Health Tips from Eugene Wood Massage Therapist

All modalities of massage are therapeutic: whether to relieve stress and relax the muscles, as in a Swedish massage, or to increase the range of motion in a joint of an athlete, as in a neuromuscular massage . All massage techniques use hand (and sometimes foot, as in Thai massage) techniques, from light stroking to hard pressure; all for one purpose, to alleviate the symptoms of pain perceived by the client. For quite some time, therapeutic massage faded into the background because of all the pain relievers available. However, therapeutic massage is gaining respect from the medical community, which is why many are now returning to this more holistic treatment. Therapeutic massage offers a sense of empowerment and care that has proven helpful in reducing stress, improving the immune system, encouraging relaxation, improving posture, enhancing rehabilitation from injury or surgery, and much more. However, because therapeutic massage focuses on the entire system of soft tissues, ...

We've all been there… a few months after a bad sports injury and your doctor or physical therapist (PT) has given you the green light to pick up your sport again. Excited but cautious, you take your first swing, jog your first lap, or get back onto your bike to discover one of a few things: You're surprisingly out of shape. What once came gracefully and effortlessly is now arduous. Your motion is guarded. These are all natural responses of the body when getting back into sport post-injury. After all, you have been "out of the game" for some time. Every athlete knows that it takes a while to build back strength, flexibility, and full range of motion. It takes slightly longer to get back to that blissful feeling of free movement while practicing your favorite sport. But sometimes post-injury habits stick around. Sometimes, you find that the muscles around your injury site will simply not relax. You're guarded. Or that you just can't get back into yo...

You're smitten by coffee, accepting it as part of your daily habit, but the active compounds of coffee, especially caffeine, can keep you awake all night long. Here are 10 popular herbal teas, brews to gradually help reduce your coffee habit. 1. Chamomile Tea A tea favored by many for its ability to induce relaxation, Chamomile tea has an active ingredient, an amino acid known as L-theanine, which sedates the body. Drinking the tea in the evening can prevent insomnia and relieve muscle spasms caused by the stresses of a hard day. 2. Green Tea Green Tea is thought to reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer, green tea also acts as an agent of calm. The brew releases health enhancing antioxidants that inhibit cell damage. Other properties of green tea are its beneficial chemical factors, compounds that reduce bad cholesterol, optimizing metabolic action. 3. Peppermint Tea You can imagine peppermint flavor adding zest to your diet and energy to your metabolism. Pe...

The winter of 2013-2014 has been an extra challenging one for New Yorkers, as well as most residents of the East Coast. From New England to Florida, arctic air brought bitterly cold temperatures, lots of snow and widespread power outages to millions of people. Naturally, after enduring several months of this, everyone is eagerly looking for the first signs of spring. For many people, the appearance of the first robin, colorful snow crocus, or other tiny green shoots poking their heads through the soil, indicates that spring is near. It is the perfect time to start or renew steps to living a healthier lifestyle. Here are eight great ideas for easy changes that people can start, which will make them stronger, healthier and happier for the nicer weather ahead. 1. Make it a habit to take the stairs instead of an elevator whenever possible. It is okay to begin slowly, and gently increase your lung capacity as you get your heart pumping for a beneficial cardiovascular workout. Researc...

Many people suffer from high blood pressure and don't even realize it. Unlike low blood pressure, there are virtually no symptoms. Unless a person is going in for regular blood pressure checks, they have no idea whether it is high or not - and this is how it has earned the nickname Silent Killer. Anyone and everyone can suffer from high blood pressure. Men and women, and even children can suffer from it, which means that it's not limited to one particular group. Lower the Stress Levels Through Massage One of the main reasons that people have high blood pressure is because of stress. Salivary and urinary cortisol stress levels can increase and this leads to the higher blood pressure. Massage has been a proven way to reduce the cortisol stress levels. A massage therapist can get into the muscles and other tissues to help relieve built up tension and ensure that the hormone levels balance out. The diastolic and systolic blood pressure will then start to decrease. Through massa...

Massage therapy is as much about verbal communication as it is about physical communication. Yet few people realize how essential verbal communication is. Open dialog between the client and therapist can make all the difference in a session. Every time I meet a new client I spend at least five to 10 minutes discussing the reason they have come to see me, the character and onset of their pain, their background - whether they are an athlete or work long hours at the office - what kind of medicine or treatment they have tried, and other questions to help me assess each patient's individual needs. This is known as the H. O. P. S. assessment, where H stands for history, O stands for observation, P stands for palpation, and S stands for special tests (if needed). S can also stand for strength (of a muscle) or sensation (pins and needles) This process is key to understanding the client's pain, stress or illness, which then unlocks the answer to relief. It goes beyond having the...

Whether you have always experienced back pain or if you have recently noticed aches and pain in your upper back, it can be overwhelming just to get through everyday tasks without the distraction. Getting rid of back pain is not always a simple objective, especially if you have underlying health problems or issues that are contributing to the pain itself. However, one remedy that can relieve some of the pain and tenseness you feel within your upper back is massage for pain relief techniques. Using massage therapy for upper back pain can greatly reduce the amount of tension you have in your back and the pain it causes. Knowing the benefits of massage therapy and how to get a therapist to work on your back can get you on the right path to a much happier, pain-free life. Types of Massage Therapy There are many different types of massage therapy options depending on the pain you are experiencing as well as the central location of the pain itself. Trigger point therapy is known t...