Jaw Pain

This past week I began seeing new client seeking relief from her jaw pain. When her husband past away a year and a half ago, her new life became overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. It led her to begin grinding her teeth in the night. It has gotten to the point where on a bad day, she can barely open her mouth a half an inch. It limited her diet to consist of only soup and smoothies. She is now dangerously underweight.

This is an extreme case, but an excellent example of how emotional stress manifests into physical dysfunction. Her doctor diagnosed her with Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome. Because the crux of the pain occurs as a result of chronically contracted chewing muscles, he recommended massage therapy in addition to her spinal and cranial chiropractic adjustments.

The massage I do with her is, as always, a mix between a relaxation treatment and functionally restorative. I begin with a completely unrelated area to the pain: usually her feet or legs. This is sedating to the mind and allows me to feel more deeply using less effort once I get to a more sensitive area, like the head and face. Massage to a painful area can be deep or light, but most importantly, the therapist should move slowly and carefully. This is truly therapeutic.

Colds & Flus

Tis the season for sniffling! It happens to the best of us. What happens if you become ill and you have a massage appointment?

Colds and flus are invasions to the body. Your immune system is like the military strategizing and implementing an attack. Lymph and blood carry white blood cells around the body sweeping up the infection. Lymph glands become centers for harboring the foreign substances.

One of the primary effects of massage is an increase in fluid circulation. The therapists hands, forearms, elbows, knees and/or feet are mechanically pushing blood and lymph around in your body. The problem with this is that your immune system has already made a very specific and careful plan of attack. Getting a massage while fighting the infection can have one of two possible reactions:

A) The body expels the infection faster than it would have otherwise and you are healed.
B) The body is overwhelmed by the new and unexpected activity, causing a set-back in the recovery process. You become even sicker than you were before.

It is because of this second possible reaction that we recommend calling to reschedule your appointment. As always, "cause no harm" is most important to us. Stay home and get some sleep!!

How to Help a New York City Marathon Runner

This past Friday, I gave a massage to my client who would be running in the New York City marathon. It was only 36 hours before the race's start time so I had very specific objectives.

Although he had eased his training regime during this last week before the event, his muscles still contained a great deal of tension and chemical waste from burning so much energy. I first massaged his abdomen to stimulate their processes. Then I systematically began to move his joints, testing to make sure certain muscles were not pulling them out of alignment - which is an injury waiting to happen. Then on to flushing the fluids and waste from all of the major muscles in his body. This encourages incredible blood flow (containing new oxygen and nutrients) and relaxation: the perfect combination for cellular healing.

I was thrilled to get his phone call late on Sunday; He enjoyed the race and was proud of his performance: just over 4 hours! He asked for my services Tuesday evening.

Now 2 1/2 days after the event, his muscles are so sore they are tender to touch. I would have to use far less pressure, and be clever about how to address the deeper muscles of the body. This massage was more rhythmic - this is a sedating effect on the mind, which was important because an over-active mind can make sensations feel more intense than they might be otherwise.

He reports excellent recovery and 2 phenomenal nights of sleep. Congratulations to all the runners!

Shingles: Rest is Best

There are so many conditions which can benefit from massage therapy. But I would be lying if I didn't mention there are some health conditions that indicate someone might not be an excellent candidate for massage.

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with Shingles. Shingles is a re-activation of the chickenpox virus, usually occurring later in life. Doctors identify it by the painful blisters it causes in certain areas of the body - often the low back, buttock, and thighs.

Although stress is a major factor in that viral re-activation, Shingles is a particularly painful illness because of the blisters. Touch is not usually the best solution right away - regular old rest is better.

Thankfully, Shingles typically only occurs once in a person's lifetime. So strengthen your immune system, recover from the infection, and then receive light, relaxation massage as part of your regular healthcare routine.

Reader Challenge: What is a Dermatome? And how does it relate to Shingles?

Massage During the Birthing Process

Once contractions begin, many women experience intense physical AND emotional reactions. This explains why more "holistic" treatments are becoming popular - women want to know that they and their baby are safe and being taken care of as complete human beings, not just bodies.

