Pregnancy
Massage
Pregnancy massage or parental massage as it is sometimes
called, is very soothing and therapeutic for a mother
to be, not only emotionally and mentally but also physically.
You can strengthen your baby’s health and boost
their immune system just by getting a massage during
your pregnancy. Talk about giving a head start to your
growing baby inside your womb! The mother to be goes
through a lot of changes physically, mentally and hormonally.
The mother to be may experience back pain, neck pain,
poor circulation, fluid retention, cramps, spasms, sciatic
pain, constipation, gestation, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia,
headaches, nausea, blood pressure and carpal tunnel
syndrome to name a few, while other mothers may go through
pregnancy without any problem. Pregnancy is the most
challenging but exciting time for a pregnant woman.
Massage is beneficial during pregnancy and also makes
labour easier. Massage can also relieve stress and support
a new mother in regaining strength after birth (postpartum).
Women at risk from preterm labour should avoid massage
altogether on certain areas – i.e. lower back
and abdomen. If women have preterm issues, they must
get written permission from their doctors. However,
head, face, hand, and leg massage with gentle strokes
can sooth a pregnant woman's nerves and help them get
a good nights sleep.
Accupressure
Acupressure
is one of the oldest therapies known to man and is even
older than reflexology. Acupressure differs from reflexology
in the sense that acupressure points are located all
over the body on exact meridians where as in reflexology
the points are located on the palms of hands and soles
of feet. Acupressure treatment is direct whilst reflexology
is indirect. Body workers practicing acupressure press
anything from the fingers, knuckles, palms, sometimes
elbows and feet on specific key points on the body to
stimulate the bodies own curative abilities, which then
releases muscular tension and improves circulation of
blood and the body’s life force to aid healing.
I guess it is a natural reflex for us to press or rub
parts of our body that are in pain, so it should not
be surprising at the evolution of acupressure. Centuries
ago people noticed that they could relieve pain by pressing
specific points on the body. Soldiers that were wounded
by arrows recovered from long standing illnesses, simply
because the arrows pierced acupressure points. This
led to people having observation powers over their bodies,
thus the beginning of acupressure. Modern treatments
believe and rely on separate drug for each ailment,
and the more powerful a drug, the more dangerous the
side effects, where as the Chinese believe prevention
is better than cure and have regular acupressure treatments.
Some of the conditions that can be relieved by acupressure
are chronic sinuses, post operative pain, back pain,
headaches and also migranes.
Trigger
Point Therapy
Trigger
point therapy has been practiced by remedial massage
therapists for decades to relieve painful conditions
such as neck, shoulder pain, lower back pain, torticollis,
headaches, temporal mandibluar joint pain (TMJ), fibromyalgia,
repetitive stress injuries (RSI), carpal tunnel, sporting
injuries, occupational injuries, reduced range of movement
and muscle weakness. Instant benefits can be felt from
general circulation to increase range of movement and
flexibility in the expert hands of the therapist who
can locate and deactivate them, thus increasing the
flow of oxygen to the area giving instant relief.
Trigger points are also familiarly known as muscle
knots, are hypersensitive spots found within the muscular
tissue or fascia. Active trigger points restrict muscle
function and produce a characteristic pain pattern,
local and referred they weaken the muscle and have an
autonomic twitch response.
Latent trigger points lie within the muscle, with no
pain but have an acute predisposition to acute pain,
restricting its function and weakening the muscle.
Trigger points are activated when the muscles are left
in a shortened position over a long period of time –
i.e. sleeping or sitting in an awkward position or when
muscle is exposed to chilly winds or air conditioning,
or when muscle is fatigued from over work, overusing
or excessive trauma on the muscular system or overloading
by lifting heavy objects. Any biomechanical imbalance,
direct trauma, acquired or congenital disorder of the
skeletal of muscular system will cause trigger point
activity that is very deep and has a dull ache right
to the bone, depriving the body of oxygen and circulation.
Myofascial
Release
Myofascial
(MFR) technique is a slow gentle hands on technique
using sustained compression and stretching movement
to release pain and restriction in the myofascial structure
and restores motion.
Fascia is a macro substance made of tough connective
tissue. Laying seven broad layers of fascia sheets spreading
throughout the body in a three dimensional spider like
web covering from head to foot without any interruption
holding all internal organs from heart, lungs, brain,
spinal cord to all the bones, muscle, nerve, artery
and vein helping to support the body giving it stability
it has the ability to stretch is very pliable and when
there is any trauma to the fascia – i.e. inflammation,
postural, burning RSI it affects the flexibility stability
and pliability of the fascia.
MFR technique is completely safe and forgiving, no
injury will arise from spending too much time or treating
the wrong area, but when done correctly it gives immense
release to the fascia.
Lymphatic
Drainage
Lymphatic
drainage massage (MLD) is a very gentle form of massage
of helping to relax the nervous system and increase
lymph flow thus strengthening the immune system by getting
rid of metabolic waste. If the lymph pathway becomes
sluggish or congested through any chemical imbalance,
i.e. diabetes, liver disease, chronic inflammation,
pregnancy, sinusitis, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome,
post operative etc which may cause flu like symptoms,
soreness and pain. This is where MLD can be very useful
as it is not only beneficial for increasing immunity
to fight disease but also for a number of other conditions
such as stress, depression, after dental treatment,
sinus, menopause, acne, cellulite, constipation, detoxification
of liver, colon disease, odema, insomnia, sports injuries
and pre surgery. Lymphatic Massage (24 hours after surgery)
can prevent infection – i.e. liposuction and face
lifts.
Therapists have been using MLD technique for quite
some time for mini face lifts, skin hydration, softening
wrinkles, acne, sinus, swelling of the face and puffy
eyes and under eye bags. The MLD therapist will also
give home advice to the client to keep the lymphatic
system healthy. For most parts MLD treatment is quite
safe but is contraindicated to those suffering from
malignant disease, recent thromobosis, renal failure,
congestive cardiac failure or acute inflammation caused
by any allergies, poisons, bacteria or viruses.
Deep Tissue
Massage
Deep
tissue massage is a form of massage technique that focuses
on releasing and treating chronic patterns and restrictions
in the deeper myofascial of the muscle, tendon and ligament
injuries. The therapist uses slow strokes with deep
finger pressure, compression and friction applied across
the grain of the muscles. This helps to break down scar
tissue and crystallization restoring muscular balance
increasing circulation of blood, lymph, cerebrospinal
and interstial fluids to release tension and speed up
the removal of toxins and waste products from the body.
Lack of oxygen and nutrients to the stressed muscles
build up toxins in the muscle tissue causing inflammation.
Deep tissue massage technique helps to eliminate the
toxins from the muscles increasing range of movement,
restoring length and flexibility to the fascia and improving
the overall health of the fascia and connective tissue
of the body.
Deep tissue massage is often used in conjunction with
other massage techniques such as Remedial Massage, sports
massage and Swedish Massage, although it borrows a varied
amount of its techniques from the latter, it has no
resemblance to relaxing massage as it usually focuses
on specific areas. Deep tissue massage can cause soreness
during or after a massage, is often less relaxing and
less comfortable than a Swedish massage, the massage
should be on the threshold of pleasure and pain and
if done correctly should feel better within a day or
two. The client should be advised to drink plenty of
water before a massage to help rid the body of toxins.
Superficial techniques cannot be of any real help they
can only reduce inflammation and aid circulation, real
physical disorder are never near surface but to the
contrary lie very deep.
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