Back Clinic Therapeutic Massage Team. We all want to relax. In our hectic lives, it’s hard to find time for R&R. If you deal with this in your life, a massage is in order. Massage therapy is a general term that refers to various types of soft tissue manipulation for therapeutic purposes. It involves manually working on the body with gentle pressure or through the use of mechanical aids. Depending on the way the massage is applied, it can be used to provide relaxation and well-being.
Healthcare providers recognize massage therapy as a legitimate therapy for lower back pain. It utilizes manual manipulation to improve circulation, relax muscles, improve range of motion, and increase endorphin levels. This therapy usually follows some medical treatment. Types of therapy include neuromuscular, sports, and Swedish.
For example, Neuromuscular therapy, which is the most effective treatment for low back pain, consists of alternating levels of pressure applied to muscles to alleviate the muscle spasms. First of all, make sure to drink plenty of water following a massage. With massaging procedures, the tissues of your body will be stimulated, resulting in the release of toxins.
Drinking at least 10 glasses of water throughout the day will flush out the toxins. Aim to drink 2-3 glasses within the first hour or so and then at least 8 more within the next 24 hours. In the hour following the massage, drink several glasses and then continue with eight more in the next 23 hours.
Massage therapeutics is not about the candles, aromatherapy, and the spa. Although those items can be beneficial for relaxation etc, the massage part of the therapy is just that. An intense manual manipulation of the body’s tissues. Made to work out/relax tight, knotted, spasmed, and inflamed muscles, ligaments, and tendons back to a normal and relaxed function. This can be caused by injury, stress, awkward motion/s, etc. Research done by the American Massage Therapy Association shows that 50% of individuals asked for a therapeutic massage for musculoskeletal/stress issues. �
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More physicians, specialists, and surgeons are recognizing the health benefits that massage therapeutics can bring and are sending their patients to certified/licensed massage therapists for treatment. There is now a high demand for massage therapists with the career possibilities being one of the strongest in the health care industry. Massage therapy is the manual manipulation of muscles and soft tissues including:
Connective tissues
Ligaments
Tendons
This is all done with the focus of improving an individual’s health and overall well-being. Licensed certified massage therapists are highly-trained and highly-versed in anatomy and physiology. Many often work with chiropractors preparing patients for the chiropractic adjustment/s by loosening up the muscles/tissues, thenafter with a light massage to ease the soreness of the adjustment and if necessary with continued visits with a mild to intense massage session to keep the areas loose and mobile.
Massage therapeutics effectively treats several medical conditions, sports injuries, automobile accident injuries, personal injuries, and helps prevent health problems connected with stress. Research shows that these medical conditions can be significantly improved or even healed with massage therapeutics. �
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Fitness
Top professional and weekend warrior athletes can benefit from massage therapeutics. Massage has been shown to help:
Reduce muscle tension
Improve exercise performance
Prevent injuries
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Low Back Pain
The guidelines for treating chronic back pain. Now the suggested guidelines state that alternative treatments/therapies like massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture should be utilized before prescription medication, which is now the last resort, is implemented. �
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Headaches
Head and neck massage reduces chronic tension headaches, along with the stress that often comes with headaches. �
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Compromised Immune System Function
Myofascial massage has been shown to improve the nervous system, which is crucial to a healthy immune system. Through massage which increases blood circulation helps to increase the activity of T cells, which recognize and destroy cells that are infected with viruses. Stress reduction has been found to be a universally recognized benefit of massage therapeutics, and can also strengthen the immune system. �
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Blood Pressure
Improved blood flow with massage therapeutics can also bring blood pressure down and elevates heart health. �
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Fibromyalgia
Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia, but studies are showing a definite connection for those that receive myofascial massage therapeutics and improved quality of life. Reduced pain and anxiety, and quality sleep were has been experienced by individuals getting regular massage therapy. �
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Cancer Pain
A common symptom for individuals battling cancer is pain, which can be mild to severe. Used in conjunction with other pain management techniques recommended by doctors, massage therapeutics have been shown to reduce pain along with anxiety symptoms.
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PTSD
Those with post-traumatic stress disorder can benefit from massage therapy. Massage can help reduce:
Anxiety
Stress
Depression
Pain associated with trauma/images/memories
Massage is often recommended as a companion for PTSD psychotherapy. Therapists are well established at many medical clinics and hospitals. With the opioid epidemic, the need for safe, natural, and effective pain therapy, then massage therapists can definitely help out. �
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Chiropractic Care Massage Therapy
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Neck pain prevention can go a long way as long as you take proper care of your body, exercise, and practice healthy habits. Here are a few tips to help prevent neck pain before it begins. Neck mobility is a marvelous thing. The neck can move the head in various directions:
90� of flexion forward motion
90� of extension backward motion
180� of rotation side to side
Almost 120� of tilt to each shoulder
A lot of us are very familiar with a stiff neck or a crick in the neck. This stiffness prevents us from moving comfortably. A crick in the neck can cause the neck part of the spine to feel stiff, rigid and immobile. Fortunately, prevention and various treatments can help.
