Health Tips from Eugene Wood Massage Therapist

Many people suffer from severe neck pain or have constant headaches or muscle tension that leads to head and neck problems. There are others who wish they were able to get the swelling down around an injury so that they can move better. CranioSacral therapy may be the natural treatment needed to find relief without invasive procedures. CranioSacral therapy was developed by an Osteopath, Dr. John Upledger. This therapy uses a light touch to gauge tension and find restrictions in the tissue. The therapists then uses CST to release those restrictions.  CranioSacral therapists undergo extensive training to teach them how to listen to the body in order to find and release the restrictions which may come chronic pain or a regular injury response. What is CranioSacral Therapy? A therapist that learns how to move slowly and gently appreciates the responses from the body and understands the anatomy of the structures being treated. They use extensive knowledge about pain and bodily ...

Myofascial trigger points cause pain that creates a widespread pattern that can affect other areas and muscle groups. Trigger points are classified as being either latent or active. The symptoms often mimic other disorders like migraines and tension headaches. Treating this condition is difficult because many physicians are just learning how to diagnose a patient with the trigger point condition. Getting the muscle to release and retraining it to move correctly is the only known cure. Most people have one or two of these trigger areas, but it is not uncommon for people to develop several in various regions of the body including the neck, back, feet, and legs. What is a Myofascial Trigger Point The word "myo" means the muscle, and "fascia" means the tissue around the muscle. The National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists says that people often get these triggers from using the muscle too much, or from an injury like a fall or car accident. Wh...

Sports massage involves using hands-on techniques to work on the muscles, ligaments, and tendons to improve circulation, reduce tension in the muscles, stimulate or suppress nerve activity and to enhance removal of waste in the body among others benefits. Despite its many benefits, most amateur athletes are yet to appreciate the importance of massage. Exercising while playing sports can be strenuous. Take tennis as an example. Players have to do a lot of running in addition to the repetitive and forceful motions that the body must endure to master the forehands, serves, backhands and volleys. This places a lot of stress on the joints, muscles, and ligaments. Sports massage therapy will help to keep the players healthy not only during matches but as also during training and after the matches. Increased Flexibilty: Massage can increase the motions in the torso and hands to enable a player to make powerful swings. It also eases pain and tightness in the neck and shoulder areas allowi...

Individuals who have suffered a stroke are likely to receive treatment and support from a wide range of healthcare professionals, including licensed massage therapists. Massage therapy can help improve the nerve function and joint mobility and relieve stress that is associated with the trauma of having a stroke. Following a stroke, the intent of therapeutic massage is to stimulate the nerves, so the nervous system is not able to ignore the stimulation. This physical stimulation of the nerves causes the nervous system to follow and process the tactile sensations. When the brain is trying to find better and more efficient ways to handle the information, it is forced to develop new connections by creating new cellular circuitry around the damaged areas. This is called neuroplasticity. Massage therapy is recommended for stress relief and therapeutic benefits, but the primary focus of treating strokes with massage is to stimulate the nerves. One of the most common massage techniques that...

How to Become a Massage Therapist in New York State In New York State, not just anyone can walk in and become a licensed massage therapist. There are steps you must take including tests both on your moral character and your skills. Your skills tests are a result of your classroom and hands-on training, which are required to test for the state license exam. Once you are licensed, you will be able to work either on your own, in a salon, or a full massage parlor or establishment. The need for licensed massage therapists in New York State is always high; this type of position is always in high demand, so you can be sure that once your testing and training are complete, there will be no shortage of employment opportunities. Before You Begin Before you start any training program for massage therapy , you will have to prove that you are worthy of the position. Since this is a position where the majority of patients who come in are typically vulnerable, the state needs to be sure that y...

There is nothing like being on the receiving end of a good, relaxing massage to make you feel loose and stress-free, right? Did you know there are more health benefits that you can reap when you get a massage? There is no doubt that everybody has heard the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," but many have not heard that massage can have the same effect - the effect of boosting your immune system through massage therapy . How it Works White blood cells are the types of cells that are vital in your immune system. It is these cells that help your body fight off serious diseases as well as the simple ones like the cold and flu. As you receive a massage, these white blood cells, more specifically the lymphocytes, are activated throughout the body making it easier for the cells to keep you healthy by fighting the things that are making you sick. Studies There have been numerous studies to determine the effect that massage therapy has on the immune system. One study...

As massage therapy continues to become more popular, myths regarding the practice have surfaced as well. Some people choose massage therapy to have a relaxing experience, while others use massage as a healing experience for the mind and body. There are several myths linked to massage therapy that should be made clear before anyone chooses this form of treatment. Myth #1: All massages are the same. There are over 200 types of massage, with each having its own focus . A spa massage is done for tension and stress relief and trigger the relaxation response . Sports massage , on the other hand, is great for athletes because it helps to keep the joints and muscles in great shape and correct muscle imbalances . Orthopedic massage is geared more toward healing a specific injury and keeping the joints and muscles mobile during recovery. Myth #2: The benefits of massage are temporary. While many people do enjoy getting a massage weekly , that doesn't mean that its effects are short-term...