Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
JANET LAWLOR (SAN DIEGO, CA) - Massage Therapist of The Week
Janet Lawlor, LMT
“Pain Free ~ Naturally”
J
anet, a graduate of Mueller College of Holistic Health Therapies, owns and operates Center for Bodywork Therapies in San Diego, California. Working with the body's built-in mechanisms and innate wisdom to protect and heal itself she encourages the body to let go of long-held (or newly built) patterns of stress thus relieving pain. Janet specializes in Proprioceptor Neuromuscular facilitation and other physical therapy release and restructuring techniques as well as Energy work through Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine applications, Reiki and QiGong healing. Additionally, she offers Craniosacral therapy, Myofascial release, Aromatherapy and Hot Stone massage. and Facial rejuvenation. Janet is Nationally and a California State certified bodywork therapist as well as a Certified Yoga instructor and Certified Reiki Master Teacher. A Professional member of the AMTA, Janet is a member of the San Diego Sports Massage Team and a former therapist for the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers.
“This lady is next to walking on water!! Her knowledge, techniques and ability to find and address concerns is amazing. I have had numerous massages & then I found Janet.”
-Roberta Cox-
“I have a bulged disc in my lower back and Janet was able to help ease the pain and get the rest of my back to loosen up when the pain had caused it to lock up. I most enjoy the therapeutic feeling when the service is done. I know that I can fully relax and actually have more flexibility in the areas that I was tight, sore, and basically could not move in.”
-Norene C.-
To contact Janet for massage see her profile
Monday, May 14, 2012
MAKE MASSAGE YOUR CLOSE ALLY IN THE FIGHT WITH INSOMNIA
It’s a no-brainer that massage has a positive effect on many aspects of your life. It can improve your health and boost your overall well-being. But can it also contribute to high-quality sleep you get? Resent scientific research shows that it can, and it can significantly!Quality is as important as quantity
‘I need just 4-5 hours a day.’ ‘I’ll have a nap on the train to make up for it.’ ‘I’m going to lie in on Sunday and I’ll be fine.’ These statements sound as familiar to us as dangerous the results of such habits are for us. So how much do we really need to sleep a day and why? Sleep, along with healthy diet and regular exercise, is the third pillar which helps us keep the balance of our everyday lives. Insufficient amount of sleep or its poor quality can turn our mood levels upside down and inside out. But it’s not just about the mood. Getting a good night’s sleep is like hitting a reset button. It gives us a fresh start and the energy we need throughout the day. Also, because our brains are extraordinarily active when asleep, our learning and memorizing capabilities can be significantly accelerated. Thanks to good sleep, which is like food to our brains, we are also healthier and we look and feel better. We simply recharge our ‘batteries’. Interestingly, falling short of the recommended 7-8 hours a day is as harmful to our bodies as oversleeping which throws our body rhythms off completely. So don’t be mislead you can catch up on weekends!
The big enemy – insomnia
Insomnia is the most common sleeping disorder that affects many people and compromises the quality of their lives. It is the inability to get good quality sleep. It is not a disease as such but is a symptom of some underlying problems, whether physical (pain), emotional ones like anxiety, stress or even mental e.g. depression. The list of other possible other causes of sleeplessness is vast and includes such as: drinking too much alcohol, caffeine, overeating before going to bed, drugs, irregular work / schedule patterns, jet lag, disturbed sleep, financial or family problems, medication, overstimulation by media and electronic devices, natural aging processes and others. The results of sleep deprivation are as scary as harmful for us and are not limited to just visible symptoms of tiredness like slowness, problems with concentration or simply bad mood. We may become forgetful, make bad decisions and be very irritable but even more importantly, we are more likely to put on weight, develop type 2 diabetes, heart problems, hypertension and even stroke or other diseases like cold as our immune system is considerably weakened. Not only is our productivity inhibited but also our alertness is compromised dramatically increasing the risk of a road accident. And you cannot tackle the problem with simply sleep drugs. They may help for a short period of time but in the long run, you seriously risk becoming dependant on them.
Godlike massage be my resort
While alternative therapies should not be considered stand-alone treatment for sleeping disorders, some of them can be very good complements to a good sleeping routine. Massage (e.g. Swedish type) is undoubtedly one of the best options and when applied regularly by a professional, can successfully resolve many of the issues related to bad sleep. Especially in situations where sleep problems can be linked to body pain, numbness of extremities, joint stiffness, spasms or cramps or restless leg syndrome as it allows your body to relax by releasing tension and improving blood circulation. Massage can also reduce stress and anxiety and help you balance your nervous system. The best results are usually achieved when combined with reflexology and aromatherapy sessions as therapeutic properties of essential oils, particularly lavender, are second-to-none. So remember sleep and massage are perfect partners and are your best partners as well.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Massage Therapist of The Week : Nicole Desrochers (Fleetwood, NY)
Nicole Desrochers LMT
“Massage Therapy for a healthier life"
A graduate of the prestigious Finger Lakes School of Massage in Mount Kisco, New York, Nicole operates Head to Toe Massage Therapy in Fleetwood, New York. Nicole has maintained a faithful patient base out of two Westchester County chiropractors’ offices as well as makes in-home visits. She provides nurturing treatments of therapeutic massage and bodywork for the enhancement of health and well-being to promote relaxation and self-healing. Using a wide variety of massage techniques, her special focus is on clinical massage and helping those who suffer from chronic pain. Nicole is a Professional Member of American Massage Therapy Association and is New York State and Nationally Licensed.
“Nicole is an excellent Massage Therapist. She is professional, personable and very knowledgeable. Since beginning my sessions with her, I no longer suffer from neck pain. I book appointments every month and recommend her to everyone I know.”
