Watch Your Health

Its important that we be as healthy as we can. And, to keep healthy there are always a few simple things we can do ourselves with a little effort.

One thing we can do is watch our posture. Many times we experience pain, stiffness and discomfort because of the way we sit, stand or lye down. Here are a few tips.

• When sitting or standing make sure your shoulders are squared off and and not coming forward.
  
• When sitting or standing make sure your head is held high and not leaning forward.
• Don't let the hips lean forward or backwards. Keep the torso straight with a slight forward curve in the lower back.
• When lying down either sleep on your back or on your side. Never sleep on your stomach.
  

If you are having pain in your upper or lower back or your shoulders. Or, if you are having headaches, review the above information, improve your posture and some of these problems may go away on their own
"Nuff Said"

PLEASE, I NEED YOUR HELP!

I'm going behind bars for "GOOD"
Please, help bail me out!

Your donation is my key to freedom! Be proud of the fact that together we're providing help and hope to kids and adults served by MDA in our community.
So, help pay my bail,
and get me outta here!

Make my bail/donations by going to:
https://www.joinmda.org/MyLockup/MyHomepage/tabid/80883/Participant/massage/Default.aspx
Then, click on the finger pointing to "Click here/ Help me make my goal.'
Both the MDA association and I will appreciate any donation.
thanks,
Ben

Massage therapy can do wonders for almost anybody. It can assist the body in healing soft tissue injuries, reduce muscular pain and tension, and it can calm the nerves causing the entire body to relax. However, there are many medical problems massage as well as medicine cannot cure.

One of these medical problems is Juvenile Arthritis. Eventhough massage therapy cannot cure or even slow the progress of this disease, massage therapy may be used as a function of palliative type care to help the patient’s quality of life. This can be accomplished by relaxing and releasing stiff, taut muscles that inhibit joint movement even further than what the disease does. In other words, arthritis causes joint pain. The joint pain causes muscles around the joint to tighten and become painful. Then, the painful muscles cause other muscles in the vaccinate to tighten and become painful. Before you know it this muscle tension and pain can begin to effect the entire body.
So, while massage cannot do anything about joint pain and stiffness caused by the JA, it can effect the muscles in the area so they have less pain and function less to further inhibit remaining joint movement beyond the limitations already imposed by the arthritis.

Therefore, if you have Juvenile Arthritis try massage therapy as a type of palliative care to help reduce some of your suffering and improve your quality of life.
"Nuff Said"
Ben Gustafson; LMT

The other day someone called and asked me if I did massage fore COPD. Not knowing exactly what that was other than something to do with breathing difficulty I said, “No.” So I looked it up and this is what I found out about COPD and massage therapy.

Massage has come to be regarded as a complement to conventional medicine. Many of its positive effects seem to be mediated by increasing relaxation and decreasing stress hormones such as cortisol. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a massage can strengthen respiratory muscles, reduced heart rate, increase oxygen saturation in blood, decrease shortness of breath, and improve pulmonary functions.
(BallaOnline, The Voice of women; Victoria Abreo, Alternative medicine Editor; www.ballaonline.com/articles/art34015.asp )

So, according to this information if you have COPD a relaxing massage would be a plus for you. Get a massage today!
“Nuff Said”
Ben Gustafson; LMT

Massage Therapy and Arthritis

First of all let me plainly state massage therapy and/or body work cannot cure either rheumatoid or osteo arthritis. However, it can have a positive effect on the persons quality of life.
For a person suffering from arthritis who does not, or cannot, exercise massage therapy can help in the following ways.
1. It can improve and maintain the circulatory system which carries away waste materials to be eliminated and brings in fresh oxygen and nutrients for the body to function properly.
2. It promotes the flow of lymphatic fluid which carries toxins and disease to the lymph nodes to be dealt with thus bolstering the immune system.
3. It helps the muscular system maintain more normal muscle tone.
4. It reduces or eliminates muscular pain. And, when you have arthritis who needs more pain?
5. Finally, with the muscular system more relaxed, joints can enjoy a little more range of motion.
In conclusion, massage can never cure either type of arthritis, but it can help you feel better, move more freely and be healthier. This is especially true if you do not or can not exercise effectively.
Don’t procrastinate another day! Get a massage. You’ll be glad you did.
“Nuff Said”
Ben Gustafson ; LMT

$1 chair massage available Sat. Sept. 27 at the annual MS Walk/Run at Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, TX! Come out and participate in the fun and festivities for a good cause. And, get a relaxing chair massage at the following rates.
$1 for three minutes
$5 for six minutes
$10 for twelve minutes
Proceeds got to the MS Foundation.
See ya' there between 7:30 and 10:30 am.

