Health Tips from Eugene Wood Massage Therapist

Muscle Cramp Massage Therapy Muscle strain is damage to a muscle or its connective tissues, also known as tendons, resulting in pain and stiffness in the affected muscle, and it differs from a muscle sprain in that a sprain occurs from injury to a muscle or tendon, whereas a strain damages the tendons.  Damage can occur to the muscle in various ways from a tear in all or part of the muscle to a pulled or overstretched muscle. A muscle strain can also affect any muscle in the body, including the neck, shoulder, lower back, hamstring, which can make it difficult to utilize the muscle fully.  Massage Treatment for Muscle Strains is a popular treatment for muscle and tendon pain that has been scientifically proven effective when administered by a trained and certified massage professional, especially when used in combination with certain lifestyle changes. Common Symptoms The symptoms of muscle strain range from mild, in which only a few fibers are slight...

What is Lomi Lomi Massage? This spiritualistic and physical approach to pain, muscle relaxation, and stress relief is a practice many knew little of until the past two or three decades. The reason behind this secrecy is the therapy is a technique many Hawaiian, and now Polynesian and Asian families pass down through the generations. In traditional settings, a child begins training to become a healer or physician when showing signs of extreme care for the well-being of others or when exhibiting a particular birthmark, or right to become a healer. In modern times, this procedure requires deep focus and paying close attention to the way a person reacts when moving the body naturally. Finding areas of tension or soreness can direct our massage therapist to the primary cause of pain or illness. He can then use a gentle, sweeping motion to open up the pain center and release the tightness surrounding the joint or nerve causing the problem. Regular visits ensure the individual can kee...

How Massage Therapy Benefits Joint Replacements Joint replacement surgery, like any surgery, comes with it its share of discomfort before realizing its final results. Most often, how you take yourself post-surgery determines if the results will be favorable or less favorable. Aftercare also contributes to the speed at which you recover.  There are a few things, including massage therapy, you can do to help better prepare for joint replacement surgery if you are a new candidate for joint replacement or to help alleviate pain and discomfort if you are a past joint replacement recipient. In fact, according to reports, massage therapy plays a significant role in pain management before surgery as well as post-surgery rehabilitation in the following ways:  It Helps Alleviate Pre-Surgery Pain - Changes to the joints, such as the knee or hip joints, suffered as a result of disease, such as osteoarthritis, or injury are often accompanied by pain and limited mobility, wh...

Ten Tips To Reduce Chronic Stress Chronic stress, which is emotional pressure experienced for a prolonged period, affects more than 60% of people in the U.S. alone and is a significant cause of torn families across the globe.  Prolonged stress can be caused by many factors, including your home life, work, financial difficulties, challenging relationships, as well as many other every day demanding situations, which can make you feel like you have little or no control over your life or situation. Stress is a serious condition that, if not dealt with, can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and various other mental health issues.  Chronic stress doesn't just affect you, but everyone who is connected to you, including your children, which research shows is responsible for more than 1/3 of children's illnesses, including fevers, headaches, stomach aches, obesity, sleeplessness, and more.  If you suffer from chronic stress, you don't have to liv...

The History of Sports Massage Modern sports massage techniques quickly adapt to meet the needs of the athlete and their choice of activities. The treatment takes place either before or after an event to achieve the desired result. Sports massage reduces fatigue and speeds recovery following exercise. Before an event, the techniques increase range of movement, boost endurance, and prepare the body for the upcoming workout to reduce the potential for injury. As detailed and useful as the therapy is, it may surprise people to learn that sports massage is not a modern creation. Athletes have benefitted from this type of vital for thousands of years. Some of the techniques may have changed over the centuries, but the purpose of sports massage therapy has always been about helping athletes to perform at their best. Ancient Athletic Therapy The use of massage was a vital part of the preparation for athletes in ancient Greece and Rome. Exercise and massage were used by pe...

How Muscles Benefit from Regular Massage Your muscles are essential for various bodily functions, including mobility, pumping the heart, and supporting your posture, not to mention, they are also responsible for giving you the sleek, toned physique of your dreams. However, over time, or due to certain factors, they can become tight, stiff, contracted, and overworked, which can cause several issues throughout the body, including pain, cramps, decreased mobility, tiredness, and more, which can prevent you from enjoying everyday life. Massage therapy , which works soft tissues in the body, has been used throughout time to promote healing and wellness in the body and has been scientifically proven to help benefit the muscles in the following ways: Massage Helps Release Lactic Acid, which is a Major Cause of Muscle and Joint Pain Following Demanding Activity  Lactic acid, along with carbonic acid, is a metabolic waste product that accumulates in the muscles following demandi...

Massage therapy provides many benefits for the mind and the body; however, there are some things you can do both before and after your session to help enhance the effects of your bodywork, so you get the most out of your treatment. The following tips are offered by certified massage therapists to help clients receive optimum results. Make the Most of Your Consultation Your initial consultation is probably the most important step in your massage therapy because it is then that will you get to know your therapist and vice versa, which will allow you to you feel more comfortable during your session. It is also during this time that the therapist will customize your treatment plan based on the information you provide. Take this time to communicate your reason for the massage to the therapist, which will help ensure you get what you want out of your therapy. It would help if you also were sure to ask questions, which will help you form the right expectations regarding the results...

