#Bodywork Therapies

[madlori]

My ankle journey

I am sharing this with all you good people on the dash because I am so fucking mad it took so long for me to learn it and if I can spare one (1) person the agony it will be worth it.

So for like...oh, 8 or 9 months, I've been struggling with pain/inflammation/tendinitis in my left Achilles tendon. I don't know what caused it. It just started up (welcome to middle age, this shit happens). It wasn't severe enough to be debilitating, but it was annoying and limiting. It was also intermittent, in that some days it would be very painful and other days hardly at all. The kind of shoe I was wearing affected it a lot.

Now, I have bone spurs on both heels (it's just a thing that happens as you get older sometimes). I'm also aware that heel pain is usually the result of tight calf muscles that pull and irritate the tendon. I tried stretching that calf muscle. You know the stretch, this bitch right here:

I did it all the time. I also iced the ankle after walking for awhile, hoping to avoid inflammation. Results were...unsatisfying.

I went to:

A chiropractor

A podiatrist

A physical therapist

A bodywork coach

They all gave me some variation on the "strengthen your calf muscle, stretch your calf muscle" advice. I continued doing this without results.

I was getting frustrated, and a little afraid that this was just my life now. Finally, I thought...maybe some targeted massage might help. I asked for rec on a local FB site and was pointed to a woman who specializes in therapeutic massage including cupping, etc.

I went to her a week ago.

She spent over half our first session working on my left lower leg. Within about 10 minutes of making my eyes water, she uttered the sentence I did not know I had been waiting to hear:

"Oh, it's your soleus."

Excuse me, what?

"It's your soleus that's the culprit. It's all tied up and stiff." She started digging into it and I felt literal sparks run up my leg as she released adhesions and got the muscle moving a little. When she finally put the leg down, it felt like it was on fire with all the blood rushing into it.

She said, "You'll need to stretch your soleus. It'll clear up, but it'll take a bit of time - tendons take ages to heal."

But I HAVE been stretching.

"No, you haven't. The usual straight-leg calf stretch only stretches the gastrocnemius, that's the big belly muscle in your calf. That's not your problem. That stretch doesn't stretch the soleus. Don't worry, I'll show you how to stretch it."

My mind is spinning.

So here are the muscles in question:

The gastroc (as the pros call it) just attaches down the back but the soleus runs underneath it from the knee around the side to the heel. The lower part above the ankle is where it typically gets tight and forms adhesions.

To stretch it, you do the same calf thing where you put your foot back and press your heel to the ground, but you have to do it with your KNEE BENT:

The bent knee keeps the gastroc from engaging. It's one of those selfish muscles (like traps) - if you give it an inch, it'll just take over and prevent other muscles from working or stretching. There are other ways to stretch the soleus but this is the easiest and you can literally do it anywhere. I've been doing it while standing and waiting for things (the elevator to come, the toast to toast). You just put the heel back and bend the knee. It's kind of like curtseying.

The minute I did this stretch, I could FEEL where it was pulling on my tendon. I knew that THIS had been the problem.

The massage therapist also told me to stop icing my heel. She said icing is for an acute injury, but a more chronic aggravation needs heat, to increase blood flow for healing. She recommended elevation with heat every day (I've been doing it in bed during "phone before bed" time).

I have been doing the soleus stretch at least half a dozen times a day for almost a week, and the ankle is at least 70% better. It is still a little tight and tender, but the improvement is significant. I think a few more weeks will have it feeling normal.

I am...blown away by this. This massage therapist was able to pinpoint an issue in only a few minutes that eluded all the other professionals I saw. I can't wait to go back to her and have her solve all my other problems, tbh.

[herespaaa]

Different Types of Massage Services: What works best for you | HereSpa

Stress and muscle tension have become common concerns for many individuals. At HereSpa, we understand the importance of finding the right massage therapy to suit your needs and preferences. With a variety of massage techniques available, we're here to guide you in selecting the best type of massage for your specific goals.

Assess Your Goals and Needs: Before diving into the world of massages, it's essential to take some time to assess your goals and needs. Consider the following questions:

Are you seeking relaxation, stress relief, or relief from specific muscle tension?

Do you have any underlying health conditions or injuries that require special attention?

Understanding your objectives will serve as a compass to help you navigate the diverse range of massage therapies we offer.

Swedish Massage: The Ultimate Relaxation

If you're looking for a general relaxation massage or want to ease mild muscle tension, Swedish massage is an excellent choice. This classic technique utilizes long, flowing strokes, gentle kneading, and circular movements to promote deep relaxation, improve blood circulation, and alleviate stress.

Deep Tissue Massage: Targeting Chronic Tension

For those dealing with chronic muscle tension, knots, or tightness, deep-tissue massage can work wonders. This technique focuses on reaching the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues, using firm pressure and slow strokes to release tension and alleviate pain. It's ideal for addressing specific areas of the body that require extra attention.

