Running A Day Spa - Things You Need To Do Before You Start

Running a day spa involves a lot of responsibilities like hiring licensed employees such as massage therapists. Check that their licenses are renewed and not expired. You will also need to hire hairstylists, facial specialists, manicurists, and assistants. It's best to get highly qualified workers who charge a little more than get someone who doesn't know how to cut hair or give a proper manicure. Make sure that they have pleasing personalities and excellent manners because working in a day spa involves very close contact with clients.

You also have to find a good spot for your salon. Location is important for the success of any business, including a spa business. Look for a place with a lot of traffic, both foot traffic and clients who come by car. The salon should be visible and provide a lot of parking space. Check zoning laws in the area to make sure you will be allowed to open a spa in that area.

Running a day spa also needs a bit of sophisticated flair. Decorate you spa to what appeals to your market. If you are going to service upscale clients, use good quality porcelain tiles for the floors, install good quality mirrors, choose your lighting well to be both functional and appealing to customers. Makeup artists prefer a certain type of lighting. You can have just a small section specifically for make-up and facials. Salons are supposed to be relaxing so lay off red paint or other loud colors.

Once begin hiring workers, ask for reference and make sure that their licenses are renewed. Have them do procedures on you like a facial or massage to test if they are good at what they do. Crunch some number and find out if you should pay them a fixed monthly rate or offer them commissions. Some dayspas offer a small monthly rate but give commissions to employees.

Running a day spa also includes the responsibility to buy equipment and supplies. There are many supplies needed at a salon from nail polish to hair treatment solutions and massage oils. The list is pretty extensive. If you don't have a list of supplies yet, go to a massage or beauty school and ask them for a complete list of equipment and supplies you will need. They may also know where you can get cheap used equipment that are still in good shape. This can lessen the initial money you have to spend to open a spa.

Provide something special when customers visit your salon. Offer a nice refreshing drink or tea. Stick bottled water. Create an ambiance that spells P-A-M-P-E-R-I-N-G. Buy luxurious towels, soft linens, fluffy pillows, and comfortable massage tables. Have enough supplies of towels, robes, nail polish, etc. Make your clients feel like they are royalty for a day.

Direct more budget into promoting your salon that buying expensive new equipment. Good marketing can get more customers through your doors. Have some brochures and fliers printed prior to opening the salon so you can start spreading the word around town that you will be running a day spa in their area. Advertise in the local publications and have the local radio station advertise yours service a few days before opening.

Running a day spa involves more details than what we've just discussed here. There are more things to do before and after you open the salon. You have to manage earnings, train staff, buy cheap supplies, find affordable equipment, and keep learning new trends in the day spa industry. You can learn a lot by talking to people who have been in the business. Their experience and unbiased advice can come in handy for you. Look for a mentor who can guide you to success.

Physical Therapy Marketing Strategies

As in any business, physical therapy is no exception and needs to be operated like a business rather than just a therapeutic clinic. Most physical therapists concentrate on the therapeutic side of their practice rather than the business side. Both are equally important, as it is useless to have therapy without patients.

There are many different strategies that you can apply to your business to gain greater exposure and increase patient referral. The first thing you need to do is determine your target market and establish a network of potential patient resources from various physicians, schools, hospitals, etc..

One of the easiest ways is to get more patients is too talk to friends and family as well as new acquaintances and let them know about your physical therapy practice and how you can help them. Tell them about the various ailments, injuries and physical problems that you could help them with and chances are, they will know somebody who will need your services. Word-of-mouth is always the best referral.

Talking to your existing patients is always a great way to increase your patient load. By getting great results and informing your patients about the various services of your physical therapy practice, as well as telling them about the different ailments and injuries that you can help cure will keep you in mind when they your patients refer their friends and family. Focus on getting people better, and your reputation as a good therapist will bring in more patients.

Writing a press release about your physical therapy practice is a great way to increase exposure to your business. There are some online sites that can submit your press release for a small fee and distributes your business press release to online and off-line media.

Networking with other professionals in hospitals and health care settings, as well as getting to know the personnel of various clinics and physicians offices is a great way to develop professional relationships. Maintaining constant contact will keep you in mind, especially when physicians need to refer patients for physical therapy.

Getting to know editors of local newspapers, as well as reporters are also great ways to increase your network of potential patients, as they have a huge contact list of resources that can help promote your business. You can also be a topic of a story or headline, featuring your clinic.

Paid advertisements, TV and radio commercials are other great ways to increase the exposure of your physical therapy practice. This option can be an expensive option, however there are ways to get around this by volunteering for radio and TV interviews and speaking engagements. Establish yourself as a local professional and talk about your expertise.

Yellow page advertisements and listing your services in telephone directories will also keep your practice accessible to your potential patients. Many people who have don't know where to go for physical therapy services, will just refer to online or offline directories.

These are just a few ways that you can market your physical therapy business. There just needs to be persistence, hard work and good therapeutic results to establish yourself as the physical therapy practice to go to.

5 Benefits of Shiatsu Massage Therapy

Of all body work techniques Shiatsu is commonly known to the western world as acupressure. Which is not completely accurate because acupressure involves using needle pressure. However there are no needles used in Shiatsu, instead you use the thumbs, heels of the hands, elbows, knees and even feet.

Shiatsu is usually done on a mat on the floor and the client is always clothed. Different points along the body are compressed, working along the median of the body and the person's Ki, also known as energy points.

Often times a lot of the work is done on the soles of the feet and other acupressure points along the body that as a result stimulate different healing sensation.

Always be aware of your own body when you are working on someone. Make sure that you are centered and you are not over reaching and that you are coming from a place in your lower abdomen. At all times during the massage you should maintain contact with the subject with one of your hands, which is called the mother hand.

The are many benefits of the Shiatsu massage especially when we dealing with the fatigue, pain of the lower back, headaches, tension in the shoulders, anxiety and various other physical conditions.

These benefits include increased circulation, more relaxation, easing tension and discomfort in the body. Bringing blood to the area helps release tension and ease knots. Other benefits are increased flexibility and range of motion and getting more in tune with ones body. Some people claim to have decreased their blood pressure from massage.

The Benefits of Bamboo Massage Therapy

Bamboo massage therapy is an ancient Chinese medicine inspired type of natural healing medical care on patients by using stalks of bamboo in various sizes and lengths to accommodate the different areas of the body. Before bamboo was developed as a tool for improving the health of humans, it was used as a material capable of being able to be used on 1,500 different ways. It was used as a material for musical instrument, decorations, and many more. Most of the Asian countries also regard it as a symbol for prosperity, fertility, sexuality and long life. Over the course of time, it has been discovered and developed to aid in the healing of our body.

The method used on this type of therapy is somehow similar to most types of massage therapy, except for the fact that the massage therapist uses bamboo sticks instead of manipulating the whole body of the patient with his or her hands, elbows, and knees.

During a massage therapy session, the patient's skin is prepared by applying special oils or essential oils to act as lubricant for the bamboo stick to glide freely without any resistance all over the different areas of the body that needs to be treated. A good massage therapist will know when the skin has absorbed the massage oil and that additional oil is needed for a smooth surface to work with. The patient can also let the masseuse know when additional oil is needed to avoid any laceration or bruising on the skin. Essential oils are also incorporated in the massage due to the many benefits the human body can receive by using them on the skin. However, the therapist should make sure that the patient is not allergic to the oils he or she will use by checking out the medical record prior to the massage session.

Bamboo massage therapy aims in releasing the tensions of the muscle by constantly kneading on the different muscle groups of the body. With each muscle groups, a specific bamboo stick length and size is used to properly address the problems within that area. The use of these sticks is primarily in order to aim for the deep tissue to prevent the stiffening of the whole body and to relieve chronic body pain. This type of massage is similar to deep tissue massage thanks to the effectiveness of the sticks in being great accessories for working on the deep tissue of the patient. These are examples of some of the many benefits a patient can expect after undergoing a bamboo massage therapy aside from the total body relaxation and energizing experience. The sticks are sometimes heated in order to give warmth on the muscle tissues as the massage therapist works on the patient. The therapy promotes a good circulation, lymphatic drainage and sensory nerve perception. Regular use of this treatment may also increase the immune system of the patient, strengthen the physical body and improve the mental disposition. Always remember to check if the massage therapist is licensed and knowledgeable in this field of massage therapy for best result.

Autism Sensory Integration - Why Does a Child With Autism Need Physical Therapy?

There are many reasons a child with Autism may need physical therapy. Physical therapy helps develop strength, develop balance, possibly provides sensory integration, and for many children is just plain fun. Physical therapists have well defined goals for the work they do with a child though.

Children with Autism are sometimes tight, sometimes floppy, and sometimes a combination of the two. Most parents see this in their child's trunk or core of their body. It later is evident in their arms and legs but we see it first in their body.

A babies body strengthens from the inside or core to the limbs. It is a similar process for a child with Autism to develop strength in the right areas. It is also a similar pattern to develop flexibility if that is part of the problem

Physical therapists work with large muscles. They can uniquely work with a child with a disability to help develop flexibility or strength. Physical therapists can manipulate your child's body. They also can help parents problem solve situations at home or in other environments parents go with their child.

Some of our children with Autism walk on their tip toes and could work with a physical therapist on this issue. Other children have problems with balance when they walk and somewhere someone will suggest physical therapy. The physical therapist can work with our children on going up and down stairs.

Usually an occupational therapist is the person to go to for help with sensory integration. Occasionally a physical therapist is interested in sensory integration issues and will provide a unique perspective. When looking for this type of therapy for a child with any disability you have to ask for sensory integration specifically. There are some teams that work on sensory integration that include physical therapists.

