WHAT IS MASSAGE THERAPY
The word “massage” brings to mind images of luxurious, relaxing, gentle touch done by anyone with merely good-feel at the end. Not many know that professional massage therapy has tremendous healing properties.
A proper massage therapy can reduce the symptoms of autism, eczema, ADHD, bulimia, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cancer patients, those recovering from injury, babies born prematurely, and depressed people can also benefit from such therapy. It may also alleviate sleep disorders and reduce blood pressure. Random controlled studies show that massage speeds up recovery after exercise, notes a 2008 issue of the “Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.” Despite all these benefits, a massage therapy isn’t the appropriate treatment for everyone, and in rare cases, it may even cause negative side effects.
It is important to turn to professionally-certified massage therapists who have the knowledge of medical conditions and sports injuries to maximize the benefits and to reduce the risk of negative effects of a massage therapy.
There are several massage types available depending upon your health and your goals and knowing the difference between them can help you find the best option for you. Thus it is important to turn to professionally-certified massage therapists who have the knowledge of medical conditions and sports injuries to maximize the benefits and to reduce the risk of negative effects from a massage therapy.
In general, massage therapy involves manual stimulation and manipulation of your muscles and skin. It should not be painful but has to be effective enough to cause a physiological change in the tissues that had been worked on. The after-massage feel and effects are highly dependent on the state of your soft tissues, the skills and knowledge of the therapist, as well as the type of massage chosen.
Deep-tissue and sports massage are much more intense usually but should not be intolerable. You may experience discomfort during the session and could be sore the next day. A study published in the “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine” in 2007 found that, of 100 people who had massage therapies, 10 percent experienced minor discomfort in the 12 to 36 hours following a session.
Keith Grant, head of the Sports and Deep Tissue Massage Department at McKinnon Institute in Oakland, California, said that your body may respond to massage as if has just completed a challenging workout. The muscles aren’t accustomed to being manipulated, and respond with inflammation and discomfort. Soreness following a massage shouldn’t last more than a day or two
MASSAGE THERAPY AND THE PMAT
After many years working with world top professional tennis players, golfers, marathon runners, cross-fitters and Olympic lifters, we could understand why some of these athletes suffer from chronic recurrent injuries even though these are preventable, especially in non-contact sports. These non-traumatic overused injuries are more likely because of wrong concepts of the human movement, training and fitness program and lack of recovery.
Under the PMAT (Physiowerkz Movement Analysis & Treatment) system, we also have designed specific techniques to treat majority of pain and movement disorders. Using the Body Mechanix analysis, Bodywerkz Therapeutic & Restorative techniques and Mobility Fitness (Mobifit) programs, we came up with new concepts and treatment approaches in shaping one’s physique and influencing functional and sports performance. Being first-of-its-kind in the world of movement rehabilitation, sports & performative wellness, our method is very effective in optimizing energy efficiency and perfecting one’s movement using solid clinical reasoning in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics and physiotherapy.
If you are someone who does a lot prolonged low-thereshold functional activities, our Bodywerkz techniques used here then focuses on:
a. Realignment of your joints at its resting state
b. Reduce tension and intra-tissue pressure for micro-circulation
c. Flushing of deep muscles to prevent build-ups of metabolic waste
If you have a pre-existing injury, Bodywerkz will help you with:
a. Reducing pain and scars
b. Improving on myofascial pliability that could have caused the injury
c. Boosting soft tissue and joint flexibility
d. Normalizing tone and intra-tissue pressure for better blood flow and reducing toxins
e. Restoring the tissue state of health and pre-requisite for basic functional movements
f. Re-training of basic functional movements
g. Reconnecting mind-body when at work or home
If you do not have any injuries yet and looking for the optimal movement efficiency during high-threshold activities in sports, Bodywerkz’s focus then is geared towards:
a. Assessing and getting you to achieve the pre-requisites of basic functional movements in both your soft tissues and joints
b. Analysing and prepare your body for the specific demands of your high-threshold activity in injury-risk prevention. Our techniques follow your kinetic-chain of movements as demanded by your sport.
c. Pre-warm-up to ensure that your body is able to perform the sports-specific movement patterns smoothly to prevent early fatigue, unnecessary muscular over-activation and overloading of a joint.
d. Flushing out toxins and promote general relaxations to manage psychological and chemical stress as a post-training/event recovery
INTRODUCING BODYWERKZ : THERAPEUTIC, CORRECTIVE AND RESTORATIVE TISSUE HEALTH PROGRAMME
General massage merely follows the logic of protocol, by the book, which is helpful with a good-feel after-effect. They may not necessarily deal directly with the therapeutic components nor regard tissue response as important.
