Four ways to control your stress levels

As much as we enjoy the emerging flowers and warmer weather of April, there can be a bit of a dark cloud hanging in the spring sky. Often the first few weeks of the month are a rush of receipts and 1040’s as the April 15 Tax deadline looms, and a rush of new schedules as the kids’ sports seasons fire up. Maybe that’s why April is Stress Awareness Month; to remind us to take care of ourselves, and not let stress go unchecked.  The following are four ways you can control your stress levels.

Meditation

Meditation does not have to be about pretzeled legs, chanting, and reaching enlightenment. It can simply be about creating a moment of stillness in your mind as a way to become more relaxed. Just one minute, 60 seconds of meditation, can dramatically improve your mood, your productivity and the quality of your day.

Exercise

It can be tough to make time for exercise when the schedule gets tight and tensions get high. But that's when it becomes even more important. Exercise can relieve the physical symptoms of stress like fatigue, pain, and moodiness. If you can't make time for daily workout, try to fit a 5-10 minute walk outside into some part of your day. A little goes a long way when you need it.  Plus, around here, this winter has been rough on all of us.  We all know these nice days are counted, so take advantage of the sunshine when we have it.  You will feel better right away.

Giggle and hum

Both laughter and music can lower the blood pressure. In fact, this study in 2011 showed that 3 months of laughter or music therapy resulted in the same drop in blood pressure that could be achieved with a low-salt diet, losing 10 pounds, or taking a blood-pressure-lowering medication.

So cue up the "Who's on first?" or dance around with your kids while making dinner and work some giggling and humming into your day.  Not in the mood, you can fake it until you become it.  Smile and laugh until it becomes real.  You will get the same effect.

Massage

Regular massage can improve sleep, relieve headaches, reduce muscle pain, and improve moods. Plus, massage feels good. When you feel good, you play more, work more efficiently, and take better care of the people you love. Schedule a massage now to prepare for a busy (and fun) spring!

Commit to taking care of yourself this spring! You may be surprised with the results.

Massaging Babies and Toddlers

Evolving Massage

I teach infant massage, and have been massaging my own daughters since the day they were born.  They are getting older, and although they still get their bedtime massage, the touch they get during the day has changed. 

It is much easier to massage a newborn, as they really can't move around much, and you and baby get use to the same massage routine each time.   When they learn to crawl, it becomes a bit more difficult to give an entire massage routine.  So what can you do?   Play massage games!  Below are some examples of massage games to play at various stages of childhood. 

**Remember to get your child's permission before you massage them.


Crawling Around

Get on the floor with your child. If you were doing a belly rub, and your child decides it is time to crawl around, massage whatever is up and facing you.  If it is his back, then rub his back, if it is her side, then massage her arms or legs.  You don't have to go in any specific order. 


This Little Piggy

I'm sure you are familiar with this nursery rhyme.  It is a great way to give a massage for your child's toes.  Roll your child's toes, wiggle them, but don't pull/tug so hard on them.  Make sure not to tickle their feet!



Learning Shapes

My older daughter loves this game.  I stand behind her as she stands in front, and I draw shapes on her back with my hands.  She has to guess the shape.  Sometimes she lays down.  Just be sure that you don't have anything going on that can be distracting for your child, ie...TV on or radio on.  You can do any variation of this game that you find appropriate.  Learning Numbers, or Learning Letters, whatever you are focusing on with your child.

Do you have any massage games to add to this list?  We would love to hear what you do to incorporate massage into your child's life.  Let us know by leaving a message in the comment section.

Massage and the Barefoot Contessa

Regular Massage & Ina Garten

I love when celebrities talk about getting massage on a regular basis.  Did you know that Ina Garten, better known as the Barefoot Contessa, gets weekly massage?  I read about it in the New York Times. Have you ever watched her cooking shows?  I have (and I love it!).  Ina Garten always has this calm aura around her.  Have you noticed it too?  I bet she is so calm due to her weekly massages!  =D

Do you know what the benefits are of getting regular massage?

There are numerous benefits to getting massage, but the benefits compound when regular massage is in place.  Even a monthly massage will give you added benefits.

•  Reduce Blood Pressure
•  Reduce Headaches
•  Boost the Immune System
•  Dampen Harmful Stress Hormones
•  Relieve Pain

So instead of 'treating' yourself to a massage once in a blue moon, make it a healthy habit to keep on a regular basis.