As parents it is just easier when our child likes to go to therapy. Some children with Autism are sensitive to touch and the therapist will have to work out those issues first. After that our children seem to like it though.

My child would also come out of the session tired. They had worked and played hard. Physical therapists may also give you 'homework' to do with your child between sessions.

Since parents want to see their child use skills over a variety of settings it is always a good idea to at least try the homework. Siblings and grandparents were always a good source of hands to try some of this homework.

Massage Therapy and Repetitive Strain Injuries

There is no question that conservative therapy is the best option for those suffering with a Repetitive Strain Injury. From Trigger Finger to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, conservative therapy produces the best results, limited side effects (if any), quicker results and long-lasting relief.

There are many types of conservative treatments that provide a variety of positive benefits to the user. Massage Therapy is a terrific conservative treatment that provides good results by itself, and even greater results when combined with a stretch and exercise routine.

Massage is used to help relax and lengthen tight, restrictive muscles, break down scar tissue in injured muscles, reduce adhesions on affected tendons at their point of attachment to the muscle or to the bone, remove toxins from muscles and increase overall circulation and nutrient delivery to the associated tissues. All of these wonderful benefits help overworked muscles to relax and injured muscles to recover. The problem is this. Massage Therapy does not correct the muscle imbalances causing the Repetitive Strain Injury. Massage Therapy can greatly assist the rehabilitation / treatment process, but once a muscle has been injured and has atrophied to any significant degree, or a muscle has gone into a state of chronic hypertonicity, other therapeutic elements must be added to the treatment regimen in order to completely eliminate the Repetitive Strain Injury.

An integral part of treating Repetitive Strain Injuries is the implementation of a stretch and exercise routine specifically designed to create structural integrity and muscle balance where the injury exists. If the injury is Tennis Elbow, there must be an equality of strength between the wrist and elbow flexors, wrist and elbow extensors, and wrist and forearm pronators and supinators. By creating strong flexible muscles surrounding the specific joint, that joint will no longer be highly susceptible to Repetitive Strain Injuries.

The integration of Massage Therapy, stretches, exercises and hydrotherapy is a highly effective treatment protocol for many types of injuries. An example of a treatment sequence for a 'chronic injury', no matter the affected area, should follow along these lines:

Hydrotherapy Heat - Heat to increase circulation
to the area, making the soft tissues relaxed and pliable.

Massage Phase-I - Specific massage treatment
utilizing Trigger Point Release techniques to release muscle spasm and Transverse
Friction Massage to break down adhesions.

Stretch - Stretch overly restrictive tissues
to increase their length and reduce their compression of underlying tissues.

Exercise - Perform strengthening exercises
for the affected tissues in order to reduce tensile strain on the injured area,
heal micro-tears and increase healing nutrients to the injured area. Strong
muscles create stability and prevent future recurrence of micro-tears to
a previously affected area.

Massage Phase-II - Perform light Petrissage
and Effleurage towards the heart to remove the toxins created from undergoing
Trigger Point Release, Transverse Friction Massage, stretches and exercises.

Hydrotherapy Cold - Cool the injured tissues
in an elongated position as to not lose range-of-motion (ROM) of the affected
tissues and to further remove toxins from the area.

Massage Therapy and the involvement of the techniques listed above are very effective in eliminating chronic Repetitive Strain Injuries. Any one element by itself is OK, but by implementing several sound conservative techniques, the success rate of the treatment increases dramatically. Remember, when injuries are present, choose the "Conservative Alternative".

Schools of Massage - Things to Consider When Choosing a School For Massage Therapy

If you have chosen massage as a career for yourself, and are considering your options for Schools of Massage, you can probably use some advice. 

In this article we look at various things you should consider when looking at different Schools for Massage Therapy to enrol in. There are important factors that should always be considered when choosing a school for study, but massage schools require special consideration, as they fall into the realm of therapy and, thus, healthcare. 
 
With thousands of massage training institutions across the country, inevitably they are not all uniform in quality, and neither are they uniform in suitability to your needs and aspirations.
 
Learning the Art and Science of Massage Therapy
 
The massage school you find yourself enrolled in will teach all aspects of both the art and the science of massage. The 'art' of massage relates to many of the various physical techniques you use to perform the massage, using your fingers, hands, arms, and elbows. Also the creativity you may employ to design the treatment and then to best perform it.
 
The 'science' of massage refers to the anatomical, physiological and bio-mechanical aspects you will learn of the human body, and its structure and functions.
 
The staff at the school for massage therapy should consist of well trained teachers, and should have at least some years of clinical experience. There should also be sufficient staff, with the teacher/student ratio being minimal. 
 
While the staff's credentials are certainly important, the schools credentials are equally important. Be sure that the certification you will receive at graduation will be well received and respected in the areas of massage you hope to practice. 
 
Different Massage Systems and Techniques
 
Schools of massage teach different systems of massage. In fact there are hundreds of different systems and techniques. Many are commonly taught by most schools of massage, while many others are taught more exclusively through specialty schools of massage. 
 
As an example, Swedish Body Massage and Indian Head Massage are worlds apart and someone who is trained in one system could not perform the other without further training.
 
Pre-Enrollment Requirements
 
Depending on where you enroll for your massage therapist training, you may be required to have certain qualifications or experience prior to enrollment. Because the field of massage is such a large and varied subject, there are many courses that are created as a 'follow on' course, only permissible to students that have already accomplished prior academic achievements
 
Discuss with the school for massage therapy you are considering, the options available to you as a new massage student, or if applicable, a qualified massage student wishing to further his or her studies.
 
Insurance and Professional Associations.
 
With health insurance companies recognizing the contribution of massage to health care, they are increasingly adding coverage to include massage. This is of course a huge benefit to suitably qualified massage therapists, and another reason to ensure the certification you receive will be adequate to cover your services for inclusion in health care insurance.
 
Also check to ensure your qualifications avail you to satisfactory options in terms of professional insurance as a practitioner, and eligibility for professional associations.
 
Conclusion
 
With greater credibility and ever growing acceptance by the public, allied health care and conventional medicine, a massage therapy career looks to hold a bright future.
 
With the vast range of choices offered by the multitude of schools of massage, comes greater responsibility for due diligence by the prospective student. I hope the ideas discussed in this article give you food for thought on approaching how you choose your school for massage therapy.

How Girls Go to the Dark Side in Massage Therapy

Everywhere you turn, there seems to be a massage parlor around. They help people who need their kinks worked out. They help those who have sports injuries. They even help those who just need to get the pain to subside.

Then, there are some that give services of a whole different nature. We'll call it the dark side. Some might wonder how these women go through this. How do they go to the dark side? How do they even begin to think about this dark side? This is a question that puzzles everyone.

There have been some women who have been arrested at these massage parlors. They have been handcuffed as they had been set up and they are arrested for prostitution. This is how far some have come into falling into the dark side. They have stooped to a whole new level and it's something that many have found ruins homes and ruins economy as another business is well, out of business.

There are many reasons that women say they fall into this life. There are those who do it for the mere fact that they are broke. Others find that they need to do this in order to keep their job. Some actually cause guys to have affairs. Women find that if they sleep with men while they give them a massage, they might pay well.

You will find that a lot of the massage parlors that get closed down due to the prostitution that is taking place have a common trend with them. They are normally run by Asian women. The fact that this happens isn't a shocker. This is because this is the norm where they are from.

Many don't stop to think how many people they hurt. They hurt themselves as this is so demoralizing. Then there are other people who are hindered as well. It might only be one person doing this act, but the place shuts down. It hurts a community as well because that community is looked negatively upon. The men who allow these women to do these things have money and class. The other thing that they normally have is a family waiting for them at home.

There is a long history of these massage parlors. The first ones were started in Thailand. From there, it was like a chain reaction. More and more countries started having this issue. It then came here to the United States. It has been getting worse ever since. This is why there are so many regulations.

Due to the fact that many massage parlors are getting into trouble with prostitution, there are a lot of people who fight independently owned massage parlors. They don't want them in their community. They don't want people to be subjected to this stuff. This is how they ensure that this isn't a problem by making sure they don't exist to start a problem in the first place.

Choosing a Massage Therapist

Our everyday lives are becoming more and more hectic, working longer hours with added stress and little time to unwind.

Does this sound like you?

Sometimes we need to take a few minutes out of our day to relieve the stress and pressures of everyday life. We also need to repair ourselves from what we do whether it be heavy lifting or sitting at a desk all day.

Massage is the perfect solution.

Massage is an all natural way to help heal ourselves from the daily grind that we put ourselves through and prepare for another day.

Even if you don't have time for a nice one hour massage, there can always be time for a quick 15 minute chair massage that can really help.

If you are looking for a massage therapist or have never tried massage, there are a few things to consider when looking.

First, like doctors, chiropractors, and other professionals, not all therapists are created equal. They all have their own specialties and methods for treatment. Some will work for you and some will not.

Massage therapists undergo a good amount of training and are required to be licensed in order to treat in most states.

Some tips to consider:

Before hopping on a table, you should always check to make sure your therapist is trained and licensed.

Sometimes massage can be prescribed by your doctor and covered under your health insurance. If so, make sure your massage therapist takes your insurance. Not all do.

Talk to your massage therapist and see how they would treat you and what they recommend. There are so many massage techniques out there, get an understanding of what may work for you.

Your massage therapist should go over some kind of initial explanation of what to expect from massage. It is important for you to know if it may take a few treatments and what it may entail.