Tiffany Field and the Touch Research Institute published the results of these studies in the Sept/Oct issue of "Alternative Therapies" as well:

The partner of each birthing woman massaged her back and legs for the first 15 minutes of each hour of labor. The women reported lower levels of pain and anxiety, especially during the dilation phase. The need for pain medication was also reduced. In comparison to the control group, labor was an average of 3 HOURS shorter for the massage group.

Acupressure's effect during labor was also tested, using ice massage to the most powerful general wellness point on the hands. Another group received "simple touch", meaning touch to a part of the body not noted as a powerful acupoint. The Acupressure group reported significant pain reduction immediately, 30 minutes after treatment, and 60 minutes after treatment. Total labor time was also reduced.

Lastly, I'd like to highlight a technique researched in 3 studies (outlined in the Cochrane Database Review). It is called perineal massage, and it can be taught to a spouse or partner to be performed in the weeks leading up to delivery. It's purpose is to reduce the need for suturing and episiotomies, and the studies showed that it is close to 100% effective!

Have you or someone you love used massage before or during delivery? Tell us your success stories!

Research on Prenatal Massage

I'd like to highlight some of the most recent and encouraging research coming out of Tiffany Field's Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami in Florida. In the September/October issue of Alternative Therapies, a peer-reviewed journal, her article "Pregnancy and Labor Alternative Therapy Research" details many studies that used massage therapy, yoga, and many other modalities to help preterm and laboring women.

Here are the summaries of her findings with preterm women:

Study 1) After receiving weekly massage women reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, leg pain and back pain than before they began receiving massage. Researchers measured lower cortisol levels (a key predictor of premature delivery).

Study 2) Pregnant women diagnosed with depression received 60 minute massages from Licensed Massage Therapists twice a week. Again, the findings showed reduced depression, anxiety, and cortisol levels. Interestingly, they found a large drop in fetal movement, which has been found in excess in mothers with depression. However the most important measurement was premature delivery: the control group measured at 11% verses the massage therapy group at 0%!

I must also mention that Dr. Field tested yoga's effects during pregnancy. The participating women followed a daily yoga practice starting at 20 weeks (about 5 months) to labor. They found lower levels of pregnancy-induced hypertension and incidences of preterm labor, and with that more babies were born at a healthy weight.

The results of the mid-labor studies next week!

Twitching!

I have noticed that many of my clients are embarrassed when they are receiving massage and something completely natural occurs: their body twitches. It certainly can feel strange - I'm a "twitcher" myself. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it goes like this:

You're lying on the table, it's about halfway or 3/4 through the massage, and you feel completely relaxed. So much so that your mind has floated away, far from thinking about the present moment. And then, a tremble! Perhaps just your hand, leg, or maybe your whole body.

What's happening here is that your brain (part of the nervous system) sees an opportunity to expel some of that excess stress you've been holding. When you take in more sensory information (listening, reading, watching, remembering, feeling) than your body expresses as motor reflex (exercising, moving, active breathing) - it gets stored! Where else: in your muscles, increasing muscle tension.

This is a perfect example of how mental stress creates physical tension. So when your subconscious tries to help you out, let it go! Release that tension - and smile! This is massage therapy at work...

Shin Splints

I was hiking in Vermont on Saturday when I was reminded how awful shin splints can feel, and how helpful a little massage could be when you suddenly change your physical activity.

Mine were caused by hiking up and down very steep trails. The muscle just outside your shin worked very hard during this activity to keep me from tripping over my own toes. It held my foot up in the air much longer and required more strength against gravity during the ascending and descending hikes. The muscle's name is Tibialis Anterior, and it became over-contracted, unable to relax even while I was sleeping later that night. It felt harder than normal, and tender to the touch.

This muscle is connected to the shin. So as it's continually contracting, it is pulling on the very sensitive nerve-filled membrane surrounding your shin bone. You feel this irritation each time you put your foot down to take another step. Stress fractures are related, but not the same thing. That is a problem with the integrity of the bone itself, not a force outside the bone pulling on it (the muscle).