How heavy is your glass of water?

 A friend of mine recently had this as his facebook status:

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."
It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

What is your glass of water?  

Do you sit at a computer all day, or drive long distances often?  Sitting at your computer for much of the day will put strain on your muscles.  The longer you are in that position, the more you will ache.  One long road trip, and you might be sore for a few days.  Driving for hours each day for a few years or more, your aching will seem normal, and you will forget what it feels like to not be sore or in pain.
When stress builds upon stress, it will create layers. The more stress you allow to build up, the more difficult it will become to do everyday activities.  The more your back will hurt, the more your neck feels sore. the easier it will be to become injured.  The harder it will be to heal.

How can you put down your glass?

Before you get to the point of seriously injuring your body, massage can help you feel normal and regular massage can be your way of putting that glass of water down before it starts to hurt again. Book your appointment with Melrose Muscle Therapy and put down that glass, get rid of your stress, and feel better before you feel worse.

How to Make Massage Affordable

Can regular massage appointments be affordable?

There are little things that you can do each day to add a bit more money into your massage bank. (You do have a massage bank don't you?)  There was a post on facebook that has made its rounds through each massage therapist forum.  It has a picture of a gentleman and says, "Actually, a monthly massage would cost less than a month's worth of your daily $6 a day coffees at Starbucks."

So let's do the math.

Say you purchase one coffee a day, 5 days a week, with 4 weeks in a month.
($6 x 5) x 4 = $120
Wow!  Crazy isn't it!?! That is a 90 minute massage at Melrose Muscle Therapy, and you have money left over.

Now let's say you actually buy your coffee at Dunkin Donuts instead, so it costs a bit less.
($3 x 5) x 4 = $60
That is still a great amount.  Get a half hour massage, and put the rest back into your bank. You can alternate getting a half hour and a one hour massage each month.

 What is another way to find the cash to get a massage?

Do you buy or bring your lunch to work on a regular basis?  If you bring your lunch instead of buying it, you can save at least $8-$15 each day.  Now add that up.
($8 x 3 times a week) x 4 weeks = $96
($15 x 3 times a week) x 4 weeks = $180
Now you are getting it.  Don't you think it is time to start doing something for yourself that makes you feel better?

These are only a couple of examples of how you can find the money to get a monthly massage.  What would you change in your lifestyle in order to get a monthly massage?  Comment below to let me know.

Are stressed out babies more likely to get sick?

There is a new book called: Scared Sick: The Role of Childhood Trauma in Adult Disease.  Here is a description of the book found on Amazon:

The first years of human life are more important than we ever realized. In Scared Sick, Robin Karr-Morse connects psychology, neurobiology, endocrinology, immunology, and genetics to demonstrate how chronic fear in infancy and early childhood— when we are most helpless—lies at the root of common diseases in adulthood.

Compassionate and based on the latest research, Scared Sick will unveil a major public health crisis. Highlighting case studies and cutting-edge scientific findings, Karr- Morse shows how our innate fight-or-flight system can injure us if overworked in the early stages of life. Persistent stress can trigger diabetes, heart disease, obesity, depression, and addiction later on.

This is very interesting to me, and I look forward to someday soon reading this book. I found out about it from reading this article on modern mom.

As a massage therapist, I am always looking at how stress affects the body, but this is a look at how stress early on in life has lasting affects into adulthood.  Now a little bit of stress is good for you, but constant stress, without giving your body a bit of relief, is horrible for your body, mentally, physically, emotionally harmful. I teach classes to families, couples, and parents about giving massage to each other, and I explain some of the benefits during the class.  So if you know me, you know the affects of stress, short term and long term on your body.  It is interesting to see how stress from a pregnant mom-to-be affects her unborn child, and stress on a newborn or toddler affects them later in life as well.

As a mom, I read up on research that is done on how stress affects our children. I share that research here in this blog, as well as on Melrose Muscle Therapy's facebook page. So you know there are ways that you can handle stress at home, such as taking a long bath, reading (if you like to read), giving your self a time out..and on and on.  One of the best ways to break up chronic stress is with regular massage visits. 

Book your appointment online, and we can talk about different ways you can take care of yourself, as well as your children.

