The Bad Side of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy traces its long traditional use as a primary and regular treatment to many types of diseases and health conditions in the ancient centuries. Although the history of this type of natural body treatment is dated thousand years ago, most of the modern-day massage therapies that we enjoy are only improvements of the old ones. Regardless of which method a patient use, all of these results to the same and exact effects either beneficial or disastrous to the patient's body.

Massage therapy is popular and commonly used in treating and improving the health of a patient as well as basically for relaxing and relieving physical and emotional stress. It is well-known because of its many benefits that a patient can get after a relaxing and energizing therapeutic massage session performed by a licensed and certified masseuse. These benefits can be enjoyed from the many different types of massage therapy developed and practiced all over the world. Patient's are not only limited to western style massage therapies as oriental and other styles of therapeutic massage are performed anywhere.

However, little is known and less importance is given by both patients and massage parlors when it comes to the negative or side effects of a massage therapy session. First of all, in case the masseuse is not a licensed and certified massage therapist, the odds for having injuries and worsened health problems is definitely higher than when having a licensed therapist. Below are the risks and bad effects after having a massage therapy:

1. Temporary body pain and discomfort - although this is temporary, some patient's find it hard to recover from it. The point of having this type of natural treatment is to improve and relieve such body pain and any physical and emotional discomfort of an individual.

2. Allergic reactions to massage oils - this is not common on most patients, however there are cases where massage oil caused allergic reactions on the skin of the patient. Nut based oils are usually the culprit of this incidents are they are commonly the cause of skin allergies. This is why medical records are needed before an actual massage therapy session in order to avoid this type of problem.

3. Swelling and bruising - this is not usual though after a massage therapy, however there are some cases where this is experienced by the patient. These are common when the massage therapist fails to add the adequate amount of massage oil on the patient's body which results in harder and forced massage strokes. These are only temporary side effects though which means that they will be gone after a few days.

4. Bone fractures - it is not a common side effects compare to the previous three as most patients are screened before they can pass for an actual massage therapy. People with osteoporosis are strictly not allowed for therapeutic massages as their bones can easily break and get injured during the process of a massage therapy session. A good and concerned massage therapist will not allow a patient to suffer the consequences just to profit for the service he or she renders.

Difference Between Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue Massage

People often tend to think of Swedish massage and deep tissue massage as similar to each other but the truth is they are quite different. Here is look at the difference between Swedish massage and deep tissue massage.

Swedish massage is the most commonly offered massage technique, utilizing a firm pressure on the muscles. It involves employing a series of long yet gliding strokes. In this technique the massage therapist also kneads the muscles and makes some vibrating taps on the body. The therapists concentrate on improving the blood circulation, easing the tension in the body's muscles and improving the muscles' flexibility.

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage that aims at affecting the deeper tissue structure of the muscles. It also affects the connective tissue, known as fascia. It utilizes a large number of similar techniques and movements as the Swedish massage, but the movements tend to have much more pressure. The deep tissue massage is a more focused massage. During it the massage therapist tends to concentrate on releasing specific chronic muscle tension as well as the muscular knots, or adhesions.

A Swedish massage is given to help with increasing the flow of oxygen in the blood as well as releasing toxins from the body's muscles. It can really shorten the recovery time for a muscular strain by simply flushing the lactic acids, uric acids, and other type of metabolic wastes out of the body tissues.

Swedish massage is given to increase the circulation of blood without actually increasing the workload of the heart. It helps to stretch the ligaments and tendons to make them pliable and supple. It stimulates the skin as well as the nervous system to soothe the nerves. It is helpful in reducing both emotional and physical stress. In fact the massage is a staple in most stress management programs. It is also included in various other therapeutic procedures.

Deep tissue massage helps with both small muscle injuries as well as chronic problems. Massage is an excellent way to deal with a whiplash injury or a sports injury. Deep tissue massage is helpful in treating spasms as well as muscle tension.

Physicians sometimes prescribe deep tissue massage for the pain of Fibromyalgia or Osteoarthritis. It also helps to correct posture problems.