Make sure your therapist is aware of any medical conditions that you may have. That will have an effect on how they treat you.

One of the important things to remember is that all of our bodies are different. Some methods of massage work for some and not for others.

You may have to try different methods or different therapists to find the ideal situation for you.

Massage therapy is a great way to relieve the day-to-day stresses of our life and the aches and pains that go with it.

Give it a shot, you may be pleasantly surprised.

The Essential Magic of Touch

The Power of Touch

Touch as defined in the dictionary means to "put a part of the body especially the fingertips, in contact with something so as to feel it". The sense of touch is most likely the strongest and most powerful of all the senses for without it we would live in a world with no connection. A person can exist without sight, hearing, taste or smell and still be emotionally well balanced. To live without touch or without being touched leads to emotional disconnection and upheaval.

Think of when babies first come into the world and the bonding process that begins. Those children that are held and soothed are made to feel safe and loved. They bond with the people that treat them in this fashion - it does not matter if they are biologically linked together. Children build their trust through this manner of touch. If they are not cradled, stroked and supported, children do not learn trust. They do not trust their caregivers, their surroundings and therefore lose the ability to trust in themselves. The emotional destruction that can happen in this first phase of life is overwhelming. To rectify damage that occurs when touch is withheld is not easy. It can cause severe emotional problems as well as physical symptoms including slowed metabolism, failure to thrive syndrome and high blood pressure.

The chemicals released through the brain as the result of touch have much to do with a baby's development. Medical studies have shown that premature infants who are massaged for fifteen minutes three times a day gained weight 47 percent faster than those left alone in their incubators. Those babies that were massaged also showed signs that their nervous system was maturing more rapidly; they became more active than the other babies when stimulated with sound and color.

Our human bodies are wondrous maps of our entire lives - they hold the records of everything that we have experienced. Each emotion, each trauma, each encounter we have is held inside your body. Our bodies are composed of cellular memory. You know that kink in your neck...or how about that knot in your shoulder that you've had for years? These are all a result of some incident you've had that has become stored inside your body. Touch is a wonderful way to release these pains. Not only can healing touch - meaning massage or energy work - help to release the physical symptoms, but it can also assist in the letting go of the emotional attachments tied to the symptoms as well.

For example, when I was in massage school I was giving a massage to a fellow student. I was working on her neck and her occipital points, and as I applied pressure she began to cry profusely. I became alarmed, thinking I had hurt her, but as she regained her composure she explained what had happened. When she felt the release surrounding the muscle tissue, she began to recall vivid memories from her past. These memories were of a time when she was attacked, held around her neck and raped. She had blocked these memories for so long, but as the physical body was worked on - the emotions came forward for her to look at.

Does this mean that every time you have a massage some deep, dark secret will come forward? Of course not. But there are certain modalities that will assist in clearing your emotions that go hand and hand along with the bodywork. Rolfing and Amanae are methods that involve deep body work specifically designed to help clear the body and the mind. Rolfing, created by Ida Rolf, is structural integration designed to put your body back into structural alignment. While undergoing the structural alignments, many emotions are brought through and cleared. Amanae, introduced by Christine Day, is hands on, emotional release body work that opens "doorways" that have become blocked by deep emotional distress and trauma. The practitioner combines deep tissue massage and energy work to help the client achieve balance and release. I can personally attest that one Amanae session for me was equivalent to about two years of psychotherapy. In one session, I was able to let go of deep seeded anger and fear I had been holding onto since childhood. Not only was my body cleared of symptoms I had held onto, but my heart was also cleared.

Touch is an extremely vital component of our lives. It is important to give and receive touch as often as possible - be it through an embrace, a handshake, or a massage. Touch is a wonderful way of grounding our energy into our bodies. We live in a fast paced world. It is important that along with everything else on our "to do" lists, we make our bodies - our physical and emotional well being - a priority.

Experience something new. Treat yourself to a massage, bodywork or energy treatment. Find out what great healing awaits you. The more you discover about yourself, the healthier and happier you become.

Couples Massage Therapy

Offered by many spas and massage centers, a couples' massage is an excellent way for spouses, partners, lovers, and even friends to enjoy a massage at the same time. The massages can vary from traditional to sensual and erotic, but all of them have a few elements in common.

In most cases, the couples' massages are performed in larger rooms, which have two massage beds and enough space for at least two therapists to move freely around them. The benefits of sharing a massage are many as partners can bond and feel much more comfortable when they are in each other's presence. This is quite often the perfect way of introducing someone to the wonderful world of massaging and is also ideal for men, who are often more apprehensive about being nude during a massage or could feel vulnerable.

Various massage centers offer special couples' massages, which aim at teaching the partners how to massage each other and introduce them to the basic techniques, strokes, and practices of erotic and sensual massage. These sessions are performed by experienced therapists or masseurs, who can show men and women or same-sex partners how to add new and beautiful element to their intimate life. The sessions could involve not only a hands-on approach, but also sharing of the deeper and philosophical aspects of tantric and sensual massages and teaching the partners how to channel their sexual energy, give each other great pleasure, and achieve even greater sexual satisfaction. Such lessons can also be part of complete massage courses, which are extremely beneficial for couples that wish to improve their lovemaking and can include various techniques of pleasuring and self-pleasuring, as well as Yoni and Lingam massaging.

In the stressful times that we live, the relationships could be easily harmed by financial problems, career concerns, and numerous other negative factors. Quite often, the physical aspect of these relationships is the one that suffers the most, but with the help of regular couples' massages, this is the aspect, which can not only be rekindled, but also brought to new exciting levels.

In order to receive the full and long-term benefits from a couples' massage, it should be done on a regular basis, with the full commitment from both partners, and approached with an open mind. For the Western couples, many of the practices and techniques could be seen as unusual or inappropriate, especially when it comes to sensual and erotic massages, but their aim is to improve the couples' intimate life and strengthen their physical and spiritual relationship. If you are not a Tantric follower, you can still benefit from the spontaneous couples' massage and use it as a wonderful form of relaxation and recreation. After all, what can be more rewarding than sharing this sensual experience with the partner that you love? Offered by many spas and massage centers, quite often you can design your own, custom, couples' massage and ask the procedure to be performed in a way that you and your partner are completely comfortable with.

Specific Conditions and Health Issues That Can Benefit From Physical Therapy

There are many health conditions and mobility issues that can be treated using physical therapy. Most practitioners of this kind of healthcare service specialize in different fields of physiotherapy. And even though this type of medical practice has been around for quite some time now, most of the general populace is still unaware of the various advantages and benefits that physiotherapists have to offer. The following is just some of the areas where physiotherapy has long been used to evaluate and treat physical disabilities and conditions that have long plagued mankind.

• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy - for individuals who have suffered from cardiopulmonary conditions or those who may have undergone cardiac or pulmonary surgery, a good cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation program may be necessary to restore their endurance and overall physical health. Physiotherapists practicing in this field have a basic goal in mind, to help the patient gain his strength and independence in terms of mobility and functionality.


• Neurological Physical Therapy - sufferers of neurological diseases and disorders like cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, as well as people who have gone through brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke are all susceptible to mobility issues and seriously impaired motor functions. A neurological physiotherapist's job is to assess and aid these types of patients in restoring their independence through a specially designed physical therapy or rehabilitation program.


• Pediatric Physical Therapy - more often than not, some of our youngsters need some type of physiotherapy, especially those who may have genetic or congenital diseases that have left them unable to function properly in the outside world. A pediatric physiotherapist can help in diagnosing, treating, and managing certain health issues that some infants, children, and adolescents may be suffering from. These types of physical therapists have the capacity to detect specific symptoms in infants and toddlers who cannot really communicate yet and provide a workable and effective treatment that will allow these children to function and grow up as normally as possible.


• Geriatric Physical Therapy - just like our children, most of our elders will require the services of a good physical therapist as well. With the various health issues that most senior citizens are suffering from these days, a geriatric physiotherapist will never run out of patients to treat any time soon. As we grow old, our body will begin to show signs of degradation. Osteoporosis, arthritis, certain types of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other health issues associated with old age are just some of the conditions that geriatric physiotherapists can and will encounter. Senior citizens who suffer from or have undergone hip and joint replacement, incontinence, and balance disorders can also benefit from geriatric physical therapy.


• Orthopedic Physical Therapy - perhaps one of the most common specialties in physiotherapy, orthopedic physical therapists diagnose, help manage, and treat conditions and injuries related to the musculoskeletal system. People recovering from orthopedic surgery, sports related injuries, and amputations are the main focus of orthopedic therapists. Apart from diagnostics, management and treatment programs, practitioners of this field are also capable of providing strength training and prevention programs to individuals leading an active lifestyle.

The above mentioned physiotherapy specialties are just some of the practices in the field of physiotherapy.

Although there is a specific discipline of physical therapy for every type of injury, health disorder or physical disability, their expertise as physiotherapists are a welcome addition to the healthcare service industry.

The Benefits of Massage and Acupuncture Together

Acupuncture and massage are ancient practices. These techniques of healing the body of pain and aches along with many other problems have been dismissed previously by doctors and scientists. With modern day research, the benefits of massage and acupuncture have been rediscovered and used to combat health problems.

In acupuncture and massage, palms, fingers and thumbs are used to stimulate those special nerves in our body which then in turn trigger the pain and pleasure points in your brain. This then leads the body to either secrete endorphins (pain killers) and trigger certain actions which helps the body to fight health problems naturally. The human body's healing process is actually induced by massage and acupuncture therapy.