Ways to Avoid Mommy Burnout

If there is something I've learned (the hard way) it is this:

If you can't take care of yourself,

there is no way you can take care of your child.

The demands of being a mother (especially  a new one, or one with infants and toddlers at home) can be intense.  You are the one to get u in the middle of the night to feed them and comfort them.  You are the one that gets up early with them.  You clean up after them, you change them, feed them again, you are constantly at their beckoning call.  It is an exhausting job.  You don't get a break from being a mom.  It is not a 9-5 job, but a 24/7 kinda job.

After a while, if you don't take care of yourself, you become overly tired, extremely cranky, you can't think straight, and your patience runs thin.

Here are some ways to avoid what I like to call Mommy Burnout:

1. Don't neglect your body. If you eat junk food, you will feel sluggish.  Add some healthy fruits and veggies to your diet, and you will feel all the more better.  Get your exercise in.  don't think you can do that with a baby?  I'll be writing another post later this month all about doing exercise with your kids.
2. Acknowledge that you are a good mom.  Don't be so hard on yourself if you see another child knows their ABC's before yours does.  You and your babe are just focusing on different tasks right now, and I'm sure your baby can do something that the other child doesn't grasp just yet.  It doesn't mean that your child is slow, or that you have failed as a parent.  It just means that you are both learning something else instead. 
3. Don't expect perfection.  If you have kids, you are not going to have a spotless house, every meal made, or any numerous other things that are on your list of perfection.  It is okay if once in a while you need to order dinner, or you wait a day to do laundry.  Kids grow up quick, so make sure you are spending your time with them creating memories, instead of worrying about the cleaning and the cooking.
4. Ask for help.  there are days that will test your patience, and you will feel that you are about to snap.  that is when you absolutely should ask for help from a friend.  Ask if they can come over and help you watch your kid so you can get some time for yourself, or ask if they can tag along on a shopping trip or other errand run to make it easier for you to get things done.
5. Change your perspective.  Instead of thinking how difficult it is to be able to take a shower without someone walking in on you, think about the big picture: the joy that comes with becoming a mom, and all the fun you have with learning from your children and watching them learn from you.

Take some time for yourself mommies!  One of the best ways to take care of yourself, is to get a massage.  You de-stress, which allows you to clear your mind to make better decisions for yourself and your family.  Visit me at Melrose Muscle Therapy.  We even have infant massage classes, where you can connect even deeper with your newborn baby.

Daddy-Newborn Relationship - how to increase the bonding

New research has been done that shows there is another benefit specific to fathers for learning and giving infant massage.  This benefit is lowering the father's stress levels.

You can read the pubmed article here.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210630/?tool=pubmed

When men and women become parents, it is stressful for both parties.  Traditionally it has been the mom taking most, if not all, the responsibility in the early years.  Many fathers feel left out, or don't know what they can do to support mom and baby, and this becomes a new source of stress (besides having a new mouth to feed).  Increasingly, however, men have taken on more parental responsibility earlier in a newborn's life.  Taking a class on infant massage is great for dads.  It helps them to bond with their newborn children earlier in their baby's life and apparently it also decreases dad's stress levels too!.  There is so much more to learn in an infant massage class than just the massage strokes.  You learn how to communicate with your baby.  There are discussions with other parents and you find out what other moms and dads do when situations arise.  The class is an open forum for discussion, and fathers can meet other men who are in similar situations with whom they can relate.

I would love to see even more dads getting involved, and I can help you.  Click here to learn about taking an infant massage class with Luisa at Melrose Muscle Therapy. 

Moon Bounce and Leg Cramps

Yesterday my daughter Luciana had her 3rd birthday party.  Lots of activities for the kids that were there, and my daughter didn't want to stop to rest for long.  There was a moon bounce, and she was in there jumping around for hours.  After a while, she decided she need to go inside and take a nap.   When she woke up, she came outside again, and continued to run around and jump again in the moon bounce.  9pm rolls around, and her legs start to hurt.  She falls in the moon bounce, starts crying that her legs are hurting.  Party is over. =(   I ask my husband to carry her upstairs to "mommy's bed."  He runs to get me a heating pad, and some jojoba oil. 

My daughter is no stranger to massage.  She has been getting them everyday since she was born, heck she liked them when I received massage when I was pregnant with her. 

