August 22, 2008
Reduce Low Back Pain: 4 Tactics You May Have Overlooked |
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For the millions of people suffering with chronic low back pain, massage therapy will likely give some relief. However, find out how including four typically forgotten tactics into a treatment plan can substantially increase massage's benefit to your clients.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
In a majority of healthcare settings, the number one complaint of massage-seeking clients is chronic low back pain. By using a variety of bodywork techniques to relax the major muscles of the lower back, many practitioners gear their practice towards these individuals. While direct manipulation of the contracted, pain-causing low back muscles can bring clients great relief, there are some simple, often forgotten applications that can enhance conventional massage’s therapeutic results.
Clinical studies continually conclude that massage therapy helps people who are suffering with chronic aches and pains on either side of their lumbar vertebrae. Some of the most common bodywork modalities proven to reduce low back pain through circulation enhancement include Swedish massage, acupressure, myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy and deep tissue massage. Therapists who integrate these different types of circulatory massage are often rewarded by client reports of immediate pain relief. Unfortunately, this pain relief is often short-lived. By incorporating the four tactics listed below, practitioners can prolong their clients’ pain relief far beyond the confines of the massage table:
1. Heat Therapy – While the qualities of warmth and heat have long been associated with comfort and relaxation, heat therapy goes further by providing both pain relief and healing benefits for many types of lower back pain. Heat’s ability to dilate constricted blood vessels can calm back muscle spasms prior to deep tissue massage, while driving a car, sitting at a desk or lying in bed. Applying a hot pack or taking a hot bath are two of the simplest ways to apply heat.
2. Core Strengthening – Weak muscles can cause back pain. A strong core distributes the stresses of weight-bearing and protects the back. In general, the muscles of the core run the length of the trunk and torso, and when they contract they stabilize the spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle and create a solid base of support. Core strengthening can include exercises on a stability ball or wobble board, Pilate’s and yoga.
3. Stretching – Shortened muscles can cause back pain. Tight back muscles, gluteal muscles, and even tight hamstrings or quadriceps can disrupt spinal alignment and cause pain. Stretching these muscle groups improves spinal mobility to prevent or reduce back pain.
4. Cranial-Sacral Therapy – This gentle healing modality is intended to free cerebral-spinal fluid restrictions within the closed system of the cranium, spinal column and sacrum. Although most people’s association of cranial-sacral therapy’s effectiveness is restricted to the head and neck, this osteopathic-based form of bodywork can also release sacral adhesions, thereby relieving low back pain.
By incorporating these four tactics into a treatment plan, massage therapists can lengthen the time their clients experience low back pain relief. For clients with chronic low back pain, here are some examples of ways to implement these suggestions:
· Being careful not to burn your client, lay a hot pack on his/her lumbar muscles before working on that area.
· Advise your clients to take a hot bath or use a hot pack at the end of their day, or whenever their back hurts the most.
· Do your research and prepare a handout sheet with instructions for core strengthening exercises and low back stretches. Confirm that the exercises and stretches are safe for your client and encourage a gentle progression.
· Many clients will appreciate the additional effort of you modeling the exercises and stretches for them.
· If you haven’t already, learn how to apply cranial-sacral therapy. Remember that freeing restrictions along the cranial-sacral system can improve chronic pain located adjacent to the spine or sacrum.
As long as safety remains the practitioner’s primary consideration, heat therapy, core strengthening, low back stretching and cranial-sacral therapy lengthen the pain-free moments of each day. By combining an integrated regimen of massage therapy techniques with the four commonly overlooked applications described above, massage therapists can help their clients attain prolonged relief from chronic low back pain.
Recommended Study:
Cranial-Sacral Therapy
Integrative Massage Program: Earth
References:
Cherkin, D.C., Eisenberg, D., et al, Randomized trial comparing traditional Chinese medical acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and self-care education for chronic low back pain, Archives of Internal Medicine, 2001.
Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., et al., Lower back pain is reduced and range of motion increased after massage therapy, International Journal of Neuroscience, 2001.
http://sportsmedicine.about.com, Building Core Strength takes More than Abdominal Exercises, Elizabeth Quinn, about.com, 2008.
Massage Eases Lower Back Pain, Increases Range of Motion, Massage Magazine, July/August 2001.
www.bigbackpain.com, Back Exercises, bigbackpain.com, 2008.
www.massagemag.com, Chronic Low Back Pain Eased by Massage, Massage Magazine, Inc., 2008.
www.spine-health.com, Benefits of Heat Therapy for Lower Back Pain, Vert Mooney, MD, spine-health.com, 2008.
