#bodyworker

[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.

[justin-shelley-massage-therapist]

Feeling Dizzy? Trigger Point Massage Can Help! But what if you are tired after a long day at the workplace and feel the muscles aching, or if you start feeling dizzy? Trigger Point Massage can help! Massage therapists can utilize a variety of techniques, such as myofascial release and deep tissue massage, to deal with the small and tight knots created in muscle fibers called trigger points. #philadelphia #lmt #therapist #phl #philly  #massagetherapist #phila #swedish  #deeptissue  #therapeutic #massage   #massagetherapist        #massagephiladelphia     #philadelphia #lmt #therapist #bodywork #bodyworker #phl #philly #beauty #massagetherapist #phila #touch #healing #touchtherapy #therapeutic #swedishmassage #deeptissuemassage  #therapeutic #harmony #balance #energy #massage #relax #health #healing #stress   #massagetherapist #relaxing #bodybuilding #sportsmassage https://massagephiladelphia.org/feeling-dizzy-trigger-point-massage-can-help/ (at Justin Shelley Licensed Massage Therapist) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpZDU8CDJst/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[zegalba]

Issey Miyake Bodyworks Exhibition (1983)

[nesquiiksstuff]

raiden + reader

humble meet insecure

fluff

multiple chapters

bending over backwards day in and day out. nails chipped, fingers swollen and raw, hardly awake—just for that effort to be ruined by you dropping food and plates on the earthrealm champion’s clothing.

Working in the Empress's Castle was a privilege.

Cleaning royal linens, arranging the flowers for his majesty's mural, tending to the gardens, preparing for grand feasts—It was a grandios job that took multiple to function. You were but a small cog, which you were reminded of constantly. Not by who you would think, no one of the royal status would ever blink an eye at you unless you were out of line. It would be other members who had more... respectable jobs in the castle. Guards, Head Maids, even your own colleagues.

That was normally the case, but now there was added pressure. It was time for the tournament or most importantly the festival for the late emperor.

Three weeks of waking up before the crack of dawn and rehearsing table dressing, serving the food, the manner in which you speak-all must be perfect.

Every step you take must be apart of the well-oiled machine of premium servitude. During this time there would never be a moment where it didn't feel as if you were stepping on eggshells. Having the strength of Outworld tested meant that pride was also on the line. Government officials who would never make the effort to bend their necks to examine your work—were now up your backside to make sure everything is polished to quality expectations. Snide comments to your work ethic would also be the new normal throughout this strenuous time.

Thankfully, it was almost over. The evening banquet was shortly coming to a close after the General’s…outburst. Servants trailed in, gracefully picking up plates and silverware. It was almost like an performance with how much repetition of order to collecting dishes had been drilled into everyone’s head. Muscle memory served you well as you whisked away used appetizer plates and wine cups that littered the table. Before you could completely step away, a hand caught your wrist.

Quickly looking up to fix your gaze on an earthrealmer who had made himself comfortable near Princess Kitana seat. A uniform smile melted onto your face, tilting your head at the man.

“Is there something I can assist you with?”

You watch as his hand began to gesture towards the Princess with a charming smile unfurling from his lips. “If you’re not too busy, can you fetch Her Majesty and I some more of this delicious wine?” He exaggerated his words greatly as he spoke—It wasn’t hard to tell that everyone seating with him used to his dramatics, some even rolling their eyes.

Nodding along to his words, “Of course, right away, sir.”

Swiftly stepping away from the dinning table and into the hall. Carrying in your arms were dishes, carefully balanced onto two trays. You couldn’t help but be grateful for not being on kitchen duty—Probably one of the most stressful tasks during and after the banquet.

On this walk you find your mind wandering about the scenery. The gold statues were polished to a beautiful shine, large floral arrangements that compliment the accessorized purple carpet with brilliant green leaves. Even if Outworld didn't win the tournament, there would be a small success with aesthetics.

Eyes completely absorbed with the beauty that you work hard to maintain, that's how you missed the flash of white appearing out of the corner of the hall. You felt time freeze as you bumped into what it felt like a brick wall. At the speeds both of you were going you found yourself practically being repelled backwards. Frantically trying to regain your balance, not for the sake of yourself but more so for the fragile and expensive porcelain. What did not help was the stranger reaching out and gripping your right forearm, truly a valiant effort but simply made you lose your grip on that side of dishes. Even though all of this seemed to go down in slow motion—It didn’t. The plates and glasses clambered down onto the floor, with you along with it.