She knew what I was about to do, and she stopped crying, calmed down, and helped to guide me in my massage.  I begin to apply a small amount of jojoba to her legs, and Luciana tells me where she wanted me to rub out the pain.  As the heating pad warmed up under her legs, and I worked out the cramping, she began to feel better.  It didn't take much time for her to feel okay again.  Bodywork works very quickly with children, especially children that receive massage as often as my daughter does. 

This morning, I rubbed down her legs again, just as a precaution.  She thanked me with a big hug and the words, "you're the best mom!"  =)

Do you have any stories you would like to share?  I'd love to hear how massage has helped you in your life.

Get Better Sleep

One of the benefits of getting regular massage, is being able to get a better night's rest.  Relieving your stress can leave you with a deeper, better quality sleep.

What does better sleep mean for me?

1. Improves your memory.
2. More creativity. 
3. Increase stamina in sports.
4. Improves your grades in school.
5. Greater attention span.
6. Stronger immune system.
7. Reduced stress levels.


Think about how you feel when you don't get a good night's rest.  Can you remember what your day was like?  Do you find it hard to think about anything when you feel fatigued?
 

So how can I get better sleep?

1. Try getting to bed each night at the same time.  Set yourself a schedule.
2. Find a way to de-stress before bed, whether that be meditating, or simple stretching.
3. Avoid very active activities an hour before bed.
4. Keep your bedroom dark, cool, clean, and uncluttered.

Still having trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep?  Book yourself a massage at Melrose Muscle Therapy.  Regular massage can help you to de-stress and remind your body how to relax and let go.

Why use Jojoba for massage?

There are plenty different types of oils that a massage therapist could use.  Here at Melrose Muscle Therapy, we use Jojoba.  For those of you familiar with Jojoba, you know it is not an oil, but a liquid wax ester.

Why do we use jojoba when there are so many other oils on the market that are way cheaper to use?

 1. It doesn't spoil or go bad.  Many other oils expire.  Jojoba does not expire.  this keeps us a bit greener as we are not wasting any product.

2. Jojoba is non-allergenic.  It is perfect to use with all skin types, but especially for sensitive skin.

3. Jojoba does not stain clothing.  You can be assured that after getting a massage at Melrose Muscle Therapy, that you will not have any oily residue on your skin that could stain your clothing.  First off, we dont use that much oil to begin with, and secondly, jojoba easily washes out of any linens with water and detergent.

 4. Jojoba conditions the skin.  It is the closest thing to our natural oil.  It won't clog your pores, and you will feel silky soft instead of oily and greasy.

Massage and World Peace?

A client gave me quite a compliment today.  He said, "If you could find a way to clone your hands, there would be world peace."  Wow!  I was taken aback but such a generous comment.  Interesting enough however, he is not the first one that came up with this idea. I had read something very similar to his wording online just a couple of days ago.  A celebrity in the massage world, Cherie Sohnen-Moe, recently wrote a blog post on the WIBB site.  You can see her full post here.  If you don't know who she is, take a moment to find out.  You will be glad you did.

So am I really contributing to world peace each time I give a massage to someone?  Perhaps I am.  Here's to world peace.

Comforting Touch

This evening I went to a local AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) meeting. It is nice to get together face to face with other therapists, and talk about what is going on in our practices. We had a special guest this evening come in and talk to us about Compassionate Touch. Donna Schiller works with people in hospice four days a week. She is a wonderful person to concentrate her work in this area of the massage profession. I've worked with only a couple of hospice cases, and it was difficult for me when the person would pass. I wouldn't know how to deal with it, to separate myself, to keep myself grounded if I knew that each person I touched that day was facing death.

There was one client of mine that had accepted me into her home. She and her husband didn't want to believe that she was dying. Her niece had actually found me and hired me to work on her aunt. She had warned me that they didn't know how much time was left in this woman's life. It could have been hours, days, or weeks, but she had been brought home to die with her family. She paid for 2 half hour sessions. When I went to her home the first time, this woman talked about wanting to get out of bed, and trying to walk. Her husband was very positive in thinking that she would be walking soon, and healthy again. The second time, the couple let me know how my work comforted her so much. She was able to sleep for a couple of hours blissfully shortly after I had left. She told me that she was looking forward to me coming back again as soon as I had left the first time. I saw her only twice before she passed, but that was enough time for me to be touched by this couple's life. I'm glad that I was there for her, to bring comforting words, and comforting touch to her in her last days.It took me a few days to come to terms with this situation.  I don't know how Donna does it, but I am glad that she does. 