Posted by Editors at 10:20 AM
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August 21, 2008
Essential Oils for Digestive Ailments |
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Learn which essential oils used during a bodywork session can help alleviate many of the most common digestive complaints.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Have you noticed how many clients report they have a digestive problem? According to the Harvard Health Publication, The Sensitive Gut, one in four people have frequent gastrointestinal (GI) problems that can severely disrupt a normal lifestyle. Although massage therapists are not recruited to diagnose or treat medical conditions, incorporating aromatherapy into a bodywork session can soothe and even improve digestive problem symptoms.
GI Problems
In North America, at least 100 million people are estimated to have recurrent, long-term, gastrointestinal symptoms. Of those people, over 80 million suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a diagnosis typically given when no other well-defined digestive disease can be found. Unfortunately, IBS often has a limited response to medication. The most common digestive symptoms include:
· Abdominal pain
· Abdominal distention with excessive gas
· Constipation
· Diarrhea
· Heartburn
The center of our body’s food processing, nutrient absorption, hormone manufacture and waste elimination, the digestive system can produce many discomforts that may be eased by aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses highly concentrated essential oils extracted from plants to stimulate the healing process and to treat symptoms of illness. Applied topically on its own or in a blend, essential oils can ease cramps, gas, bloating, heartburn, indigestion, stomach pain and elimination difficulties. Because they are very potent, only a drop or two is needed to achieve results. Some of the best essential oils for treating digestive complaints include:
· Peppermint – one of the most well-known herbs for the digestive system, peppermint’s cooling and soothing properties categorizes it as an anti-inflammatory oil. Peppermint is widely used to reduce flatulence, cool ulcers and provide heartburn relief.
· Anise or Fennel – Anise or fennel essential oils are known as digestive tonics with anti-spasmodic and antiseptic properties. These can be helpful for easing gas pain, cramps, bloating and nausea. In addition, many practitioners use anise or fennel to help balance hormones.
· Cinnamon – A powerful antimicrobial essential oil, cinnamon is used to warm a cold, painful belly or to fight infection. More recent applications of cinnamon include boosting the metabolism and aiding weight loss. However, this oil must be used sparingly and with caution because it can be irritating to the skin.
· Ginger – The essential oil of this popular root helps warm and tonify the digestive system. Ginger oil is preferred when working with a client who has nausea or vomiting and has an abdomen that feels cold. In addition, using this oil on the lower back can help stimulate a sluggish large intestine.
An essential oil blend* geared towards digestive health can add a unique therapeutic value to an aromatherapy massage. While only a therapist with specific training in aromatherapy is advised to prepare and apply essential oil blends, the following suggestions are easily incorporated into a session:
· Blend orange, peppermint and chamomile oils for a general digestive massage oil blend.
· When massaged into the abdomen, a blend of chamomile and lavender oils can help ease abdominal cramping and gas pains.
· Heartburn can be relieved by massaging the abdomen with a blend of orange and chamomile essential oils.
*Only professionals schooled in blending should work with mixing oils. A blend always consists of a few drops of essential oils in one or several ounces of neutral carrier oil.
As the most potent part of a plant, essential oils are being increasingly recognized as possessing substantial healing power. Since they are absorbed by the skin and incorporated into the circulation, the skillful, topical application of essential oils can add another healing dimension to any bodyworker’s practice. Whether addressing abdominal pain, flatulence, bloating, nausea, heartburn or constipation, aromatherapy can help ease your clients’ digestive woes.
Recommended Study:
Advanced Anatomy and Pathology
Aromatherapy Essentials
References:
http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com, Essential Oils Aid Digestion, Victoria Anisman-Reiner, March 2008.
www.ehow.com, How to Use Aromatherapy for Indigestion, eHow Inc., 2008.
www.health.harvard.edu, Browse our Publications on Digestive Problems, Harvard University, 2008.
www.healthy.net, Aromatherapy for the Digestive System, Kathi Keville, Mindy Green, Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, Crossing Press, 1995.
www.nutramed.com, Solutions for Digestive Disorders, Environmed Research Inc., 2008.
Posted by Editors at 10:06 AM
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August 20, 2008
Going Green: Eco-Friendly Massage |
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With just a few simple changes, discover more tips on how massage therapists can take better care of the earth and their clients.
by Linda Fehrs, LMT
As massage therapists, our clients often look to us for simple ways to improve and maintain their health. Massage therapy could be thought of as a collection of non-invasive, non-toxic techniques and tools that help to reduce blood pressure, increase circulation and improve muscle tone. Our needs as professionals are few. All that is required at the very basic level is a trained pair of hands and a body to work on. The next step up would perhaps include a good quality massage table, some clean sheets and safe, healthy lubricants. A good location, somewhere to set up, is of course also necessary. It doesn’t get much easier, or greener, than that.
