MASSAGE FACTS - DIABETES

According to Kalyani Prenkumar1 massage can be beneficial to those with Type I and Type II diabetes.

"Although not formally documented, experience has shown that massage is beneficial to diabetes and may have an effect on daily insulin requirements."1(pp. 123-124)

Furthermore, Prenkumar indicated the need for those with Type I let their therapist know where their injection sites are. And, make sure as well that your therapist has emergency contact information at hand as well as some hard candy just in case there is a low blood sugar problem during your massage.

Massage can also relieve stress and tension that could could be a factor in higher than desired blood sugar levels.

So, be prepared and have a happy massage.

1 Prenkumar (MBBS MD, MSc, RMT), Kalyani. Pathology A to Z, A Handbook for Massage Therapists, Third Edition. New Your: Walters Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;Health, @2010.

Levator Scapula Can Turn Your Head

Location
Origin: Transverse Processes of C1-4
Insertion - Superior third of vertebral border of the scapula (shoulder blade)

Action
Elevation of the scapula and moves the head laterally.

Problem
A problem with the levator scapula can cause a headache or pain near the scapula.

Solution
1. You might try applications of cold or heat to back of neck just under the skull.
2. Get a massage.

Worries and Woes

These days it seems there is always something to be upset about - politics, crime, injustice, the tacky things people say to each other, etc. As a result we become tense, worried, angry and end up not feeling very well. This can sometimes cause muscular tension and pain.
So, before that backache or headache pops up just relax.
Its important to note most problems in life will just dissolve away if you wait a little before becoming upset. And if they don't, then you can worry about them.
Therefore, pick your battles carefully, and don;t waist too much effort on trivia and minutia. Your body will thank you.
And, if you have trouble doing this at first, you can always get a massage and relax.
"Nuff Said"

Arthritis and Massage

According to the Arthritis Foundation, massage can help with arthritis in two ways. First, it reduces muscle pain that is usually caused by spasms. Second, it increases your body’s ability to produce endorphins which reduces pain. Now, I do not know about you but this sounds pretty good to me.

Read entire article at:
Arthritis & Glucosamine Resource Center website
http://www.arthritis-glucosamine.net/blog/arthritis-massage.php

No amount or type of massage therapy will cure arthritis; however, it can help muscles and related fascia to feel better and bring you a better sense of well-being. So, get a massage today!
"Nuff Said"

Which is Best?

With so many differing types of massage therapy available and more showing up daily, one might ask, 'Which type is best?"
It is my experience that one type of massage does not fit all. Therefore it is important for a therapist to be prepared with alternative solutions to their clients problems. If trigger-point will not release the problem muscle for a certain client, then maybe MET, positional release or even myofascial release techniques will.
At BGMT Benny Ray Gustafson; LMT is able to use multiple techniques to help you get you feeling your best in the shortest time possible. And, he is Continually studying and striving to bring you a better massage.

-Its a Pain in the Neck!-

We all have had at least one. Some of us have had many, but headaches are always a nuisance.
While some of these headaches may actually occur within the realm of the head, most are related to problems relating the neck and upper back. Pain in these areas can sometimes be refereed to the head fooling you into thinking your head really hurts.
Caution: Severe, long lasting headaches with symptoms of nausea, fatigue or dizziness may be the result of a serious medical condition. So, if your headache is unusual you need to check with a physician. However, if you have had such symptoms in the past and you physician con find nothing wrong, try getting a massage. This can relieve the headache and often clear up the problem causing it.

-Those Rascally Rhomboids-

Location:

Origin-Spinous process of the vertebra from C7 down to T5.
Insertion-(Minor) Vertebral border at root of the spine of the scapula or shoulder blade. (Major) Lower two thirds of vertebral border of the scapula or shoulder blade.

Action-Both Rhomboid major and minor both retract and rotate the scapula(shoulder blade) downwards.

Problem:
If your posture is such that your shoulders are pulled forward much of the time you may be experiencing pain in those rascally rhomboids. With the shoulders pulled forwards the pectoral (chest) muscles become tight and tend to lock the shoulders into that position. In turn the rhomboids become stretched all the time ultimately making them tight , unhappy and painful. In other words, your back hurts.