Deep-tissue vs. Deep-Pressure
Sometimes people misunderstand these two terms.
Deep pressure means the therapist is pushing as hard as they can creating the maximum force against the body. In other words, someone getting this type of massage will be getting a simple Swedish massage with just a lot of extra pressure.
But, a deep-tissue massage is something very different. With deep-tissue the therapist slowly sink down through the various layers of muscle to get to the true problem area while causing as the least pain possible. While deep, hard pressure may be used at times the therapist uses his knowledge of where the specific muscles are located and where they attach. He focuses on the area giving the client the most problem. This target area is relaxed using several differing techniques. Some of these techniques are trigger-point, muscle energy testing, cross fiber friction, positional release etc.
Please note a hard pressure Swedish massage may be enjoyed without correcting the underlying problem causing pin or tension. Deep- tissue therapy targets specific areas alleviating the root cause of the problem leaving you feeling much better.

Many people never stop to consider that they feel older than their age. This happened to me in my early forties. The lack of energy, drive and stamina mixed with mental fatigue and ma laze I attributed to just getting old. However, with some simple life changes I suddenly felt much younger and could actually work harder, and smarter, than when I was young. Therefore, If you are in your thirties, forties, fifties or older here are a few things you can try to help you feel better and have more energy and zest.

* Improve your diet - Eat more fruit and vegetables while cutting down on sugar and simple starches
* Get some exercise.
* Do some community service-help others and forget about yourself for a while.
* Go to church and pay attention to what's going on.
* Exercise your mind-learn something.
* Get a massage at least once a month to help improve your circulation, relax tense muscles and relieve stress.

If you do the things listed above you should begin to feel a lot younger than your age. If not, check with your family doctor to make sure there are no medical problems involved.
"NUFF SAID"

DEEP-TISSUE MASSAGE ARTICLE

On Tuesday March 18, 2008 the Waco Trib ran an article entitled "There's the rub" written by Pamela Lelanc. The article was mostly positive towards deep-tissue massage as relating to working with athlete; however, it pushed the idea that deep-tissue therapists used pain at a Machiavellian level to help the athlete heal. Now, most athletes can have very tender muscles, tendons and ligaments since thy push themselves to one hundred percent or more during completion. And, due to soft tissue tenderness they can go through a lot of pain during a massage session. But, I want to emphasize one piece of Ms. Le Blanc's article.

"I had promised to tell the [therapist] if the pressure was too much, and once or twice I did. Sometimes clients don't--usually men. She said she could usually tell anyway by the subconscious way they pull back from the pressure."


So, it is very important you communicate with the therapist during a deep-tissue session.

You should tell the therapist:
1. If you have any areas on your body that are very tender to the touch.
2. If you bruise easily.
3. If during the massage your pain level goes to five or better on a scale of 1 to 10 with one being no pain and ten being unbearable.

During a nice relaxing Swedish massage its fine to lie there and quietly listen to the music and zone out for an hour or so, but deep-tissue requires you to talk to the therapist and tell them to back off if the pain is too much. And, don't feel like your bing a baby if you tell the therapist something hurts too much. For the therapy to be most beneficial you need to relax as much as possible. If you are seriously hurting, your muscle are tightening up and not relaxing.

So, keep getting a deep-tissue massage if you are doing so now. And, if you've never gotten one try it whether you are an athlete or not. Just make sure you communicate with your therapist.
"Nuff Said"

I HAVE TO TAKE OFF EVERYTHING!
Well, that's the myth. When you receive a massage you are in charge, and you don't have to take off anything you don't want to take off. In fact, you can receive a chair massage and not even have to take your shoes off. So why miss out on all the benefits of massage therapy just because you're shy.
BUT, WHAT IF I NEED SERIOUS MASSAGE THERAPY TO RELIEVE MY PAIN?
No problem. Therapists trained to use the Critz Technique can be the answer. With this technique you wear loose fitting clothing.
So, don't worry. A massage is healthful, safe, effective, and can even be very modest at the same time. So, get a massage today!

