Massage is fast becoming recognized by insurance companies and the medical profession as a primary therapy for achieving and maintaining optimum health. Massage is definitely an important adjunct to chiropractic care, enabling the body to receive and hold adjustments more readily. It is also an excellent complimentary treatment for physical therapy.
Pain can be the result of a compromised oxygen flow to tissue and/or impinged nerves within tight muscles. Massage, at minimal, increases blood circulation thereby increasing oxygen flow to the body tissues. It can also decrease muscle tension, freeing up impinged nerves. This increases restorative powers while decreasing the chances of degenerative diseases. As a result, massage is very important to our well being and is no longer considered a luxury but rather a necessity for good health.
CranioSacral Therapy
Through the application of CranioSacral Therapy (CST) I have seen individual’s lives radically improved. CST is used to detect and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system, which may be the cause of sensory, motor or neurological dysfunction. The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face and mouth—which make up the cranium—down to the sacrum, or tailbone area.
Health Tips for Massage Patients
It is important to drink water every day, sipping it all day long. For every pound you weigh, you should drink half that amount in ounces of water (not coffee or soda). For example, if you weight 150 lbs, you should drink 75 oz of water a day.
During the "acute" stage of injury (the first two weeks and during a flare-up) it is important to use ice on the injury site (ten minutes on, ten minutes off).
After a deep massage or whenever you have aching muscles from injury, over use, or cold/flu it is helpful to soak in a tub of warm water with one cup of Epsom salts dissolved in it. Epsom salts, which are magnesium crystals, help heal sore muscles. The warm water opens the skin pores and allows the magnesium to penetrate directly into the muscles while allowing cellular waste and toxins to exit the body a the same time. This will minimize soreness the day after massage treatment. Epsom salts can be found in grocery stores in the personal care isle (tooth paste, shampoo, deodorant). It will often be near the bottom shelf.