massage

Does Massage Help Cancer Patients Feel Better?

Is it okay to have massage when you have cancer? YES!

Dr. Bernie Siegel MD said the benefits of massage far outweigh any possible danger. And no ‘danger’ has ever been documented from massage therapy for cancer patients.

In fact, many hospitals now have specially trained oncology (cancer) massage therapists. As long as you feel like being touched, a massage is appropriate for you.

Here is a guest-written article with more information about the benefits of oncology massage.

Experience the Difference Massage Therapy Can Make for Cancer Patients

If you have gone through endless cancer treatments, there is a good possibility your body feels ravaged and aching. Massage therapy can help cancer patients to experience relief from sore muscles and aching joints. In addition to physical relief, massages also offer cancer patients a way to relax and to rejuvenate.

Relaxing and taking time away from busy schedules and on-going treatments for mesothelioma and other forms of cancer is vital to a person’s well being. Just an hour a week to indulge in a soothing massage can make all the difference in the world for cancer patients of all ages.

Regular Continue reading “Does Massage Help Cancer Patients Feel Better?”

April 7November 3

The Cold Hard Truth About Massage Therapy–Does Massage Get Rid Of Muscle Pain?

Does massage get rid of muscle pain? You bet it can!

But this has been an amazing week because I have received so many emails and questions about pain following massage.

That’s not good!

But massage IS good.

So here’s the deal.

1. There are all types of massage practitioners. Some have a little training and some have a ton. Depending on the location some have no training! Some understand bodies and some really don’t. It all depends on who taught them and the filters the information passed through on the way to the practitioners’ brain. It depends on personalities and all kinds of things.

2. The most common thing that massage practitioners do wrong is Continue reading “The Cold Hard Truth About Massage Therapy–Does Massage Get Rid Of Muscle Pain?”

May 7November 3

Why Does It Hurt To Have A Massage?

Sometimes it hurts when your muscles are being massaged. The reason for this is usually that your muscles are on the ‘tight’ side.

Muscles are supposed to be balanced. That means that they are all working together and none are ‘too strong.’ They are all ‘just right.’

But sometimes that’s not the case.

Sometimes muscles on one side of your body are a little tight and Continue reading “Why Does It Hurt To Have A Massage?”

December 4November 5

Massage Gets Rid Of Pain!

Massage is the oldest pain medication in the world!

You may know that I have been in the massage field for over 30 years. In that time I have seen over and over and over how beneficial massage is for so many pain issues.

Basically massage is used for 3 things:

1. To control pain.

2. To eliminate pain.

3. To create wellness.

I love massage! It really can get rid of pain in your body. It’s good medicine.

October 4November 5

Who Gets Massage And How Does It Help

I grabbed this article a while ago from The American Massage Therapy Association. It might not be terribly exciting reading but it shows how the understanding of the value of therapeutic massage is changing.

It also shows why YOU should consider massage as a natural tool for stress and pain relief.

These statistics are old and the numbers have gone up a ton since.

Who Gets Massage, Where And Why?

* According According to the 2009 AMTA consumer survey, an average of 22 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage between July 2008 and July 2009, and Continue reading “Who Gets Massage And How Does It Help”

July 9November 5

Hypermobility and Massage Therapy

Is massage therapy good for people who have hypermobile joints? Here’s a question I received and my response.

Question:

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type.

Have you worked with this disorder before? If so, is there any type of massage that I should avoid?

I know I don’t like the deep tissue massage, and any type of rolfing. I have had a reaction to too much of the heated sonar prior to massage which makes me feel like I had a sunburn.

My Response:

Prime Olympic athletes receive a type of sports massage which neither loosens nor tones their muscles. It just allows them to remain in their peak condition while still having the benefits of massage.

I wonder Continue reading “Hypermobility and Massage Therapy”

April 1November 5

Therapeutic Massage–Which Type Of Massage Is Best For You?

Which type of massage is best? Here’s an article from my friend and colleague Janet. She’s been providing therapeutic massage to residents of southeast Michigan since 1992.

Janet says:

Some people have a preference for a certain type of massage. This may be because they have had it in the past and enjoyed the experience. But the fact of the matter is…

There are many types of massage treatments and a skilled therapist who knows many different techniques will quite likely incorporate several into each session. Why would this be? Different techniques “talk” to the body in different ways. Some are more superficial or surface-touch. Others work deeply into the skeletal and Continue reading “Therapeutic Massage–Which Type Of Massage Is Best For You?”

March 11November 5

Benefits of Massage Therapy for Senior Citizens

Massage therapy is very beneficial for all ages.

I have had many senior citizen clients who have had heart surgeries (even an artificial heart!) and with asthma or other breathing problems. We have been privileged to serve clients in their 90’s.

Every massage therapist is different. Ask friends and relatives for their recommendations. If someone you know has been happy with their therapist, there is a good chance you will be, too.

What does massage do?