Weight loss is something most people strive for during life. Whether you need to shed some pounds because of health concerns, or you want to look good for graduation, reunions, anniversaries, cruises, and other events, scheduling massage visits can soothe the muscles and tone the body. While this treatment alone does not take off the pounds, it will put the mind and body in the right frame to get the best results. When we begin a new workout program or increase our physical activity, it can cause pain and injuries. A regular visit to your massage therapist can assist you with avoiding or reducing these issues. These therapy sessions improve your quality of life by giving the mind time to wander and dream. Exercise and massage reduce the symptoms of depression and can calm jittery nerves for people with anxiety issues. Overall stress reduction may even allow a shy person to join a spin class or gym program. You may not know it, but regular massages on body parts with cellulite c...

If you suffer from chronic aches but don't like the idea of taking medications to treat the pain, then you may benefit from acupoint stimulation to bring about relief naturally. Acupressure and acupuncture are two methods of alternative therapy used to stimulate acupoints and restore the balance of energy. Both treatments stem from traditional Chinese medicine and have been relied upon for ages in the eastern world and beyond for their numerous health benefits, including help relieve pain. How Acupressure Differs from Acupuncture Though both alternative medicine techniques are used to manipulate the body's acupoints to promote natural healing in the body, acupressure uses deep massage to revitalize the points. Acupuncture, on the other hand, uses very fine needles to stimulate acupoints. Acupuncture also elicits a stronger stimulation to energize the body's innate healing ability, whereas acupressure is gentler on the body and is often recommended for those who ...

Aging is often synonymous with a sedimentary or inactive lifestyle caused by pain, stiffness, and illness; however, with regular massage therapy, this does not have to be the case. Massage therapy induces relaxation and promotes feelings of calm, which have been shown to provide many anti-aging benefits, and it can be used to help both men and women age healthfully. Some anti-aging benefits of massage therapy include: It Boosts Circulation  A properly working lymphatic system enables the body to battle infection and provides clean plasma and tissues by distributing immune cells throughout the body, which helps protect against toxins and filters out waste, including dead plasma, potential cancer cells, and excess fluid. However, with age, the lymphatic system can become sluggish, resulting in various issues, including tenderness, cold feet and hands, fatigue, pain, and fluid build-up in the legs and arms. Meanwhile, the cardiovascular system's function is to circulate bloo...

Reflexology helps relieve stress, which in turn provides many benefits for the body. This includes helping ease pain and tension and restoring balance to the body for overall health and wellbeing. Some studies show that it may even be more effective at relieving pain than aromatherapy and body massage. Because it doesn't require being touched all over your body, it's an excellent alternative for those who are uncomfortable with traditional massage. It can even be used to complement other treatments, including cardiovascular issues, asthma, diabetes, cancer treatment, anxiety, headaches, and more. What is Reflexology? Reflexology is the procedure of applying pressure to specific reflex points on the hands, feet, or ears. By activating these points, the therapist can also identify and eliminate areas of energy blockage, which may be the underlying cause of pain, stiffness, and disease. For instance, by stimulating the therapy zones in the ball of the feet, the therapist c...

You may not think of a massage as a part of your routine, but it should be your go-to for routine events in life. Bad habits, unusual circumstances, and even good intentions can wreak havoc on your body. The holidays, fitness class, house upgrades, and joining a new team are sudden changes that your body may find challenging to deal with at first. Swedish massage, Relaxation Therapy, and Deep Tissue Treatments can all help. We give you six significant life events below that should signal your call to book a massage. When the Holidays are Stressful This time of year can be the most detrimental to your health if you are the person that invests all of your energy into the season. When you spend your days crafting and creating new showpieces, recipes, or party lists, then you can overlook the tension you are feeling. Your body is not normally under the strain of these long hours. Over time, your muscles will bunch up and begin to spasm. The Mayo Clinic says to stick to a budget, be...

There is nothing worse than an ailment that keeps you up all night, tossing and turning while desperately searching for something - anything - to relieve the condition as you tear apart the medicine cabinet. Whether it's flu-like symptoms, Restless Leg Syndrome, or anything in between, no one relishes the thought of losing treasured hours of sleep because of discomfort. Here we are going to take a closer look at one of those ailments that generally comes along with severe and chronic pain, typically in the calf muscle, repeatedly all night long. Nighttime muscle cramps are nothing to take lightly - just ask the millions of folks who suffer with them. These nocturnal contractions can occur not only in the aforementioned calf muscles, but sometimes in the feet, and come on suddenly. To say the pain associated with this suffering is intense is something of an understatement, but regular massage therapy has been proven to loosen up the muscles and stop cramping. Why Do People G...

Everyone knows that music is relaxing and helps to manage or alter emotions. Research has shown that music has a number of other benefits, some that we may know about subconsciously and other benefits that are often overlooked. Music has the power to benefit our physical health, as well as our mental health. What are the most noted physical and mental health benefits of music? Let's explore the research available on music therapy. Physical Benefits of Listening to Music There are many physical benefits to listening to music, especially music that can positively affect your emotions, and help you build energy internally. Here are some of the benefits you can receive from listening to music. Pain Relief Studies have proven that the right kind of music is effective in reducing the amount of pain a person feels, as well as the intensity of the pain they are experiencing. These studies cover a wide range of subjects, but the most noticeable results were found in patients who...