A Swedish massage may involve the use of various oils, especially essential oils, to reduce friction as well as for their aromatherapy benefits.

A deep tissue massage also may involve the use of various oils or lotions, but their application is a little different from the Swedish massage. At times, for deep work, oil or lotion is not necessary, and the best effect can come without them.

Benefits of In Home Physical Therapy

There are many different settings where physical therapist practice their craft. These settings may include schools, hospitals, private outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and in private homes. Home care physical therapy is typically thought of for patients that are homebound, thus unable to commute to an outpatient clinic. There has been a new trend in physical therapy in which the clinic is brought to the patient. A few different models are currently being used. Some therapists have a mobile clinic in the form of an RV. These RV's are equipted with treatment tables, exercise equipment & all the typical modalities you would find in an outpatient clinic. A second model that is less expensive would be a therapist coming to the home with a portable treatment table, and other hand held modality equipment.

Benefits to treating patients in their home include:

- Improved compliance by not missing treatment sessions

- Therapists can evaluate a patient in their REAL natural environment.

- Patient's don't have to travel to a clinic thus making it more time efficient

- Privacy for the patient and their family

- Eliminate disruptions from other clients, phone calls etc.

- Typical in home sessions are one hour, one on one with a therapist.

This allows for effective treatment sessions and reduces the possibility of injury.

- Following surgery, having a therapist come to the home may eliminate complications of driving a car or having to negotiate dangerous obstacles on your way to an outpatient clinic.

Is in-home physical therapy right for you?

There are a few questions you must ask yourself before considering in home physical therapy. The first is, how do you feel about initially having a stranger in your home. After the first few minutes with a therapist, you are divulging personal information regarding your medical history. The therapist will be a stranger for only the first few minutes. Secondly, are you capable of concentrating without distractions in your home.

Minimal space is required for the therapist. They need to set up a table and may require an outlet for modalities. Therapists are typically creative with space and can take advange of a small area to achieve the required room for exercise. Most equipment required for therapy is light and portable.

In my experience, patients love the convenience of in home therapy because it is one less trip they need to take. Typically, patients can have therapy sessions very early in the morning before going to work, or late in the evening following work. The whole concept is to promote convenience and patient compliance.

Insurance coverage is dependent on the therapist. Some therapists participate in network with medicare and other comercial plans while others are out of network. It is important to communicate with the therapist prior to the first visit to find out how your treatment sessions will be covered.

In-home physical therapy is not right for everyone. If you enjoy staying close to home, have a tight time schedule to keep, and enjoy exercising out of your home, then you should consider in home physical therapy.

How to Choose a Good Massage Therapist

Since ancient times, mankind has had some awareness of the healing and restorative powers of massage. From simple kneading to work the knots out of muscles made sore and tired in the heat of battle to more luxurious forms of massage performed for royals and nobles alike in the baths and spas of bygone kingdoms, various types of massage therapy have always played some part in our collective history.

Of course, the massage therapist has had, in one form or another, a history as long as the discipline itself. For that reason, finding a qualified massage therapist has always been an essential part of receiving effective massage treatments.

The qualifications to look for

In those aforementioned ancient times, choosing a good massage therapist was probably not that difficult - particularly since they were no doubt housed in or near the palace and noble homes of the people they regularly served. In modern times, however, finding a qualified massage therapist entails sifting through dozens and sometimes hundreds of advertised specialists, depending upon the area in which you live.

So what are the qualifications of a good massage therapist? The general rule is that any therapist should have at least a couple hundred training hours under his or her belt, and in highly competitive areas that number may be closer to 1,000. Most cities require registration of one form or another, which provides you with an easy method for complaint if your therapy is unsatisfactory for any reason.

Forget the word masseuse

When evaluating any massage therapist, be wary of anyone who uses the term masseuse to describe their profession. The modern term is massage therapist, and the only people who use the term masseuse (or masseur) are practitioners whose services extend to more intimate forms of bodily contact. This is one case where a rose by any other name may not smell as sweet!

