5 Key Benefits of Sports Massage

Whether for athletics or relaxation, sports massage is a great way to keep yourself healthy. With many countries offering their own unique twist on the traditional sports massage, there are endless opportunities to relax, loosen your muscles, and come out feeling great, no matter where you are. With physiotherapy services often costing relatively little, a relaxing and healthy sports massage can be a great way to wind down after a busy and stressful workweek.

However, there are more reasons to get regular massages than just relaxation. For sportspeople and athletes, physiotherapy is an essential ingredient in injury prevention and intelligent training. For those who have already suffered muscular injuries, massage can be the perfect way to bring damaged ligaments and joints back into action. If you're looking for a reason to start taking regular physiotherapy, here are the top five benefits of sports massages.

#1: You'll be more relaxed.

Depending on what type of massage you prefer, you could walk out feeling completely revitalized or howling in pain. If you like a good pampering, a spa-style massage can leave you feeling amazing in the days afterwards, with more energy and motivation to succeed. If you're struggling to stay awake or aware during the week, a great massage can be the perfect way to relax and add some awareness to your days.

#2: You'll lower the risk of injury.

If you're an athlete, you'll know how important regular stretching and muscle stimulation is for injury prevention. High intensity sports can wreck havoc on your muscles, and potentially tighten your major muscle groups. However, through physiotherapy you can loosen your major muscle groups, giving you greater freedom of movement and physical ability. If stretching isn't doing it for you, look into therapeutic massage.

#3: You'll cut down on back and neck pain.

Back pain is a problem that plagues millions of people worldwide. It's not that the back's a poorly designed system - it's a remarkably complex and powerful area - but that many activities simply put far too much stress on it. Our back muscles are some of the strongest in our body, but when they're exposed to too much effort they quickly develop problems. Massage is a great way to eliminate back pain, neck pain and other major muscle aches. If you need back pain relief, look at physiotherapy and massage services.

#4: You'll eliminate joint problems and ligament damage.

The rotator cuff, an important turning ligament in the shoulder, is at high risk of permanent damage through weight training and athletics. The ALC joint, a part of the knee, is also at a huge risk of permanent damage, sometimes requiring complete replacement. There are many joints and ligaments in your body that are worn down through constant strain and activity, and preventative action is often a lot less painful, and less expensive, than eventual surgery. If you're having joint problems, taking preventative measures like therapeutic massage and physiotherapy could save you a lot of trouble in the future.

#5: You'll minimize the effects of tension headaches and migraines.

Sometimes you'll try everything to minimize headaches - drinking more water, using aspirins and other medication, breathing exercises - and nothing works. That's because some headaches can't be fixed through changes in diet and temporary relaxation. Serious stress headaches need real therapy to fix, and with a sports massage it's possible to eliminate the problems behind them. Whether you're tired and in pain or simply burned out and demotivated, a massage can help you minimize stress headaches and recurring migraines.

Elderly Massage - Benefits of Therapeutic Massage For Elderly People

Elderly massage offers numerous benefits to our senior citizens which can greatly help to improve their health and well being.  This article looks at what is elderly massage, why it is valuable to society, and the benefits of massage for elderly citizens.

What Is Elderly Massage?

Massage for elderly citizens is simply that, massage for the elderly, but it's application is certainly different to massage for the younger population and the massage therapist needs to be knowledgable of the physiological changes that occur in the ageing body.  Massage techniques are different, pressure applied is certainly different and there must be great sensitivity shown to the receivers feedback to ensure the massage is comfortable as well as effective.

A natural trend when we age is to become less active and this reduction in physical activity contributes to the reduction of the quality of life experienced by many of our senior citizens.  Many studies have shown that elderly massage therapy can be of significant benefit in managing the effects of aging such as arthritis and a host of other physical ailments. 

The NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) has promoted the use of elderly massage for years.  Although there is a general awareness of massage for elderly citizens, there is a poor understanding of its direct benefits. 

Why Is Elderly Massage Valuable To Us As A Society?

First there is the obvious; we have an ageing population and we should naturally seek effective modes of care for our elderly as they are our parents and grand parents, and we are all on a journey to where they are.

There are also more pragmatic motives as a society.  Health care expenditure is predominantyl made up of caring for our elderly, so any therapy that reduces the negative effects of ageing on our health is also beneficial to our society as a whole.  This is true in a financial sense, but also because society would benefit from having a healthier and thus happier and more productive older population.

Benefits of Elderly Massage

• According to the Touch Research Institute, elderly massage is very useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's patients. It has shown to facilitate relaxation and communication. 


• It can greatly assist in arthritic pain management.