In the past, many people did not believe in the healing process of massage and acupuncture due to ignorance or fear of suffering pain during the process. Nowadays, many doctors recommend this type of treatment to relieve headaches and other unknown body aches.

Acupuncture and massage can be an alternative to medicine
There are many health problems which cannot be resolved by medicine alone. Also, determining the cause of some health problems can be very difficult. In some cases, acupuncture and massages have proved to be beneficial. Fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, and nerve damage are some examples. Using a combination of massage therapy and medicine can provide better results for some patients.

Massages have been shown to relieve headaches. A headache is usually a result of stress and muscle tension. However the actual cause of a headache is debatable. If you rarely suffer from headaches, any over the counter drug will relieve your pain. But if you have regular persistent headaches with increasing intensity, then you really need to see a doctor and follow a prescribed course of medication.

It is seen that tension related headache is due to an imbalance in the secretion of serotonin, endorphins, and other chemicals that serve as neurotransmitters (chemicals that the nerves use to send messages to one another). Acupuncture and massage release endorphins which stops the nerve cells from sending pain signals to the brain.

Summary
Nowadays, massage and acupuncture have been accepted by health professionals and the majority of people. Acupuncture and massage therapy have been shown to eliminate or reduce pain and in some cases, it can assist in resolving unknown causes of pain. Getting regular massages can help to promote better health.

Understanding the Health Benefits of Reflexology

You might have tried reflexology massage before. But, were you aware of the possible health benefits this massage therapy technique can provide to you? If not, here are the things that you need to know about the health advantages of reflexology:

Let us start with a crash course regarding the beginnings of reflexology. This technique has been present since the ancient times. This is believed to have originated from China. Some evidence carved in stone reflexology stones and charts show the presence of this technique at that period of time. The most famous technique is foot reflexology. Some people might be aware that foot massage can become a daunting session to undergo. However, the benefits can outweigh the pains that you have to go through.

It makes use of pressure or reflex points on parts of the body. The hands and the feet are the two main parts that indicate these points. The application of pressure unto these points is basically what makes up reflexology. This action allows certain electrical channels to be opened. It is believed that these channels have closed over time due to particular physical and emotional imbalances and stresses that a person has to go through throughout his or her lifetime.

Furthermore, it is believed that when a person is experiencing pain or tenderness on his foot, there may be the presence of a particular health condition that needs attention. This also means that an imbalance is present.

When you undergo reflexology, you will be able to let the blood flow inside your body more effectively. This will then provide a lot of benefits to you in your everyday functioning. This will also make you less susceptible to stresses.

People who have migraines might seek this type of therapy to relieve them of the pain that they are experiencing. Migraines are characterized with acute attacks but the condition can last chronically. This means that you have plenty of time to decide of you would get a reflexology or not. Do not wait for the attacks to come very often before you decide to take measures. Those who are constipated might likewise consider this technique. As the different parts of the body will benefit from the efficient circulation, your digestive system will also be affected. Digestion and peristalsis can resume in a normal manner if this are corrected by reflexology.

If you are experiencing pains in your neck, shoulder or back area, a reflexology massage can help you be free of such problems. The effect can be instantaneous for some while there are also people who will notice that their pain will not go away immediately after the session.

However, you have to keep in mind that this technique might not be the only health management that you need. It is always wise to consult a medical doctor and determine what your health condition is. Reflexology may only be a method that will be used to augment or complement medical management and measures that you need to undergo for your particular condition.

Knee Pain and Stiffness - How You Can Be Pain Free With a Combination of Pilates & Physical Therapy

Are you using the handrail more and more often when you go down the stairs. Are your knees failing you?

More people are now seeing their doctors because of painful joints, muscles and tendons than for the common cold, and the knee joint is responsible for over 20 million doctor visits each year in the US alone. Your knee plays a major role in the chain of weight bearing in the leg. It has to respond to ground forces from below and the load of your body from above. It is a relatively simple joint, but it has to be ready to quickly react to force from the ground while balancing the load of the rest of the body at the same time. Your knee is at the mercy of what's going on in the joints directly above and below: the hip, pelvis, ankle and foot.

Although there are many reasons for knee pain (arthritis, meniscus and ligament damage for example), long term relief of knee pain has to start with an assessment of your whole structure. This assessment begins with your feet to see how they influence the alignment and forces at the knee. Any joint is only as good as its structure, and poor alignment in the feet and ankles has a negative influence on the knee, creating muscle imbalances and eventually pain and stiffness.

The hip joint also has a similar affect on the knee - poor mechanics and muscle imbalances in the hip creates problems for the knee. And because the socket of the hip joint is formed by the pelvis, it has to be aligned correctly too. In fact, when doing a full assessment of the knee, the whole body must be evaluated, since any structural imbalances in the body can affect the knee's ability to function.

The good news is that a well balanced Pilates-based Physical Therapy program addresses the whole body. Pilates is a recent addition to many Physical Therapy programs and is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the world. Combining Pilates with Physical Therapy will improve your body awareness, alignment, strength, flexibility and balance. You'll learn how to move with more efficiency and less pain.

At first, new and balanced movement habits feel weird and unfamiliar because they're foreign to your nervous system. Working with a skilled Pilates trained Physical Therapist will help you understand your own unique postural and movement habits and help you practice correct patterns effectively.

Here are a couple of things you can do right now to find out how your knees stack up:

1. Stand in shorts, barefoot in front of a full length mirror and look at your leg alignment. What do you see? Are there any funny angles between your hips and your knees? What about your feet? Do you have an arch on the inside of your foot? Can you see that your whole leg influences the alignment of your knee? This includes the alignment of your pelvis, since the pelvis is the top of your hip joint. Be aware that when you do any exercise "for your knees", you must also consider the rest of your body, especially the foot, ankle and hip.

2. While standing, imagine a line going through the center of your leg from your hip joint, through the center of your thigh, your knee joint, the center of your lower leg, ankle and out the 2nd toe. This is the ideal alignment for your leg. A word about your hip joint: did you know that your "hips" are not the wide bones of your pelvis, but the place where you crease when you bend your knee towards your chest? This is where your heel should line up when your foot hits the ground when walking. The hip joint itself is really quite narrow - about the same distance apart as your sits bones in the back.

3. When you stand, walk and exercise, the alignment of your whole leg affects which muscles you use to move. And the way you use your muscles strongly influences your alignment. Be very aware of keeping correct alignment from your pelvis to your foot - hip to 2nd toe - so that you create good balance around your knees. If you do exercises like squats and leg press, do you pay attention to your leg alignment? Your knee program will be far more effective if you do. Remember that pain is your body's way of telling you that something's not right, so if you can't modify your position to relieve the pain, skip the exercise. Remember also that not every "recommended" knee exercise is right for every knee - you need to find out what's right for your knees.

The point is that your knee pain is usually just a result of the alignment you set up from the ground (you feet and ankles) and the load you put on them from above (your hips, pelvis and trunk). Figure out how to de-stress your knee joints by changing your whole-body alignment and your knee pain and stiffness will resolve.

If you have knee pain and want to find out how to get relief, see a Pilates trained Physical Therapist who will assess your whole body, rather than looking only at your knees. A Pilates exercise program, with a home routine, is a great way to reduce pain and stiffness in your knees, and a 2nd pair of experienced eyes will help you sort out your unique imbalances. Then you'll know exactly what to do for YOUR knees.

How do you find a Pilates trained Physical Therapist? Many PT clinics now offer Pilates, and many Pilates centers employee Physical Therapists. Check your local PT clinics and Pilates centers. And make sure that your practitioner has completed a comprehensive Pilates training program.

Copyright © Park Meadows Pilates 2008

Occupational Therapy Assistant, The Truth Behind the Fiction

There are currently hundreds if not thousands of articles on the internet about occupational therapy assistants, also known as Ota and Cota. Though there has seemed to be reasonable information on websites, there are also a lot of bad information out there on the web. The purpose of this article is to break down the different sections of a career as COTA and to show true and factual information. This article will cover all aspects from start to finish for a new occupational therapist assistant and will cover topics such as salary, schooling and workplace environment.

Ota Schools

The first area to look at is occupational therapy assistant schools. There are a lot of questions concerning if schooling is even required,and if so can it be taken online if classes are required?

Ota accredited schools and classes are generally found in college campuses in every state, with most courses being found in community colleges. These schools must be acknowledged by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) to earn your degree.

Contrary to rumors, there are no online schools for occupational therapy at this time. The course work is about two years, with the first year being mostly classroom instruction and with the second year having the student do hands on training in a hospital or private care practice. Some of the course work a student will have to take includes pediatrics, gerontology, medical terminology, and physical rehab. There may be other classes required depending on the state and the school.

A person who is seeking a career in the occupational therapy field needs to be wary and keep away from at home course work or promises of schooling that can be done in just a few weeks or months. All states with the exception of Hawaii require a two year degree.

At this point in time, all states that require licensure only require a two year degree. There are many rumors that a Bachelor's degree is needed and this is not true. Though continuing ones education in occupational therapy can lead to a higher salary and other benefits, it is up to each individual at this point in time.

Licensure information.

At the point of graduation a person seeking a career will need to become licensed as an occupational therapist assistant. Licensure is issued by state run boards in each fifty states. Each state has its own rules and regulation that are governed by an occupational therapy board, with some being private and some run by the state exclusively. Though each state is different, there are a number of similarities to obtain licensure which includes the following.

A person seeking an occupational therapy assistant license must be a U.S. citizen, must have a social security number and must have taken and passed appropriate college course work as well as taken and passed the NBCOT exam.