When you properly dropped onto the floor, the grip on your forearm had been released. Irritation and horror sunk in deep into your bones, your head snapped up to glare ahead at whoever knocked you over expecting to find a guard or another servant. That is not who you found…instead time paused once more, but this it was only for you. As the man infront of you scrambled to help you up with wide eyes.

“I deeply apologize, I didn’t realize that there would be anyone coming this way—“ He pulled you up, gentle hands at your shoulders. “—I’m so sorry.”

You had spent these weeks bending over backwards day in and day out. Nails chipped, fingers swollen and raw, hardly awake—Just for that effort to be ruined by you dropping food and plates on the Earthrealm Champion’s clothing. It was almost enough for you to drown in hysterics.

You can’t tell what gobsmacked you more, the fact that you made such a rookie mistake or that he was apologizing to you. His eyebrows were pinched, those brown eyes looking at you with worry. Realizing you’ve been stunned into silence for way to long to be deem appropriate, you nod before taking a step back.

“Nono! I should be the one apologizing, sir.” You assured quickly. Of course he had to be wearing white, the orange stains practicality glowed. Sweat beads began forming on the back of your neck as you were royally fucked. Everyone’s temper was surely flared with the scene that General Shao had caused, now a lowly servant had added onto the tension. The only thing you could do was damage control.

“I can have your shirt cleaned first thing in the morning, please allow me.”

He blinked at you owlishly. “I couldn’t possibly trouble you—“

“—Please sir, it’s the most considerate thing I could do for you!” You were beginning to panic as he refused your offer, your lips were thinned as you internally plead for him to accept your offer.

“I…Alright, I suppose that’s fair. But please allow me to help you pick this up.” He motioned towards the floor.

A part of you wanted to thank him profusely, the other part wanted him to stop before you cried. What the champion was doing was kind, of course…but utterly beneath him. Your mouth opened to dismiss the idea entirely, but he was already moving to collect the fallen plates. Deciding not to argue any further, you bent down to join him.

Together it was quick for the mess to be picked up. You tried to grab the majority of the dishes but he had insisted carrying some more. Leading him to the kitchen you both walked in silence, for the man it was perhaps comfortable, but you could only imagine the stares you would get once dropping off the dishes.

You entered the back kitchen door with your head hung low, ignoring how some of the idle chatter of the staff stopped once you and the earthrealmer came through. Looking back you motioned towards one of the countertops.

“Set them over here, sir.” You guided gently putting down the dishes with a soft clank. The man’s attention was drawn back to you, he was seemingly lost in the immensity which was the Empress’s kitchen.

“This is…impressive.” He said, astonishment written on his face. “Madame Bo would approve.”

You couldn’t help the prideful smirk that curled on your lips. “Of course, everything is high end in this palace.” Nothing but the best in these walls.

The champion had let out a short laugh and nodded at your words. “I can’t say I disagree.”

The two of you worm your way out of the kitchen, now back into the hallway you turned to face him, holding out your hands. It took him a moment for him to catch onto what you were motioning for. His face scrunched up, embarrassed.

“I’m sorry…I would need another shirt.” He explained, playing with the tips of his fingers.

You battered your lashes before nodding in agreement. Before you could completely turn in your heels, “I have to inform you…We might not have anything up to the same quality of your original shirt—“ You absentmindedly rubbed your hands together as you spoke. “—But, I’ll make sure to have your shirt returned to you before anything else tomorrow.”

He looked confused as you told him before his face warped into one of amusement. “Oh, that old thing is just a working shirt…I’m not one to carry anything gaudy.” You couldn’t help how your lips formed in an ‘O’ as you slowly nodded.

You fully faced forward as you led him to a nearby but hidden closet. Storing equipment for the chefs in the kitchen. Luckily they had extra clothing, for whenever they needed a change of uniform. Shuffling through the white shirts you found one similar to his size before handing it over to him.

“Here you go, Sir. The bathrooms are not far, but if you need me to lead you—“

He shook his head, “—No, I was just there before..I knocked into you.” The man gave an apologetic smile before taking the shirt in hand.

