Many have massages because a
massage feels good and induces the participant into a soothing state of
relaxation. These are two very good
reasons to have a massage. One other
very good reason to have a massage is that massage can heal injured or damaged
muscles and release incorrect muscle holding patterns. In essence, massage can be a wonderful tool
to stop pain and help the body heal.
Many clients come to me with
various injuries and over time, those injuries show marked improvements. One common injury or issue is a frozen
shoulder. Shoulder pain and injury can
be debilitating and cause those suffering with decreased range of motion so
intense that it effects even small, daily routine movements such as showering
and brushing one’s hair. Massage can
relieve shoulder holding patterns and give clients huge relief in as few as
three to four sessions.
Your shoulder holds a ball and
socket joint in which three bones come into play – the large bone in the upper
arm or humerus, the shoulder blade or scapula and the clavicle or collarbone. The top of the humerus fits into a socket
(called a ball and socket joint) in the shoulder blade. These bones and the joint are surrounded by
connective tissue. Synovial fluid
moistens the shoulder joint capsule and helps move the joint in many
planes. The connective tissue or muscle around
this area is often referred to as the rotator cuff area. Four major muscles make up the rotator cuff
and are called the SITS group of muscles, short for Supraspinatus,
Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis.
During the “freezing” time, the
shoulder loses range of motion and is in constant pain. This stage can last a few weeks to several
months. When the shoulder becomes
completely frozen, the pain sometimes subsides but the range of motion is
drastically limited. This stage can last
several months as well. To “thaw” the
shoulder, many things can be done and having regular massage to target this
area is one very important key to relaxing the shoulder and removing “adhesions”
or scarred muscle tissue that can form and impede range of motion.
A well-trained massage therapist
can have a client perform or help the client perform some simple movements to
gauge range of motion and locate the area of the shoulder that is experiencing
the most limited range of motion. Over
time, the therapist will work to broaden the muscles in the shoulder and
passively stretch muscles to help the client increase range of motion. There are simple exercises the client may
also try at home to help quicken the recovery time. Many clients who engage in massage therapy on
a weekly basis with a knowledgeable therapist are able to regain full range of
motion in a few months. For severe
cases, the massage therapist may also recommend physical therapy or
chiropractic care to help expedite recovery.
Another common muscle issue is neck
inflammation or neck pain. Many people
suffer unnecessarily from neck pain when it could be resolved by a competent
massage therapist. A person’s spine consists of 24 vertebrae. Of these vertebrae, seven are located in the
neck area and are called cervical vertebrae.
The cervical vertebrae are the most mobile vertebrae in the body and
because of this, are often susceptible to injury. This area of the spine and head region is
also surrounded by many, many muscles.
Many injuries can happen in this area and if not addressed can cause
great pain.
A highly-skilled massage therapist can
quickly locate the area of pain in a client’s neck by performing some passive
movements and asking questions of the client.
Then, the therapist will begin slowly assessing the neck area by feeling
for muscle bunches or adhesions and working to broaden or release areas of
tense muscles. Over time, muscles will
begin to relax and adhesions will break up which will reduce pain. There are also simple exercises clients can
perform to stretch neck muscles and promote healing.
There are many injuries that can be
helped successfully by massage therapy.
Shoulder and neck injuries are just two types of injuries that can be
helped by massage therapy. Others are
foot, ankle and leg conditions, knee and thigh conditions, hip and pelvic
conditions, lumbar and thoracic conditions, and elbow, forearm, wrist and hand
conditions.
Generally, most muscle and joint
issues can be positively helped by massage therapy. Before committing to a massage therapy
schedule, ask your therapist these questions:
- Have you
been trained in therapeutic and rehabilitative massage?
- How will you assess my injury? (The therapist
should be able to do this without causing the client great pain.)
- How will we know that I am making progress?
- How often do I need to come for therapy?
- Are there exercises that I can do to help my
body heal more quickly?
Massage can positively help people
manage pain and injury. Massage is
proven to help reduce stress and promote healing. What are you waiting for? Book an appointment today!
We are not medical professionals. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely our own and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor before making any dietary or exercise changes.