Prevention:
Standing and sitting properly maintains proper posture and keeps muscles working/healthy. If you begin to hunch over, correct it immediately as it can quickly lead to pain in the neck. Pay attention to how you stand and sit and the more you do this it will become a healthy habit.
Do neck and body exercises regularly and try for a 30-minute cardio workout 3-5 times week.
Staying within a healthy weight-range will keep your spine in top form as it carries the weight of your body, and not overstrain it, which can lead to all kinds of pain.
With healthy weight comes a healthy meal plan, not just for proper weight but to strengthen muscles, bones, enriching the blood and getting to optimal health.
Smoking can affect the bones and muscles in your cervical/neck area of the spine, as well as all the other areas of the body. Therefore it is time to quit.
Sleep with correct head and neck posture. Sleeping with your head in an awkward position is an easy set-up for a strain and pain.
Stress and tension reduction.�Tense muscles in the neck and shoulder often lead to pain in the neck. A few effective ways to reduce stress can be writing, talking to friends, exercising, walking, listening/playing music, art/crafts, cooking, reading,� and turn to these when the stress begins to build.
Driving safely and wearing seat belts can help prevent whiplash.
Using the proper equipment to protect your neck while participating in sports that can lead to neck injuries like football, skateboarding, wrestling, soccer is a must.
Taking care of your body is a complex process. Lifestyle changes pave the way to wellness and making these changes will benefit more than just the neck.
Don’t worry about the list and try to check everything off. Look at the things that apply to you and try to implement a few of these tips one at a time. Keep the bigger changes like quitting smoking/losing weight in the foreseeable future. It takes time, patience and commitment. With a little hard work, it will pay off, and you should have a healthier life with less neck pain episodes and remember prevention is key.
Massage
This is a popular therapy that relieves:
Aches
Fluid retention
Inflammation
Muscle tension
Pain
Spasms
Stiffness
Other benefits include improved blood and lymph circulation, flexibility, range of motion, and increased tissue elasticity.While increasing circulation the muscles are warmed along with other soft tissues like tendons and ligaments.
Swedish
It is one of the most popular massage types in the US. Usually, therapeutic muscle lotion or oil is used to reduce friction and relax the area/muscles as the therapist performs light stroking in one direction with deep pressure in another to relax and loosen the muscles and surrounding ligaments/tissues.
This takes the blood flow and flushes lactic acid, uric acid, and other waste products from the muscles. The ligaments and tendons get stretched, which increases their soft but firm/strong feel. The nerves are stimulated and relaxed, with any stress in the muscles taken away. Relaxing the muscles is the overall goal.
Deep Tissue
This technique aims at chronic muscle tension. The strokes are slower, using more intense direct pressure to release the built-up stress, knots, and tightness. Depending on how deep the muscle and tissue stress maybe, the therapist will adjust their hand positions, strokes, and intensity periodically to work the tissues releasing tension.
Relaxing the Muscles
The therapist using their hands or tools to rhythmically knead, rub, and stroke muscles, circulation begins muscle stimulation. This blood flow brings needed oxygen and nutrients and helps the muscles eliminate waste products, like lactic acid, that can collect in the muscles brought on by spasms, which cause pain.
El Paso, TX Neck Pain Chiropractic Treatment
NCBI Resources
Individuals with chronic neck pain that don�t seem to have a cause, could be trigger points. A doctor will refer you to a�physical therapist, chiropractor or another spine specialist�to conduct an examination for trigger points.
Whiplash Massage: Sandra Rubio describes how whiplash-associated disorders resulting from an automobile accident can cause symptoms of neck pain. An injury to the cervical spine can damage the complex structures of the neck, including vertebrae, intervertebral discs and soft tissues like tendons, ligaments and muscles. Dr. Alex Jimenez, doctor of chiropractic, is a non surgical choice which provides several treatment methods, such as deep-tissue massage, which can help improve neck pain associated with whiplash from an auto accident.
Massage therapy�is the evaluation and manipulation of cells and joints of the human body to effect a curative response in the�prevention and treatment of physical dysfunction. It may be curative or preventative, helping to rehabilitate, to preserve, strengthen bodily function or relieve pain. Massage therapy has established its function as it achieves outcomes that were undeniable, as a wellness option used to alleviate an assortment of physical discomforts.
