| Massage Therapy |
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Massage therapy has direct psychological and physical benefits as well as effectively improving the structures and functions of the body. Massage therapy benefits all the systems of the body including the nervous, glandular, digestive, muscular, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, ingumentary (skin) and skeletal.
Hastens healing
Relaxes the muscles
Increases metabolism
Effective in pain management
Detoxifies the lymphatic system
Renewed sense of energy
Promotes a positive self-image
Promotes a healthy & positive attitude
Promotes body, mind & spirit connection
Releases spasms
Relaxes stiff & sore muscles
Improves nerve & cell activity
Removes toxins & metabolic waste
Supplies oxygen & nutrients to cells
Injuries heal faster with less scarring
Increases circulation
Stimulates movement of lymphatic's
Improves the quality & rate of blood flow
Stimulates the production of white & red blood cells
Improves tone
Normalizes oil glands
Increases circulation of blood
Supplies nutrients to the skin
Soothes nerves
Promotes relaxation
Relieves strained back & leg muscles
| BENEFITS FOR THE CRITICALLY ILL |
Improves mobility
Reduces isolation & fear
Controls discomfort & pain
Reduces disorientation & confusion
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| BENEFITS OF HOT STONE THERAPY |
Hot Stone Massage
What you can expect during and after the session.
Stone massage combines the time-proven healing therapies of hot application and therapeutic massage. Used in relaxing treatments as well as for chronic tension and pain, stone massage is increasingly in demand. Massage with smooth, heated stones is a nurturing experience beyond compare.
Imagine relaxing back on a sun-warmed pebble beach and totally letting go with the calming and nurturing touch of massage.
Stones of varying sizes and weights are used to massage areas that tend to hold tension; like the back muscles, legs, and feet. Oiled stones are used in flowing strokes to relax the whole body.
The penetrating heat of the stones begins deep relaxation almost immediately, soothing the nervous system and melting the effects of stress. Muscle tension eases under the smooth pressure of the stones, allowing circulation to increase. As a result, toxins are flushed away and the flow of healing nutrients is restored to muscles and other tissues, further aiding the release of tension and pain.
Stone massage can be especially helpful for people with fibromyalgia, arthritis, joint aches and those recovering from injuries. Athletes find it helps muscles and other tissues recuperate after a strenuous workout.
Hot stone massage is not recommended for pregnant women or for anyone who is diabetic.
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The purpose of superficial touch is to soothe and provide a comforting
connection with your client and reduces pain, lowers blood pressure
and controls nervous irritability.
Deep touch is used when calming, anesthetizing or stimulating effects are
desired and will sooth muscle spasms, relieve pain at reflex areas, stress
points in tendons and trigger points in muscles.
Effleurage is used with either superficial or deep pressure gliding or
stroking over an extended portion of the body.
Petrissage is applied by grasping muscle tissue and squeezing, rolling or
pinching with firm pressure to enhance fluid movement.
Percussion is applied with quick striking movements with both hands
simultaneously or alternately to tone the muscles and stimulate the
nervous and circulatory systems.
Friction is applied by moving superficial layers of flesh against deeper
tissue to flatten, broaden and stretch the tissue. Heat is created making
the muscle more pliable.
Compression is rhythmic pressing movements directed into muscle
tissue perpendicular to body parts and invigorates the body,
stimulates the flow of blood and lymph and increases circulation.
Joint ROM is the movement of a joint from one extreme of the articulation
to the other manipulating any joint in the body, including but not limited
to the knees, hips and arms.
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CLASSIFICATIONS OF
MASSAGE MOVEMENTS
Touch
Superficial
Deep or Firm
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Effleurage
Gliding
Stroking
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Petrissage
Kneading
Pinching
Squeezing
Skin Rolling
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Percussion
Slapping
Tapping
Cupping
Hacking
Beating
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Friction
Circular
Cross Fiber
Compression
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Joint ROM
Passive
Active
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Massage movements are directed toward the heart to facilitate the flow of blood and lymph back toward the heart. Every massage movement has it's purpose. All movements enhance circulation but stroking, kneading, and compression most effectively promote circulation. The movements most used to increase the flow of blood and lymph are stroking, light percussion, friction, petrissage and compression. Movements that stimulate the
nervous system are friction, vibration and light percussion while those that sedate the nerves are gentle stroking, light friction and petrissage. Techniques to prevent the formation of adhesions and fibrous muscle are
cross fiber friction and compression.