Every state requires a federal background check, but convictions are not necessarily immediate grounds for dismissal. Some states may consider processing an occupational therapy license if a written affidavit is turned in to explain the circumstances of the conviction.Other factors including time and nature of the offense may be reviewed and be considered to grant licensure.

Each state will have an Occupational Therapy Assistant licensure package that will include many forms to fill out. Do not pay for these forms from a third party as they can be accessed online from reputable sites. It is advised to take a very thorough look through the forms before attempting to complete them. There will be official transcripts required; notarized signatures and many states will want you to turn in a fingerprint card which can be completed at a local police station.

COTA Salary.

There are many websites claiming that occupational therapy assistants can make over one hundred thousand dollars a years starting off, and this is simply false information. The median wage for an occupational therapy assistant across all fifty states is approximately thirty six dollars and five cents. The leading states in pay are currently, Texas, California and Nevada.

Though these numbers are averages, as there are different employers within the occupational therapy field, and each employer or setting generally pays different than another. One example is home care health services. These employers generally pay the most while local public schools will not pay as much. In summary, your state, employer and benefits offered will all be greatly different, and in turn each ota salary will be different. There is no guaranteed number for each individual entering the field as a cota.Though there are many in the occupational therapy field making a great salary, the hard work and time involved is not overnight and does take time.

Ota workplace

The next area to consider is the ota workplace environment. There are those who speculate that an ota works in substandard settings while other dream of onsite hair salons and other perks. The truth is just like any other career, each employer will be different and those in occupational therapy can tell you there is no exception with their field as well.

An ota will work with a variety of patients who have needs that are different than from the previous patient. You may be working in a public school with children with physical issue or a hospital treatment facility working with a middle age woman with emotional struggles. Though an occupational therapy assistant has many job skills, some of the basics such as following direction, keeping up to date with the latest technology and implementing and using the technology are just a few examples.

A Cota must also be reasonably physically fit, for there will be many instances of moving patients around, such as from a bed to a wheel chair. There are many job duties including answering phones, checking and mapping out charts of patients and a host of other task. Though the salary can be rewarding the job of an occupational therapist assistant is very demanding.

An occupational therapist assistant job is demanding and there are no shortcuts. Through the two years of attending an accredited school, to taking the NBCOT exam, to finding and starting a career is a long road. The hope is that this article enlightens those who are seeking an education in occupational therapy or looking to continue their education.

Occupational Therapy - A New Career Choice

An occupational therapist helps patients who have lost the ability to do routine everyday activities due to some handicap or physical, developmental or congenital problems, to restore normalcy in their lives. By working closely with them, the therapists not only help the patients to develop the skills required, but also complement these with compensation skills to enable the patients to become independent in small activities like dressing on their own and using a computer. They would also teach them to use accessories like orthotics, wheelchairs and dressing and eating aids. The field of occupational therapy is as demanding as it is interesting, for people with compassion and love for their fellow human beings. However, since this plays a critical part in the lives of patients in dire need of help, an occupational therapy degree is necessary, if you want to make a mark in this field, and for this, you would need searching for accredited therapy schools with occupational therapy program.

If you aspire for a job as an occupational therapist, try to include courses on biology, sociology, psychology, anatomy and other science and social science related subjects, in your undergraduate classes, besides taking up opportunities as a volunteer, which will stand you in good stead for your future educational advancement. You must remember that completing a master's degree and taking up a job, does not absolve you from participating in on-going education to hone your skills and become up-to-date with the latest technologies and developments in the field.

Physically fitness is imperative for occupational therapists, as their work demands standing for most of their working hours, and they even have to lift the patients at times, besides other exhausting activities of the occupation and a strenuous 42-hour week, sometimes even at different locations. In the schools, a therapist would choose the vocation that interests him. Some would prefer concentrating on therapy for children, while others may prefer to devote quality time with helping older patients who may just be recovering from a stroke or some other devastating incident in their lives.

Most occupational therapy schools cater to a master's degree, which is the minimum qualification for an entrance to a career in this field. In addition, the students would also have to take a national certification exam to qualify for employment. Most of these therapy schools run a full-time program, but now, a slew of schools are offering programs on a part-time basis for the student's convenience, so that they can continue to attend to their other vocations in hand. Before you enter a therapy school, you would do well to check out their record of graduating students, the part-time courses they offer and the help they would render in job placement, after you complete the course with them.

What Are the Best Ways to Market Physical Therapy?

You may be really good at what you do but unless you actually take time out for marketing physical therapy, your physical therapy practice is bound to remain limited. Without marketing, there are slim chances of getting clients. You can learn skills for marketing physical therapy and enjoy the success that you actually deserve.

Do not assume that people know about you because you are good at what you do. Let members of your community regularly know about your services, whom you are targeting and that you would welcome referrals. Inform your existing clients about your services from time to time. Remind them about the fact that they can refer you to their friends and families.

One of the best ways for marketing physical therapy is to provide great services to your clients and develop a personal relationship with them. Ask them for their feedback in terms of what they liked about your services and if you would have done anything different. Your existing clients are most likely to refer you if they are satisfied with your services and have faith in you.

Conduct regular client satisfaction surveys to get feedback from your clients. It helps in marketing your practice as well as helps you to improve on your services. It sets expectations among clients and also creates awareness about any additional services that you may have.

Make sure you use some kind of a device to track the results of marketing physical therapy. Ask your new patients how they got to know about you. This is the simplest way to achieve this. You can also use more advanced tools like clinic management software that have tracking programs built into them.

Try to create a niche for yourself by marketing physical therapy only to specific target groups. That will help to position you as an expert rather than someone who treats everyone. That will allow you to provide higher quality service and charge higher rates as well.

In any marketing communication, make sure you describe the benefits of the services that you provide instead of the features. Patients are more interested in how you can make a difference to them rather than knowing just the key points of your services.

Should You Rent Or Own Your Own Physical Therapy Equipment?

Physical therapists are specially trained in the area of physical therapy, which involves intense knowledge of what the body physically needs following an injury, illness or recovery from intense medical treatment. Physical therapy is designed to improve strength and mobility and prevent future injuries from occurring. Physical therapists use a wide variety of equipment to aid patients in recovery, and this equipment is often the largest financial investment that physical therapist offices make.

If you are a physical therapist or are managing a physical therapy office, you may find yourself weighing the pros and cons of renting versus buying your physical therapy equipment. Which option is best for the physical therapist? The truth is that there is no perfect answer in favor of one or the other. Often it can depend on the size of your office and your particular needs as well as the type of equipment you are considering purchasing or renting for your office.

If you are a brand new practice (or physical therapist starting out on your own) just starting out, it may be best to rent your equipment in the beginning. This alleviates the need for a large amount of capital and helps you to avoid the initial high cost for equipment that will surely be in the thousands of dollars. The helps reduce the financial risk of outright equipment purchases.

However, a more established practice may do well to invest in buying their own equipment outright, as long as it is not equipment that may soon be outdated or need regular replacement to keep up with your practice's needs. In these cases, renting may be a better option.

Renting equipment is an affordable option that can offer easy payment arrangements for equipment that may not be as affordable to you to purchase. It also allows you to try out new types of equipment for an extended period of time prior to buying.

Sometimes you can find programs that offer equipment rental with the purchase to buy at the end of the lease. This may be good option in some circumstances if you are lacking the funds to purchase the equipment outright or are unsure about the equipment and want to try it out but are leaning toward eventually making a purchase.

Just be sure prior to renting any equipment that you are sure of all terms of the rental agreement and contract, as usually you will be required to rent physical therapy equipment for a specified amount of time and may be charged large fees if you decide you want out of your rental agreement.

Large business leasing and purchasing are tough decisions to make and can greatly impact your practice financially. To make the right decision for your office or practice, consider all factors involved in this type of budgeting decision. You'll need to take into account the type of equipment you need and how often it will need replaced. You'll also need to have a clear understanding of the budget of your practice and what type of investments you are able make at this point in time.

Nerve Impingement - Brachial Plexus (Shoulder-Arm Complex) And Lumbar - Sacral Complex

Legal liability disclaimer: The author does not intend this article to be a self-diagnosis tool
for disk herniation or neural stenosis or any other neurological dysfunction.
This article is only intended to provide some information related to sources of pain with neurological origins.

Any individual suffering from neural pain may wish to consult with their physician or specialist before seeking massage therapy.

I am a graduate in Winnipeg in advanced massage therapies.

I have studied neurology for three years within my massage therapy courses and would like to share what might be causing nerve impingement in the brachial plexus.(shoulder/arm complex) and lumbar/sacral complex.

The nerves which serve the arm come out of the gap between the vertebrae below C5,6,7and T1. This is called the 'brachial plexus'.
One branch goes to the left arm and the other to the right arm, via the armpit and contains five main nerves, the axillary, radial, musculocutaneous, median, and ulnar.
There is an annular disk between the vertebrae made of a fibrous outer disk and an inner gelatinous pulposa.
When this disk dries out, one of them being aging; for many reasons, it narrows the gap between the vertebrae and can impinge, entrap, or irritate the nerve by rubbing it the wrong way, excuse the humour. Another cause of nerve impingement related to disks is the anterior or posterior herniated disk. This happens when due to an over-flexed or over-extended spine or due to anterior/posterior or lateral shearing when there is excessive pressure placed upon the disk and the inner portion, the gelatinosa, protrudes posteriorly and impinges the posterior nerve root. This can happen during an activity of sports or over-exertion during gardening or other occasional nature. Sometimes this type of injury can happen because of an imbalance in musculature between left and right, flexors and extensors, causing the strain and subsequent herniation of the disc.

