Tag : Massage therapy

Abdominal massage

Have you ever had abdominal massage? If you haven’t, then you have been missing out. The benefits of abdominal massage can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, your “rest and digest” response. It can also release physical tension and emotional stress that some people don’t realize they have.

Spasms and massage treatment

A spasm is an involuntary contraction of a voluntary muscle due to stress, injury, or chronic tension. This contraction causes nerve compression and forms a pain → spasm → pain cycle. Stretching and massage at the attachment sites of contracting muscles are often effective strategies for reducing muscle tension.

Lymphedema, part 2

Lymphedema is typically categorized by four stages. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is a non-invasive, multi-component approach to effectively treat and manage lymphedema and related conditions.

Lymphedema, part 1

Lymphedema occurs if the lymphatic system becomes insufficient and is unable to perform its normal functions. The result is an abnormal accumulation of water and proteins principally in the subcutaneous tissues.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a set of techniques developed by Vodder to help the lymphatic system function correctly. In lymphedema, where tissues retain fluid and swell, the goal of MLD is to reduce the swelling. MLD can also be used after trauma or surgery to help prevent the formation of scar tissue.

Postpartum massage

After giving birth, the core is weakened. Massage therapy can help with the muscle strain that happens during delivery, as well as balance out compensations in your posture that happen afterwards. Treatments focus on your back, neck, hips, and hamstrings. For caesarean births, we can also begin working on a scar as soon as the wound is closed.

Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel is the most common nerve compression in the arm and is a result of a median nerve compression at the wrist. It causes numbness and tingling in the first three and one-half fingers. As the condition progresses, muscle weakness and tension in the forearm muscles also occur.

Compartment syndrome and periostitis (a.k.a. shin splints)

Both compartment syndrome and periostitis can occur on the front or back of the lower leg, causing pain and tightness. Symptoms increase with exercise and decrease with rest. But, while they can both occur in the same locations and have similar symptoms, they aren’t quite the same.

Baseball season is around the corner!

Youth participation in baseball is on the rise across Canada. It demands a lot of physical skill to play and can therefore result in injury. New players are also using muscles they haven’t used before and learning new movements. Along with sore muscles, some of the most common injuries are to the elbows and shoulders.

It takes a village … to heal a hamstring!

As many of you know, Dr. Carole is training for a triathlon this summer. But, even an experienced chiropractor can sometimes forget her own advice about stretching.

YOUR HEALTH and tendonitis

Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. It is an overuse injury, caused by chronic overload of a tendon. At the beginning, you might feel pain only after you are physically active. But, if it progresses far enough, the pain can become constant with even the smallest of your daily activities.

What is Piriformis syndrome?

Piriformis syndrome is caused by the shortening or contraction of the piriformis muscle, which then compresses the sciatic nerve. When the sciatic nerve is compressed, you might feel pain down the back of one thigh into your calf, or even into the sole of your foot. You might also have numbness in your foot.

Prevent the winter blues with massage therapy

Although winter is beautiful, many people experience fatigue and seasonal depression and lose the momentum to invest in their health. Massage therapy can be a great way to help relax, revive, and recharge your body from the stresses of winter.

Sport-specific training and massage therapy

If you’re an athlete training to improve in your sport, you might find that you reach a plateau in your training or performance. To increase your performance and train more effectively, you can combine sport-specific training and massage therapy, specifically fascial release.

The benefits of infant massage

Massage therapy benefits people of all ages – even the littlest among us! And its never too early to start infant massage. Find out more about how infant massage can help infants and caregivers.

Benefits of massage therapy for children

Massage therapy is not only beneficial for adults, but also for our children as well, as they are often involved in sports and camps all summer, and then prolonged sitting in school throughout the rest of the year. Caught between play, school, sports, and countless demands, children have a good deal of stress. Stress raises blood pressure, lessens the immune defense and can contribute to problems such as childhood obesity. Not to mention carrying those heavy backpacks to and from school!

What is a trigger point?

Carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendinitis, angina pectoris, and sciatic symptoms, along with many other pain problems, are often misdiagnosed and are, in fact, trigger point referral pain.

Lowering your blood pressure the natural way

Your arteries are the pipes that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Your blood pressure indicates how quickly your blood moves through your arteries. Chiropractic care and massage therapy can help keep your blood pressure lower.

YOUR HEALTH and delayed onset muscle soreness

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) occurs as a result of predominantly eccentric contractions which may be made worse, especially if you are performing a new exercise. DOMS may be associated with muscle damage but, in many cases, other physiological markers indicating tissue damage are not present. Therefore, any prophylactic or therapeutic interventions alleviating muscle damage or physical discomfort can be considered effective if the concern is DOMS.

YOUR HEALTH and icing tips: Cold Beer and Nachos

Most soft-tissue injuries involve some degree of inflammation. It is important to slow the inflammatory response to prevent further tissue damage and scar tissue development. An easy way to assist your body with the healing process is to apply ice to the area. But how much is enough? How must is too much? A fun acronym – Cold Beer And Nachos – helps clients remember the stages the skin goes through to find the right length of time.

Massage therapy and exercise

We often think of a massage therapy as an unnecessary indulgence; however, in the athletic world, it can be quite the opposite. Many sports massage techniques enhance the body’s own recovery process, improving the athlete’s return to training and competition, and reducing the risk of injury.

YOUR HEALTH and postnatal massage

Postnatal pregnancy massage is a wonderful way to take care of yourself, at a crucial time when all your energy and efforts are centered on caring for your newborn. Postnatal massage re-energizes you as a new mother, supporting the body in regaining its pre-pregnancy condition.

YOUR HEALTH and prenatal massage

There are many joys in pregnancy, but with them come aches and pains. The aches and pains are due to the physiological changes affecting the musculoskeletal system and most of the organ systems. These changes start in the first week and continue throughout the pregnancy and some months after birth.

YOUR HEALTH and massage therapy research

A research study revealed that a ten minute massage can trigger anti-inflammation signals in muscle tissue to help decrease pain in damaged muscles, and also produces an increase in the production of mitochondria cells, which contribute to muscle endurance and play an important role in the healing process.

YOUR HEALTH and massage for cancer treatments

Massage therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety, pain, and nausea in cancer patients. In recent studies, massage therapy has been shown to improve quality of life, decrease anxiety, increase range of motion and function, and improve body image post surgery. Two specific types of massage that can benefit cancer patients are lymphatic drainage massage and scar massage.