Our Bodywerkz technique is first-of-its kind uniquely designed massage programme that has in-depth physiological reasoning behind each stroke with different visible and tangible results. It is specific to the different type of tissues one present with which is linked to the DNA or ethnicity of the person.
Bodywerkz I, the first or therapeutic phase, is carefully applied to achieve the therapeutic goals of treating musculoskeletal complaints, orthopaedic conditions and movement dysfunction.
For second corrective phase in Bodywerkz II, techniques chosen are highly dependent on your tissue type, body morphology, personality traits and mostly, on the demands needed for your body. This can be the continuation from Bodywerkz I and it can be on a stand-alone for injury-free individuals to cope with daily demands or for athletes who want to take their body to the next level in their sports.
Lastly but most importantly, Bodywerkz III, the maintenance stage aims for prevention in injury-free or recovered individuals where they want to focus on long term restoration and maintenance ensuring continuous tissue health is within the healthy range.
The followings are some areas that had been researched on :
EFFECTS OF MASSAGE ON GENERAL HEALTH
Pain & Fibromyalgia Relief
Regular massage helps manage pain. The therapist can concentrate on stiff muscles and specific problem areas, loosening them and increasing blood circulation. This temporarily relieves pain from sports injuries, mechanical arthritis and other conditions.
Studies at the Touch Research Institutes in Miami show that massage relieves fibromyalgia-related pain. The Journal of Clinical Rheumatology reports that massage therapy lowers stress hormones, anxiety and depression in fibromyalgia sufferers and works more quickly than transcutaneous electrical stimulation.
Promote Energy
While massage can be very relaxing, the brisk movement of certain massage strokes can energize the client’s body and increase concentration and mental acuity. Office managers have taken up the cry for massage in the workplace to keep workers energized and alert. While athletes often use massage to reduce anxiety and soothe sore muscles, doctors at the Sports Injury Clinic report that specific pre-event sports massage can pump athletes up by activating the muscles, leaving a positive self-image through the therapist-athlete interactions and attitude needed to win competitions..
Immune System Support
Studies have shown regular massage supports the immune system’s function and decreases stress-related hormones which can lower immunity. For example, New Jersey researchers found college students who were stressed about an upcoming exam had better immune system function and less anxiety when they received a massage.
Management of Emotional Disorders
Massage therapy can help you to manage emotional disorders such as depression or anxiety as part of an overall treatment plan. Massage is soothing, nurturing and relaxing. It improves your state of mind if you concentrate on releasing negative thoughts during the treatment. You can incorporate visualization exercises in which you picture yourself in pleasant surroundings during the massage.
Stress Management
Regular massages are an effective stress- management technique. Stress is often caused by being over-committed and overwhelmed with home, work and family obligations. A weekly or bi-weekly massage forces you to take time out for yourself for a pleasurable, relaxing activity.
Reduced Anxiety
Fear, anticipation and worry all contribute to the physical reactions the body experiences when hit with psychologically charged feelings. The fight-or-flight response kicks in, adrenaline rushes and blood pressure rises to prepare for action. Researchers at NCCAM report that massage therapy can reverse those psychological conditions by first helping to lower blood pressure and heart rate. Multiple massage sessions can effectively remove the original fears, also referred to as trait anxiety, to combat the initial responses.
Improved Moods
The manual manipulation of the body causes serotonin and endorphins to be released into the bloodstream, elevating moods. Massage also can stimulate pain blockers and reduce the feelings associated with chronic pain. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center report that massage can relieve feelings of depression in people with chronic illnesses such as cancer and fibromyalgia.
Increased Relaxation
Most people find a massage very relaxing. The environment prepared by the massage therapist is typically soothing and calm, often filled with soft music and the healing fragrance of various aromatherapy scents from candles or diffusers. The client lies down on a table and is cared for by a trained professional—touched by another human being with soothing hands. Tight muscles are rubbed, relaxed and loosened. If you can’t afford to be pampered in a spa or massage therapist’s office those same relaxing benefits may be achieved through self-massage techniques and massage sessions with a partner.