebitis, lymphatic cancer or any skin diseases should refrain from having a Thai massage. There are many who go to spas or gyms in order to find relaxation and peace from a massage, while others will call out a mobile masseuse. The Deep Tissue Massage is very popular among athletes and those who indulge in strenuous exercise as it helps in reducing stress and chronic pain in muscles. This version of massage stimulates stressed muscles which block the flow of oxygen and nutrients through the body. It involves slow, deep, and prolonged pressure strokes on the contracted area.  This breaks up the scar tissue, loosens muscles and improves mobility. Getting a deep tissue massage will help untie knots and deeply held tension in the muscle.

A build up of toxins in the deep layers of muscle and tendons can lead to inflammation of the muscles which can cause inconvenience to your daily life and restrict your daily routine. Some muscle pain caused by heavy workouts, incorrect posture, sitting for lengths of time can contribute to neck, shoulder and back pain. Deep massage techniques are used to rid you of these discomforts which include the use of more pressure than normal massage.

One of the deep tissue massage methods requires pressure applied directly over the sore area which is maintained until there is no more resistance.   The use of the hands, elbows, fingers and knuckles is common, along with massage tools like ceramic, wooden and glass objects for Deep Tissue Massage, applying as much pressure as is necessary to the affected area,  eventually  loosening the muscle and giving it flexibility. This deep muscle massage is a time consuming procedure as more time is given to the areas with most tension."
~ Source: www.pattayadailynews.com

For more information on the benefits of massage therapy, contact Edmund Morgan School of Massage.

Neuromuscular Massage Therapy

"If you are like the thousands of other people in this world who have turned to massage therapy in an attempt to ease pain, then you have probably stumbled across the words “neuromuscular therapy” or “neuromuscular massage” in your research.

The two terms – therapy and massage – are interchangeable and refer to the same practice, which has been used for several hundred years. Neuromuscular massage is an intense form of bodywork that consists of focused, concentrated massage on one specific area of the body. The pressure may continue for a period of up to thirty seconds at a time, and is designed to alleviate tension that extends from a “trigger point” into an entire muscle.

The theory behind neuromuscular massage is that when a muscle spasms – due to one of any number of stimuli – it is not caused by a spasm in the entire muscle, but by a spasm in a very centralized area of the muscle, which may then reverberate to other areas of the muscle, causing pain.

This small area is called a trigger point because it is the area that “triggers” pain in another area of the muscle, sometimes called referring or transferring.

When a muscle (or trigger point) spasms in the body, blood flow to that area is severely decreased, sometimes ceasing altogether. When the blood flow is diminished, oxygen necessary for the muscle to work properly is also decreased, causing a buildup of lactic acid. This causes a sensation similar to the one felt after a long workout – muscle soreness.

The problem is that this can turn into a vicious cycle of soreness and pain because the buildup of lactic acid combined with the body’s desire to compensate for the pain will inevitably lead to less blood flow, less oxygen, and the continued production of lactic acid. This is why muscle soreness and pain can continue for years unabated."

~ Source: AssociatedContent.com

Different Types of Massage

"Many different types of massage are offered at places from health care facilities and fitness centers to resorts and spas. Here's a sampling:

Swedish: Intended to relax and energize you, this is the most common type. Long strokes, kneading and friction techniques are used on the more superficial layers of the muscles, combined with active and passive movements of the joints.

Deep tissue: For muscle damage from an injury, such as whiplash or back strain. It's designed to release chronic patterns of tension through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on contracted areas.

Injury: Uses the technique of deep tissue massage and targets areas specific to injury or illness, such as headaches, back pain, ankle sprains and joint disorders.

Hot stone: A technique used in conjunction with other modalities in which warmed stones are placed on specific spots, such as acupuncture points, and sometimes used as massage tools.

Sports: Aimed at enhancing athletic performance and recovery by helping to prevent and treat injuries and keep the body flexible." ~ Source: CourierJournal.com

Please contact John Morgan, certified massage therapist, to learn more about massages!