Massage boosts your immune system. That means that regular massage will Continue reading “Benefits of Massage Therapy for Senior Citizens”

January 14November 6

Massage Therapy for Muscle Pain

Does massage help relieve muscle pain?

Oh my goodness! Don’t even get me started on the benefits of massage.

I am SO biased! I LOVE massage!

Pain happens for lots of reasons but therapeutic massage can help with virtually ALL of them. Why? Because muscles are responsible for so much of your pain.

Massage ranges from so light it barely touches the skin to very deep, specific and corrective. There are almost as many types of massage as there are massage therapists! 🙂

The very light or subtle forms of touch can help comfort people who are dying or who have fibromyalgia or RSD. I remember barely tracing Continue reading “Massage Therapy for Muscle Pain”

January 6November 6

Why Are Your Muscles Sore After Massage

Some people have soreness following therapeutic massage and others never do.

The possibility of having sore muscles following a massage is more common with your very first massage. Soreness occurs because “new” things are happening to your muscles. They get kneaded, moved, squeezed.

All of this can release metabolic (body) wastes and other materials that are stored in your muscles and other soft tissues (skin, fat, fascia.) These waste products are being manually flushed from the soft tissues.

Massage stirs things up. This is not a bad thing but sometimes, for some people, massage can cause muscle soreness.

A deeper “therapeutic” massage is more Continue reading “Why Are Your Muscles Sore After Massage”

November 23November 6

Massage and Pain Relief – Does Massage Help Get Rid Of Pain?

Massage therapy can be an excellent way to get rid of physical aches and pains. It’s likely that 90% of our pain and dysfunction is caused by muscles, according to at least one solid researcher, so it makes sense to help your muscles with massage.

If you have back pain or headaches or other pain, maybe you have already seen a massage therapist. Perhaps it helped a lot and perhaps it didn’t.

If your massage did not help much, you will Continue reading “Massage and Pain Relief – Does Massage Help Get Rid Of Pain?”

November 22November 6

How To Find A Massage Therapist Who Can Relieve Your Pain

When you have muscular pain and want relief, how can you find a massage therapist who will give you the most benefit for your money?

A nice “feel good” massage has many benefits but not when what you want is pain relief.

There are many types of massage and a few different professional organizations and lots of massage schools. There are all types of different philosophies, personalities, beliefs and training. Some massage therapists have a ton of Continue reading “How To Find A Massage Therapist Who Can Relieve Your Pain”

September 7November 7

Pain Happens for Reasons and Therapeutic Massage Can Relieve Pain

Back pain, migraines, hip pain, headaches, that “knot” in your back. Those are all symptoms. Something caused those symptoms.

If you can get rid of the something, you will get rid of the pain.

Now, sometimes a baby is born with a structure that is a bit different than usual and may have asymmetries (different leg lengths, for example, or upper arms that are shorter than average) which can make it more challenging to avoid pain and dysfunctions (not functioning easily and correctly.) So, some of us start off with more to deal with.

But sometimes a little creativity and an understanding of the roles of muscles can help those people to feel better.

Others may have an injury or accident in childhood or later which can also be a cause of pain and symptoms. You have pain but sometimes the doctor says: There is nothing wrong; all of your tests are fine.

That is GOOD NEWS!

Why? Continue reading “Pain Happens for Reasons and Therapeutic Massage Can Relieve Pain”

January 1November 7

You Went to a Massage Therapist for Your Back Pain–Why Didn’t It Help?

I recommend therapeutic massage for almost every type of physical pain.

Why? Because it works!

Massage is old medicine. It’s used all over the world for a wide variety of ailments.

Why? Because it works! (Oh, I already said that, didn’t I?) 🙂

But sometimes when you go to a massage therapist your pain doesn’t go away. Maybe it feels better for a short time, or even just while the therapist is working on your painful area. But, it comes right back. Or, it is back within just a few hours. Or, doesn’t feel better at all.

When that has happened to one of my clients, I told them what that means.

That means I was wrong about the cause of their symptom (their pain.) It means I didn’t work on the muscles or soft tissue that was the true cause of their pain. That means we have to try again.

The unfortunate thing is, many massage therapists only know how to do a relaxation-type massage. Relaxation or stress-reduction massages can be really great, but…

When you have pain, a relaxation massage probably won’t give you much benefit.

If you have pain symptoms, and you want relief, you will have to find a massage professional who “knows his or her stuff.” Someone who can assess WHY you are having pain. Someone who can figure out a “treatment” plan to help you become pain-free.

If your massage therapist rubs and presses on the painful area (and some will do this for the whole hour) and your pain doesn’t go away, then that therapist doesn’t “know their stuff.”

And, if that therapist can’t figure out why your muscle won’t release (relax) then she doesn’t “know her stuff.”

And, if she says it’s the worst “knot” she has ever seen, she should not be in the massage field at all, in my opinion. Her job is to help you feel better, not worse.

When your painful muscle spasm won’t release, it Continue reading “You Went to a Massage Therapist for Your Back Pain–Why Didn’t It Help?”