Massage For Children: Even Younger Kids Get Stressed

Children's massage is not at all a new development, though it is not nearly as popular in the US as it is worldwide. In many traditional cultures, massage for children is commonplace and nearly ubiquitous, such as is the case in India. The most common reaction to the idea that Pediatric Massage helps children ease stress is the notion that kids live stress-free lives. Nothing is further from the truth, and those of us with good memory recall can remember just how stressful childhood was.

Even in a well-adjusted child, living in a caring family, there is opportunity for stress. As "grown-ups", we tend to patronize children, insisting that playing with Babies can't be quite so stressful, and "real" stress begins with having a job and family - real responsibilities! However, such an idea is actually insulting to kids' real experiences, as it is a well known fact among those studying child development that kids get stressed too.


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Lymph Drainage Massage To Boost Your Immunity This Winter

Lymph drainage massage therapy is one of the most widely studied and accepted forms of massage therapy. It is often recommended by doctors to their patients to help boost their immunity, as well as for cancer patients to help reduce surgical scarring in their lymph nodes.

Mobile lymph drainage massage therapy is provided in the home, and usually requires several treatments for the entire body. In many cases, especially where lymphedema is involved, the part of the body that is affected by the edema will be focused on first.

Since it is a slow and gentle form of massage, it will feel very different from other types of massage therapy that the recipient may be familiar with. There is no deep pressure involved, and in fact the amount of pressure used is on the scale of two to four grams. There are scientific reasons for this low pressure, having to do with the lymph channels that are close to the skin. When too much pressure is used, lymph drainage massage does not serve to move the lymph correctly.

The way in which mobile lymph drainage massage aids in increasing immune function, effectively boosting the immunity, is that it opens the channels of lymph flow. This allows waste products to be effectively removed from the lymph system by emptying into the appropriate ducts, to be removed from the body. When the waste products are removed, the sluggish immune system will become less sluggish, and will be cleaner, thus more able to remove more waste from the system.

When lymph is allowed to stagnate, especially where there is lymphedema that is an indication of waste accumulation. Just as a car’s engine will not perform properly when there is waste in the system, so the human body does not perform properly when waste does not exit the system. Similar to an oil change, lymph drainage mobile massage can help to move the waste out of the body, creating a better internal environment.

This internal environment is then more able to handle the new toxins, bacteria, and viruses that never stop entering the body from the environment. A clean lymph system will be more able to fight infection as well, since the lymph nodes are the accumulation points where bacteria and viruses are trapped while the white blood cells work to neutralize and consume them.

Lymph drainage mobile massage is an excellent way to boost your immunity during this winter season. To learn more about lymph drainage mobile massage, or to book an appointment, please visit our website by clicking here.

Pre-Natal Massage: Preparing for the Rigors of Labor

Most women who have gone through the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth are familiar with the aches and pains that become a normal part of life afterward. For many women, for example, lower back pain starts during or after the birth of their first child. Neck and hip pain is also common during and after pregnancy.

This is why it is so important for women to have a pre-natal massage before they have given birth. Not only can it help reduce the aches and pains associated with the pregnancy, but it can also help to condition the mom-to-be for the rigorous activity that is childbirth. As the child is brought into the world, many muscles that have never been used are activated for the first time ever.

Uterine muscles, whose sole purpose is to birth a child, will suddenly become extremely active, as the new baby is pushed out of the womb. The activity is strenuous, as the muscles must contract forcefully enough to be successful in pushing the new baby into the world. This leads very often to fatigue in these very muscles, which most women have never noticed or knew they had. So there will now be new pains in places that were not ever an issue before.

Pre-natal massage can help to reduce some of this future pain, with gentle and careful abdominal massage, as well as other techniques. Some pre-natal massage therapists can assist with helping the mom-to-be relax the muscles in the pelvic floor region, thereby allowing the muscles of the uterus to be assisted and not have to push so hard. When the pelvic floor is relaxed, there will be less force needed to push the baby out. This is undoubtedly an overlooked benefit of pre-natal massage for new moms.

Other benefits include overall relaxation, reduction in some lower back pain and shoulder pain, as well as postural guidance by a pre-natal certified massage therapist.

If you would like more information on pre-natal massage therapy, please visit our website by clicking here.

Pre-Natal Massage As A Preparation For Labor

In today’s society, many women and men have very tight hips and thighs, especially their inner thighs and pelvic floor area. When a woman becomes pregnant, having a relaxed and loose pelvis, hip, and thigh area is very important because that is the area where the baby will be trying to push through during birth. If this area is tight, that can cause tearing in the muscles of the pelvic floor, which can lead to long term problems later in life, especially incontinence and painful urination.

The tearing that this can cause can be either forward or back from the birth canal, so it can affect either the urethra or the cecum of the colon. Since scientific studies have shown that a natural birth is healthier that a cesarean section for both the mother and child, having a natural birth is desirable. Since a pre-natal massage can help with the issues discussed above, the healthier and more desirable natural birth can be accomplished with minimal or no tearing of the pelvic floor muscles, and consequently fewer problems later in life.

