Tag Archives: mark brungardt

Massage Can Relieve the Pain and Stiffness of a Frozen Shoulder

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Frozen shoulder is a common shoulder dysfunction that can be addressed using neuromuscular massage techniques.  Although a range of shoulder injuries can be lumped into the category frozen shoulder, the cause of a true frozen shoulder is a scarring, thickening and shrinkage of the capsule following an injury to the rotator cuff or from bursitis or tendinitis.

Injury to the individual tendons within the shoulder area may result in pain or restricted movement, but not usually movement in all directions. Frozen shoulders do not like to rotate naturally. Neuromuscular massage techniques will encourage the relaxation of the muscles surrounding the entire shoulder girdle.

Most people who experience a frozen shoulder have muscles that have become fibrous and shortened due to the limited range of motion in the shoulder. Restoring the proper movement may involve stretching exercises in conjunction with massage.

Unfortunately, there is no simple fix for a frozen shoulder. Often it takes a persistent, regular approach to softening the thickened muscles in order to restore full range of motion.

Massage Can Relieve the Annoying Symptoms of Tinnitus

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Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, roaring or whooshing sound in the ears that is a symptom of another underlying problem. While the chief cause of tinnitus is noise-damaged hearing, there are other causes that can be treated with neuromuscular massage therapy.

First, it’s important to consult an audiologist who specializes in tinnitus to determine the cause. There are some causes that must be treated medically.

Neuromuscular massage therapist can help relieve the symptoms caused by stress and muscle tightness in areas such as the head, neck and jaw. People with TMJ often have tinnitus, and massage can help relieve the symptoms of both conditions.

Massage not only relieves muscle tension, it also increases circulation and helps you relax. In the case where tinnitus is a symptom of blood rushing through the ears, slowing down the heart rate and reducing blood pressure can relieve the sound.

Massage Can Aid in Cancer Wellness

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While the surgeon, the oncologist, the hematologist and the radiation therapist will deal with your cancer directly, a whole body approach may be the best option for survival. Massage reduces stress and stress hormones which impede recovery.

Massage reduces pain and minimizes the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. Massage can help relieve the nausea associated with chemotherapy and radiation. Massage also increases blood flow which makes chemotherapy more effective. The American Cancer Society views massage as an important complementary therapy for cancer patients.

Massage can help minimize scar tissue formation after surgery. Massage can help prevent lymphedema, a painful swelling of the limbs common in breast cancer patients. Massage can improve range of motion and keep the skin healthy after radiation treatments. Massage can also help relieve the overall fatigue that many cancer patients experience during therapy.

More and more people are surviving cancer and the physicians who treat cancer patients are realizing that massage can have a beneficial effect on the overall well being of their patients, during treatment and after.

Massage Can Relieve Headaches

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Approximately 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches. It’s one of the most common complaints to doctors. While over the counter drugs are effective in relieving the pain in the short run, massage therapy is effective in relieving the pain of migraine and tension headaches in the long run.

Tension headaches can be triggered by stress, dehydration, hormonal changes, neck alignment, muscular pressure on trigger points, and muscle spasms. Tension headaches often feel like tightness in the head, referred pain to the neck, shoulders and arms, pain in the jaw or pain at the temple or behind the eyes. Massage therapy directly addresses the cause of tension headaches.

There are a constellation of causes for Migraine headaches which include many of the same symptoms as tension headaches, but also include sensitivity to light or sound, along with nausea and vomiting. Massage therapy cannot cure migraine headaches, although it can lessen the frequency and duration of migraines.

Massage therapy relieves muscle spasms and can help loosen chronically tight muscles or bands of tissue. This helps with muscle balance and neck alignment. Loosening the muscles at the base of the skull can relieve those headaches that travel up the back of the head and behind the eyes.

Massage can increase endorphin levels which promotes relaxation. Massage can also decrease cortisol levels. Cortisol, the stress hormone, when out of balance, is often the culprit in sleep disturbances. For many people who suffer with headaches, lowering stress levels and getting better quality sleep results in fewer headaches.

Massage Can Help Your Back Pain

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Massage is a non-invasive way to treat both acute and chronic back pain. Not only does massage relax the muscles and allow for more blood flow to the area which aids in healing, it also releases endorphins which help lessen the sensation of pain.

When back pain results from physical activity or soft tissue injury, massage will help increase blood flow to the area which will reduce muscle soreness.  Massage also reduces tension in the muscles themselves which will improve flexibility. Often a lack of flexibility will cause pain with movement. The American Academy of Pain Management recognizes neuromuscular massage as an effective treatment for back pain caused by soft tissue injury.

For people with chronic back pain, the release of the chemical neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin eases anxiety along with reducing pain. This is especially helpful for people with chronic back pain who need movement to keep the muscles pliable and active.

While it might be easy to reach for a muscle relaxant if the muscles in your back are tight and causing pain, these drugs have side effects like sleepiness, dizziness or inability to focus. They’re not recommended if you need to drive, and you may find it difficult to participate in everyday activities while taking them. Neuromuscular massage offers an alternative to muscle relaxant drugs.
One added benefit of relieving back pain is better sleep. Patients with chronic back pain often report that they rest more comfortably and wake up fewer times during the night after having a massage to treat their back pain.

Massage Can Help Avoid and Relieve Athletic Injuries

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Massage is a great way to help athletes avoid injury as well as help create optimum performance during athletic events. You can incorporate massage into your regular workout regime before strenuous conditioning training just after a warm up. Massage can also help in the recovery phase of conditioning after the muscles have been pushed to their limits, while they rebuild and recover prior to the build-up phase of conditioning where the muscles adapt to new, higher demands.

Massage is especially beneficial after an injury where trigger points, or points of tension can be released allowing greater blood flow into the muscle helping with recovery. Rhythmic compression of muscle groups can soften the tissues which warms the body up to create deep blood flow within the muscle group. Friction techniques can broaden and stretch larger muscles groups and can also be used on connective tissue. Trigger point pressure can also reduce hypersensitivity, pain and muscle spasms which may prevent future injury by keeping you from favoring an injured muscle.

Massage will allow you to heal faster by improving circulation to the injured area, increase flexibility and range of motion which will help prevent the recurrence of injuries.

What Happens During a Typical Massage?

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A relaxing Swedish massage is often a baseline for clients. In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The oil also helps hydrate your skin. You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken. Massage and bodywork are most effective when your body is not resisting.

Various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more. We can discuss which methods may be most appropriate for you.