In a previous post, we discussed the use of massage therapy in the treatment of low back pain. Since that post was published, a new endorsement has come out from the American College of Physicians. Their new guidelines recommend massage therapy, yoga, and exercise in the treatment of low back pain. An analysis of more than 150 studies established a preference for treatments that did not use prescription drugs.
A lot of us are anticipating positive changes in the new year. Regardless of the way the political or economic climate turns, you can always hedge your bets on your own wellbeing. Our own wellbeing is entirely in our control, so new year’s resolutions focused on self-care and self-improvement are achieveable through our own efforts. This makes working on self-care and self-improvement empowering. Here are several of our favorite New Year’s resolutions from our own staff:
Anyone who has had a professional massage understands that having a relaxing atmosphere is key to a great massage experience. What a lot of people don’t understand is that the atmosphere is created not only for your body to relax, but also for your mind to relax. The important mind/body connection is integral to an effective massage. From scents to sounds to sights (or lack of), a proper mind state forms the foundation for an enjoyable and therapeutic experience and what better way than through meditation.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of death in the United States, and opioid addiction is the number one reason for this statistic. Despite the high probability for a dangerous addiction, opioids have been heavily prescribed by doctors for the last several decades. It is only recently that the dangerous problem of opioid addiction is receiving a spotlight in the media. Now, doctors and patients alike are looking for alternatives, not only to opioid prescription, but also for methods to treat existing addicts. In this post, we’ll look at the effectiveness of massage for opioid addiction. We’ll also examine massage as an alternative treatment to opioids for managing pain.
At Advanced Massage Professionals, we believe that massage is the perfect gift for almost anyone on any occasion. Of course, we may be a little biased. Below are our top reasons massage makes a great gift.
When you think of therapeutic massage, what comes to mind? What can massage help with? Tight muscles? Low back pain and neck pain? Stress-relief? Yes, massage is an excellent way to work on all of the above. But you may not realize how versatile therapeutic massage really is. Below are four unexpected things that massage can help with.
The short answer is: that depends on you. In addition to relieving muscle tension, massage treatments boost immunity, improve skin conditions, increase blood flow, reduce anxiety, help with pain management, and generally work to balance body systems. In addition to treating back pain, chiropractic care can be used to treat joint pain, headaches, ear infections, tendonitis, and insomnia. Let’s review what a massage therapist vs. chiropractor does. We’ll outline what these to fields have in common and where there differences lay.
There are many causes of low back pain. For many people, their low back pain is a systemic condition without a single cause. Due to the complex nature of this issue, there are a multitude of treatment options. Ultimately, the answer seems to be a personal one. The search for your own low back pain answer can include any of the following:
Though most massage therapists focus on relaxation techniques, I have found my niche in pain relief and restoring balance to the body.
As an active sports enthusiast, I know what it is like to be in pain. Because of that, I remain committed to finding techniques that quickly and effectively ease pain and increase mobility. I actively search out healing modalities to get my clients, not only comfortable, but back to the activities they enjoy as quickly as possible.
The range of motion of a joint in your body describes how it moves. A healthy range of motion means you have the flexibility needed to perform daily tasks and engage in movements that you enjoy. It’s also good to be balanced so that one side of your body is not restricted compared to the other.
In our last post, we looked at some common forms of massage therapy including Swedish massage, hot stone massage, deep connective tissue, neuromuscular therapy, sports massage, and reflexology. In this post, we’ll summarize some lesser known massage techniques. The following techniques may be lesser known, but they may be a perfect fit for you:
Massage is an incredibly versatile form of therapy. It can be used from everything from treating specific conditions, like low back pain and depression, to providing profound relaxation of body and mind. There are hundreds of types of techniques of massage. Here is a summary of some of the more common massage techniques and intended uses.