So because this is a muscular problem, caused by over-use, massage therapy was a perfect solution. I used a mix of swedish, trigger point, and neuromuscular techniques on Sunday, and on Monday I was back - pain free. Yay massage!

Receiving

I just received a relieving massage from my friend and fellow Licensed Massage Therapist, Bea. During each session I always say to myself, "I should receive more often." I felt relaxed even while she found and addressed trigger points in my calves and hamstrings. I rolled off the table after thanking her, and found a new body standing underneath me. Weeks of jogging, lifting, and anxiety - gone.

I felt profound gratitude and joy. Irene Smith, a legend in the massage world for her work with dying people, said,
"Touch was never meant to be a luxury. It is a basic human need."

Findings from the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami have proven this in studies with pre-maturely born infants. Regular, kind touch from other people encouraged greater weight gain and responsivity, as opposed to only being touched when necessary.

Massage Therapy is a consistent form of this healthy touch, so vital to our success as individuals. It need not be a treat, but an aspect of your routine as essential as exercise, fresh air, clean water and good laughs.

Sore Muscles

For serious athletes, performers, and people who depend on the optimal function of their body, massage is a very popular answer. Part of this is related to the relaxation effect we discussed last week. Regular massage can reduce pain, limited movement, and anxiety. It supports the body by increasing circulation. New nutrients are brought to the area to rebuild the tissue while fluid is flushed out of the area, taking any waste (like lactic acid) with it. This type of regular care has helped many people remain pain and injury-free while under great physical stress.

What is interesting to me as a therapist are the different techniques we use at various times throughout the training. Before the event, our intention is to decrease the tension in the muscles and the mind. We want to send the athlete out feeling calm and confident. After the event, the athlete benefits most by returning to a recovery state as quickly as possible. Lowering the heart rate, deepening the breathing and reducing muscle tension signal to the brain that it should begin the healing process. Maintainence care is essential at any point when the body is being asked to overcome new challenges and reach new levels of performance.

And on that note, it is not only people who devote themselves to sport or dance that experience muscle soreness. Anyone starting or changing an exercise regime significantly would be wise to give back to those muscles and bones carrying you. It is reasonable and in fact logical to create balance: do walk those extra miles this week a little quicker than usual... but don't forget to thank them afterward. It's a lifelong relationship worth cultivating.

Deep, Therapeutic Relaxation

The number one reason most people receive massage is also the most widespread result. Massage therapy causes deep, therapeutic relaxation. This relaxation is unlike sitting on the couch after a long day. Most massage techniques use our knowledge of the human body to induce the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the "rest & digest" state of being - the opposite of the "fight or flight" response. Perhaps you can think back to your last massage, and how difficult it was to peel yourself off the table or mat! Certainly your mind and body were not focused on that hyena chasing you. They were in an active state of healing.

You are always experiencing a ratio of sympathetic to parasympathetic stimulation in the brain. Research generally supports the belief that spending most of your time in a parasympathetic state improves your health. I believe many people already understand there is a relationship between the stress in one's life and one's health. You can feel the tension in your muscles! The physical effects of massage therapy on muscles and connective tissue, as well as the neurological changes it induces is a safe and time-tested way to reduce stress in your body.

What is bodywork and what is a good practitioner?

It is my hope and intention that by sharing these thoughts and teachings I have learned you will feel more empowered and educated about receiving bodywork. What is bodywork? It is the art and science of applying techniques using hands or bodies with the objective of positively affecting the health and well-being of the receiver. There are countless types of massage therapy. Some are given clothed on a mat, and others with draping on a table. Some offer deep pressure and some offer light. Some use oil and some use no lubricant at all. And many are everywhere in between.

The most important thing is to find a practitioner who listens to your needs. Receiving bodywork can be a invaluable experience to anyone experiencing stress in their lives (everyone). Ask your friends and colleagues to recommend someone they trust. If you are local to Fairfield or New Haven County, Connecticut, please feel free to email me - I am happy to point you in a safe and therapeutic direction.