- Gladys
“I had back pain when I first came to see Nicole. I have only been seeing her for a short while and my back pain has substantially subsided. I'm a definitely going to make this a part of my health maintenance routine. The prices are very fair, lower than most in the area, and worth every penny!”
- Tim
Monday, May 7, 2012
Band on the Run: Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome
The warm weather season is finally upon us. This is the time of year when we start preparing to present our summer beach bodies and shed our winter stay inside bodies. This means eating healthier and getting more exercise. We dust off our bikes and dig our running shoes out from the back of the closet and set off on a journey to a healthier, better looking self. We need to exercise caution and ease into these things but sometimes we forget that we are mere mortals and push ourselves and our bodies to the limits. For long distance runners, this could mean a number of maladies. Long distance runners suffer blisters on our feet, chafing of the thighs, sore and achy muscles, or worse. One of the more prominent injuries that runners sustain is ITB Friction Syndrome. IT What? The ITB is not the Italian Transit Bureau or the Irish version of KGB. It is the Iliotibial Band sometimes referred to as the Iliotibial tract.
The ITB is a dense fibrous band of tissue that stretches from our hip alongside the outside of our legs to the knee. Not a muscle but a long band that extends from the ASIS (the frontal hip bone) and the Tensor Fascia Lata or TFL for short and you want to avoid sounding like you are ordering the latest trendy drink at Starbucks. The ITB is superficial or on top of the most outside muscle of the four muscles that make up our quadriceps muscles or the quads as you have probably heard them called in a gym. The band runs along the side of our leg and inserts onto the lateral condyle of the Tibia. Along with the Gluteus Maximus ("the butt muscle") the ITB is a knee stabilizer. When the knee is extended, the ITB is in situated in front that big bump on the outside of the knee just above the patella or knee cap (the lateral femoral condyle). When the knee is flexed 30 degrees or more the ITB finds itself behind the lateral femoral condyle. So as you can imagine, repetitive flexing and extending the knee as runners, cyclists, and other athletes do as well as anyone who walks up or down stairs, the passing back and forth of the ITB rubs the condyle and friction results. Hence the name, ITB Friction Syndrome!
ITBFS is an overuse injury that affects men and women equally, though women have a slight disadvantage due to gender anatomical predispositions of the thigh and knee resulting in other conditions such as knock knees and internal tibial rotation. It affects mostly 15 to 50 year olds, read: active runners. The increased tension of the band results in increased irritation and swelling results as does outside knee pain. Pain is sometimes found at the hip bone on the side of the leg as well. The pain is light at first but worsens with activity. As previously mentioned, runners are more susceptible to ITBFS and it is likely to affect long distance runners more than short distance runners as the stance phase of running is utilized more by the former causing more tension to the band. Sometimes you may hear a popping noise as the band passes over the condyle. In addition to runners or cyclists, people with pronated feet or feet that are turned inward are susceptible to ITBFS as are people with weak hip abductors like the gluteus medius and TFL. These are the muscles that allow you to lift your leg to your side and if these muscles are weak, the ITB and TFL take on higher forces.
Massage Therapy is very effective at treating ITBFS and secondary conditions as a result of tight ITBs such as low back pain and sacroiliac joint hypermobility. The primary goal of treatment is to reduce the tightness of the fascia and treat any trigger points that may be referring pain to the hip or the knee. Massage Therapy will also address any facial restrictions and adhesions and reduce any swelling that is present with manual lymphatic drainage techniques and hydrotherapy or ice. Finally, passively stretching any shortened muscles will help reduce or eliminate ITBFS symptoms. Using a foam roller between treatments is a great way to keep those muscles loose and stretched as well. So as you are working yourself into shape this spring, eat well and take in plenty of fluids and remember if anything starts to hurt, stop the activity and seek rest or treatment or both. See you at the races!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Paul Lofgreen (Henderson NV)- Massage Therapist of the Week on Legitmassage.com
Paul Lofgreen, CLMT, BSBA
“Specializing in Therapeutic Massage Modalities”
Paul graduated at the top of his class from Nevada School of Massage Therapy. The proprietor of Mountain Top Wellness Center in Henderson, Nevada, he offers high quality massage for simple relaxation and pain alleviation. He is skilled in Sports Massage, Pre and Post-natal Massage, Shiatsu, Acupressure, Cranial Sacral Therapy and a host of other techniques and modalities.
Paul is a Certified Chi-To-Be! Experience Coach and an accomplished Aromatherapist.
Nationally Certified by the NCTMB, Paul is licensed in the State of Nevada, Clark County,Las Vegas City, and Henderson.
“I can honestly say Thank you. I am not saying he healed me, but I am saying he knew what to do and how to help me. As long as I keep up the exercise He implemented I have not had a recurrence.”
Ethel P
“I had pain in my shoulder for almost a year, nothing took it away. After a massage session with Paul the pain was gone and has been for over two months now! I can sleep again without waking up with my arm numb! “ ML
“My Chiropractor recommended I see a Massage Therapist to help with my "frozen shoulder". After just one session with Paul I now have increased mobility. “ JY
“Being a MOM can be stressful. When my stress is up my children get the brunt of it. Paul makes the stress disappear and my children benefit. “ RG
After a 10 minute session at a Senior Health Event, "You are not a massage therapist, you are a healer. It takes one to know one." Anonymous
“The Sports Massage has increased my mobility and I can play better on the football field. “ JB
“I recently had instructions from Paul concerning my sciatic nerve. I truly was in pain for over a 2 week period. Paul, gave me 3 simple exercises to do to relieve the pain and to practice. It took 4 days for the pain to be gone. But It did go away. He also instructed me to be calm and to practice a better state of relaxing when I can. “
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