Melrose Muscle Therapy accepts insurance?

I have had quite a few people ask me if I accept insurance so they can get their massage treatment covered. Unfortunately, in the state of Illinois, an independent massage therapist currently can not currently accept insurance. I can, however, work in conjunction with another medical professional, such as a chiropractor in order to get massage covered by insurance. So, this is what I have done. A small drive down the street from Melrose Muscle Therapy is a fantastic chiropractor, Dr. Jacqueline Martinez, CCSP, DABCO (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, Diplomate American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedics, in case you were wondering what those letters stood for). I have partnered up with her to give my clients an option. If your insurance covers massage treatments for you, then you can make an appointment to see me at Dr. Martinez's office. I am there every other week on Friday mornings. You can have any chiropractic treatment done as well, while you are there, or you can come in just for your massage. If your insurance doesn't cover massage, don't worry, just sign up for Melrose Muscle Therapy's email list. You will receive different specials each month, right to your inbox. I hope this partnership will help those of you who haven't been able to come in for massage before. See you soon!

Your hands must hurt!

I often get asked if my hands hurt after a long day of providing massage, or similar I get told that my hands are very strong that I must get tired after doing so many massages a day.

Truth is, I don't just use my hands when I am giving a massage. I use my entire body as leverage to give the strength that you feel in my massage work. When you ask for more pressure, I step back, get into a lunge and push my entire body forward focusing on my forearm, or palm of my hand (whichever I am using at the moment) and as my entire body moves forward, it gives leverage for my hand or forearm to give a bit more pressure as you wish. 

To keep my body from overuse, and daily wear and tear, it is important that I take care of it so that you can benefit from my best work each and every time.

One of my favorite ways to keep my hands in tip top shape between appointments is to shake them out. You can do this too if you have a job that requires lots of hand use such as working at a desk typing all day.

Imagine that you have very sticky tape on your fingers and you want to shake it off. Shake your arms and hands as hard as you can (if this hurts, please don't do the exercise). Try shaking them for at least 10 seconds straight. And stop. I'd say it feels pretty good! =)

I constantly get headaches. What can I do?

There are many types of headaches, and depending on what the reason is for your headache, massage may be just what the doctor ordered to ease the pain you feel. Here are the two most common types of headaches.

Tension Headaches

High levels of stress, worry, anger can trigger the onset of a tension headache.

Migraines

It has been in the news lately that women suffer more often from migraine pain than do men. Researchers are saying that the reasoning has to do with genetics and how our sex determines certain parts of brain structure. Regardless of who gets them more, migraines are a pain in the...well, a pain in the head. Migraines share many of the same triggers as tension headaches, but last much longer, and are much more intense. They also are one sided, so the pain is only felt on either the right or left side of your head.

If I get headaches often, what can I do?

First thing you should do is start a headache diary. Write down when you get your headache, and how long they last. Write down your activities, what you ate, what emotions you were going through before the onset of your headache. This will help narrow down what your specific triggers are for your pain. Check this link to see a sample diary you can use.

Once you notice a pattern develop, it will be easier to keep your headaches at bay. If you notice that one of the triggers for your headaches is stress related, or due to muscle tension (tight neck, TMJ, or any other tight muscles), then frequent massage will help. Your massage therapist should do a full assessment to help you make some small changes to your daily routine. Anything from the way you are sleeping, to how you sit at work could be causing muscle tension in your neck. Your therapist can give you some ways to help you deal with unusual amounts of stress when you are not getting a massage.

Relieve your Sinus Discomfort Naturally with Massage

Many people have been complaining about their sinuses bothering them this time of year.  The weather is unpredictable, and has been changing from unbearably hot to a nice cool summer day, and back again.  Here are some simple self-massage techniques you can use to relieve any sinus pressure you may have. 

STD's and Massage (Part 2)

In this series of posts, I will give tips for people with certain conditions to let them know if they should even obtain a massage or not, and what are the important points to go over with your massage therapist.

Yesterday we talked about Mollusum Contagiosum Virus (MCV), Genital Warts (HPV), Syphilis, and Hepatitis. Today the subject at hand is HIV/AIDS.

