Home Deep Tissue Massage Massage Therapy Massage Technique Massage School Privacy

Myofascial Release Massage

By admin on Monday, October 25th, 2010 | No Comments

One alternative for pain management and stress release is through myofascial release massage. This massage focuses on the fascia, or the connecting tissues that protects and supports the different tissues and organs in the body, including the muscles. According to theory, muscle pain is due to overstretched, twisted, and stressed fascia in the body. This can be due to trauma, injury, fatigue, and other medical conditions that affect the nerves and muscles.

Myofascial Release Massage

How it works
The same with every other massage, myofascial release massage aims to relax the body through physical stimulation through the use of hands, knuckles, and elbows. The target of myofascial release is the relaxation and elongation fascia through the application of pressure. The idea is that through the constant application of pressure, the fascial tissues would become relaxed and elongated, leading to pain and stress alleviation. This results to more flexibility, freedom of movement, and unwinding of the fascial tissues. This what is meant by the word "release".

The sessions usually last for an hour or more. During this period, your massage therapist would continuously work on the fascial tissues to get the desired effect. The session could be light or intense, depending on whether the treatment applied is direct or indirect myofascial release. Usually, the massage is done without the use of oils, lotions, and powder. This is to allow the therapist to have a better feel for the fascia for better targeting and manipulation.

Where to get the treatment
The good thing is that getting myofascial release massage is easy. Most spas and massage centers offer it as one of their services. You can also get it from physical therapists as they also offer it as one their treatments. As with all massages, competent therapists should have completed the necessary training and education to offer the massage.

You also have to note that this massage can involve some physical pain. The explanation is that the action of relaxing fascial tissues would be met with resistance from the body. But as the session goes, you can expect the body to adapt to the treatment performed and eventually relax. One can also expect some numbing of the muscles after the massage is over, but this would last for only a few minutes. .

Does it work?
If you're looking for solid medical evidence, unfortunately, there's none. The best are just anecdotal evidence. Some studies noted that people reported pain and stress relief after treatment. Other studies noted improved circulation and a more relaxed physique. Though not considered a medical cure, myofascial release is an effective method of pain management and relief.

If you're after pain relief from sore muscles, and a relaxing massage, myofascial release massage is a good option. It's effect on the body as a relaxing procedure has some merits, and it does work for many. Just do remember that it still cannot beat standard medical treatment when it comes to an effective treatment. But for relaxation purposes, myofascial release massage is as good, if not better, than any other massage out there.

Neuromuscular Therapy

By admin on Thursday, October 14th, 2010 | No Comments

Another effective treatment for muscle and soft tissue pain is neuromuscular therapy. It is a form of massage that specializes in two things: the location of pain areas, usually called trigger points, and the alleviation and removal of these points.

Neuromuscular Therapy

Neuromuscular therapy is based on how skeletal muscles work and the neural effects of their manipulation. Central to neuromuscular massage is the knowledge of trigger points, which are also referred to as myofascial points. These point are considered as tissues that are strained and stressed, and the goal of the massage is to stimulate these points sufficiently with the aim of relaxing them. This is how pain is managed and taken away.

Myofascial trigger points can be caused by injury, trauma, and ischemia, or the lack of supply of oxygen. Neuromuscular therapy works by applying perpendicular pressure to these points in regular intervals. This is the unique feature to this form of massage. It does not apply pressure or stimulation directly to the trigger point, but to surrounding areas or to areas that affect it. This is why knowledge of the human anatomy and skeletal muscle structure is essential. By knowing on which points are causing pain, the neuromuscular therapist can then know which areas of the body to work on to treat the trigger points. This is also why neuromuscular massage is considered holistic in its approach at pain management and relief.

Neuromuscular therapy uses the hands, fingers, and thumbs. Should the situation warrant it, the elbows are also sometimes used. As to the sensation, people often report some level of pain associated with the massage. But as with any other massage, you would have to give the treatment some time to feel the effect. Usually, the calming effect can be felt within the therapy or at the end of it. Some patients are also perplexed at why the therapist would focus on areas that seem to be unrelated to the painful areas. As mentioned earlier, neuromuscular therapy works by addressing the areas that are affecting the trigger point, and these may not be located at the painful area itself.

Some of the conditions that neuromuscular massage can address are postural distortion, ischemia, tight joints and muscles, adhesions in the tissues, and sore muscles. It can also lead to stress relief if the source of stress is physical exhaustion or muscle fatigue.

You can get neuromuscular massage from physical therapists and other health professionals. Since the practice of neuromuscular massage requires ample knowledge of the human body, it requires training and education to be qualified to practice it. You should look for certification should you want to try neuromuscular therapy yourself.

What's different about neuromuscular therapy is that it takes a more scientific approach at massage by basing it on the human physique. Through the manipulation of myofascial trigger points, this massage aims to relieve pain and stress on the muscles and tissues. If you prefer a massage that is more grounded on how the body works, then you could give neuromuscular therapy a try.

The Benefits and Risks of Massage Therapy

By admin on Sunday, September 12th, 2010 | No Comments

Scientists are studying massage to understand what effects massage therapy has on patients, how it has those effects, and why. Some aspects of this are better understood than others. For example, it is known that when certain forces are applied to the muscles, changes occur in the muscles, although those changes are not clearly understood or agreed upon. Massage therapy typically enhances relaxation and reduces stress. Stress makes some diseases and conditions worse.

There are many more aspects that are not yet known or well understood scientifically, however. Some of the proposed theories 3 are that massage. It provides stimulation that may help block pain signals sent to the brain, known as the "gate control theory" of pain reduction.

It shifts the patient's nervous system away from the sympathetic and toward the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system helps mobilize the body for action. When a person is under stress, it produces the fight-or-flight response (the heart rate and breathing rate go up, for example; the blood vessels narrow; and muscles tighten). The parasympathetic nervous system creates what some call the "rest and digest" response (the heart rate and breathing rate slow down, for example; the blood vessels dilate; and activity increases in many parts of the digestive tract). It also stimulates the release of certain chemicals in the body, such as serotonin or endorphins. Lastly, massage has been proven to cause beneficial mechanical changes in the body. For example, by preventing fibrosis (the formation of scar-like tissue) or increasing the flow of lymph, lymph being a fluid that travels through the body's lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight disease.

More well-designed studies are needed to understand and confirm these theories and other scientific aspects of massage.

Side effects and risks of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy appears to have few serious risks if appropriate cautions are followed. A very small number of serious injuries have been reported, and they appear to have occurred mostly because cautions were not followed or a massage was given by a person who was not properly trained.

Health care providers recommend that patients not have massage therapy if they have one or more of the following conditions:

  • A blood clot in the deep veins, usually in the legs. This is known as deep vein thrombosis
  • Damaged blood vessels, due to excess treatment
  • Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture, or even cancer
  • A tendency to develop fever faster

There are occasions where any of the following in an area that would be massaged:

  • An open or healing wound
  • A tumor
  • Damaged nerves
  • An infection or acute inflammation
  • Inflammation from radiation treatment

Masseuses are trained to avoid these trouble spots and for the one receiving the massage to point out any of these spots. Side effects of massage therapy may include:

  • Temporary pain or discomfort
  • Bruising
  • A swelling or sensitivity or allergic reaction to massage oils
« Older Entries