Tips: Correct Ergonomics & Massage for Pain Prevention

As Thomas Edison said it “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…”

With a little effort you can apply simple ergonomic solutions to greatly reduce physical stress & strain while improving your comfort and ability to work effectively.

While therapeutic massage alone may help soothe and repair the pain caused by stress, strain, and repetitive over use, combining correct ergonomics with regular therapeutic massage may actually prevent you from ever developing some very common conditions such as tendonitis, bursitis, neck, shoulder and back soreness and stiffness.

It is important to note that even with all the ergonomic comforts one can contrive, your life’s stress may be more than enough to cause you physical pain, thus this emphasis upon good posture and ergonomics is even more crucial.

Your musculoskeletal system is made up of many bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The musculoskeletal system is largely shaped and influenced by our daily physical habits. Moreover, emotions and mental stress greatly affect the overall sense of well being we have within our bodies. Maintaining good posture and correct ergonomics may prove to be a good foundation for reducing typical emotional and mental stress, a little bit every day.

How massage may help

Our muscles and tendons provide movement and function while our ligaments provide the deepest level of support and stability to each joint. Under the best of conditions muscle fibers fatigue from long term use while tendons strain to anchor the muscles to the bones.

As muscle tissue is exhausted, excessive strain is then transferred to those “deepest level stabilizers” – the ligaments. This process over prolonged hours of each work day causes the accumulation of metabolic/cellular waist and the need for daily repair at the cellular level. Tight muscles reduce blood flow eventually causing pain, inflammation and further deterioration. Poor ergonomics and posture will only serve to compound any problems that might otherwise be manageable.

Massage, when applied properly, will improve blood flow and will reduce unnecessary hyper tone in the muscles. This may help enable the body to reestablish correct muscle balance. While nutrients and toxic cellular waist are exchanged, your body can relax and restore each and every cell. Additional benefits of massage

Massage with correct ergonomics can releive and prevent pain

Hence we offer you with both massage and correct ergonomics recommendations. Although each persons specific needs are unique and may need closer attention, below are some general correct ergonomics tips and suggestions that may make a tremendous difference.

ARRANGE YOUR OFFICE ERGONOMICALLY!

It is up to you to set up your workstation to meet your own personal needs. This reduces chances of musculoskeletal injuries while being more efficient and most importantly, comfortable. Tips on arranging your work space ergonomically to prevent injury and pain.

Epsom Salt for every day muscle aches and pains

Epsom Salt: Old Wives Tale, it’s basic Chemistry

Soaking in Epsom salt is a truly effective way to relieve muscle aches and pains. In muscular chemistry, among many other functions calcium is the mineral that the muscle fibers use to bind and contract. Magnesium, which is present in high amounts in Epsom salt, is the mineral necessary to “unbind” muscle fibers. A muscle spasm simply cannot stand up against Epsom salt. Actually, magnesium also performs over five hundred additional functions. In terms of soreness though, the magnesium may makes the tissue cell walls more permeable, reducing toxicity and increasing nutrient exchange throughout the tissue more easily, thus the lactic acid, a primary cause of soreness, is expelled from the body more easily. So next time you know you have over done it, either before your massage or after your massage spend a good ten or twenty minutes in a nice hot bath tub of Epsom salt solution.

http://www.aboveallmassagetherapy.com/EpsomSaltforPain.html

Massage vs Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition that afflicts millions of American’s with pain and discomfort. Fortunately for some relief can be found with the regular use of therapeutic massage.

So how and why does massage alleviate some individuals suffering from muscular skeletal pain associated scoliosis?

I think it can be summed up to this:

Massage is least effective in addressing the fundamental source her pain with congenital scoliosis, yet even in the worst cases of deformity massage is still proven to be an effective tool in relieving some of the stiffness and muscle pain.

A less severe, more common, oft unnoticed by many, form of scoliosis is sometimes called “functional” or “neuromuscular” scoliosis. Massage can provide even greater improvement and reduction of pain for these “fortunate” sufferers.

The difference between the two forms of scoliosis is fundamentally.

While the congenital form is more permanent and involves the malformation of bone structures, in functional scoliosis the crux of the matter lies within the overall health of the muscle and soft connective tissue. Muscular balance is the key issue when it comes to maintaining structural balance and alignment. When therapeutic massage is correctly applied, muscle tone and muscle balance can be achieved to a greater or lesser extent. Relaxing hyper-toned muscles allows for adjacent muscle groups to normalize. This “normalizing” of muscle tissue ensures that the bone structures can correctly align themselves. In this way individuals suffering from a mild congenital or functional scoliosis can experience greater relief.