Know what you want

Before you even attempt to choose the right massage therapist for your needs, you should do a little research to find which type of massage you want. While many people automatically assume that every therapist is capable of providing quality massages using any chosen discipline, the truth is that most choose to specialize in one form or another. If you are looking for a Watsu massage - or any other form of massage, be sure to check the preferred disciplines of any potential massage therapist candidate.

Many areas have organizations devoted to the profession that can help you to identify the various practitioners in your city. One advantage to utilizing these organizations in your quest is that their members have usually agreed to be governed by particular rules of ethics and conduct, and must meet standards of practice set by the organization.

Like any other purchase of services, you want to take the time to do your homework on the subject. Don't be afraid to conduct impromptu interviews of any potential candidate, asking them questions about their training, preferred disciplines, and organizational memberships. Reputable massage therapist professionals will not hesitate to cheerfully answer any questions you ask.

Spa and Massage Therapy Flyers

Success in the spa and massage therapy business is largely driven through word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. Unfortunately, the process required to establish a loyal and substantial clientele can take far too long. To increase store traffic and gain referrals more quickly, well designed spa and massage therapy flyers will help promote a business and its services to a multitude of potential customers.

For the cost conscious therapist or business owner, spa and message therapy flyers are the perfect marketing choice. Since they are inexpensive to produce, frequent printing of updated editions will keep the message fresh and timely. A well designed marketing plan that includes aggressive flyer distribution will ensure that the company name and logo remains recognizable to prospective clients.

Flyer Design

There are a number of design elements that should be included in message therapy and spa flyers to attract and hold the recipients attention.

- Use Color instead of Black and White: Although color printing may be marginally more expensive, color flyers are far more eye catching than black and white. Color printing also conveys a sophisticated business image and a sense of legitimacy.

- Include an Attention Grabbing Headline or Photo: An appealing photograph and an interesting headline will draw the reader???? attention. Always try and place this type of information in the center of the page where it will be the most conspicuous.

- Contact Information: In addition to the business name, location, email address, and phone numbers, always include relevant practitioner license numbers and the company logo. This can also be an area where a short bio of the owner and key employees can be incorporated.

- Highlight Products and Services: Since customers are savvy in Detroit, spa and message therapy flyers should include a detailed list of services, prices and benefits. Unique specialties can be detailed along with descriptions of the parlor and its atmosphere.

- Special Offers and Call to Action: Discount coupons can serve as an excellent incentive to make a phone call or book an appointment. Whatever the mechanism, the flyer should compel the recipient to seek further information about the business or its services.

Flyer Printing

For salon owners in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Downriver, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Royal Oak, Troy and Detroit, spa flyers can help to raise visibility and attract new customers to the business.

Why It's Important for Massage Therapists to Choose a Specialty

When massage therapists finish school and begin working, they might not immediately think of developing their skills for a niche market - after all, massage school is just the beginning, and you learn some of your most invaluable skills on the job! While most massage therapists focus on perfecting their Swedish and deep-tissue skills before moving on to advanced modalities, it is always a good idea to continue to think about how you want to develop your massage career. This way, you can take the classes and training necessary to develop your specialty early on.

Making the Most out of Continuing Education

Throughout the nation, massage therapists must abide by a professional licensing code that requires continuing education in areas such as communicable diseases, CPR training, ethics, and general education. While many massage therapists take the minimum number of courses, or pick available courses close to home that are convenient or inexpensive, it is important to take advantage of this educational opportunity, and pick classes ahead of time that align with your specific interests.

For example, students who have considered furthering their massage career within Reiki, neuromuscular massage therapy (NMT), or medical massage should consider that these modalities require several lengthy and in-depth courses, and can take several months, or years to fully complete. And while the process toward this type of certification is indeed more time consuming than, for example, a weekend class in hot stone technique, it is a step toward a worthwhile skill that not only boosts a resume, but also brings in new clients, helps massage therapists market themselves more effectively, and lays the groundwork for a lengthy and profitable massage career.

