Massage

How Massage Therapy Can Help Tendinitis and Tendinosis Treatment

It is summertime and chances are you’ve been exercising or taking on a hobby on the weekends. Summertime is also the time there is an increase in injuries; one of the most common being tendon injuries. Most of us don’t realize how much damage we can do once we start an activity, but as you’ll discover, it’s quite easy.

Types of Tendon Injuries

  • Tendinitis – one of the most common conditions for the tendon; it is pain in soft tissue caused by a tear in the tendon fiber and inflammation; it is a result from chronic overload or repetitive motion with the tendon; most commonly found in adults, especially those over 40 years of age
  • Tendinosis – means “abnormal condition of the tendon”; it has been argued that this is the proper term for tendon pathologies because a true tear and inflammation of the tendon (tendinitis) is uncommon compared to other pathologies
  • Tenosynovitis – an inflammation and/or irritation between a tendon and its surrounding synovial sheath; it is caused by chronic overloading or excess friction between a tendon and its sheath; the symptoms of tendinosis and tenosynovitis are similar, but you can distinguish the two by determining if the dysfunctional tendon has a synovial sheath

The most common symptom of any tendon pathology is a pain at the site of a tendon and its surrounding area. The pain may be gradual or sudden, usually caused by an overuse or doing too much too soon when the tendons are not used to movement. Tendinitis massage is especially helpful with relieving pain in the surrounding area.

It has been proven that a breakdown in collagen fibers has also been one of the main problems for tendinosis. Collagen fibers give a tendon its strength, while elastin fibers give it a small amount of flexibility.  If the tendon pain is truly tendinitis, the tissue repair and inflammation would take less time to heal than rebuilding the collagen fibers.

Avoiding Tendinitis

Instead of exerting yourself too hard if your body has not performed an activity in a while, take it slow at first and gradually build up your activity level. Try to avoid too many repetitions.

Avoid activities that aggravate the problem. Rest and ice the area the same day that you are feeling pain. If the condition doesn’t improve within a week, you may need more advanced treatments and should visit your primary care physician. From there, your physician can decide the next steps in treating the pain.

How Massage Can Help Tendinitis

There are a few ways that massage therapy can help your tendinitis or tendinosis. Tendinitis massage can help identify and locate the injury. Once the location of the injury has been found, friction massage in the precise location will stimulate the healing response and release tension for the adjacent muscles that had to work harder while the tendon was injured. However, the most important part of tendinitis massage and tendinosis healing is the self-care by the client in between sessions. Call me or visit me to discuss how we can work with your physician to provide you with the best self-care tips while healing. Your physician will help guide you on how to rest and treat the tendon and massage can help reduce the physical stress and the emotional stress that injury may be causing.

The History of Massage Therapy in Ancient Civilizations

Akmanthor

Pehr Ling, a Swedish physical therapist, was credited for the birth of the Swedish massage around 1776. It is common for most individuals to know what a “Swedish massage” is, but contrary to belief Swedish massage was not the first form of massage therapy.

There is a plethora of evidence to support that massage therapy has been used as a natural healing method in many ancient civilizations including China, India, Japan, Egypt, Korea, Rome, Greece, and Mesopotamia. Some say massage began as a sacred system of natural healing for injuries, pain, stress, and illnesses. Others disagree and believe that massage was not advocated or practiced until modern times. Prior to that, it was believed to be incorporated in other healing methods.

The history of massage is not easily found from research and there is much debate over the exact details, but here’s a brief overview of massage therapy throughout ancient history. continue reading »

Benefits of Pediatric and Infant Massage

babiesWhen working with any pediatric client, massage therapy not only address their physical ailments, but their emotional care as well. Even if your child doesn’t have any health conditions, they are still experiencing pressure academically and socially more than ever before. Even as an infant, massage therapy is a way of communicating with baby, while building trust and understanding.

There are some very clear distinctions between the two modalities of infant massage and pediatric massage. Infant massage is generally limited to the age of 0 to 12 months. From birth to 18 years of age is generally considered pediatric. It’s important to know how each modality can help your child and why it’s important to start massage as early as possible. continue reading »

EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week 2013

benefits of massageJuly 14-20, 2013 is EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, sponsored by the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP). During this annual event, ABMP members nationwide offer their time, money, and effort to help their communities, as well as promoting the benefits of massage.

However, this event isn’t for the massage therapists. It’s to remind you, the client, that massage isn’t just a pampering treat like most people assume. There are many health benefits of massage that you may not be aware of.

No matter what you describe massage as (therapeutic, relaxing, rejuvenating) or the reasons you wish to receive it (stress relief, pain management, relaxation), massage therapy can be a powerful ally to your health care regimen. continue reading »

Energy Healing: Let the Good Vibes Flow

Acupuncture point Hegu (LI 4)

Acupuncture point Hegu (LI 4)

The very real benefits of energy healing are often understated, if not written off entirely as mumbo jumbo. The reasoning for questioning its validity is unclear; though it seems doubts of the therapeutic treatment lie in the common misconception that energy healing operates purely on mental and spiritual planes. Despite the falseness of this accusation (there are an array of hands-on energy-healing techniques), the nature of its logic is somewhat inconsistent with everyday ideals of modern society… especially when considering the immediate acceptance of therapeutic qualities associated with truly indirect experiences such as the relaxing sound of rain or the comforting smell of vanilla.
Even science can vouch that the body is bio-energetic, and thus it can benefit from creating a harmonious balance of its energies. The practice of massage therapy serves as a medium of sorts to transfer good vibes between the body and mind, leaving a sensation of ultimate relaxation through its many energy-healing techniques.

Some such techniques include: continue reading »