Can I get a massage if I have HIV?

Since this virus is spread through bodily fluids, and not skin to skin contact, it is safe for a client with HIV to obtain massage.

Your massage therapist needs to take extra care to make sure to not put you at risk for getting sick. She/he may or may not wear gloves as protection for you.

What should I tell my massage therapist?

Inform your therapist what stage of HIV you have. Let them know if you have any other complications related to the virus.

If you are in phase 4-5 of the disease (most advanced stage of AIDS), please tell your therapist. This will affect the type of massage you can receive.

All stages of HIV/AIDS are safe to receive bodywork, but it depends on what phase, and how you are feeling as to what type of bodywork you will receive.

Massage can be a great additional option of treatment for those with HIV/AIDS. In the beginning phases, Swedish massage can be very stress reducing which can help the immune system. In the more advanced stages, energetic work and other non-circulatory massage can become a great source of comfort for a population that is often outcast.

As always, if there are any subjects you would like me to talk about let me know by commenting below, or by sending us an email to info(at)melrosemuscletherapy(dot)com

STD's and Massage (Part 1)

In this series of posts, I will give tips for people with certain conditions to let them know if they should even obtain a massage or not, and what are the important points to go over with your massage therapist.

STD's and Massage (Part 1)

Although most sexually transmitted diseases are only spread through sexual contact, there are a few exceptions.

Mollusum Contagiosum Virus (MCV), Genital Warts (HPV), and Syphilis

These viruses can be spread through any kind of skin to skin contact. They can also be spread with contact to contaminated linens. Treat these STDs first and postpone any massage appointments until there is no chance of spreading the infection to others.

If you know that you have any type of STD, make sure you treat your infection. Once the infection is cleared up, you can make your appointment for massage.

Hepatitis

Let your therapist know if you have any open wounds, or small cuts anywhere on your body. Your therapist may wear gloves during your massage as a precaution for two reasons: first to protect you, and second to prevent transmission of the disease. Please do not take offense if they choose to wear gloves. They may have a cut on their hand, or fingernails. I have had quite a few massages where we practiced with gloves during my massage training. If your therapist is good, you won't even realize the gloves are on.

If your Hepatitis is in the acute stage, certain types of massage strokes should not be used, so please make sure your therapist is aware of what stage you are in. If your Hepatitis is in the chronic stage, you may have the option to get a circulatory massage. You may not, if your overall health isn't well. Each person is different, and you should discuss with your massage therapist what your benefits are from having massage. Energy work and non-circulatory massage are options that you might consider during all stages.

As always, if there are any subjects you would like me to talk about let me know by commenting below, or by sending us an email to info(at)melrosemuscletherapy(dot)com

I have brittle bones, is massage safe for me?

In this series of posts, I will give tips for people with certain conditions to let them know if they should even obtain a massage or not, and what are the important points to go over with your massage therapist.

Yes, massage can be a safe option for you to relieve any discomfort you are experiencing from having weakened bones.  Keep reading to find out what you should know to keep your massage safe.

Do you have Osteoporosis?

It is very important to inform your massage therapist that you have Osteoporosis. You would not want to get a deep pressure massage, as that could have the potential to fracture your bones. That wouldn't be very relaxing now would it?

That being said, gentle massage can be very beneficial to someone with Osteoporosis. It can naturally relieve the pain and discomfort, however temporarily, that you feel from the loss of bone density.

If there is ever a time where you feel your massage therapist is giving you too much pressure, please tell them right away.  Remember, the time you have on the massage table, is YOUR time.  If you are ever uncomfortable, let your therapist know.  

Do you have a current fracture?

Inform your massage therapist how acute the fracture is, the degree of fracture (hairline fracture or complete broken bone), and the location.

You can not receive massage in the local area of the fracture, but the rest of your body can receive bodywork.

Example of how massage can help you:

If you have a hairline fracture on your left foot, your right leg will be working harder to compensate for the lack of movement from your left leg. You will not get massage on your left foot, but it would be beneficial to you to get massage on your right leg and foot since those muscles are currently working harder than they are used to.

I will continue to post about some other conditions such as Asthma, Cancer, etc... Let me know if there are any subjects you would like me to talk about by commenting below, or by sending us an email to info(at)melrosemuscletherapy(dot)com