Start by browsing different continuing education options offered at schools in your immediate area, as well as regionally. Educate yourself about the time requirements, cost, and specific details about each modality, and truly consider what it takes to become a seasoned professional in that field. This way, you can maximize your time and money on required continuing education courses.

Sports Massage, Reiki, Pregnancy Massage, and More

When you envision yourself working as a massage therapist several years down the line - where do you see yourself working? In a chiropractor's office? For a ballet troupe, football team, or running club? Maybe in a holistic center, spa, or independent practice? Every massage therapist enters the profession for various reasons, and it is important to understand what excites and motivates you about a massage career. Some massage therapists are particularly athletic or interested in sports, and it is this type of therapist who is most often attracted to sports massage. Therapists who enter this practice often work with athletes before, during, and after sports events to prevent injuries, and to treat existing injuries.

Medical massage encompasses several techniques, and can include sports massage, craniosacral therapy, and NMT. Medical massage and its associated practices are often performed by therapists with an interest in injury treatment and prevention as a full time massage career. Other massage therapists gravitate toward energy healing, such as Reiki, which is purported to create a healing effect physically, mentally, and spiritually. Therapists who hold an interest in Reiki may also be interested in acupressure, or aromatherapy. Therapists who wish to expand their practice to accommodate pregnant clients may be interested in becoming certified in pregnancy massage, which enables massage therapists to understand and perform a medically appropriate massage for a mother-to-be.

Whatever your interest for a long-term massage career, there are continuing education training courses available to further your chosen specialty. Again, think about why you want to pursue a specific specialty, and what you think it will give back to you and your clients. Do you see yourself utilizing the specialty skills for years with your clients? If so, carefully consider with whom you will spend your time and money. Find the right program and begin another educational journey. You and your clients will benefit from your endeavors as you pursue your preferred niche in the vast world of advanced massage education.

Certification and Training

Finally, sometimes continuing education classes and experience aren't the only thing massage therapists need to practice a specialty in the field. Check with your state licensing board to ensure you have met the minimum credit hours for a special modality. To date, there is no licensing body for Reiki, but it is required to have achieved a "Level III" status in order to promote yourself as a Reiki master in your massage career.

Likewise, pregnancy massage is not governed by an accredited body, but most continuing education providers will not issue a certification until the student has completed a minimum number of credit hours, typically supported by graded exams, practical sessions, and homework. For certification in neuromuscular therapy massage as a career, massage therapists must take continuing education courses, schedule and sit for an exam, and receive a score evidencing competency in the field. The school or instructor of an advanced massage therapy specialty should be able to explain any applicable certification requirements.

Finding a specialty is an excellent step for massage therapists in their long term career, as it not only enables them to become well educated and better able to treat clients, but exposes the therapist to a whole new field of massage, and its benefits. So if you're considering developing a specialty, do your research, ask questions, and have fun learning about how you can further your massage career while helping your clients.

Massage Therapy - Questions to Ask Before Starting Massage Therapy

Many people unsure when to get a massage therapy session. The time of day, the condition of the body, and whether to a workout is need is often a question. Going in for massage therapy every day would be delightful, but unnecessary and very expensive. The amount of massage therapy needed is dependent on the person's desired goals. There are a few basic inquiries you should answer to determine your goals. A more detailed analysis should be done in person with a qualified massage therapist.

One of the first questions you should ask is, what time of day should you get a massage? Well, there is not real right answer to this question. People are afraid of getting massages in the mornings because they worry that they will be too tired to work afterwards. Although a good massage therapist can often get their client to fall asleep, they will wake up feeling relaxed yet alert. You will come away from the session with a renewed focus.

Another question to consider is, if you should get massage therapy as a preventative measure for pain or as a treatment of pain symptoms? Preventative maintenance is always better for your body. Just like getting the oil changed in your car periodically, you want to make sure you muscles are working properly.

Whether you are an athlete looking to improve your performance, or an every day worker who has been feeling tension from years of work, massage can promote health and well-being. The frequency massages isn't as important as the quality of the massage your receive. An experienced, well trained massage therapist will give you such a great massage that you will feel refreshed enough to last a good while.