Massage helps alleviate the soft tissue discomfort associated with everyday stress, muscular overuse and lots of chronic pain syndromes. Massage treatment can decrease the development of painful muscular patterning if used early enough after accidents involving trauma and injury.
Whiplash Massage Therapy
Neck pain can come from various structures in the neck including: vascular, nerve, airway, digestive, and musculature or it can originate from other areas of the human body. Although the causes are many, most are easily rectified by either assistance or using self help suggestions and techniques. Treatment of neck pain is dependent upon the reason. For the vast majority of individuals, neck pain may be treated conservatively. Recommendations in conservative treatment include applying cold or heat. Other frequent treatments could include chiropractic care, physical therapy, body mechanics training, reform that is ergonomic, and drugs and/or medication.
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Chiropractic and Massage: Duos often create more exciting outcomes. Lewis and Clark, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, and even Batman and Robin functioned more efficiently together than apart. Complementary pairings propel results and enhance efforts.
This is decidedly true with massage therapy and chiropractic care. While each offer considerable benefits on their own, they often mesh well with each other to create a comprehensive treatment plan for many conditions or injuries.
So, sit back and let us show you how massage therapy and chiropractic care are a pain-fighting, mobility-enhancing dynamic duo.
A Combination Of Both: Chiropractic And Massage
Massage Enables A More Effective Chiropractic Visit
Therapeutic massage warms up muscles and relaxes the individual’s entire body, enabling the chiropractor to maximize his or her chiropractic adjustment for optimal results.
Massage brings about a more stable adjustment.
When a chiropractor performs an adjustment to alleviate pain or increase mobility, pre or post massage couples with it to increase the body’s acceptance of the adjustment.
Chiropractic Takes Massage Therapy Further: Includes Joints & Bones
Each treatment offers strong relief and recovery to certain areas of the body. Massage produces relaxation in muscles, relieving tension and toxins. Chiropractic care picks up where massage leaves off and extends the treatment efforts to the body’s tendons, joints, bones and, ultimately, the nervous system.
Works On The Body As A Whole
Both treatments focus on broad rejuvenation and healing techniques for full body health. In a variety of instances, chiropractic care shows significant increases in treating the overall root of the problem when used in combination with massage therapy.
Gets In The Head
Whoever said “it’s all in your head” wasn’t entirely wrong. Individuals sometimes feel stress, dread, or worry over health procedures in general, and chiropractic treatment is no different. Massage therapy serves to relax and de-stress a person, preparing them to go into chiropractic treatments less stressed or tightly wound. A relaxed person’s body tends to respond better to treatment.
Offers Shorter Recovery Times
Blending both treatments into one builds an all-encompassing regimen that works on the condition or injury from multiple points. Tackling health issues this way reduces the time is takes to heal and regain the body’s full mobility.
Decreases Discomfort
Massage therapy aids in warming up muscles, readying them for chiropractic adjustments. This experience is similar to stretching thoroughly before exercising. Pliant muscles offer less resistance to a chiropractor’s regimen, resulting in greater patient comfort. This benefits the entire process, as a painless, comfortable visit increases a person’s openness and commitment to future therapeutic endeavors.
Provides Longer Lasting Results
A relaxed body is more open to treatment. Both massage therapy and chiropractic care serve to attain the goal of healing and recovery, and pain minimization or management. Achieving a synergistic effect is possible when both treatments are employed simultaneously. Chiropractic care is known to work deeper and last longer when paired with massage therapy, especially with chronic, painful health issues.
Patients who seek help with bodily conditions or injuries benefit and see results from chiropractic and�massage therapy separately. Both forms of therapeutic relief used together may create an even more significant, longer last result. Chiropractic care and massage therapy complement each other and offer positive benefits to a variety of painful health issues.
Embark on a treatment plan with this healing, effective dynamic duo! Ask your chiropractor if your specific condition would benefit from both principles of care. Give us a call today!
Chiropractic, Massages & Spinal Injections Are Your Papal Prescription For Low Back & Leg Pain.
Should you suffer from the low back and leg symptoms of sciatica, the pope feels your pain. Reports reveal that Pope Francis has spent part of his 2017 summer undergoing spinal shots and massage therapy to help manage his sciatica.
Sciatica is intense low back and leg pain which runs along the course of the sciatic nerve, that is the longest and largest nerve in the human system. The sciatic nerve extends from your low back all the way down to a foot. Several spinal ailments can irritate the sciatic nerve and cause sciatica, including a herniated disc, lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and trauma (you can read more in common sciatica causes). The root reason for Pope Francis’ sciatica is unclear.
