Four Mechanisms Contribute to Soft Tissue Pain
1. Tension
Stress may result in prolonged contraction of muscles resulting in back, neck and head pain. Being preoccupied with thoughts and feelings of anger, fear and anxiety may result in misinterpreting normal aches and pains as signs of disease farther increasing tension and pain.
2. Deficiencies
Being out of shape can lead to weakness and stiffness and can produce pain by forcing muscles to work beyond their capacity.
3. Spasm
An involuntary contraction of muscle that causes pain and prevents movement, such as the inability to turn your neck or stand up straight.
4. Trigger Points
Small hard areas of muscle that are painful with any activity that strains the muscle but may be silent if the person is inactive. The pain from a trigger point may mimic a herniated disc.
All four of these mechanisms can be addressed with massage & reflexology.
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Five Tips to Limit Pain
 More than 50% of the body is made of muscles, but in spite of this, most evaluations for pain do not emphasize muscles as a major cause of pain.
1. If you have pain in a certain spot, that area should be manually examined to find if the cause is from underlying muscles.
2. If you are starting a daily exercise program and you try to do as much as possible on each day... you may find that you can do even less daily until the end of the second week, at which time you will be able to progress.
3. If you do strengthening exercise on a stiff muscle, it will get stiffer. Therefore, always relax then limber (move in the range of comfort) then stretch and only then strengthen.
4. Stress may be a major factor causing or increasing any pain. Therefore, relaxation is a very important part of pain relief.
5. Call or email and schedule a massage or reflexology appointment today. Relief is just a phone call away.
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The Power of Touch for Pain Relief
Massage is well known for reducing stress and promoting relaxation. And, a growing body of research also shows that massage therapy is effective for relieving and managing chronic pain, a significant national health problem. According to the National Institute for Health, nearly one-third of all Americans will suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives, and approximately 14 percent of all employees take time off from work due to pain. Increasingly, massage therapy is being incorporated into pain management programs of hospitals and health care organizations. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has suggested massage therapy as one means to manage pain without use of pharmaceuticals.
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Benefits of a Dry Brush Massage
The skin is the largest eliminative organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of your body's detoxification each day. Dry brushing is a way to stimulate detoxification of the skin because it provides a gentle internal massage.
- Buy a natural bristle or plant fiber brush for yourself. Brush gently towards the heart. You may start at your soles or your hands, remembering that all strokes are towards the heart. Do not use the same brush on your face. You may use a slightly damp washcloth or purchase a small brush, (baby's brush ~ natural bristle), for your face.
- Vary the brushing pressure to accommodate varying sensitivity of the skin of different parts of the body. When your skin is 'seasoned', you can use more pressure. Moderation is the key to pressure. Too much pressure will cause microtears in the skin.
- Brush dry skin before showering or bathing, until it becomes warm and rosy. Five to ten minutes is good. Shower or sponge away dead skin particles, which look like a fine dust on your body, to keep pores open. Persons with very dry skin may finish their regime by using a light oil or cream to moisturize.
- Wash brush thoroughly with soap or shampoo and water every few weeks and dry it in the sun or a warm place.
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Let's Not Forget Dad...
Do you need help finding the right gift for your Dad or Father-in-Law? Make Father's Day extra special this year with a gift certificate from Massage and Reflexology of Delaware.
June 21st will be here before you know it and we want to make sure you're prepared with the perfect gift. Call to pick up a gift certificate for any service... available in 30, 45, 60, or 90 minute sessions.
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Yoga for Your Hands
Mudras
are easy yoga movements that involve only the arms and hands.
Practice these ancient healing motions to enrich your life in
as little as 3 minutes a day.
 Mudra for Higher Consciousness
This mudra will help you achieve higher consciousness, deeper intuition, and increased spiritual strength... all of which will give you understanding of the hidden purpose behind everyday events and challenges.
Sit comfortably with your back straight.
Put your palms together, extend your elbows out to either side, and lift your hands in front of your heart with fingers pointed away from you. Your thumbs and bottoms of your hands should touch firmly.
Hold your hands a few inches away from your body. Your breath should be long, deep and slow.
With regular practice of this mudra, you will be able to maintain a state of calm centeredness in the midst of daily storms.
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Shiatsu Self Massage
Looking to spark your creativity? Try this Shiatsu massage technique
to improve your mental energy and generate ideas. Shiatsu is an ancient Japanese art based on
the same philosophy as Accupuncture. Did you know that your energy channels can be
stimulated by finger pressure? These pressure points are used to improve your
mental balance and creativity.
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Quote of the Month
"They say the seeds of what we will do are in all of us, but it always seemed to me that in those who make jokes in life, the seeds are covered with better soil and with a higher grade of manure."
—Ernest Hemingway |
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