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 reoccurrence 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”.

Jeff P. Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world for the prevention and rehabilitation of repetitive strain injuries. repetitive-strain.com repetitive-strain.com

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Tags: exercises, Heart, massage, massage therapy

Many different diseases and conditions cause chronic pain. One of the most common is arthritis, a group of diseases that cause inflammation of the joints.

Everyone’s arthritis pain is different. For most people, arthritis means simply pain in or around a joint. But there are over 100 different forms of arthritis, each with its own set of symptoms and characteristics. Even though there are several ways to describe the pain, there are generally two kinds of pain: “acute” which would have a quick onset and disappear within a few minutes and “chronic” which the most painful and longest lasting. Other common types of chronic pain are backache, muscle pain, headache, and sore feet.

Solutions To Deal With Pain

Causes of many forms of arthritis are unknown but dealing with and understanding the associated pain of the disease is the hardest part. There are, however, many things that you can do yourself to increase the effectiveness of your treatment without the use of drugs include some or all of the following:

-Massage Therapy
-Hydrotherapy
-Hot and Cold Heat Packs
-Relaxation Techniques
-Supplementing Your Diet With Glucosamine and Chondroitin

A natural pain relief product such as Flexcerin can actually help to support healthy cartilage, relieve pain and provide lubrication to your joints. The product has been gaining a lot of popularity recently because it contains all of the natural arthritis relieving nutrients, including glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and other clinically proven ingredients to help reduce inflammation, swelling and stiffness as well as protect the joints and provide long lasting pain relief. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been widely used in Europe for years to treat osteoarthritis, are safe and effective nutritional supplements, as demonstrated by the clinical findings released in the landmark GAIT abstract study.

The key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle include eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep at night, and daily exercise. All of these can help ease the pain of chronic arthritis. Eating a well balanced diet will give your body necessary nutrients to keep your joints healthy. All of these positive physical lifestyle choices can help ease the pain of chronic arthritis.

Unfortunately, many people believe pain is just a part of the aging process and they have to “bear with it.” But pain is not necessarily something you have to live with, it’s okay to admit that you have pain and to take proactive action to relieve it today.

Janet Hanh is a published author in the field of pain management. Many of her insightful health related articles can be found online at consumerhealthdigest.com consumerhealthdigest.com

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Tags: diet, glucosamine, massage, massage therapy, sleep

Massage therapy in and of itself can by very therapeutic, as many people can attest to. In many cases massage is done with certain oils; sometimes to simply make the massage easier, in other cases they can add beneficial aroma therapy. One way to take the benefit of massage even further however, is to add herb compresses. There are probably as many combinations of herb compresses for massage as there are masseuses who use them. Many herb compresses, however, have become very popular and established due to their continuing success.

A compress of such elements as ginger, mint, and citrus given during or after a massage can promote a feeling of energy in a subject. Ginger is a very mild irritant to the skin, which is why in the right doses it can stimulate nerve endings and help bring blood to the skin, leaving that part of the body feeling energized and speeding the process of healing. Camphor can also work in this way, as well as citrus herbs. Especially when the massage is focused on promoting energy, this type of herb compress can be a great way to enhance the overall process.

When it comes to massage for relaxation, other types of herbs can be used. Lavender leaves or oil mixed with chamomile are often used as herb compresses to promote relaxation during or after a massage. There are even herb compresses used in massage to help with the sex drive, relieve constipation, ease the symptoms of hay fever, and release feelings of anger. Though massage treatment with these types of herb compresses is often controversial, what really matters most is what each person gets from them. Herb compresses in massage are rarely dangerous, but are both stimulating and detoxifying and you would expect an experienced massage therapist to be educated well enough to know how to use herb compresses and in what quantities.

When using herb compresses for massage, the usual first step is to steep the herbs in water or some type of oil before using them. Though herbs can be applied directly to the skin, combinations of herbs are often combined in a tied cloth bag after being prepared, and then the bag is steamed to warm it and gently rubbed, held or patted over the skin, or the parts of the body where it will be most useful. The key to doing this properly is to study how each herb must be prepared. Sometimes the herbs are prepared separately; sometimes they are steeped together in the water or the oil. The herbs can be applied to the skin separately as well, depending on the effect that the masseuse is going for. There are several good books on using herbal compresses for massage, as well as classes that you can take from licensed masseuses. If you are already a licensed masseuse and would like to venture into the realm of using herbal compresses to enhance the massage experience, it can often be beneficial to simply find a fellow masseuse who has used this method for a while, find out where they trained and then if possible, help him or her with preparation of the herbal compresses. Experiencing it first hand in this manner can be a great way to learn quickly, and in the correct way.

Annalisa Zisman, a proficient writer, writes for a few different

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Tags: massage, massage therapist, massage therapy

People looking into a new career as a massage therapist will find several Massage Therapy Schools in Missouri that provide a complete education in the field. Aspiring massage professionals are provided with hands-on training and classroom lectures and discussions that will qualify them for entry-level positions in spas, athletic organizations, and medical facilities anywhere.

Massage therapy schools provide opportunities to earn certificates or diplomas from vocational schools and community colleges, two-year Associate of Science (AS) degrees from community colleges, or four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees.

In addition to hands-on massage experience gained in a clinical setting, the massage education will include the subjects of anatomy, physiology, health, hygiene, pathology, and nutrition. Theory and practice of massage, hydrotherapy, reflexology, and other courses may be required, which will prepare students with the necessary skills in the profession. Some massage schools also prepare students for business operations with courses in management, accounting, marketing, and business ethics.

Students planning to attend one of the Massage Therapy Schools in Missouri should look for accreditation by state and national organizations. Accreditation will assure students of quality educational programs and worthy diplomas, degrees, and certificates, and also prepare students for national certification exams. There are several qualifying credentials that students should look for when researching massage schools, such as: AMTA (The American Massage Therapy Association), ACCSCT (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and College of Technology), COMTA (Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation), ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training), among others.

The Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration has set state-wide regulations that apply to massage therapists. Chapter 5 - Health Care Consumer Procedures lists regulations that apply specifically to massage therapy businesses. Before graduating from Massage Therapy Schools in Missouri (or elsewhere), students should check with the state as well as local governments regarding laws that regulate massage therapists and massage therapy businesses.

A career in Natural Healing can be extremely rewarding, and your studies may lead you to specialize in any number of areas, such as Acupuncture or Chiropractics, for instance.

To learn more about schoolsgalore.com/categories/1/massage_therapy_schools_missouri.html Massage Therapy Schools in Missouri and other courses of study, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find schoolsgalore.com/categories/3/massage_schools.html massage schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools and schoolsgalore.com/categories/1/massage_therapy_schools.html Massage therapy schools at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.

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Tags: acupuncture, massage, massage therapist, massage therapy