THE HIGH COST OF MASSAGE

In the past only highly paid business executives and professional athletes received massage therapy. This has changed. According to Body Sense magazine, “As massage has entered the mainstream of healthcare options, more and more people consider this intervention as part of an overall health plan. Massage has gone from being an occasional treat to being part of how we take care of ourselves.” (Information your massage therapist needs to know; Body Sense, Autumn/Winter 2007, p.32) This means more and more people are looking to massage as a way of taking care of minor soft tissue injuries as well as those that are causing chronic pain and stiffness.
Teachers, office workers, factory workers, emergency and law enforcement workers, etc. are looking for a way to ease their discomforts in a safe andnatural, low cost, chemical free way. And, there is good news for then! “Massage is a low-tech intervention with high benefits. While an hour of one-on-one time with a health professional can feel expensive, it is ultimately more cost effective than many other options like surgery, long-term physical therapy, or serious complications of various health issues." (Information your massage therapist needs to know; Body Sense, Autumn/Winter 2007, p.32)
As a massage therapist a variety of people have walked through my door and complained about various aches and pains. They were from carious backgrounds and financial situations. About 90% came in with a specific complaint that was taken care of in one to three sessions. Others required a longer time to gain relief. And, others came regularly because massage therapy was the only thing they found that could give them at least temporary relief.
Also, for you ammeter athletes a massage therapist can work with you and find hidden soft tissue problems that could translate into injuries in the future. The therapist may then be able to alleviate the problem, avoiding a painful injury in the future, saving you a bundle of money.
If you have a soft tissue injury-muscle, tendon ligament or other related fascia-and you have not been able to find relief, try massage therapy. Many therapists will work on a specific injury for thirty or even fifteen minutes at a very reasonable rate. So, talk to a massage therapist, tell them your problem and see what massage therapy can do for you. Then, you’ll see the cost of massage is not so very high at all.
“Nuff Said”
Ben Gustafson; LMT
Make and appointment and get a massage today

Recently Garrett Lewis, a local morning radio talk show host in Central Texas, was talking about the Spa at Canyon Oaks-one of his sponsors. He made the comment that "you won't have some guy come in to give you a massage" at this place of business. Of course this was not something I-a male therapist-wanted to hear. However, there are three types of massage to choose from and three reasons to choose.

First, if I wanted to be pampered at a spa in Central Texas, have a couples massage with my wife, spa treatments, lunch by the pool, I would definitely go to Canyon Oaks. From what I know of the place it is a very nice spot to go for the above reasons.

However, if I had chronic muscular pain or tension related to an injury, I would go to a person such as myself-male or female, it would not matter. I would want someone who knew something about deep-tissue, neuromuscular therapy. I would want to go to someone who was working with my kind of problem on a daily basis, someone who was committed to continually studying to learn new ways to help reduce and eliminate pain and muscular tension regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnicity, religious affiliation, etc. In other words, forget about the pampering. I would go to someone who could just make the problem go away!

And finally, there are those who are not looking for legitimate massage therapy. They are just looking for a good time. This type of massage is illegal in the State of Texas.

Therefore, consider what your massage goals are and act on them appropriately.

"Nuff Said"

HOPE FOR OLDER ATHLETES

The following is part of an article by John G. Louis; LMT. (Massage Therapy for Older Athletes: Massage Today, May 2007, page 6.) It is a positive example how massage therapy can help older folks who want to remain active.