It wasn’t completely similar to the one he was wearing now, but it’ll definitely get the job done. The man dismissed himself to the bathroom down the hall, and you waited patiently (albeit nervously considering you gave a guest serving linens). It wouldn’t take him long to return with the ruined work shirt.

“I feel as if I should still apologize, I’m truly am sorry.”

“Nonsense, sir. I should’ve been more careful.”

The champion still seemed unsure as he handed you the shirt, his eyebrows creasing further with guilt. In all honesty…You found it amusing how humble he was. Perhaps you shouldn’t be so surprised, Lord Liu Kang never seemed the type of be pretentious so why would his champion.

“Please, enjoy the banquet while you still can. And if you could, inform your friend I’ll be there with his wine.”

He nodded, a smile etching back onto his warm features.

“Of course, have a goodnight.”

The man walked away, back into the chattering dining hall. With you alone your fingertips play with the rough fabric in your hands.

“He was right…This isn’t high quality at all.”

end of pg. 1

errmm baby’s first fic i hope you guys enjoyed!! if the grammar is off please just comment and i’ll fix it, i wrote this in one take and i’m sick + dyslexic so be patient 🙏🙏. anyways im hoping for this to be multiple parts if people decently enjoy…i pinky promise to give the reader more personality besides being anxious abt work. okay byeee :p

[cuda16]

1968 convertible

[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. 

[causeimanartist]

Oh my god another fan of the master of franken chaos? (aka things like the franken soap)

You know it!! I've followed her since the early days of her channel

[merriclo]

this might be weird but the bathhouse episode of WAN really got me thinking about Atsushi’s hygiene because in it he said that he only uses a bar of soap to clean himself, a habit left over from his time at the orphanage. and now i can’t stop imagining Atsushi’s first solo-trip to the grocery store where he had to go and buy stuff for his hygiene

outside of the bar of soap, he does strike me as the guy who would use dish soap for his hair in a pinch because “soap is soap,” or he would buy the 14-in-one shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, motor oil, etcetera is. tbh Dazai probably told him to use it (either as a serious recommendation or as a cruel bit, nobody knows). it also wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t know anything about cologne either and (A) doesn’t wear any, (B) bought the cheapest most basic one available, or (C) was gifted some by Kunikida. tbh he probably smells like whatever laundry detergent he gets, cause that’s the only real scented thing he’s got T.T

but my main thing is.. what the fuck does he buy for Kyouka?? because they live together, and he’s pretty much her primary caretaker, so obviously he’d also be the one shopping for her. but this little girl was mentored by people like Kouyou, Verlaine, and Akutagawa, so obviously she’d have excellent hygiene. but what??? the fuck is he supposed to buy her??????

honestly he’d prob panic and call up like. Naomi or someone. and ask what to get her, to which she’d be like “uhhh shampoo, conditioner, and body wash?? some lotion if you’re feeling fancy???? Atsushi this is common knowledge why are you asking me this.” in the end he’d get her some sweet, cutesy scent like strawberries or cherry blossom, and bring it home and be like “hey!!!! i tried my hardest!!!!!!!!!” and Kyouka, used to the Port Mafia paycheck and Kouyou’s doting, would look at it like “what the fuck is this. thank you dearly but what the fuck is this.”

it’d be many moons until that girl got her hands on some nice perfume, either by getting Atsushi to buy it for her or getting it as a gift from a member of the agency. i could also def see her spritzing her stuffed bunny with her fave perfume

uhm. anyways Atsushi smells like laundry detergent and cheap cologne, and Kyouka, little miss spoiled-by-Kouyou, is surviving as best she can

[cammie]

refreshing the election results page while sipping my vodka cranberry. just lit one of my new candles maybe i can be chill

[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.

[kaleidoscopexsighs]

a stoned sirius and james would find muggle lava lamps fascinating

[darby-rowe]

it’s almost winter candy apple season

[cuda16]

Little time before next customer so I thought I would fix my chevelle

[damnedrainbows]

I found an old wonderful pun on my blog

“Bloodbath And Bodyworks”

once in a while I come up with gems 💀

[pocketramblr]

me paying money to get my car fixed again: its ok,,, you will not die the richest man in the graveyard,,,

[jonathanbyersphd]

Argyle's Pineapple Pizza candle for the bit, Hopper's Coffee candle for wanting my house to smell nice.