The other main cause for vertebral nerve impingement is vertebral subluxation, caused by hypertonic (tight) muscles which because of overuse or trauma have twisted or rotated the vertebrae left or right, anterior or posterior, and impinged the nerve.

I've heard of neurosurgeons performing laminectomies where they remove the laminaes between the anterior part of the vertebrae and the posterior processes and then fuse the vertebrae together. This limits motion but also limits the friction. While they remove the laminaes, they also enlarge the gap where the nerve exits by digging out the bone between the vertebrae.

This procedure is also often performed in the lumbar area where many posterior herniations occur, esp. between L4-L5, L5-S1.

The scenario which includes pain being severe upon 'arising', during hip extension, makes sense. Any nerve impingement at the sacrum or lumbar area will pull the 'erector spinae' all the way up the back to the neck and irritate any nerve impingement in the cervicals "neck" area. This will cause the pain possibly to be referred into the shoulders, arms, neck, and face.

The muscles which support the back are the extensor group, which are along each side of the spine, which attach to the sacrum between the hips, the iliac crest of the hips, and climb to the neck, attach to the transverse and spinous processes of all the vertebrae. They are responsible for back extension, side-bending, and rotation.

Any 'stenosis' or narrowing of the gaps between the vertebrae may cause nerve impingement.

Which brings me to the other aspect of why I wrote this article. That has to do with the benefits of massage. Sometimes there are muscles which are'hypertonic': tight.

These muscles may have become that way because of chronic overuse, guarding: which occurs when there is surrounding trauma and the muscles contract to protect the surrounding area by limiting movement. Unfortunately sometimes these muscles don't know when to turn off and elongate after the guarding is no longer needed or useful. And so they stay shortened and tight. Massage therapy can help relax and elongate these muscles and in many instances relieve nerve impingement. The nerves sometimes go through these muscles or between two fascicles "bundles" of muscles and can impinge nerves.

The resulting pain will be similar to vertebral stenosis(narrowing) and the patient may present themselves with similar pain to the upper brachial plexus, or to the lower sciatic like pain, caused by the tight piriformis muscle in the gluteal 'buttocks' region. Because the sciatic nerve which innervates the posterior leg, runs between the piriformis muscle and the obturator foramen which is the opening where the sciatic nerve passes through to go from the anterior of the sacrum to beneath the gluteus maximus and then down the leg,

A tight piriformis will impinge the sciatic nerve upon arising or hip extension, or when externally rotating the leg. This pain is usually felt when driving for a long time, or when going from sitting to standing, crossing the leg over the knee would be impossible because of the increase in pain.

This treatment , piriformis release, can be performed by any remedial massage therapist who has been trained to recognize the difference between a herniated disk, an impinged disk due to stenosis, and a hypertonic muscle situation. The straight'well' leg test or the slump test will test for a herniated disk. A negative test would lead one to suspect the piriformis, esp. is there is pain upon lateral rotation of the leg ,esp. with hip flexed. Herniated disks usually herniate to one side appearing unilaterally,

There is not much which massage therapies can do to assist a herniated disk condition, except to release some of the muscles which may be guarding the dysfunctional vertebrae allowing for more movement. This may not be the best thing to do because the guarding muscles are preventing more pain and motion in the region to minimize future injury. The advantage gained by more mobility may be offset by the disadvantage of increased risk of further injury with excessive motion.

The best solution would be to apply ice, for ten minute sessions every hour, in the acute stage; contrast hot(three minutes) and cold(one minute) applications in the sub-acute stage on injury. This usually is one week to three weeks after the initial injury.

Besides the rest and reduced stress on the area for the period of acute recovery, the hernia usually will heal or rectify itself without surgery. It is only in rare cases where spinal fusion of the vertebrae is required because the pain is too intense with motion.

In the neck and shoulder, the brachial plexus can be impinged beneath the trapezius, or , between the neck muscles and the sterno-cleido-mastoid "scm".

Or it can be impinged between the clavicle "collarbone' and the ribs by a tight pectoralis minor and major. Shoulders which are rotated forward, usually accompanied by a hunchback are symptoms of a possible tight pectoralis.

There is a 'pec minor'test which can be performed. Raise your arms up above your head. If you get tingling, numbness in the arms and fingers , usually unilaterally, to one side, that would confirm a tight pectoralis. It is possible to have the neurological deficit bilaterally, on both sides, but this would be less common.

Treatment for a tight pectoralis can be performed by any qualified massage therapist with assessment capabilities.

How To Set Up A Mobile Massage Business

Not only has the modern lifestyle provided for growth, career fulfillment, entrepreneurship and advancements in every sphere of life but it has also provided for more stress to perform well and thus increased the value of alternate healing techniques, such as massage therapy! It is not wonder then that what used to be chiefly considered a physiotherapist's domain is now so much in demand as a value-added service in parlors, spas, health farms and even hotels as people crave rest, relaxation and peacefulness that a good massage therapist can provide with a flick of the wrist and spin of the fingers!

While it may not always be possible to rent out large and grand looking offices or commercial chambers for a massage therapy business, one can start small with the venture of providing quality massages at affordable costs by investing in a van so as to offer mobile massage therapy packages.

It is also a considerable lower investment than renting or buying a place and employing many people with added overheads; besides, having a mobile massage therapy business allows one to decide schedules according to their convenience, have more than one location to operate from and thus wider reach to customers, they are self-employed and enjoy more freedom than massage therapists working in a parlor under a boss and can also thus be totally independent in setting regulations for work as they please and deem fit.

Investing in a movable massage therapy business also reduces the expenses related to a regular set-up in an office environment besides eliminating much of the equipment one would require to fill space or even the salary of a receptionist and manager as such; other headaches such as property insurance and utility costs are also considerably reduced in a mobile unit.

With the small private area afforded by a mobile massage unit, there is the added attraction of therapists being able to offer couple-massages that are a sensual treat for many partners who cannot enjoy the togetherness of such an experience at a parlor in quite the same way besides a mobile unit allows the entrepreneur to visit home-bound clients and those with a disability just as well. Even those with a time-limitation can be attended to in the privacy of the mobile massage unit with the therapist making the appointment somewhere near the client's office/home.

However, with all these heavy advantages to a mobile business as a massage therapist, there are equal number of downsides, which include taking care of self employment taxes that are typically more; having to take care of health and vehicle insurance on your own, incurring more fuel and maintenance cost for the automobile, extra commuting long-term, physical tiredness and mental strain of dealing with varied client demands at odd hours besides having to take care of advertising your services and business developments.

Weight the pros and cons of the decision and choose wisely if you are cut out for making it in the mobile massage therapy business - after all, nobody knows your needs better than you!

How To Increase Your Physical Therapy Assistant Salary

As a physical therapy assistant, you will have many roles and duties. A physical therapy assistant will attend school for 6 to 7 years and will receive a degree. For many people who are looking to become a physical therapy assistant think that 6-7 years of education is enough and they may not want to pursue any more schooling. On the other hand, some people wish to further their education and become skilled in other areas of physical therapy.

Becoming a physical therapist is great if you enjoy helping and working with people. These types of therapists will work with various types of patients on a daily basis. In this instance, they will work with patients who have been injured in accidents or any other form of damage.

Physical therapy assistants are like companions to disabled or handicapped patients. When injuries to the human body are not treated and left unattended, things can start to take a turn for the worse and recovery will be even harder. In this event, physical therapy assistants come and save the day and help patients cope with their situation on a personal level. In order to be the best at this occupation, you will need to further your education and cover all aspects of the job. In this case, practice makes perfect and you will be able to care for your patients better. A lot of the patients that will be dealt with in this instance may be discouraged, depressed, and have low self-esteem. As a physical therapy assistant, it will be your duty to make them feel better and let them know that everything will be okay. This is a lot like reassurance, and patients need this in order to build their health back up and achieve the goals set by their doctor or physical therapist.

Furthering your education with this career is not mandatory, but it is a good idea to do so. Taking extra courses every 2 to 5 years will help you tremendously while you are practicing. Many people don't realize that this is a medical profession, and perfection is required by many. In any event, no one wants to be bad at what they do, so taking a few refresher courses every few years will help you stay sharp while on the job.

A more popular reason for furthering your education in this field of work is for the money. The more experience you have, the more you will get paid. A lot of people could use the extra money in today's economy, and furthering your education is one way to do this. Money is usually the main reason why people get up out of their beds every morning and leave the comfort of their own homes. Money is needed to live. In order to pay bills and other household expenses, money is needed. A lot of people are surprised at how much a year or two makes a major difference in their pay rate. These differences could be anywhere from $400 to $1000.

What Does MOA Stands For?

The practice of osteopathy is something very promising. As of today, there are more aspiring osteopaths than any other people who want to practice other medical professions. This is because the practice of osteopathy is very rewarding because of the fact that you may be able to assess, diagnose, and treat people with various conditions. Osteopaths may even make furthermore changes in people's lifestyle by advising them to take lifestyle changes that will encourage them to be more health-conscious.

But just like any other medical professions, the study of osteopathy takes years. Aspiring osteopaths take years of studying, practical application, and supervised training on actual patients in order for them to effectively master the whole course. The study of osteopathy takes five years of more so that aspiring osteopaths will have a thorough understanding of the entirety of this medical practice. At the end of every degree of Osteopathy, Masters of Osteopathy will be able to:

• Have a deeper knowledge on clinical research and clinical practice of this medical profession.
• Improve your understanding of osteopathic diagnostic techniques and treatment procedures.
• Be confident and competent in providing patients from various cultures with various conditions, with the appropriate and effective treatment plans for them.
• Learn and embrace different medical paradigms and be able to incorporate them with the practice of osteopathy.