As time goes on, though, we may develop some bad habits, or not look into newer, more environmentally friendly ways of doing things. Most, if not all, of us can do better. We can make our practices healthier for ourselves and for our clients and, in turn, help the earth.
Here are ten simple ways to make your home and your practice a place that is not only safe and healthy for you, but also has a positive effect on the environment.
1. Drive Less – If possible, use public transportation, or if your office is close enough, walk or ride a bicycle to your practice. You might want to consider the benefits of working out of your home and eliminate commuting all together. There are no motorized vehicles that are totally non-polluting. Even the newer hybrid cars use some gasoline, and a totally electric car still uses unhealthy materials to produce electricity and batteries.
2. Adjust Your Thermostat – By lowering your thermostat by a few degrees in the winter months and raising it in the summer, you will not only reduce the use of energy that is used to produce it, but could also see a savings of 25 to 30 percent on your heating and air-conditioning bills. Remember to lower your thermostat as well during times you are not using your office, such as overnight or while on vacation.
3. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs or LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) – Consider using these instead of incandescent bulbs at your desk or in your waiting room. They last longer and are more efficient than incandescent bulbs, resulting in the use of between 30 and 75 percent less electricity. If you are concerned about the harshness of the light, soften it with warm colored lampshades. Also, remember to turn off any lights in unoccupied rooms.
4. Buy in Bulk – Purchasing often used items in larger containers will save on packaging as well as cost. Massage oils, lotions and creams can be bought in large quantity and your small bottles can be refilled.
5. Use Environmentally Friendly Cleaners – Massage offices need to be clean, but that doesn’t mean having to use harsh or toxic chemicals. Many stores now carry gentle but efficient cleaning products. Going back to basics is often the best and there are many books and websites offering easy recipes for creating your own cleaning materials.
6. Use Cloth Bags Instead of Paper or Plastic – Using and reusing cloth bags for shopping ends the debate on paper vs. plastic when it comes to groceries or other products you purchase. Cloth bags are stronger, usually hold more and nothing new is added to landfills.
7. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – Reducing your consumption of one-use items such as disposable razors, plastic water bottles and overly packaged food, reusing what you already have on hand like glass containers, and recycling things made of paper, plastic and metal items helps to lighten the load on local landfills.
8. Visit Your Local Library – By taking advantage of the library you can reduce the number of magazines you buy or subscribe to and minimize the number of books you buy. This helps to save valuable trees, which in turn helps wildlife to survive.
9. Buy Organic – As much as possible eat organic food and use organic materials, such as oils and sheets in your practice. Crops grown using pesticides have been shown to have negative health effects including damage to the nervous system, cancer and birth defects. Growing crops organically decreases this risk not only for the consumer but also farmers and animals.
10. Support Local Vendors – By shopping locally, especially at farmer’s markets or small businesses, you help lower your own fuel consumption as well as reduce the amount of energy it takes to transport goods across the country. Shopping within your community also helps the local economy, providing jobs close to home and resulting in less gas consumption.
Every day, in both large and small ways, we can help to make our offices and homes more eco-friendly. Something as simple as using essential oils instead of commercial air fresheners can reduce allergic reactions and may even help to alleviate the symptoms of asthma or other respiratory problems. Walking short distances instead of driving not only reduces air pollution, but it also gives our body exercise, allows us to slow down and we may see the world around us in new ways.
Setting good examples and letting our clients know that we care about the environment shows we care about their health and safety as well.
Recommended Study:
Developing a Wellness Center
Resources:
Bond, Annie, Home Enlightenment: Practical, Earth-Friendly Advice for Creating a Nurturing, Healthy, Toxin Free Home and Lifestyle, Rodale Books, September 2005.
www.care2.com, Green Living, Care2, 2008.
www.earthshare.org, Workplace Campaigns, EarthShare, Spring 2007.
www.epa.gov, Pollution Prevention and Recycling, Environmental Protection Agency, 2008.
www.greenbiz.com, Small Business, GreenBiz.Com, 2008.
www.greenthislife.com, A Bright Idea: Eco Conscious Lighting, Blake Frino, Green This Life, December 2008.
www.massagemag.com, How Green is Your Massage Practice?, Karen Menehan, Massage Magazine, March 2008.
www.amtamassage.com/mtj, Going Green, Elizabeth Barker, Massage Therapy Journal, Fall 2007.
Posted by Editors at 12:27 PM
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