Well, with the encouragement of a client or two, I decided that since I’ve set up a brand new website that I should begin blogging again. So that’s my plan. A fresh start with a brand new blog AND to add to the excitement I’ve even challenged myself by signing up for a blogging challenge. For the month of February I’ve been challenged to write 20 posts in 28 days. This is not only a challenge but a learning experience on how to keep the momentum going.

My passion is to help clients on and off the massage table and this challenge will give me the tools I need to share valuable information with you. This will allow me to answer many of your common questions as well as share valuable health information. I’ve come up with the following post schedule to help me stay on track:

Monday – Bodywork Myths & Benefits-Fact or Fiction?

Tuesday – How can massage help my condition?

Wednesday – Client Question of the Week.

Thursday – Exercise & Stretching

Friday – Health tips, Recipes and More…

This is just the beginning and I’m sure my plan will change in time. If there is anything specific you would like me to write about please let me know the next time we meet or send me a message using the contact form.

I hope you are as excited as I am about this challenge and the new blog. I look forward to hearing your feedback and ideas.

Enjoy!

Research has shown massage to be effective in:

• Decreasing pain
• Reducing anxiety and stress
• Improving range of motion
• Promoting tissue regeneration

This is just a brief list of benefits you may experience from therapeutic massage and as more research is done the list continues to grow. You can find a more complete list of benefits by visiting “Benefits of Massage” on this website. There is also a great article titled “Massage: Get in Touch With its Many Health Benefits” from the Mayo Clinic in which the Mayo Clinic Staff wrote, “Brush aside any thoughts that massage is only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. To the contrary, massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for another stress reliever.” This couldn’t be truer as I’m sure anyone who receives massage regularly would agree. Why not take charge of your health and well-being today and schedule your November massage session? It’s never too late to begin your path to wellness by adding massage therapy to your health maintenance regimen. Call 480-532-4151 today schedule your next appointment or schedule online anytime 24/7.

Hands for Heroes™ is a nationwide organization of health care professionals who have donated their time and skills to provide therapeutic bodywork for our Nation’s Veterans.

Bodywork by Design, LLC, as Hands for Heroes Partner™, will make a significant contribution to the healing of our service men and women and their families.  Hands for Heroes™ founders encourage you to support Joan Cintron, LMT in her therapeutic practice healing our returning service men and women.

If you or someone you love is a Military Veteran and you would like to take part in this program please call Joan Cintron directly at 480-532-4151 to schedule your appointment or visit us at www.bodyworkbydesignllc.com.

To learn more about Hands for Heroes™ and their goal of providing 1 million massages across the nation please visit www.handsforheroes.net

The study found that chronic low back pain sufferers who had weekly one-hour massage sessions had a reduction in pain and more mobility than their counterparts who received traditional treatments such as pain killers, muscle relaxants and physical therapy. Dr. Daniel Cherkin of Seattle’s Group Research Institute was reported as saying, ”We found that patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function.”

The physical tolls of the game are many. In order to play a good game of golf you must be fit. What does being fit mean exactly? Being fit means that your muscle tissues need to be healthy, flexible and mobile. Healthy muscle tissues have the ability to create efficient spontaneous movements and prevent injuries.

Statistically more than 50% of golfers suffer from neck weakness, lower back problems, shoulder or rotator cuff stiffness, soreness or pain, elbow dysfunction, lower leg imbalances and/or wrist injuries. When a golfer continues to play with soreness and stiffness in their back they risk further injury to the surrounding muscle groups which may result in chronic pain cycles. These pain cycles will ultimately interfere with their enjoyment of the game.*

How does massage specifically help the golfer?

Massage helps people from various lifestyles but for the athlete or weekend golfer, it relaxes tension, and alleviates painful, sore or stiff muscles. A golfer may enhance their game and swing by relieving soreness, stiffness and pain through regular therapeutic massage.

How does Golf Specific Therapeutic Massage reduce the risk of injury?

1) Athletes and Golfers alike are less likely to incur injuries if their muscles are flexible and mobile. Golf massage is specifically designed to work all the groups of muscles involved in a golf swing. Massage can be especially helpful if you are returning to golf (or any other activity) after a long period away from the game.

2) Healthy muscles maintain a clear channel of communication to and from the nervous system which enables efficient movement of the muscles that control your extremities from your core. This is key to dynamic balance of the body required by a proper golf swing. Strong, healthy muscles also ensure good posture.

3) Flexibility and stability are extremely important for a good golf swing. Inflexibility and instability may not only affect your golf swing but may also affect your activities of daily life by creating or contributing to pain. This is where therapeutic massage can help by increasing muscle flexibility and restoring stability.

What are the different types of massage?

There is relaxation massage and various types of therapeutic modalities to choose from.

What is the difference between relaxation and therapeutic massage?

Relaxation massage involved touch with light to moderate pressure. Oil is frequently applied to reduce friction and continuous, rhythmic, gliding strokes are used to create a full body relaxation experience. Two examples of relaxation massage would be Swedish and Esalen.

Therapeutic massage is the best choice for golfers, athletes or anyone who wants to address a specific area of muscle tension, inflexibility, pain or stiffness. For golfers, therapeutic massage would address specific muscles or muscle groups that may be tight from overuse or underuse if you have been away from the game for a period of time. Below are several examples of therapeutic massage that may help to relieve any pain or stiffness and restore your balance to your muscles so that you can once again have a pain-free golf swing.

1) Myofascial Massage often used as an opening technique, myofascial massage uses slow connective strokes without oil or lotion to help expand and shape the fascia (the elastic connective tissues that surrounds the muscle fibers) giving the muscles room to relax and expand.

2) Deep Tissue Massage uses slow strokes and deep pressure to separate and sculpt the muscle tissues allowing access to deeper muscles.  This technique is generally focused on a troublesome area after the tissues are warmed up and performed with little or no lotion or oil.  I believe that deep tissue should NOT be painful.  Our goal is to relieve pain not create it and that is why I will check in with you to determine your level of comfort while I use my hands to listen to your body’s responses.  Communication is key to effective deep tissue therapy.

3) Sports Massage uses rigorous strokes designed to invigorate and warm up muscle tissue when used before an event or slower calming stokes and assisted stretching when performed after an event.

4) Myotherapy is a deeply rehabilitative approach that may use trigger point therapy, assisted stretching and light to deep pressure to restore balance, increase range of motion and reduce pain in an affected area.  Myotherapy is used to relieve low back pain, shoulder joint and rotator cuff pain, thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel, neck pain and headaches.  It may be used as a whole body therapy or a site specific approach to address your problem areas and help restore balance to the area.

5) Sports Flexibility may include PNF Stretching or Active Isolated Stretching to help lengthen muscles and increase or restore range of motion, flexibility and stability to a muscle or muscle group that may be limiting you from reaching that perfect golf swing.

For a great golf swing it is beneficial to restore flexibility, mobility and stability to the hips, shoulders, legs and arms and that is why I use a combination of the therapies listed above depending on the individual client’s needs and goals. A successful treatment depends partly on the client and whether they are consistent with their massage sessions, stretching and or strengthening programs. Regularly scheduled therapeutic massage can keep your muscles “golf fit” and pain free so that your next game is your best, most enjoyable, game!