It should be said that in most cases, persons suffering pain from scoliosis may experience the benefits of massage when they visit a experienced massage therapist. The increased circulation of blood in and around the muscles, the increased fluid movement inside the synovial joints and the natural pain reliving endorphins that result from a good massage will most certainly relieve pain and improve movement.

Even in cases where medical treatments (such as spinal rods or spinal fusion) have been performed, therapeutic massage can still deliver it’s potent pain relieving effects.

Are you or someone you know suffering? Give is a call today! Let us relieve your pain!

Here is a “official” link in case you want to learn more

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002221/

Prevent Seasonal Injuries – Gardening Time

Ahhh it’s finally here! The season for getting out side and enjoying our American Freedoms. Playing on beautiful plush lawns, hiking in our amazing public parks and gardens, the greenbelt trail and most of all for many of us it’s the season for Gardening.

Unfortunately for many of us that also means achy breaky backs and sore painful joints and muscles. So far this season’s # 1 complaint has been “Gardening Injuries”.

So do your health a favor, get a good massage with stretching and you not only find yourself more relaxed, you will also prevent or relieve some of that soreness that comes along with your Gardening Zeal.

Here is a quick video link that will cover some basics of staying limber and loose,

Let me know what you think!

Happy gardening!

Emotional Trauma of elective surgery

At Above All Massage Therapy we have been providing post-op medical massage for hundreds of individuals who had augmenting surgical procedures. (tummy tuck, lypo, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation) It is already proven that massage therapy is a highly effective means of aiding the body in its recovery process. I have written on this in more detail on our website page (I will update this link soon)

Massage stimulates the lymphatic system which boosts immunity

The important point that we want to bring to attention is the disappointment and despair that some people fall into after their procedure. The difference between the mental image (your expectation) and the reality is what causes this immense disappointment and despair. The last thing you need when you are recovering from surgery is overwhelming emotional stress.

The solution: Get Real! Look at “real” pictures. Talk honestly with other women you know who have had elective surgery, listen to their experiences. When you eliminate the “gap” between the reality and your expectations, you limit the risk of being disappointed by the results.

You know surgery is no quick fix for a “poor mental self image”; however, for many it can give the push needed to make other necessary changes. Certainly we are not attempting to dissuade anyone from any elective procedure; rather, we simply hope to shed light upon this issue, for the benefit of everyone considering surgery for beauty purposes, you will now be better prepared.

Herein, we are not even touching upon the fact that even in the best of cases, it may be emotionally overwhelming during the initial phases of recovery. The physical pain and limitations, the loneliness, the unmet expectations — all part in how you will feel.

One of the ways in which you can alleviate the emotional and physical distress after elective surgery is through the gentle touch of massage. It helps your body to work through any sensitive or painful areas, reducing muscle tension, improving blood and lymph circulation, making your body more limber and flexible, not to mention providing you with some much needed relaxation and nurturing. All of these combined are proven to aid in the healing process, as well as reduce emotional anxiety, to bring your entire being into a state of balance.

The massage therapists at Above All take this all into account when customizing a massage for your particular needs. We understand that your therapist needs to be competent and compassionate at the same time. We will provide the information, the support, and the proper techniques that will help assure as complete a recovery as possible.

Stress relief is our business

You know massage is a good heart health decision, deciding where to go should not be stressful. So what to consider before choosing where to go?

Here is what we think you should know.

Before we entrust any new therapist with an Above All Massage client, we determine:

1) does this therapist have the capacity to consider the clients specific needs,
and
2) can the therapist focus-on and listen well enough to understand which massage styles and depth of pressure will best suit you.

This is essential for a great massage, a massage that enables you to truly relax and reap the benefits of stress reduction.

Profound stress relief isn’t always as simple as a fluffy rub.

Our therapists really know how to massage the tissue AND apply the correct techniques so that the “therapeutic response” has a lasting effect.

That’s real stress relief.

We have and always will take painstaking efforts to offer you licensed massage therapists who live up to the standard you have come to expect from Above All Massage Therapy. We back our therapists with a guarantee that you will never pay for a bad massage.

So take care, relax a little more, and stay loose,

thanks for reading.

We have the softest and thickest massage beds

It is Official! We have the most comfortable massage tables anywhere (according to our clients)!
Our massage tables are a proprietary blend of varied density foams. The combination of cushion that we use fully supports the body while eliminating pressure points and strain. As soon as you lie down, your body melts into the massage bed your mind starts to relax, then our superb therapists can work their magic. Come experience the most comfortable massage table anywhere!
See you soon!