Solution:
1. If much of your day is spent doing something where your arms are stretched in front of you a lot-cutting hair, using a computer, etc.-take frequent mini breaks where you drop your arms to your sides, pull your shoulder back in line with your body and let them hang there in a loose, relaxed manner a few seconds. Then, get back to work.
2. If number one does not work see a massage therapist who is skilled in dealing with muscle imbalances or body alignment.
But, whatever you do getting a massage is always a plus and will help you feel and do your best.
"Nuff Said"

-Fighting P.A.D.-

"Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.) not only comes with double the risk of heart attack and stroke, but sometimes it comes with symptoms-pain or cramping in the legs. And that can tempt you to walk less . . . [Y]ou can help beat the pain with a structured walking plan. And walking can help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke and reduce stress."*

The Plan

1. Schedule walks 3 to 5 times a week (no more than 2 days in between).
2. Set real goals and stick to them. Start with 35 minutes. When you feel less pain, add 5 minutes until you're up to 50 minutes.
3. Stop when you start feeling pain. But get going as soon as the pain goes away.
4. Don't skimp on stretching-warm ups and cool downs.
5. Believe you will feel better. It may be hard at first, but with time you should be able to walk more and hurt less.*

1. 
   

No matter what keep moving 'cause if you don't move it, you loose it. "Nutt Said"

* "The Inside Story." Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership, Issue One 2010, p. 1.

-Less Pain, More Gain-

"The Challenging part of working with pain from muscle tension is to figure out the right technique, pressure and rhythm for each situation. Deep pressure into the tender belly of a muscle needs to be slow enough to give clients time to tune into the area so they can relax under the pressure."*

Mary Kathleen Rose

When you are getting a deep-tissue massage please remember "less pain equals more gain." If you are squirming around, gritting your teeth, or are extremely uncomfortable due to the massage being so painful., ask the therapist to back off just a little. You'll get better results. So, save the "no pain, no gain" scenario for the gym where it belongs. "Nuff Said"

*Rose, Mary Kathleen and Foster, Mary Ann. "talk about touch." Massage & Bodywork, September/October 2010, PP. 27-29.

-Three Simple Concepts-

Lying in life's path are situations that cause us stress, anxiety, heart ache and dis pare. When we come upon these situations we normally go through a period of grieving at the loss that occurred. Even though we should go through this grieving process eventually we must get on with our lives. Here are three simple concepts to help you do this.

• When a door close in your life another will soon open. We loose job opportunities, have financial reversals, loose friends and family and gain disabilities. When that happens another door opens somewhere for us to help us through life. It could be in the form of new business opportunities, relationships or assistance in learning how to live a full life with what you have. So, always be on the look out for these open doors.
• In times when life's stormy cloud gather to cause you despair and you can't see your way through to a better life, remember you must some tines go through the darkness to get to the light on the other side. In other words, We tend to mistakenly think things can never get any better. They usually do if you take the time to let them.
• Finally, speaking to those of you who have lost eyesight, hearing, or are not able to move and get around normally like you think you should, KEEP MOVING! DON'T STOP! There is always something you can do. Even if you think it isn't much, its a lot for you. Keep trying. In a Tim Allen movie where he plays an ex science fiction, Star Trek type hero his motto was, "Never give up. Never say die."
  

And, lest I forget. Get a massage. It will always help you fell better.
'Nuff Said"

School Days

I'm so grateful my kids have grown up and are not in public school or college anymore. I'm even more glad I'm not attending school myself. Now, don't get me wrong, education is a great thing; however, with long hours of study, concentration, tests, etc. stress and tension can build up. This is especially true in college. Wait for it . . .wait for it . . stress and tension caused by tests and study can be alleviated by massage. And, here are a few other benefits massage can hold for college students.

• It can relieve mental and physical fatigue.
• It can help you relax so you can get a good nights sleep before that final exam.
  
• It can aid digestion and relieve constipation caused by college cafeteria food.
• It can relieve headaches and eyestrain.
• It can relieve muscle soreness caused by intramural college sports.
• It can help prevent injuries during intramural college sports.
• It can give you a feeling of well-being even if you're bummed out because your GPA is slipping.

And, if you are a public school or collage teacher or professor, you're gonna need a massage, too.

"Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I`m running behind" *

With September its time for the beginning of 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, and cross country race season in Central Texas . Getting a deep-tissue massage can reduce your chance of injury during a race or hard workout. It can also help you recover three times faster than just resting.
Also, with massage muscle tension can be relaxed leaving you free from, "running on empty" and "running behind." Just leave the, "running blind" to me.
So, get a massage today.
""Nuff Said"

* Running on Empty; Jackson Brown-Released early 1978