Reflexology: A Holistic Approach to Wellness

If you prefer a massage that targets specific points on your hands, feet, or ears, reflexology might be the perfect fit. This ancient technique applies pressure to reflex points that correspond to different organs and systems in the body. By stimulating these points, reflexology promotes overall health, relaxation, and balance.

Sports Massage: Enhancing Performance and Recovery

Athletes or individuals engaged in intense physical activities can benefit greatly from sports massage. This specialized technique aims to enhance performance, prevent injuries, and aid in recovery. Sports massage techniques can vary, incorporating elements of deep tissue work, stretching, and joint mobilization to target specific muscle groups and areas prone to stress or injury.

Choosing the right massage therapy is a personal decision that should take into account your goals, preferences, and any specific issues or conditions you may have. It's important to communicate openly with your massage therapist, as they can provide valuable guidance and customize the session to meet your unique needs. They may even combine techniques from various massage modalities to create a tailored experience that effectively addresses your concerns.

At HereSpa, we prioritize your well-being and strive to provide exceptional care during every massage session. Our team of highly skilled therapists is dedicated to ensuring that you receive the utmost attention and support throughout your visit. With our diverse range of massage services, you can discover the perfect fit to alleviate muscle tension, reduce stress, and rejuvenate your mind and body.

We are committed to creating a serene and welcoming environment where you can unwind, recharge, and indulge in the therapeutic power of massage.  Trust in our expertise and let us guide you towards the perfect massage therapy that aligns with your needs and desires. 

Your well-being is our top priority, and we look forward to serving you at HereSpa.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

By Joanne Silberner

April 8, 2024

A hug, a handshake, a therapeutic massage. A newborn lying on a mother’s bare chest.

Physical touch can buoy well-being and lessen pain, depression and anxiety, according to a large new analysis of published research released on Monday in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

Researchers from Germany and the Netherlands systematically reviewed years of research on touch, strokes, hugs and rubs. They also combined data from 137 studies, which included nearly 13,000 adults, children and infants. Each study compared individuals who had been physically touched in some way over the course of an experiment — or had touched an object like a fuzzy stuffed toy — to similar individuals who had not.

For example, one study showed that daily 20-minute gentle massages for six weeks in older people with dementia decreased aggressiveness and reduced the levels of a stress marker in the blood. Another found that massages boosted the mood of breast cancer patients. One study even showed that healthy young adults who caressed a robotic baby seal were happier, and felt less pain from a mild heat stimulus, than those who read an article about an astronomer.

Positive effects were particularly noticeable in premature babies, who “massively improve” with skin-to-skin contact, said Frédéric Michon, a researcher at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and one of the study’s authors.

“There have been a lot of claims that touch is good, touch is healthy, touch is something that we all need,” said Rebecca Boehme, a neuroscientist at Linkoping University in Sweden, who reviewed the study for the journal. “But actually, nobody had looked at it from this broad, bird’s eye perspective.”

The analysis revealed some interesting and sometimes mysterious patterns. Among adults, sick people showed greater mental health benefits from touch than healthy people did. Who was doing the touching — a familiar person or a health care worker — didn’t matter. But the source of the touch did matter to newborns.

“One very intriguing finding that needs further support is that newborn babies benefit more from their parents’ touch than from a stranger’s touch,” said Ville Harjunen, a researcher at the University of Helsinki in Finland, who also reviewed the study for the journal. Babies’ preference for their parents could be related to smell, he speculated, or to the differences in the way parents hold them.

Women seem to benefit more from touch than men, which may be a cultural effect, Dr. Michon said. The frequency of the touch also mattered: A massage once every two years isn’t going to do much.

Several studies included in the review looked at what happened during the height of the Covid pandemic, when people were isolated and had less physical contact with others. “They found correlations during Covid times between touch deprivation and health aspects like depression and anxiety,” Dr. Michon said.

Touching the head appears to have more of a beneficial effect than touching the torso, some studies found. Dr. Michon couldn’t explain that finding, but thought it could have to do with the greater number of nerve endings on the face and scalp.

Another mystery: Studies of people in South America tended to show stronger health benefits of touch than did those studies that looked at people in North America or Europe. Dr. Michon said that culture may somehow play a role. But Dr. Boehme said the studies showing the differences between countries were too small to be definitive. “I think the mechanism behind this is biological,” she said. “I think that’s hard-wired and will be the same for all of us.”

In 2023, Jeeva Sankar, a pediatrics researcher at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and a colleague published a rigorous review of skin-to-skin care for newborns. The analysis concluded that touch therapy for preterm or low-birth-weight infants should start as soon as possible and last eight hours or more, a recommendation that the World Health Organization adopted. Dr. Sankar said the new review was important because touch is often neglected in modern medical care, but it was too broad. He would have liked it to focus more on how various forms of touch could be integrated in medical care.