Massage Reduces Stress in Breast Cancer Patients

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. As a result of this devastating disease, many women are susceptible to stress disorders. The National Cancer Institute states that as many as one in five women with breast cancer (22 percent) may have posttraumatic stress disorder over the course of their lifetime. Now, a group of German researchers recently published an article in the Archives of Women's Mental Health that shows that massage is effective in reducing stress in breast cancer patients.

A group of 34 women diagnosed with primary breast cancer received either 30 minutes of massage twice a week for five weeks (17 patients) or standard care with no massage therapy (17 patients). All patients were given a questionnaire to rate their stress and mood levels. In addition, blood samples were taken to measure levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

At the end of the study period, patients who received massage therapy reported lowered stress and fewer mood disturbances, particularly in the areas of anger, anxious depression and tiredness. In addition, their cortisol serum levels were lower than those women who did not receive massage therapy.

The researchers concluded, "Our randomized controlled study suggests that women with breast cancer benefited from a 5-week massage treatment within the first years after surgery. Our study suggests that massage therapy may lead to a short-term reduction of stress perception and cortisol levels.

Furthermore, we found a positive impact of massage on mood disturbances. This study also raises questions for further investigations that may help in the understanding of the mechanisms of massage therapy and its physiological and psychological effects." ~ MassageToday.com

For more news, contact Edmund Morgan's School of Neuromuscular Massage, the best school for massage therapy in North Carolina!

Effect of Massage on Chronic Low Back Pain

"Lower back pain is one of the most common conditions in the United States and a leading reason why people see a doctor. Four out of five adults will suffer from low back pain during their lives.

Unlike lower back pain, which is often caused by muscle strains, chronic lower back pain typically persists for more than three months. The pain may be progressive, or be characterized by flare-ups. The causes of chronic pain can be hard to pinpoint, but they can usually be linked to a degenerative disc disease or a lumbar herniated disc. While some doctors prescribe muscle relaxants, many patients prefer to avoid these drugs. People feel drowsy, dizzy, confused, lightheaded or less alert when using muscle relaxants.

Other side effects include blurred vision, clumsiness or unsteadiness. Thus many patients are turning to massage therapy for relief.

Many healthcare providers accept massage therapy as an effective treatment to relieve the symptoms of lower back pain. A majority of providers advise patients to combine massage therapy with medical treatment. Massage therapy can reduce lower back pain, depression and anxiety. It may also improve a patient's range of motion and elevate their serotonin and dopamine levels, allowing for enhanced sleep.

The American Massage Therapy Association points to research showing massage therapy improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles and increases endorphin levels. Endorphins are the feel-good chemicals the body produces to help us deal with pain.

A research study conducted by the Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington revealed that massage therapy could have prolonged benefits for sufferers of chronic back pain. In the study, 262 adults, ages 20 to 70, were given Swedish and deep-tissue massages, trigger-point therapy (applying pressure to tender muscle tissue), neuromuscular therapy and movement education. After 10 weeks, participants noted that the benefits of massage therapy continued well beyond the last treatment and persisted up to one year later.

When suffering from chronic lower back pain, first consult a primary care physician before attempting massage therapy. If the doctor advises that massage may help, find a licensed massage therapist who is nationally certified through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org) or the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org). Note: Medicare and most private insurance do not cover massage." ~ MassageToday.com

For more information on massage therapy, please visit our site!

Massage Therapy and Alzheimer's Disease

It has been said that in 25 years, the United States will have two kinds of people: those who have Alzheimer's disease and those who are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease. Dementia is a term meaning loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia.

Licensed massage therapists agree that the transformation that can occur when intentional touch is offered, enhancing quality of life of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease.

For example:
- The woman, withdrawn and thought to be non-verbal, who looked me in the eye and said "thank you" following a hand massage.
- The gentleman whose agitation was calmed with a simple back rub allowing the nurse's assistant to help him get dressed without the usual struggle.
- The activities director who said to me, "She has been here for several months, but when I gave her a hand massage, I felt like I really got to know her for the first time!"

So what is at the heart of these seemingly magical moments? There is clearly something profound happening that goes well beyond simple touch. We can explore the relationship between human needs and well-being to gain a greater understanding of how deep our touch truly goes.