Master of Osteopathy degrees in accredited universities include in their programs integration of various aspects like scientific, anatomical, theoretical, applied osteopathic skills, and naturopathic skills in order to achieve the main purpose of the degree which is to be able to serve patients with safe and effective diagnosis and treatments for people suffering from different diseases and conditions. This purpose is achieved through both classroom and practical techniques such as laboratory classes and practice with actual patients under the supervision of an expert. Students taking up Master of Osteopathy course have to complete a minimum of 30 hours of clinical, practical, and theoretical classes every week. This means that upon graduation, aspiring doctors of osteopathy should have completed almost 5000 hours of practical, clinical, and theoretical classes inside and outside the four walls of their classrooms.

The degree program, Master of Osteopathy, because of its wide understanding in the different areas of different medical professions, years of training and theoretical studies, and competent and competitive learning environment, makes it one of the most sought after medical professions and one with the most likely successful career in the future.

How To Find The Right Physical Therapy Schools For You

Many people each year go into the wonderful field of physical therapy where the enjoy a wonderful career that is enriching and well paying. However, before they get that far along, they will have to decide whether this field is right for them and also go to one of the physical therapy schools. Here, we have put together a list of tips to help make sure you this field is right for you and also what you can do to ensure you are in the best school based on your interests.

1. Make sure you love physical therapy.

One of the first things that any prospective student will want to do is make sure that this field is right for them. One of the easiest ways to do this is to volunteer at a physical therapy facility in your area. This can help give you an invaluable look into the real life of those who are physical therapists. However, it can also help you decide what specific area you want to work in. This is why we recommend you volunteer at several different types kinds of physical therapy facilities. This information can be used to help you decide on which school will be the best choice for you.

2. Make sure the school is accredited.

When doing your research on the different physical therapy schools, make sure that they are all accredited. If they are not, it is not worth your time considering them. There are plenty of schools out there that are accredited so be sure you are picking from the right ones from the very start.

3. Find out where the graduates are working.

This is important because want to make sure that at least some of its graduates are practicing in the areas that you want work in. This can be found out by contacting the school and asking where their graduates practice. Also, you can often find this information on the school's website where they highlight where their graduates are going. If a school's graduates are not practicing in the areas you want, you should not consider that school. An alternative to getting the answers to this research is to interview those physical therapists that are working in the areas that you want to work in and ask what school they went. This can give you some direct information on what school and skills may be needed to get the job you want.

By keeping these different tips in mind, you should be well on your way to the best one of the different physical therapy schools for you. Good luck on your journey and career.

Choosing the Proper Physical Therapy Equipment For Your Back Pain Rehabilitation Center

With hundreds of pieces of physical therapy equipment in the market today, it's sometimes difficult to properly evaluate your choices and choose the most appropriate rehabilitation equipment for your rehab center.

Physical therapy is a growing field, and with the incidence of back pain affecting 80% of all Americans, it is expected to grow even higher. Many times physical therapy is the first course of treatment prescribed to the back pain sufferer, with the goal of decreased pain and increased function. Most therapists have found that a combination of manual therapies, like hot/cold and mechanically aided therapies, like TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) provide the best clinical outcomes. Larger, more condition specific pieces of rehab equipment are becoming mainstream and essential for both patient and practice success.

Certain factors play a key role in choosing the appropriate rehab equipment for your physical therapy center, including:

1. Patient population

2. Clinical outcomes

3. Adaptability of objectives to patient needs

4. Ease of use

5. Patient compliance

6. Evidence-based foundation for treatment method

7. Space requirements

8. Price 

Before a capital equipment purchase is made, these factors need to be considered carefully. Asking yourself the tried and true questions of Who, What, When, Where, Why and How will help you make informed choices and lead to greater success.

Who will this equipment benefit? Is it effective for only a small group of patients or a broad population of patients? will your patients think of this new therapy? Will they enjoy the treatment or consider it painful and aggressive?

What will your patients think of this new therapy? Will they enjoy the treatment or consider it painful and aggressive?

When will this equipment be effective in the patient's treatment program? Will the equipment advance it's objectives as the patient progresses?

Where will you put the piece of rehab equipment? Does it have a small footprint or will it take up a lot of your precious space?

Why does this equipment work? Is there evidence-based science behind this method of treatment?

How will the price of the equipment affect my bottom line? Is this a piece of equipment that offers a reimbursable modality?

If these six questions can be answered with positive statements, then the equipment is probably a wise investment. Alternately, if you find that the equipment would be effective for 1 out of 100 patients, takes up a large amount of room and is not reimbursable, it is probably not a wise investment.

There are pieces of rehabilitation equipment for back pain that meet all these criteria, and a little research now will be well worth it in the long run. Look at all your options and don't make hasty decisions based on slick marketing or nice salespeople. This is your physical therapy center, and the rehabilitation equipment you place in it will play heavily on the success of your patients and of your business.

Physical Therapy Clinics

Physical therapy clinics are places where people with injuries, disabilities, and certain physical conditions can go to get professional treatment for their ailments. The clinics offer treatments daily from Mondays through Fridays with some staying open even on Saturdays. These clinics are staffed with physical therapists and their assistants, all of who are board-certified and able to handle various cases as patients present to them.

Patients must be referred by other qualified medical practitioners for them to be seen and evaluated by physical therapists in their clinics. Many referrals come from neurologists, geriatrics, orthopedics and sports medicine physicians. Other physicians with specialties in pediatrics, cardiologists, podiatrists and internists also refer patients who have concerns with respect to their mobility and physical functioning. Therapists are not allowed to treat patients without these referrals.

Since these clinics see mostly patients with impairments in their physical functioning, the clinics are set up to accommodate these concerns to make it a safe and convenient environment for their patients. In addition, physical therapists see to it that they have everything in place to assure an accident-free environment.

The usual clinic set up includes a reception area, treatment rooms and a staff area. The treatment room contains treatment tables, a hydrotherapy section, exercise mats and other more specific equipment depending on the specialty of the therapist holding clinic hours there and depending on the needs of the patients.

Some of the more basic and usual equipment in a physical therapy clinic includes an ultrasound machine, TENS, electronic muscle stimulus, hydroculator units, stationary bikes, paraffin bath, traction, gym balls, diathermy, parallel bars, exercise mats, weight training equipment, etc. These are used to strengthen and stimulate motor functions and treat other challenges that patients face.

Because of the nature of illnesses and ailments physical therapy patients face, the clinic must have an atmosphere of calm and positivity to it as promoted by its staff members to encourage and improve the patients' self-esteem and well-being. For instance, the morale of a stroke patient who is used to independence but is now wheelchair bound is prone to depression and low self-esteem. Clinic staff must be sensitive to this and trained to interact and care for the patient appropriately, ultimately contributing to the patient's improved self-esteem down the road.

A good physical therapy clinic must be equipped to handle the more common ailments, like stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, neck pains, sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder, back pains, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, other joint conditions, sports-related injuries and more.

Specialized treatments are offered by certain qualified clinics with more in depth training in specific areas, like geriatric, orthopedic, pediatric, neurologic and cardiopulmonary conditions. This is why physical therapists also work in conjunction with speech and occupational therapists, dieticians, orthotists, psychologists and even social workers. All this is to bring about comprehensive healing for the patient's ultimate well-being.

In short, physical therapy clinics are a rich resource of healing for patients who are struck with a variety of physical conditions brought about by diseases and injuries. As such, physical therapists are responsible for always continuing and updating their knowledge and training so as to present the latest innovative techniques in the treatment of their patients.

Handle Low Back Pain Effectively With Physical Therapy

How many times have you heard about or seen someone dealing with lower back pain? Pain of the lower lumbar and related areas comprising the lower back may be among the most common kinds of frequently occurring pain. This kind of pain affects people of all ages and both men and women. Many people affected with chronic lower back pain are turning to physical therapy professionals to help lessen the severity and alleviate the symptoms.

In the U.S., it is estimated that as much as 80% of the population in the 25 to 55 year-old bracket will deal with this kind of discomfort in their lives. Some deal with it as a regular part of life. With this kind of influence, it becomes vital to recognize those activities that may prolong or aggravate the occurrences of lower back pain.

It also benefits sufferers to seek the most beneficial treatment methods. Natural treatment by a skilled physical therapist may be just the ticket to providing a helpful solution to this common problem.

This kind of therapy is among the methods that address the conditions or activities causing the pain or discomfort through the use of physical movements. This can be beneficial in a lot of instances and represents an excellent option. It is a non-invasive alternative treatment modality, and does not call for any kind of surgical or specialized medical intervention. Yet patients can still obtain pain-relieving results without the associated recovery time or trauma associated with medical treatment.

The objectives of this kind of therapy are designed to address these primary goals:

- Decrease the intensity and level of back pain

- Boost overall performance

- Provide knowledge about routine care and maintenance regimens to lessen or end repeated episodes

There are two usual approaches to providing you with maximum relief from chronic pain of the lower back. They are:

Passive Therapy Treatment:

There are various kinds of physiotherapy utilized. Your therapist may first focus on decreasing the pain with passive treatment. These particular treatments are viewed as passive therapy options because they are performed passively while patients are relaxed and often in a state of rest. Some of these kinds of treatment are:

- Ice as well as heat packs administered directly to the areas of discomfort

- Ultrasound

- TENS units

- Iontophoresis

Often your therapist will recommend using the methods above in a combination that is beneficial to each patient.