• Massage for elderly citizens helps to increase their range of motion. 


• Also promotes natural joint lubrication, which is extremely important for arthritis sufferers. 


• Helps to increase strength and muscle coordination. 


• Boosts natural energy levels and mental awareness. 


• Can also greatly improve posture by reducing muscle tension. This has the added benefit of assisting seniors with a higher quality of rest, and helps them to sleep deeper and longer which can have a significant effect on their general health and well being. 


• Can also have a profound calming effect which in turn helps them to deal with medical interventions they may need to experience in dealing with various conditions.

Pain management in the elderly is predominantly treated through pharmaceutical methods, but thankfully, more people are becoming aware of the benefits of elderly massage therapy.

Massage for elderly citizens is a natural solution to many ailments associated with the ageing process, and has proven to be an effective complimentary therapy to assist and improve the efficacy of conventional treatments.  

Prostate Massage Therapy and Prostate Related Issues

Prostate massage therapy also commonly referred to as prostate milking definitely has a sizable ranking in the list of controversial health procedures, doesn't it? Many of us who has underwent the procedure or heard stories about it even from a simple Google search know the reasons why.

All in all, as prostate cancer and other prostate related issues continue to take center stage in many discussions especially those involving men's health, so does this health activity. This goes hand-in-hand with a prostate diet and various prostate supplements. Let's start by looking at prostate massage therapy.

Prostate Massage Therapy
This is a not only easy to learn, but also a safe and highly beneficial procedure that involves stimulating the male prostate gland to bring about either sexual stimulation or for a medical prospect. It generally results in ejaculation and with minimal health risks. However, we will learn about a few of them as we move on.

The prostate is located below the bladder and considering its closeness to the back rectal wall, you can stimulate it from the back at the back rectum wall or through the perinium. You might even have observed some of these from various massage videos. It is further worth noting how many medical practitioners are lately encouraging this procedure and even asking men to carry it out on themselves. This is obviously due to the many deaths and diseases that arise out of prostate cancer which is ranked among the top killer diseases affecting men.

An enlarged prostate is one of the indicators of required attention and it has in the past led to many men being referred to medical clinics or prostate massage therapists and being placed on special prostate foods. A proffessional is always a good idea for the procedure.

Various diseases, notably prostatitis have become a key medical concern yet the chances of this in particular illness can be reduced through a regular and proper prostate massage. Many health benefits have also been associated with this alternative treatment and it can be practised irregardless of the specific benefits being sought or health concerns at hand. However, some side-effects have been noted in cases of vigorous prostate massage such as haemorrhage and septicaemia.

Prostate Related Issues

Among the health issues related to prostate are:

- Prostatitis: acute and chronic.
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
- Prostate Cancer.

Acute prostatitis is caused by bacteria and commonly causes fever, chills, pain between the legs and lower back. Pain during urination and ejaculation is also common and calls for medical attention. Chronic prostatitis is the repetitive form which comes back time to time with the symptoms lasting longer. It is also relatively harder to treat but it sometimes clears by itself.

Prostate health is mostly challenged by the above condition but if you a form a habit of getting regular massage to release the fluids and taking warm baths then you can be relatively safe from the various related issues. Early detection of any of the prostate related issues and start of therapy is also a sure way of reducing strife that would occur later as well as the complications. Prevention is better than cure, isn't it?

Physical Therapy Assistant Salary In Hospitals

Patients that undergo physical therapy aren't confined by any demographics. Even the healthiest individuals like professional athletes can suffer from injuries that can need physical therapy. Accidents take place, like vehicular ones that will cause injuries that lead to some form of disability for the unfortunate victim. Some individuals develop illnesses that cause disabilities or restrained movements and these must also be corrected. They, too, call for the services of physical therapists and their assistants. Talking about the assistants, they're paid excellent physical therapy assistant salary rate because they do beneficial work with the patients.

Physical therapists assign various responsibilities to their assistants depending on the kind of help the therapist needs. Physical exercises, muscle manipulation, and hydrotherapy are examples of these treatment procedures that are designed by the therapist to help a patient get back his normal physical movement. The therapist will then instruct the assistant on the best therapy program to implement. It is not uncommon for physical therapy assistants to answer telephone calls, order supplies, along with other office-related tasks. They know tips on how to track the progress of the patient after each and every therapy session. They obtain a great physical therapy assistant salary partly because of their responsibilities and tasks they need to perform well.

A number of these assistants work in hospital setting but they can also be discovered in other facilities, earning numerous amount of physical therapy assistant salary. If you are working in home health care service, chances are you're earning a very excellent salary. Working in this setting will earn you more per hour, though you do need to travel a whole lot. Though there are assistants that prefer working in hospitals due to the fact it really is more secure for them. Additional advantages should be taken into consideration when determining which settings to work best in.