The 80-year-old pope has suffered from sciatica for many years, having first remarked on his struggle with it in a 2013 through a media conference when he said, “Sciatica is very painful, very painful! I don’t wish it on anyone!”
More recently, the pope has received epidural steroid shots and massages twice a week to handle his back pain pain, according to the Italian news magazine Famiglia Cristiana.
Sciatica PSA
How Spinal Injections & Massage Can Help Relieve Sciatica
Pope Francis’ routine of epidural steroid injections and massages underscores the fact that while the pain of sciatica can be extreme–almost indescribable–spine operation isn’t always the answer. The pope’s non-surgical approach to sciatica pain management is one that many individuals suffering from the illness adopt.
With epidural steroid shots, strong anti-inflammatory drugs known as corticosteroids are injected near the spinal nerve roots. The therapy works with varying success, but some people experience decreased pain for months following an injection.
With massage, a therapist can target the muscle tension that may be compressing the sciatic nerve or associated nerve roots. Deep tissue massage treatment may be type of massage used, since it utilizes direct pressure and friction to release the pressure in the soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, muscles) surrounding the sciatic nerve.
Massage is a popular therapy used to relieve fluid retention, spasms, inflammation, muscle tension, pains and stiffness. Other benefits include improved circulation (blood and lymph), general flexibility, range of movement, and increased tissue elasticity (eg, scar tissue).
Another kind of massage contains full-body massage, which often leaves the patient feeling relaxed and free of anxiety.
How Can Massage Function to Relax Muscles?
As the therapist uses their hands or specialized tools to rhythmically knead, wipe, and stroke (effluerage) muscles, circulation is stimulated. Blood flow is essential to helping muscles eliminate waste products, such as lactic acid, that may accumulate in muscles from spasms and delivers oxygen and nutrients.
Following trauma, muscles may act as mini-splints like a cast on a broken arm to safeguard and limit motion. An average example is somebody who uses a computer for a prolonged time period without taking a break to stretch the neck. The result: a stiff, aching neck and occasionally pain. Taking regular breaks to rub (mini-massage) and stretch the neck will boost circulation to the muscles.
What’s Swedish Massage?
This really is one of the most famous types of massage in America. Often, a lotion or oil is used to lessen skin friction. The therapist combines light stroking in one way with deep pressure in another to loosen muscles. The treatment expedites blood flow to flush uric acid, lactic acid, and other waste products from the muscles. Ligaments and tendons are stretched, increasing their suppleness. Nerves are excited and relaxed, and anxiety is relieved. The general goal is to loosen muscles.
What Is Deep Tissue Massage?
Long-term muscle tension is targeted by this technique. The therapist’s strokes are slower, using more direct pressure and friction. Determined by the texture of the deeper layers of tissue and muscle felt, the therapist occasionally adjusts intensity, strokes, and their hand positions to work the tissues to release tension.
What Is Myofascial Release?
Myofascial release, or soft tissue mobilization, is a therapy used to release tension in the fascia. Fascia are sheets of fibrous tissue that encase and support muscles. Following injury, the fascia and muscles may shorten limiting the flow of blood. The techniques used in myofascial release loosen muscle tension and break up fascial adhesions.
What’s Trigger Point and Myotherapy?
The treatment goals include alleviating muscle spasms, enhancing circulation, and releasing trigger points.
The therapist extends the muscle using a technique called Stretch and Spray as trigger points are released. This technique incorporates a superficial cooling agent such as Fluori-Methane, a local anesthetic that depresses nerve reaction. The anesthetic is sprayed over muscles as they may be softly stretched, soothing tight muscles.
Are There Other Kinds of Massage?
There are many kinds of massage; only a few are mentioned here. Shiatsu is an old oriental treatment predicated on acupressure, as is Jin Shin Jyutsu. Reiki is a Japanese type of massage that attempts to correct the entire body’s energy.�Rolfing can be uncomfortable; the goal is to adjust the muscle fascia to its fullest extension.
A Word of Caution
Speak to your doctor, before getting a massage for back pain or neck pain. She or he may have the ability to refer you to a licensed or certified massage therapist.
Synopsis: Finding the right healthcare provider for you isn�t always easy, especially if they aren�t in the mainstream. This article provides tips and strategies for people looking to find a healthcare provider that will meet their specific needs.
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The term �alternative healthcare,� sometimes lumped into CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) isn�t always associated with good things in the general populace. The phrase all on its own lends itself to sounding very much second class.
