Alternative Therapy

Have you been to chiropractors, doctors, physical therapy and massage therapy and nothing seems to be working to alleviate your pain?  If so, it is time to try an alternative therapy called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT). 

ESWT is a noninvasive approach to treating pain and speeding up the healing process. It is an alternative treatment option to try before deciding on more risky options such as surgery. 

ESWT is done "outside the body" on the surface of the skin, which makes it completely noninvasive. Shockwave therapy works by delivering impulse pressure waves or acoustic pressure waves deep into injured or inflamed tissue that is causing pain or discomfort. It targets the injured tissue, increasing blood flow and circulation and decreasing pain levels. 

Most patients start seeing relief from pain and increased mobility in as few as one or two sessions, some take a little longer.

Anyone is a candidate for ESWT, especially those who have not had positive results from use of ice, rest, or modified activities.

Benefits of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

• no or reduced downtime
• non-invasive procedure
• no anesthesia
• non-surgical (no risk of infection)
• no scarring
• faster healing

Session Requirements

Most people require 3 sessions. Some conditions require 5 treatment sessions.

Sessions are scheduled a week apart.

Where to receive treatments

Treatments are given by trained technicians and are usually found in doctors or chiropractic offices. Some physical therapists may offer the treatments as well.  In some states medical massage therapists are allowed to provide the therapy under their scope of practice laws.

Ask your current providers if they offer the treatment or ask them to refer you to someone who does. 

 COVID and Massage

It is January 28th and I have had Covid for 2 weeks now with a secondary infection.  I am weak and have the classic covid symptoms but not bed ridden.  I have a couple friends with it as well, and we have not been in personal contact with each other so we didn't get it from one another; but they too have been experiencing long down times.  One is actually in the hospital with covid-pneumonia.  

When it comes to receiving massage, you need to understand that if you are sick in any way, shape or form, you should cancel your massage.  Cancelling protects you from further infections, protects the people in the office from getting sick and protects your therapist from getting sick.  

As a therapist, if I am sick I will cancel your massage appointments and reschedule you a few weeks later.  The last thing I want to do is spread illness to anyone else. 

Stay safe and Healthy!

 Bamboo Massage

Bamboo massage is a unique massage modality using heated bamboo sticks to help increase circulation, warm the muscle and create a relaxing lengthening of the muscle.

It is similar to hot stone but the bamboo is not as hot. It is a very relaxing technique to receive and is a wonderful way to treat yourself to a quiet, comforting hour of destress time.

Valentine's Day is in less than a month, this would be a great gift certificate idea for YOUR Valentine.

Contact me to purchase your gift certificate; you can pick it up or I can mail it out to your Valentine with a card. You can even set up the appointment for your Valentine ahead of time so the appointment is actually part of the gift.  

Don't forget to treat yourself to massage as well...YOU deserve it!

Massage and Sciatica

Most of you know what sciatica is and the pain in the butt it can be...literally.  Ok bad joke. Though you may know this condition what you may not know is the causes of sciatica. The culprits that cause this annoying and painful condition are the following primary ailments:

• bulging discs
• joint inflammation
• stenosis
• sacral iliac joint dysfunction
• piriformis tightness

No matter what the cause, it is treatable by massage, modern medicine and/ or physical therapy.  The treatment is geared toward the primary ailment.  

If you have a bulging disc your main treatment should be to correct the disc dysfunction. Once the disc pressure on the nerve is relieved then your sciatic pain will diminish. Massage to normalize the affected and surrounding musculature will be more effective in bringing down your pain levels once the pressure is off the nerve.

In cases of joint inflammation, massage will aid in the removal of inflammation from the affected area, if applied correctly; as is the case with piriformis tightness.  Carefully applied advanced massage techniques can release a contracted piriformis which will in turn almost immediately reduce pain levels. 

Stenosis is best addressed by a physician.  Massage will help keep the surrounding musculature free of tension.

Sacral iliac joint dysfunction can be relieved with adhesion release and deep tissue massage to loosen muscular tension and increase circulation to the area for faster healing.

When using exercise to help relieve sciatic pain it is important to remember some key points:

• if exercise makes it worse STOP
• you want the pain to creep from the distal points in the foot or leg to the central point in the low back (centralize the pain and that is where it leaves from)
• if exercise makes the pain creep, it's the right exercise
• talk to your therapist, doctor or physical therapist to get a list of appropriate home exercises

There is always hope for a pain free life. Don't be afraid to seek advise and help.

Massage And Getting Back to Normal

For the most part, the first week back to providing massage has been normal for the client, bar a few changes.  Those changes don't affect the quality of care. The patient has to wear a mask while face up and can remove it when face down.  Casual conversation is supposed to be non-existent, but I have not stopped people from talking.  Talking actually helps take my mind off the fact that I also have to wear a mask. 

The room may be bare and I may have a bit more work with having to cart supplies back and forth to work all the time, but the patient/client care is the same.  So don't fear going to see your therapist, he/she will do his/her best to make sure you are as comfortable as possible.  We all are trying to keep it normal for you.

I hope that Memorial Day weekend was a much needed return to a somewhat normal summer beginning for most of you. I helped with yard work, so it was pretty much normal for me.

Stay healthy and safe.

Massage Resumes Monday May 18, 2020

A new week begins; a new routine ensues. The Covid-19 Pandemic has created a new era of existence where everyone is taking extra precautions to avoid the spread of illness.  I am no exception, change has occurred in the way I prepare for a day at work. Due to these changes I can not accept "day of appointments".  In other words, don't call the office and expect to get an appointment the same day.

My new way of preparing for a day of massage includes:

1. Looking at the schedule to check how many clients are coming for massage.
2. Preparing disposable containers with massage lubricant for each client.
3. Preparing the appropriate linens for each client and packaging them individually, they will no longer be stored in bulk in the office.
4. Packing enough scrub shirts to change between clients.
5. Packing enough sanitizer wipers to wipe down the office between clients. 
6. Packing enough hand sanitizer and masks for the day.

Because I am not keeping linens at the office any longer I will not have enough supplies at the office to accept walk ins or same day appointments.  I apologize for the inconvenience but this has become my  new normal.

Stay Healthy and embrace YOUR new normal.

Massage experience should remain very close to normal...

As I start seeing clients again, the experience of the massage you receive should be very close to normal.  The main differences you will notice throughout the session will be the use of a mask, no thermal packs, and very little tool usage.  Bolsters will be used but there won't be as many available due to needing wipeable surfaces.  Pillows will not be able to be used until the protocols loosen back up and allow for permeable surface items again.

A new standard of cleanliness will be applied. I have always cleaned before and after a client, but I will be cleaning more of the room than normal after each session and a thorough cleaning at the end of each day.  I want to assure you that I hold your health in the highest regard.

As for me, your therapist, you will see a few changes. The most important change being, I will be mumbling through a mask.  I will be sorely in need of a hair cut and style.  The worst change you will encounter will be the 10 extra quarantine pounds I put on over the last couple months. 

I want to ensure you that you will still receive the same quality of care that you have become accustomed to receiving. 

Call or text for your appointment.  I am already booked for my first week back to work, week of May 18th. There will be no massage appointments available on Memorial day. 

Stay Healthy and see you soon.