If you would like to be a physical therapist, you may get hold of the expertise from being a physical therapy assistant but you need to start all over again when it comes to the education you will need. Studying to be a physical therapist will involve an entire new set of curriculum. You wouldn't need to waste time and funds on your associate's diploma education if you're ultimate dream is to turn out to be a physical therapist. The physical therapy assistant salary is naturally lower than what therapists will be receiving. The one thing you should also bear in mind when deciding which training program to enroll in is that it should be accredited.

Being in the health care field and directly working with patients, you will find many requirements that must be met. Some States require a license although you will find some States that require assistants to be registered or to have a certification. Check if your license to work for a particular State will still be valid if you determine to work in another State, such as other qualifications you have. The physical therapy assistant salary rate has often been very competitive that's why lots of individuals pursued this career in spite of the many requirements.

Working as a physical therapy assistant may require you to lift patients throughout therapy sessions so you have to be physically fit as well. If you are not mentally tough, the rigors of this career may break you down mentally. Even though the therapy may be tough, it is for the good of the patients that's why the assistants must be able to communicate this to his patients. Once you were able to perform your duties well, you'll personally really feel that you do deserve the physical therapy assistant salary you're receiving.

Head Injury and Ataxia

Question:

My 22-yearold son has severe head injuries from a car accident. He has damage to his brainstem and pinhead bleeding around the brain. He is now conscious and remembers all aspects of his life. He has paralysis of one vocal cord, which we are told will get better with speech therapy. There is weakness on his right side - his arm requires splints to straighten it - and he has developed ataxia (defect of gait). What can he do to help his recovery?

Answer:

From your description, your son has symptoms similar to those following a stroke, in that his body and parts of the brain on one side are affected. Over the past two decades, I have been using a powerful physical rehabilitation technique to help stroke patients.

There have been two successful clinical studies: the first was carried out at the Hammersmith Hospital in 1996 with 12 elderly stroke patients under the supervision of a consultant geriatrician. Last year, with funding from a patient and the cooperation of Peninsula Medical School based at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust, my brother and I set up a research project where we rehabilitated another group of 17 stroke patients.

First, I advise you work on the neck, as the vertebral arteries located inside the cervical spine irrigate the brainstem, which has centres that control vocal cords; the cerebellum, which controls gait and posture, as well as other areas that must be involved in such a complex case. He should first be on his back, with a pillow under his head. Massage both sides of the neck, using oil such as Back Massage Oil, or two tablespoon sweet almond oil with three drops essential lavender oil. Rub the muscles and tendons of the neck. Then he should turn over so you can massage the shoulders using both hands, squeezing then releasing the muscles. This will improve the blood circulation. Initially the muscles will be stiff and sore. As days go by, the muscles will ease and this massage will facilitate the better circulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain.

Next you must work on the right arm and hand. It seems that it has already developed extreme spasm of muscles due to the brain damage. Massaging the biceps on the outside upper arm and the flexor muscles running down the inside arm will help relieve tightness and lessen the chance of total loss of use of the right hand. Massage the entire back and focus on the buttock muscles on the right side, particularly the tender trigger point in the centre of the right cheek. This can help bone up muscles which participate in balance and posture.

Next, massage the right quadriceps( front of thighs) and right hamstrings( back of thighs).Then massage the right calf and shin muscles, using your thumbs and fingers to clasp them from both sides.

Special Marma points, which the martial arts practitioners of ancient India used to revive muscles paralysed in action. Stimulating them with your thumb can reactivate specific muscles involved in controlling gait, balance, co-ordination and posture.

Nutrition is important since there may be a tendency to gain weight your son should avoid sugar, oily or fatty foods, including pork, lamb and dairy products. H e should drink freshly juiced carrots, celery, apple and root ginger (preferably organic), and eat one banana daily. Carrots and bananas contain potassium, which is good for muscles. So, too, is lean protein (chicken breast, turkey, eggs, almonds soaked in water for 24 hours, lentils, tofu, cottage cheese).

The more tense and tired your son is the worse his muscle performance will be. Practise retention breathing: inhale for three seconds, hold for three to six, then exhale for six. Also practice brisk exhalation, forcing the air out of the lungs by sucking in the abdomen sharply, which raises the dome of the abdomen and helps energise the body. I strongly recommend seeing an experienced chiropractor or osteopath for two sessions to adjust the cervical vertebrae, which have probably been misaligned.

Acupuncture is also useful in some cases. When the muscles become active again, physiotherapists or therapeutic Iyengar yoga specialists can assist with exercises.