Yet alternative healthcare is anything but; many practitioners are utilizing the latest treatments that�for reasons of funding or sometimes more sinister political agendas �simply don�t have enough studies yet done to fully back the care as �mainstream.�
Finding those expert caregivers isn�t always easy. Doctors aren�t like restaurants; it can be difficult to base your decisions on their online reviews because every patient�s circumstances are unique.
Luckily, there are a few tricks to finding good healthcare.
Determine the Type of Care You Need
Before you seek care, you need to figure out what you actually need care for. Different specialties handle treatments that may be specific to your particular needs. For instance, a Chiropractor deals with the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system.
Functional medicine doctors handle many traditional complaints with minimal use of drugs and surgery and are more open to alternative treatments. Chinese medicine has also proven effective for numerous problems, from allergy elimination to pain relief. Physical therapists can help with recovery from injuries.
If you aren�t sure what the best type of doctor is, consider visiting major websites. For instance, the IAOMT.org� website is a good place to visit if you need dental care that goes beyond what your regular dentist may offer. FunctionalMedicine.org�helps you locate a variety of practitioners based on their field of expertise.
Worst case scenario, you may be in for one �wasted� trip to one of these doctors to determine who is best to visit.
Be Prepared to Travel
The type of doctor you need to see may not live nearby; some patients travel hundreds of miles to see a specialist that can deal with their condition. My own doctor drives nearly two hours to see a chiropractor that can address his specific condition (there are other chiropractors in the area, but none with the technique he needs).
This is especially true if you live in a more rural area, as some smaller towns may only have a small handful of traditional doctors and few if any alternatives. You can get good results by searching online by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to alter your IP address.
You might consider this strategy because local results tend to be more thorough and exact while doing searches about a distant area give broader and less helpful results. A VPN is just an app that lets you connect to remote servers found in other locations; for instance, you could access a server in Los Angeles even if you live in Nevada and get results local to LA.
Obviously, local docs are preferable, but that�s not always good enough.
Seek Referrals
Another great way to find doctors that can help is by seeking referrals. This can be done directly through your current doctor or by seeking out patients that have similar problems. Those that experience good results tend to want to spread their success by recommending good doctors.
One place to find concentrated reviews for specific doctors and practices is on Facebook. In many cases, there are support groups that have formed to discuss dealing with varying diagnoses and diseases.
These Facebook groups usually have members that are seeing physicians or have already been to physicians and want to share their knowledge. In some cases, Facebook groups are even run by practitioners that hope to spread awareness of the treatments they have available.
Healthgrades.com�is nice for reviews as well, but you should always be cautious of reviews that you can�t discuss with the reviewer.
Check Magazine Directories
Nationwide, you can access health directories to look for doctors available in your area. One of the more well-known sources is a magazine called Natural Awakenings. They publish listings of doctors practicing alternative medicine; you�ll find them available for free at grocery stores and some newsstands.
These types of magazines are also a great place to read about the latest advances in treatment and about different types of care being offered. While the publishing standards aren�t quite as high as a scientific journal such as The Lancet, they serve as a good starting point, particularly for treatments that don�t lend well to randomized controlled studies.
Go to Expos
Serving as both an advertising opportunity for businesses and as an educational tool for patients, natural health expos held across the country are a great place to meet with doctors and staff face to face without having to actually pay for an office visit.
These conventions are perfect for viewing a variety of different professions and seeing what each has to offer. You�ll be given dozens of pamphlets; some will offer free samples of products, while others will actually demonstrate what it is they do.
You can use these opportunities to ask specific health questions to �interview� each doctor to see if they�re the right fit for your needs. It�s also a good place to shop around for different prices because many alternative treatments aren�t covered by insurance (or the offices themselves are cash practices and don�t take insurance at all).
6. Taking Control of Your Health
When visits to your doctor let you down or you�re just looking for better alternatives, you�re in for a bit of work. The process for finding a truly appropriate doctor for your condition(s) may be tedious and sometimes even expensive.
Yet the results are certainly worth the time and money. When you�ve put the time in to find that doctor that fits just right, the results will speak for themselves. Having a good healthcare practitioner to serve as a pillar of support in your life can truly turn around an otherwise dark situation.
And for those that already feel healthy, remember that prevention is the best medicine. Seeking a doctor that believes in maintaining maximum healthy function is a great way to avoid chronic diseases later in life.
Will you be at the helm of your health? Tell us what great healthcare means to you and how you intend to get it.
About the Author: Cassie is a health enthusiast and technology writer. From her own experiences, she has learned a multitude of ways to efficiently locate doctors to treat conditions in ways that might otherwise be foreign to her primary care doctor.
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