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There are three degrees of muscle strain.
Grade I - An overstretching of a
few muscle fibers with a minimal
tearing of the fibers.
Grade II - Involves a partial tear of between 10 - 50% of the muscle fibers.
Grade III - This is the most severe injury with between 50 - 100% muscle tearing.
A sprain is an injury to a joint that results in the stretching or tearing of the ligaments.
Class I - A stretch in ligament, some discomfort, minimal loss of function.
Class II - The ligament is torn and there is some loss of function.
Class III - The ligaments are torn, internal bleeding & severe loss of function.
A Lesion is a structural change in tissues caused by injury or disease.
Arthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joints often accompanied by pain and changes of bone structure.
The three most common types are:
Rheumatoid, Osteoarthritis,
Gouty Arthritis
Osteoporosis means porous bones and is a condition where minerals are drawn out of the bones leaving them brittle and weak.
Kyphosis - An exaggerated convex curve usually associated with the thoracic spine.
Lordosis - an exaggerated concave curve usually associated with the lumbar spine.
Scoliosis - An abnormal lateral curve of the spine.
| TRIGGER POINTS FOR COMMAN PAINS |
Trigger points are hyper-irritable
spots that are painful when compressed. There are two kinds, active and latent. Active trigger points refer pain to another area of the body. Latent trigger points only exhibit pain when compressed and do not refer pain. Both types of trigger points indicate dysfunction.
Ischemic Compression is the method of choice when working with trigger points. It involves digital pressure directly into the trigger point, holding the pressure deep enough and long enough to deactivate the trigger point.
Headaches
Occipital Ridge
Trapezius
SCM
Spine or ridge of scapula
Low Back
Hamstrings
Sacrum
Glutes
Latissimus Dorsi
Carpal Tunnel
Thumb area
A/C of shoulder
Center of Deltoid
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Client Rewards Program
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Birthday Club
Christmas Club
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| ALL ABOUT MUSCLES & CONNECTIVE TISSUE |
There are approximately 600 muscles in the adult human body. Muscles are contractile fibrous tissue that produce various movements of the body. Besides the muscle fibers, muscle contains a variety of connective tissue, blood & other fluids, blood & lymph vessels and nerves.
There are three types of muscle tissue.
Skeletal also referred to as voluntary or striated muscle. This type of muscle tissue is found in muscles that attach to the skeleton. Striated muscles are made of cylindrical fibers.
Smooth also referred to as involuntary muscle. This type of muscle tissue is found in organs like the stomach, intestines, bladder and blood vessels.
Cardiac muscle tissue is found only in the heart.
The difference between voluntary and involuntary muscles.
Voluntary muscles are controlled by the will and the somatic nervous system. Involuntary muscles are not controlled by the will and receive nerve stimulation from the autonomic nervous system.
Muscle Attachments
Skeletal muscles are attached to bone by cartilage, ligaments, tendons, skin and sometimes to other muscles.
The origin of a muscle refers to the more fixed attachments such as muscles attached to bones that act as an anchor for movements.
The insertion of a muscle refers to the attachment that performs the action such as muscles attached to skin, other muscles or the more movable attachment.
Ligaments connect and support the bones at joints. Cartilage cushions the bones at joints. The joints are lubricated by synovial fluid.
Fascia - Connective Tissue
The main function of connective tissue is to bind structures, create a framework and provide support.
Fascia is a membrane of connective tissue covering muscles and separating their several layers or groups of layers.
There are three layers of connective tissue.
Epimysium covers the muscle
Perimysium separates the muscle bundles
Endomysium surrounds each muscle cell
The function of Fibrous Connective Tissue is to organize and support muscle tissue, blood vessels and nerves. It also anchors the muscle fibers and connects them to the structures they act on.
Christina Howard NCTM, CMT, ACMT
GTC Building
1006 S. Edgewood Dr.
Knox, IN. 46534
574-772-5979
574-302-1166
christy-howard@massagetherapy.com
Monday - Saturday
by appointment
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Hydrotherapy is defined as the application of water in any of it's three forms; ice, water or vapor for therapeutic purposes.
Water treatments that involve hot or cold applications should not be given when the client has cardiac impairment, diabetes, lung disease, kidney infection, extremely high or low blood pressure, or an infectious skin condition.
Cryotherapy is the application of ice for therapeutic purposes.
The application of ice acts as an analgesic to reduce pain and limit swelling. It is beneficial on painful, inflamed and swollen areas.