Sports and Remedial Massage: The Benefits of Massage

Sports and remedial massage can help reduce fatigue, alleviate swelling, reduce tension from heavily worked muscles, promote flexibility, prevent injuries and prepare an athlete for optimal performance.

Benefits of Sports and Remedial Massage

• lymphatic and blood flow improved


• nerve endings sedated or stimulated


• muscle length and tone decreased or increased


• mental preparation


• faster removal of metabolic waste


• quicker recovery from hard training or injury


• micro scarring identified


• scar tissue remodelled


• muscle tension decreased and flexibility improved


• delayed onset muscle soreness reduced


• Reduces the Chance of Injury

Relaxed muscles are less likely to be injured than tight muscles. You reduce the risk of injury by receiving a sports massage as it relaxes your muscles. Reduction of the severity and frequency of aches, pulls and strains is also a benefit of sports massage.

• Improves Flexibility and Range of Motion

Muscles become rigid when trained too heavily. This is counteracted by Sports massage as it makes them more flexible and more relaxed. Performance can be increased by a pre-event sports massage which reduces excessive tension allowing the muscles to function more efficiently.

• Recovery Time is Reduced

Strain or injury can be the result of strenuous exercise. The relaxation of sports massages can reduce or prevent this. The flow of blood and lymph is also increased by sports massage. The massage causes the muscles to be more relaxed resulting in blood and lymph flowing more freely. This brings more nutrients to organs and tissues and removes waste more efficiently - inflammation, swelling and recovery time are reduced and injuries heal faster with massage. Also, scar tissue from injury can be broken up by sports massage if massage treatment starts immediately after the injury. Adhesions and scar tissue from old, untreated injuries can be kept pliable by regular massage so the muscle can still retain its flexibility and strength.

• Oxygen and Nutrients Supply is Improved

Muscles can build up new tissue to repair wear and tear more quickly as more nutrients and oxygen are carried to the muscles by an increased blood flow due to the sports massage.

• Helps Eliminate By-Products of Exercise

Metabolic waste accumulates in the muscles when blood and lymph flow is restricted by muscles tightened from being heavily worked. These wastes from exercise are eliminated faster when receiving sports and remedial massage as it relaxes the muscle which increases lymph and blood flow.

• Psychological Benefits

Mood and self-confidence are improved and anxiety reduced by the relaxing effects of sports massage. Stressed athletes compete at a disadvantage so being relaxed and confident gives you the edge.

• Improves Motor Control

Precision and coordination are improved with massage as you are better connected to your body when free of unnecessary tension.

• Reduces Pain

Due to massage, you have a higher pain threshold as well as less cramps and spasms. Also, as nutrient supply is improved by massage, injury damaged nerves heal faster, reducing pain.

Since When Did You Care? - The History of Physical Therapy

The start of the history of physical therapy had been acknowledged by researchers to date back as early as 3, 000 BC. The huge field of physical therapy now extends practically to all regions and in a variety of specialties, yet in those earliest times, it was China that is believed to have the best masseuses, and they also practiced on joint manipulation, soon later -acupuncture.

Then again, the rich history of physical therapy could not be attributed to China alone. In Greece, Hippocrates was able to make out the practice of hydrotherapy and massage as early as 460 BC. And in England, the British Medical Journal had called for the foundation of a physical therapy institute to regulate the practice of masseuses formally under the hands of qualified midwives and nurses within the 1890's.

Nonetheless, the evolution of the history of physical therapy may be indebted to its nature itself and its practiced philosophy. The early history of physical therapy pioneered a view that the body's health and fitness be treated according to the workings of biomechanics and kinesiology. There could be no other way to explain the success of the practice throughout the entire history of physical therapy other than its scholarly expertise on the mechanics of the human body. As testimony to this proficiency, we can look at the rigorous test and training that the physical therapy discipline went through the two world wars.

The two world wars awoke the need for PT. We can declare that the history of physical therapy has finally stitched its mark permanently during its superlative stature in World War I and II. It was during these times that the vital role of physical therapy became ever more pronounced to the world. The use of physical therapy shed light to the dark events of blood spills and had left much knowledge for use of future practitioners. In irony, the painful rehabilitation of injured soldiers paved way to the rise of a highly specialized PT, as spinal injury units, orthopaedic hospitals, chest clinics, and other facilities provided new challenge and promise to the profession.

And well up to these moments, physical therapy has been progressing as one of the largest allied professions in health care - research, development, technology, expertise, expansion. Whether it began through a simple prick on the skin or massive catastrophic deaths, the history of physical therapy owes much to the moment when humans learned how to care.