I tell many of my clients who complain about their aches, pains, and injuries that the warranty runs out at age 30; after that, we pay for everything! . . . I met and trained former Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon in the spring of 1982. At that time, he was 50 years old and playing nearly everyday on his traveling basketball team, called Meadowlark Lemon's Bucketeer's - and with kids half his age. He was struggling with regular muscle injuries and was fearful his career was over. He responded very well to my treatment, and I encouraged him to consider hire me to tour with him. I told him I was sure I could keep him healthy and extend his athletic lifespan as well as the quality of it. . . In the Fall of 1982 I was hired to travel as his personal massage therapist and athletic trainer . . . Meadowlark thrived with regular massage. I can say with confidence that had he not implemented a massage program when he did, his carrer would have been finished at that time, as he had feared. (John G. Louis; LMT)

Even though the above story is related to a professional athlete, I have seen fist hand what massage can do for an armature athlete.

So, if you live in the Waco, TX area, are over 30 and are an active participant in any type of sports, Call 254-723-1811 to day to find out what massage can do for you.
"Nuff Said"

Fitness Goal Ruminations

An exercise program can be daunting. Here are five of eight ideas from Jenny Hardfield. Achieving Your Fitness Goals; Massage & Bodywork Magazine; June/July 2007; page 168.

• Avoid doing the same exercise over and over again. Your body will become efficient at that exercise and won't burn as many calories as when you first started.
• Be patient. Getting active takes time. It takes twenty-one days [or longer] to create a new habit . . .
  
• Drop those excess pound efficiently by keeping a fuel log.
  
• If you are inactive begin with frequent but shorter workouts . . .
• If your are active [workout] three to five times per week, add one or two high-intensity workouts per week to boost metabolism, effort level and fitness.

PAIN-SPASM-PAIN CYCLE

When you injure soft tissue the muscles in the injured area contract to help support and protect the injured tissue. Other metabolic reactions also occur helping to slow the flow of blood in the area causing the build up of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste. The result is pain. The body then reacts to the pain as if it has being reinsured. Thus, the pain-spasm-pain cycle begins. The initial injury causes the blood to slow building up waste material in the area. This causes new pain which causes the continued slowing of the blood in the area and on, and on, and on. So, even though you may start out with a simple bump, bruise or strain, it can turn into a fairly painful, long lasting injury.
Massage therapy from a professional therapist can help put an end to this vicious cycle. A good therapist can increase the flow of blood in the injured area and help build up pliable, pain free scar tissue to get you feeling better and back to your regular routine.

Making Your Massage Even Better

From: Korrie Osborn, “Massage-Medicine for the Body and Mind,” Body Sense Magazine, Spring/Summer 2007, p. 9.

“If I could give one bit of advice to those trying massage for the first time, it would be this: talk to your therapist-at least a little bit. You might be the quiet client who finds pleasure in the silence of the massage room, and god for you ... that’s the best type of healing environment (Chatty Cathys in the massage room miss their time to quiet the mind as well as the body). But, it’s important to remember communication is the key to having a wonderful massage experience

“ If something is causing pain or discomfort during the session, by all means, speak up. Therapists need you to be up front about how much pressure is comfortable for you-and it’s ok to change your mind, or need varying degrees of pressure for different parts of your body. If you’re too hot or too cold , if the music is throwing you out of sync, if the leg bolster is uncomfortable, speak up. Anything distracting you from your massage is worth noting to your therapist.”

“Remember, its your time. Make it count.”

DEEP-TISSUE MASSAGE & PAIN

It is interesting to note there are massage therapists, and clients of massage therapists, who adhere to the old adage, "No pain, no gain." Or, in other words, if the client is not writhing in exquisite pain with tears flowing from their eyes the therapy does no good. Actually though, this is not true.
While a little pain may be encountered during therapy, especially if the client suffers from some soft-tissue damage, the pain should never get to the point where the client is tensing up. This is because causing the client to tense up their muscle is contrary to what the goal of therapy should be. The client should be relaxed as much as possible so the therapist using deep-tissue techniques can slowly sink down through the various levels of muscle tissue to get to lower levels where there are problems.

One way of controlling the level of pain during a deep-tissue session is for the client to think of pain on the scale of 1-10 with ‘one’ representing no pain and ‘ten’ representing the most excruciating pain they can imagine. Up to a pain level of 5 or 6 is all right. But, the client should alert the therapist if the pain goes beyond that level so they can back off a little. Or, if the client feels their muscles tensing up because of pain, they should inform the therapist.