Cold applications are beneficial because they improve circulation, stimulate nerves and increase the activity of body cells.
Cold applications are undesirable over prolonged periods as they may produce a depressing effect.
Cold therapy should be discontinued if you become chilly, shivering, blue-lipped or goose fleshed as it is an indication that the body reaction is not good.
The application of heat therapy causes an increase of circulation, pulse rate, and white blood cell count.
The local application will cause local reddening, increased metabolism and white blood cell migration to the area, relaxation of local musculature and a slight analgesia.
| OXYGEN DEBT & MUSCLE FATIGUE |
Oxygen debt results when a muscle expends more energy faster then the body can supply the oxygen needed to produce the energy. When oxygen debt becomes extreme, muscles will stop functioning in a condition known as muscle fatigue.
The overload principle maintains that when trying to increase strength, endurance or flexibility, the individual must apply stresses to the body that are greater then what the body is accustomed to.
Strength is the ability of a muscle or muscle group to contract and produce tension with a maximum force exerted on some resistance.
Strength is usually measured as the ability of a muscle or muscle group to exert a maximum force one time.
Two main factors that determine relative strength include muscle size and the number of motor units involved in the contraction.
A muscle or muscle group is said to have endurance when it can hold a contraction for an extended period of time or perform a great number of contractions without becoming fatigued.
Flexibility refers to the ability of a joint to move freely and painlessly through it's range of motion. Flexibility exercises include range of motion and stretching exercises.
Extensibility is the ability of muscle fibers to lengthen and stretch.
A contracture is a reduction of joint mobility and is the result of decreased extensibility of muscle or other tissue crossing the joint.
Plasticity refers to the tissue's ability to adapt to ongoing stresses and conditions.
Elasticity refers to the tissue's ability to return to normal resting length when a stress that has been placed on it is removed.
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COMMON DYSFUNCTIONS & DISEASES OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM
Muscle spasms are the most common muscle dysfunction. A spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles that usually occurs when the nerve(s) supplying the muscle(s) is irritated. Spasms vary in duration and intensity and may affect voluntary, involuntary or cardiac muscle tissue. Common examples of muscle spasms are hiccups, tics and twitches in the face, charley-horses, stuttering and convulsions. Spasms may occur as a result of injury, disease or emotional stress.
Muscle strains, also referred to as torn or pulled muscles, are the most common injury to muscle. There are three grades of muscle strain.
Grade l - is an overstretching of a few muscle fibers with minimal tearing. There is some pain but no loss of function.
Grade ll - involves a partial tear of 10 - 50% of muscle fibers. There is considerable pain and some loss of function. There may be some tissue bleeding and thickening of the muscle tissue.
Grade lll - is the most severe with 50 - 100% muscle tearing. There is a bunching of the muscle with severe pain and total or near total loss of muscle function
Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain, fatigue, and stiffness in the connective tissue of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It is associated with stress, poor sleep habits, and occupational or recreational strain and is more prevalent in women. Viral or bacterial infections may be a precursor, as well
as cold, damp conditions and it is often related to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon, often occurring at the musculotendonis juncture. Tendonitis is accompanied by pain and often swelling. Tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the tendon sheath.
| FIBROSIS AND MYOFIBROSITIS |
Fibrosis refers to the formation of fibrous tissue. Myofibrosis is the process where muscle tissue is being replaced by fibrous connective tissue. Fibrositis and myofibrositis are inflammatory conditions of the fibrous tissue, especially the fascial tissues of the muscular system and cause pain and stiffness. These conditions are often referred to as muscular rheumatism.
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue that may affect many body tissues and organs. It is an autoimmune disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation, especially in the face, organ dysfunction and arthritis.
Atrophy is the result of muscle disuse. If a muscle cannot be contracted the muscle tissue will rapidly degenerate and begin to waste away. If nerve supply to the muscle is interfered with, paralysis results and muscle atrophy progresses rapidly.
Muscle hypertrophy is an enlargement of the breadth of a muscle as a result of repeated forceful muscle activity. Most of the hypertrophy is due to the increase in the size of the muscle fibers rather than an increase in the number of muscle fibers.
Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of related diseases that seem to be genetically inherited and that cause a progressive degeneration of the voluntary muscular system. Muscle fibers are gradually replaced by fat and connective tissue until those muscles become virtually useless.
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HAPPINESS IS NOT A REWARD IT IS A CONSEQUENCE. |
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