Massage Therapy gives individual a therapeutic touch that makes them feel calm and better as they go along with this process. Its purpose is not to heal or treat any illness or diseases, but rather a soothing effect to the massage recipient. Since the parasympathetic nervous system is on its function during the massage activity, a lot of people share their experience of peace and harmony.
Who can perform a relaxation massage?
Any person who wants to transfer a sense of calmness to another individual can employ gentle touch to achieve this objective. It is recommended then that one has to have background knowledge before performing massage. A simple research on how to perform it will truly help produce an effective result.
Massage to a busy hands
A simple hand massage is the easiest relaxation massage therapy. In today’s time of computerization, almost all who are working in companies uses a computer and spend so much time in it. Constant use of hands can lead to some contraction of hand muscles, aches, pain and even carpal tunnel syndrome. With the relaxation massage particularly on the muscles and the front part of the hand, ease of muscle pain can be effective momentarily.
Who are not qualified for a massage?
Before you are going to start the massage to a person, it is essential to ask if she has any health problems. Certain individuals who undergo surgeries, with skin problems and contagious diseases or even general flu-like symptoms should not get any massage therapy. Giving a massage to people who suffered any of the illnesses above might get complications on the diseases that they have. Since the procedure of massage manipulates the skin, muscles and tissues, there is a possibility that some conditions may be worsen with the presence of friction, heat and tissue manipulations.
How to perform a hand massage
Before starting, make your client to wash his hands or a sanitizer as an option. Put a mild cream on your client’s hand and render enough pressure so as to penetrate the cream to the skin. Pull softly on its each finger, as if you are giving a tug, to make good stretch on each joint. Gently make a small round stroke by your thumb on the palm side of the hand. And increase the size of your round stroke as you go back and forth on the palm. Do the same process on the next hand. For the next step, make a small round stroke going up and down in between the tendons. It is always advised to ask your client if the pressure is enough during the entire process. Do the same process on the next hand.
The wrist massage
After you have finished with the palm and fingers, move up to the client’s wrist. Make a small round stroke to the joints of the wrist (front and back) with enough pressure. Do the same process on the next hand.
Getting a massage therapy can really make your life a relaxing experience. Start with simple hand and wrist massage to give a soothing effect to your busy hands.
Is massage therapy spa right for you and what is it beneficial for?
Massage therapy can be extremely beneficial for a wide range of back ailments and recurring problems, but is it right for you? Traditional massage therapy is proven to help many forms of back pain as well as easing depression and anxiety-related disorders.
Ice massage is a popular type of massage for many people suffering from back pain. As ice massage can be easily administered at home, the costs are low (well, free!). Ice massage is best used on muscular sprains and sports injuries and is often used by placing an ice pack on the painful or damaged area. As the blood vessels tighten and contract, circulation is reduced. When the ice pack is removed and the blood vessels enlarge, the sudden rush of blood helps promote the body’s natural healing process. However, ice massage is not recommended for those suffering from conditions such as arthritis or paralysis and must always be administered with great care and attention in order to avoid burns and serious injury.
Another popular method of home massage is the use of massage chairs. These electronic devices are either standalone chairs or pads which slide over the back of an existing chair. Some models even administer a warming sensation along with the massage movement. As massage chairs are generally automated, it is difficult to administer treatment specific to your injury or ailment. Therefore, massage chairs are often not an effective alternative to human intervention and conventional massage. However, the devices can be very beneficial to many back pain suffers. Massage chairs should not be used on recent fractures or open wounds.
Traditional massage therapy is the most tried and tested method of conventional massage. Fully trained massage therapists can be costly, but there is no substitute for having a professional carry out what is essentially a medical treatment regime. If you receive massage from an untrained person, it is possible that they will cause further extensive damage. Conventional massage can help the pain sufferer develop increased ranges of movement as well as providing long term pain relief from the original ailment. It is likely that you may feel slightly sore or stiff after a massage session. This is perfectly normal and the long term benefits are what should be concentrated on most.
To summarize, massage therapy can be extremely beneficial to suffers of back pain and other muscular ailments if carried out correctly. Each type of massage therapy has its own benefits and can be used to treat certain types of pain. Please ensure that the method you choose is relevant to the ailment from which you are suffering and make sure your massage therapy is carried out by a trained professional in order to avoid any further complications or injury.
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The rotator cuff is a combination of four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis; commonly known as the “SITS” muscles) that work to stabilize the head of the humerus during all shoulder movements (essentially most upper-body movements). It keeps the humerus stable and centered in the shoulder joint to allow other muscles to function properly. Think of them as guy wires pulling on a tent pole: the supraspinatus pulls the head of the humerus into the glenoid fossa from above; the infraspinatus pulls it in from the rear; the teres minor pulls it in from bottom/rear; and the subscapularis pulls it in from the bottom/front. Some sources define the cuff as the tendons of these four muscles, but as massage therapists, when in massage therapy spa, we use a broader definition that includes the muscles.
A healthy rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder joint so we can swim, dance, play tennis, throw a ball, play golf, etc. An injured cuff compromises the function of all the muscles surrounding the joint.
In addition to serving this stabilizing function, the rotator cuff also counteracts the upward pull of the deltoid during abduction and flexion by pulling down and in on the head of the humerus. If it did not exert this downward/inward force, the head of the humerus would have an unpleasant collision with the acromion process of the scapula (the roof of the shoulder). It’s quite a graceful duet if everything works properly.
Another way the rotator cuff works is as a decelerator. If you throw a ball or swing a tennis racket, first you externally rotate your shoulder as a wind up, then forcefully internally rotate
as you throw or hit the ball. What keeps your arm from flying off your body? The rotator cuff, specifically the infraspinatus and teres minor. These two small powerhouses are the only external rotators of the shoulder joint. They have to work hard to counterbalance the powerful internal rotators that outnumber them. (There are five internal rotators of the shoulder joint: pectoralis major, anterior deltoid, subscapularis, latissimus dorsi and teres major.)
In addition to the stabilizing and deceleration functions, the rotator cuff also performs movements:
- Subscapularis: internal rotation
- Infraspinatus and teres minor: external rotation of the humerus
- Supraspinatus: abduction of the humerus
In summary, the rotator cuff:
- Stabilizes the head of the humerus during all shoulder joint movements.
- Counteracts the upward pull of the deltoid during abduction and flexion of the humerus by exerting a downward pull on the head of the humerus.
- Decelerates the arm when you throw something or swing a golf club, etc.
- Provides movement: internal/external rotation and abduction of the humerus.
These are busy muscles that are constantly multitasking!
The rotator cuff is quite powerful in that it generates a force of 9.6 times the weight of the limb and generates maximum force at 60 degrees of abduction.
Of course, the shoulder complex has quite a few ligaments supporting it also:
- Acromioclavicular: acromion process to clavicle
- Coracoacromial: coracoid process to acromion process
- Coracoclavicular: coracoid process to clavicle
- Coracohumeral: coracoid process to humerus
- Glenohumeral: glenoid to humeral head
Take a moment to appreciate your wonderful rotator cuff that works hard all day long.