Active Treatment Methods:

Along with the passive treatment plans, active therapy will also often be essential to rehabilitate the small of the back. Typically, an active back exercise routine for patients will include using these combinations of active movement:

- A stretching program

- Movements for strengthening and conditioning lower back muscles

- Low-impact aerobic exercise routines

There are numerous benefits associated with low back pain physiotherapy. Both passive and active kinds of treatment plans work hand-in-hand to boost the speed and effectiveness of healing, while also delivering pain relief. To attain ideal results, it will be important to proceed with treatments for a few days.

Using a therapist for treating conditions of the lower back is the most effective method to manage back problems without the need for undergoing the risks of taking drugs or other substances. With effective treatment, the use of medications, surgical procedures and interventions can be greatly minimized or eliminated altogether.

Prior to getting physiotherapy for the purpose of treating low back pain, it is advisable to seek advice from your physician. They are the experts that can assess and pinpoint if there are any other conditions that may be exacerbating or causing the symptoms or problems you are having.

S/he may perhaps provide you with various beneficial recommendations so you can get relief from the discomfort associated with lower back pain. If physiotherapy is a viable option for you, it is always almost a prerequisite that it come in the form of professional advice from your primary health care provider.

Physical therapy may be used to treat lower back pain and utilized to care for the effectively handicapped that are at the extreme upper levels for this kind of pain. These are the people that are incapable of functioning with any typical sense of normalcy.

For these individuals, a combined treatment regimen of physical activity and therapy is a dual-pronged approach to effective treatment on a couple of levels. An exercise routine can stretch muscles and reestablish healthy flexibility and functionality. To protect yourself from recurring problems, you can continue this kind of exercise regimen after you obtain pain relief for long-term alleviation of the symptoms.

The History of Massage Therapy Healing

Today many of us long for our annual treat of an hour long massage. Perhaps it comes after the family holidays or is a birthday treat you cannot wait to give yourself. But massage therapy is more than just a posh and modern way to pamper ourselves. It has a deep rich history that brings light to the underlying benefits of with roots in ancient medicine.

Massage therapy is actual one of the oldest and most basic forms of medicinal treatment. Egyptian and Eastern cultures have practiced it for centuries. The Egyptian tomb paintings depict the use of kneading muscles as commonplace. Historical uses include helping treat chills and fever. Also, in Greek and Roman times it was the primary form of pain relief. In Asia, its popularity exploded, with the common belief that sickness is a result of an imbalance in energy. Therefore, to prevent that and stay healthy the massage was a common practice with other forms of body techniques. Some of those supplemental body techniques include acupuncture, acupressure, and amno.

India has an evolved form of massage therapy known as Ayurveda is said to have been a divine origin and was passed down orally for centuries. The unique features of Ayurveda are the interdependence on elements complimentary to the physical contact. Aromatherapy, or the use of oils and spices in combination with the massage, is a popular feature that has thrived along with the modern technique. Other elements of Ayurveda include an herbalist diet and supplemental sound to accompany the therapy session.

Massage therapy became introduced to the West around the 1600s. During this time many medical discoveries were changing the foundation of medicine and many scientists and physicians became aware of the beneficial elements of alternate forms of medicine. The introduction of massages still took time to catch on. The massage exploded during the twentieth century as many soldiers were treated with massage therapy to heal shell shock or nerve damage.

Many attribute the slow growth of massage therapy to the negative connotation it held. It was well known that massages were a popular service of many "adult" parlors. For many, the benefits of therapy could not be removed from the association of sex trade.

However, today it is no longer just a luxury for the extremely wealthy. Many hospitals use massage therapy for pediatric, geriatric and general medical departments. So next time you decide to satisfy your need for a therapeutic massage remember all the benefits!

The Rolf Method of Structural Integration Verses Rolfing & Trade

Have you ever heard the saying six one way, half a dozen the other? One of my most influential mentors used to say this to me all the time as a child when I would ask questions about something that was essentially the same. I remember it driving me so crazy hearing this answer over and over as a young child. Then one day it clicked. I asked a question and he gave me the same six one way, half a dozen the other answer and I looked at him and he smiled. I smiled as it finally made sense.

As we work very hard to bring Structural Integration out of the mystical mountains and into the forefront, people can often be confused by what this therapy is being called. When we look at the most common and mainstream types of manual therapy everyone knows of physical therapy and massage therapy. The amount of people that have heard of and have received Rolfingor Structural Integration or the Rolf Method of Structural Integrationor whatever term a school puts on their graduates, are just a fraction compared to physical therapy and massage therapy. Not only does Joe public not really know much about Structural Integration or Rolfing but the medical community is in the same spot as Joe public. So how can we clear up this confusion of terms?

Rolfingis a trademarked and reserved term for practitioners of Rolfing Structural Integrationthat have graduated from the Rolf Institute. Anyone who has completed training at any of the other schools of Structural Integration may not use the terms, Rolfing, Rolfer, or Rolfed at any time. Rolfing is a brand name for the process of Structural Integration.

Over the years, as Ida P. Rolf developed her life's work, her clients and students referred to the process as Rolfing for short, over her name of the work, Structural Integration. The common lingo could go something like, I was Rolfed today, or I am going to see my Rolfer, or do you know anything about that Rolf stuff? The politics surrounding this confusion can create a difficult and cumbersome task for people who are looking for, and learning about, Structural Integration. Let's say a person has worked with a Rolfer and has moved to a new city. They go to find another Rolfer to receive continued care but none can be found because there may not be any Rolfers in that particular city. It is possible that their Rolfer never referred to the work as Structural Integration, the actual name for the process, and the person does not know what to do. In this new city there may be Structural Integrators though, but the person does not know that this Structural Integrator has been taught and practices the same thing as their Rolfer.

We are now in a period of time where we have many great schools that are teaching some derivative of the Rolf Method of Structural Integration. Most schools refer to their graduates as Structural Integrators, but a few may have their own label or term. A good example of a language issue can be seen when we look at automobiles or cars. I remember my best friend's family and how they referred to their cars. His parents would say "alright everyone let's get in the car". My friend would always say "okay let's go get into the Chevy". They both were referring to the same car, but my friend was referring to brand of car and his parents just called it a car.

There was a rough time period in the political aspect of the world of Structural Integration and great rifts were developed between certain schools. As a result, there are some that will tell you that if you are not seeing a Rolfer you are not getting the true work of Ida P. Rolf. That Structural Integrators and Rolfers are totally different, practicing and performing different lines of work. This is absolutely not true. If someone has graduated from a credentialed school of Structural Integration you can feel safe knowing that you are receiving quality care. As a practitioner who did not graduate from the Rolf Institute I deal with this situation all the time. I have clients that come to me and say "I was Rolfed 20 years ago I think it's time to be Rolfed again, can you Rolf me?" I then have to take the time to explain the legal bindings and ramifications of terminology and trademarks. This can be confusing for people.

Imagine if there was only one school or college in all of America, or the world for that matter, that could teach a particular therapy or degree program. There would be millions and millions of people that would have to go without having the opportunity to receive that education or the help that could come from that person's education.

As there are more quality schools of Structural Integration coming into the picture we are able to know that more and more people are being trained at high levels in the Rolf Method of Structural Integration. As a result, more people can receive and experience this amazing process. A good example of this concept is looking at people who work to obtain their Masters Degree. When we see that a person has achieved their Masters we do not say "well your Masters Degree is from Washington State University and not Gonzaga University so it does not count." We know both schools are reputable and offer great programs.

There are things that we do need to watch out for though. With the addition and development of more people or schools teaching Structural Integration how do we know the students graduating from these schools or programs are capable and competent? There are people and programs that say they are teaching Rolfing or Structural Integration, but come up quite short. Many of them will teach weekend workshops or call Structural Integration another form of deep tissue work. This is where we need to spend our time protecting people.

So, how can you know if your practitioner has had proper training? One of the best resources is the International Association of Structural Integrators (IASI). IASI's mission is to be the leading professional organization for the advancement and promotion of Structural Integration as a cornerstone to health and well-being through education, community and communication. IASI has a list of schools that they have approved to teach Structural Integration. You can find this list on their website at http://www.theiasi.org.

IASI has established standards of education, ethics and professionalism that schools must meet in order to receive approval. These standards are what separate people who are truly teaching Dr. Rolf's work from those teaching a watered down severe variation of the work. IASA was also the driving force in the development of the Certification Board for Structural Integration (CBSI). The CBSI strives to examine and maintain standards of ethical and professional practice in the delivery of services through a credentialing program that promotes the competency of practitioners of Structural Integration. You can learn more about the exam at http://www.siexam.org. The CBSI helps identify individuals who have received adequate training in Structural Integration by using a psychometrically-valid exam. This process is another huge step in unifying the world of Structural Integration as well as differentiating it from other manual therapies.

As a practitioner and teacher of Structural Integration, I believe it is my responsibility to try and share this information with as many people as possible. Each and every day that I wake up and get to share my knowledge and passion of the Rolf Method of Structural Integration I am truly grateful. I am able to do this through my clients in my practice, the students in my school, my fellow Structural Integrators and Rolfers, and the community as a whole through lectures and presentations. But, the level that this happens can be held back and made stagnant by getting stuck and caught on the political tensions of terminology.

As you are looking for your Structural Integration practitioner, I invite you to ask lots of questions and research the same as you would or should when seeking out any other health care practitioner. Use the tools that were mentioned above and when you do I believe that you will find the difference between a Rolfer and a Structural Integrator is six one way, half a dozen the other.