Excess pressure can cause bruising that damages the muscle tissue further causing more pain rather than helping it to relax and be pain free. So, be sure to communicate with your therapist if you experience more pain than you feel you should during a session. You will be glad you did because the therapy session will work better to relieve pain and relax muscles.

In conclusion, I once gave a chair massage to a person visiting from another state. Three years later I saw them again for a session. They told me they were so impressed with the deep-tissue techniques I used they went to get a full body deep-tissue session when they got back home. They said they were so disappointed because the therapist there caused so much pain and discomfort that they left feeling more abused than comforted. And, they were in pain for a few days afterwards! Therefore, communicate with your therapist so you can have a wonderfully relaxing and healing deep-tissue massage.

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Pain!
In relation to soft tissue injuries pain tells us there is something we must do, a problem to which we need to pay attention. If a little pain comes and goes after a short time there is usually nothing to worry about. However, if a severe pain comes and stays you might think about going to the doctor.
Ben Benjamin, Ph.D. gave a list of times when you should definitely see your doctor in his book, LISTEN TO YOUR PAIN. You should see a doctor:

1. If your pain is severe;
2. if there is swelling;
3. if you hear any cracking or snapping sounds at the time of injury;
4. if you cannot perform normal activities;
5. if there is nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, paralysis, weakness or disturbed excretory functioning after and accident or injury;
6 . if your pain containers beyond seven to ten days. (1)

Sometimes the doctor may find something like a broken bone, or he may prescribe muscle relaxants, pain relievers or just tell you to go home, elevate the problem and take copious amounts of Tylenol telling you its just a sprain or a strain. If the doctor has checked you out and released you but a soft tissue injury still causes pain, you might think about seeing a reputable massage therapist.

Injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments and related fascia may continue to cause pain due to:

1. Scar tissue which has healed improperly,
2. an adhesion where two muscles stick together causing pain when they move,
3. a muscle becoming dry and taut like a banjo string, or
4. a muscle or group of muscles may be experiencing a “pain-spasm-pain” syndrome.

Massage therapy can:

1. Help scar tissue heal properly so that it is more pliable and flexible,
2. break down adhesions freeing muscles to more properly and painlessly.
3. rehydrate dry, taut muscles so they relax and soften,
4. break the pain-spasm-pain syndrome leaving muscles calm, relaxed and pain free.

It is important to realize, you do not have to suffer continuously from pain. Plain is there to let you know there is a problem needing to be fixed. If you live in the Waco, Texas area and are experiencing chronic pain. Call BEN GUSTAFSON MASSAGE THERAPY to make an appointment for a free consultation. At BGMT the rates are affordable and the customer is always important.
Ben Gustafson; RMT

(1) Ben Benjamin,j Ph.D.;l LISTEN TO YOU PAIN. Penquin Books Ltd, Newyour, NY:1984

HEADACHES:
They’re a real pain in the neck

Headaches are a plague to mankind and have been around from the time humans began to roam the planet. And, the human race has fought against them the entire time.
Headaches can come in many forms and intensities. There are the “headache ghosts” that hover through out the head and neck area with a vague pain you just can’t locate. There are the “sick headaches” with hideous pain behind the eyes or on the sides of the head that make you nauseous and dizzy. And, of course there are the migraines that are so severe they must be treated by a medical doctor. But, most are not that severe; they are just aggravating and can be treated by a simple over the counter pain reliever. Lastly, some headaches are chronic and return again and again and again with a disgusting regularity. These chronic headaches are the ones that will be discussed. They have a simple source. They are caused by overstrained, over stretched and over worked muscles in the neck, upper back and shoulders.
To combat headaches that come back on a regular basis massage therapy can be the answer. Injured muscles and tendons can be helped by increasing the blood flow to them, moving out waste materials and replacing them with fresh blood containing nutrients and oxygen. Massage also softens and stretches tense, taut muscles and can break up adhesions and scar tissue promoting healthy healing. Once the muscles and tendons heal properly the headaches will decrease or even go away. And, a good massage therapist can also give you ideas on how to aid the healing by simple postural corrections.
So, don’t let chronic headache pain ruin your life. Get relief from a trained, reputable massage therapist. You’ll be glad you did.
Ben Gustafson; RMT
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