Dr. Michon stressed that the types of touch considered in these studies were positive experiences to which the volunteers agreed. “If someone doesn’t feel a touch as being pleasant, it’s likely going to stress them out,” he said.

A version of this article appears in print on April 9, 2024, Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Reviewing Studies, Scientists Find Hugs Are Good for You. 

[bodyalive]

“swinging” (c) Bernd Walz

* * * *

Descending Modulation: Why Massage Therapy Can Alleviate Pain Posted by Mark Olson | Oct 24, 2019 | Massage, Massage Science [Thanks Barbara Sharp Lmt]

“Clients walk out of a massage session feeling better, not because circulation was altered in the tissue or because of any direct mechanical manipulation of soft tissues, but because of the symphony of nociceptive modulatory activity that emerges both from tactile input and from the meaning the client derives from environmental and social cues. (11)

Once we understand that the tissue is (often) not the issue and how pain is generated and modulated in the brain, we can realize that placebo effects are nowhere near fake but rather an essential therapeutic tool to wield against the real basis for pain. Understanding the mechanisms of descending modulation’s nonspecific effects means that our treatment strategy doesn’t require mechanical focus on the region with the pain. It also means that educating our clients about how pain works becomes part of the treatment (since it can further enhance descending inhibition), and that what and how we communicate to the client about their condition plays a much more central role than what would be expected with the common, passive, unidirectional, tissue-centric model of pain.

Classes on effective listening and communication skills may truly be more valuable than classes in one massage modality or another.” I think the Neuromuscular Reprogramming model using competent, exacting and still soft manual muscle testing fulfills the active communication aspect better than words. Gently teaching a nervous system how to achieve a motion or hold a joint using a fully balanced set muscles does reduce pain.

[vampyroteuthid]

this is. a lot

[gingiberiequis]

Gingiberi Equis

Website: https://www.gingiberiequis.com

Address: Lincolnshire, UK

Gingiberi Equis, based in Lincolnshire, UK, specializes in equine sports and rehabilitation massage therapy. Offering professional services for horses, ponies, and donkeys, the business focuses on relaxation, tension relief, and overall well-being of equids. Techniques include massage, Light and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), and bit and bridle fitting, aiming to prevent and treat diseases, promote optimal health, and achieve calmness in mind, body, and spirit.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083065672289

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingiberi_equis/

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[dangersdoll]

reallllyyyy wanna do mobile massage for some more practice! If you’re in the pnw area let me know☺️☺️

[bodywisellc]

Find Relief with Professional Bodywork Therapy in NYC

Bodywise LLC offers expert bodywork therapy in NYC, specializing in relieving stress, pain, and tension through customized treatments. Our skilled therapists use techniques like deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and sports massage to promote relaxation, enhance mobility, and restore balance.

[magnuswellnessacupuncture]

How Acupuncture Can Treat Various Health Problems

Healing Through Acupuncture and Bodywork at Magnus Wellness Acupuncture Daniel Fielder, LAc Generated by Practina AI and D Fielder Introduction to Acupuncture Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing. This holistic approach to healthcare has gained popularity in recent years due…

[wellbodymind]

A week in the professional life of a biodynamic craniosacral therapist

I had a good week last week in my bodywork practice. On Monday, I talked to a young woman who had signed up for a free 15-minute discovery call. Her father had seen me as a bodywork client and had asked if she could get in touch with me since she was a massage student. I said yes. She wanted some support and guidance on her career path and a sample of my bodywork, so I acted as a kind of…

[aunaturalespa225]

Best Holistic massage therapy and sports bodywork in Clermont, FL – Au Naturale Spa and Wellness in Clermont

Au Naturale Spa and Wellness in Clermont offers holistic massage therapy and sports bodywork. Candy provides transformative relaxation and renewal, blending intuitive touch with rejuvenating techniques. Experience personalized sessions that soothe mind, body, and spirit. Discover balance and tranquility—book your massage today at Au Naturale Spa and Wellness.

[masseurrsvp]

Men On Men Massages Expert Massaging Techniques in Central London: Expose the Power of Physical contact.

Experience Men On Men Massages Soothing Tranquility at MasseurLondon.Com “Uncover the Craft of Easing and Health in the Heart of London” Book me on WhatsApp Call Chris About Myself: Crafting Remarkable Male-to-Male Massage Adventures Kings Cross Massage, I hold that self-care is an vital component of a balanced life. As an proficient male massage therapist, I am committed to providing a…

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Success Treating Migraine -- How to Treat it

A client came in whom I've worked with a lot. Her spine has many twists and turns from multiple falls being an equestrian for 25 years. At this point, in her 60's she's experiencing a lack of energy and general difficulty putting on muscle. Migraines are part of the picture.

I've worked with her sub-occipital rotators before but they haven't stayed corrected. The migraines are less frequent but not gone. What else am I missing? Clients who present with complex problems are my favorite these days because they make me think and learn new things. Sometimes I have to relearn something....

A major area of instability in many people's spine is at the base of the rib cage where the lumbar spine is vulnerable to torque injuries. A left torque will create weakness down the medial side of the opposite leg and up into the back of the opposite shoulder and also inhibit the ability to twist the spine to the right. Often this will be accompanied by an inability to get the 'push reflex' to work through the left leg. All these events are predictable and repeatable. If you don't correct that fundamental torque, the problems will recur.

The work the client does at home is crucial.

I corrected the sub-occipitals then had my client fire off the left lumbar preferred rotation. I then rechecked the neck and the correction I had done minutes ago was gone. I released the left lumbar at the T12, L1 junction, training the spine to be able to rotate right without using the left back extensors to push it. (Yes, your back extensors will get active in rotation if your rotators don't work.) After releasing the left QL and Extensors at T12/L1 I retested the sub-occipitals and they were testing strong. I ran the same tests twice through to double check. Yup, doing fine.

I saw that client again today. I ask how the Migraines were since our new discovery. SHE HADN'T HAD A MIGRAINE IN FOUR MONTHS. Miracle! When I retested the left lumbar rotations to the sub-occipitals no errors occurred in the firing patterns. No muscles 'switched off', a term used for muscles that fail to respond reliably when muscle tested.

For those of you who know muscle testing, you can test the preferred lumbar rotation against the cervical rotations and release the lumbar to correct the cervical inhibitions. Pictured here are 2 of the major players in lumbar rotation: QL and Serratus Posterior Inferior SPI, (a very important player which opposes the full expansion of the back of the diaphragm. Frequently locked short following past falls which ‘knocked your breath out’). These short tight muscles end up inhibiting the sub-occipitals on the opposite side.

A major area of instability in many people's spine is at the base of the rib cage where the lumbar spine is vulnerable to torque injuries. A left torque will create weakness down the medial side of the opposite leg and up into the back of the opposite shoulder and also inhibit the ability to twist the spine to the right. Often this will be accompanied by an inability to get the 'push reflex' to work through the left leg. All these events are predictable and repeatable. If you don't correct that fundamental torque, the problems will recur. If you don't address the secondary relationship between suboccipital torque and Thoraco/Lumbar torque, the problems will recur.

What is the role of Serratus Posterior Inferior? I looked up an image of it. It's a lot more superficial than I thought.

This lovely strong muscle the Serratus Posterior Inferior ties our lowest ribs to our spine. When you take a blow to your back and get the ‘wind knocked out of you’ this muscle contracts and frequently doesn’t let go. SPI is superficial compared to the QL, another prime suspect for being ‘frozen’ tight = always a culprit when someone’s ‘back went out’, along with the Quadratus Lumborum on that same side.

Jocelyn Olivier :: Founder :: Neuromuscular Reprogramming

[bodyalive]

The skin is an organ that can influence body homeostasis. It is good practice, when evaluating the clinical picture of a patient, to always ascertain the presence of scars. Looking at the patient as a system and not just as a symptom or a symptomatological segment will help the clinician, and all those professionals who use manual techniques, to find a more effective treatment. A scar can produce different symptoms, which can affect the neurological sphere, the fascial, and the visceral area. The skin surface is a means to communicate with the nervous system, to understand it, and to give therapeutic information. We can conclude by affirming that the skin and the fascias represent the skeletal system of the nervous system.

[puriphi]

Website: https://www.puriphi.nl

Address: Locations in Amsterdam, Netherlands: Ondernemerscentrum Muiderpoort, Domselaerstraat 30, 1093MA Amsterdam (Oost); Grubbehoeve 823, 1103GZ Amsterdam (Zuid Oost)

Puriphi offers a holistic approach to wellness, combining massage, breathwork, energy work, mindfulness, sound therapy, and trauma-informed somatic healing. Founded by Sanchia, a trauma-informed holistic bodywork therapist, Puriphi is dedicated to helping clients reconnect with their essence and achieve a balanced state of being. The treatments are personalized, focusing on individual needs to promote physical, emotional, and energetic balance.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puriphi/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puriphijezelf/

Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/puriphi

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[chrismasseur1]

Tranquil Bodywork Therapy in Central London Find out about Customized Methods in Euston London.

Hello to Tranquil Bodywork Therapy in Central London, Your Serenity Journey: Transform Well-being with My High-quality Masculine Massaging Sessions in The Heart of London Walk into a Spa And Massage Services world of unadulterated tranquility and renewal at my esteemed male massage service in the core of London. The objective is simple: to boost your health through a distinctive fusion of…