Certified pre-natal massage therapists have been trained in methods that can be used to loosen the muscles of the pelvic floor in preparation for birth, and in conjunction with pre-natal yoga, can be very helpful in preventing tearing during birth. Massage of the pelvic floor muscles that are attached to the sit bones, as well as abdominal massage, and massage of the inguinal ligament, can help the pregnant woman in her preparation for a healthy birth as the natural follow up to a healthy pregnancy. Pre-natal yoga can help as well to extend the beneficial effects of the pre-natal massage therapy, by keeping the loosened muscles loose.

Because of these additional benefits that are offered by certified pre-natal massage therapists, it is very important that the massage therapist chosen is certified in pre- and post-natal massage. For more information about pre and post natal massage therapy, or to book an appointment, please click here.

Holiday Massage Gift Certificates Make A Thoughtful Gift

Massage therapy has long been recognized as being valuable for relieving stress, but it is only now becoming apparent how very valuable that actually is. Stress causes all kinds of disorders, from high blood pressure to migraine headaches, along with depressed immunity, frequent colds, and the flu. Massage therapy can help to address these conditions at their core, by reducing stress, as well as boosting immune cells and lowering blood pressure.

Perhaps you are seeking a unique and individual gift for your loved one this holiday season. The promise of stress relief offered by massage, and especially mobile massage, will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Imagine the joy and surprise when your loved one learns that not only do they get some well-earned relaxation, they also don’t have to travel anywhere to receive it. Their massage is given right in their own home, where they are most comfortable, most familiar, and perhaps most importantly, most able to relax.

Relaxation is an invaluable and quite rare in today’s fast paced world of 48 hour or longer work weeks, along with taking the kids to soccer practice, karate, and all sorts of other activities. Show your loved one that you truly care about their well being this holiday season by giving them the gift of relaxation: a mobile massage gift certificate.

For more information, or to purchase massage gift certificates for your loved one, please click here.

Post-Natal Massage: Preparing the New Mom’s Body for the Busyness of Motherhood

Post natal massage therapy is a great way to prepare the new mother’s body for the brand new task of motherhood. Motherhood is a very demanding job for anyone, and young mothers especially have a hard time of it, since it can be extremely taxing to care for a newborn.

Continuous nursing of the new baby, picking up and putting down of the new baby, as well as changing and carrying, are very demanding on the new mother. Aside from nursing, these same activities are very demanding on the new father. New fathers are expected to perform these same activities, and are always trying to decrease the burden on their wives, as well.

All of this is not even taking into consideration the extreme demands that a growing child will place on the new mother and father. Soccer practice, swim teams, and the myriad of other activities that the modern child is expected to take part in can all add to the stress of being a new mother.

Post natal massage therapy is an excellent way to restore the mother’s body as closely as possible to the state that it was in before the pregnancy ensued, especially with regard to the extreme demands placed on the body during the intense stages of labor. Labor causes a number of issues for the new mother’s body, including possible tears to the muscles of the pelvic floor, along with pain to certain muscles on the side and lower back of the body, especially the quadratus lumborum and the psoas muscles.

If you would like more information about post-natal massage, there are several other blogs specifically related to post natal massage therapy and the benefits thereof, and you can also check out our post-natal massage page by clicking here.

Pre-Natal Massage: An Under-Utilized Form of Help For The Future Mom

Pre-natal massage is a seriously under-utilized and misunderstood modality that most pregnant women are not aware of as an excellent form of preparation for their impending motherhood. Massage therapy has been shown to have numerous benefits for pregnant women.

One of the most important benefits of pre-natal massage is its helpfulness in preparing the body for the actual act of birth. By relaxing the muscles involved in childbirth, it can help to make the process of birthing slightly less painful, and it can also help reduce the trauma of labor on the new mother’s body, especially when employed during labor. Some of the more common muscles which can be hurt by the process of labor are the quadratus lumborum, the iliopsoas, and the muscles of the pelvic floor.

Certain techniques of pre-natal massage can help to prepare the pelvic floor for the process of birth, and these techniques are used in the last trimester or pregnancy. Other techniques can be used throughout the process of pregnancy to alleviate the muscular tensions created by the baby being formed within the pregnant woman.

Some of the most useful benefits of pre-natal massage are the techniques that can be taught to the pregnant woman’s partner, as well as postural lessons and teaching helpful breathing techniques to alleviate the anxiety that can occur when the baby starts to press on the lower ribs and take up some of the space normally reserved for the mother’s lungs. Suddenly being unable to breathe fully, where you had been previously able to take a complete deep breath from the front of the body, can cause unnecessary anxiety in the new mom.

Another benefit to pre-natal massage is the stimulation of the lactation hormone, oxytocin. This hormone promotes lactation, and also helps with the birthing process, as it stimulates uterine contractions when the baby is ready to be born. Massage therapy has been shown in some studies to promote the production of this important hormone.

Of course, one of the most understood forms of massage is post-natal massage, which is sought because of the extreme amounts of tension that the new mother is experiencing from the act of birthing along with the strain of having the weight of the baby pulling on her back. However, new moms should know that some of these tensions can be prevented through regular pre-natal massage before the birth of the baby.

Pregnant women can benefit from pre-natal massage in many ways. If you are pregnant and thinking about receiving a pre-natal massage, please visit our pregnancy massage webpage by clicking here.

Massage Increases Immune Cells and Reduces Anxiety in Breast Cancer Patients

Massage therapy has been shown to have numerous beneficial effects on people suffering from cancer. From alleviating anxiety, pain, anger, and depressed mood, to more definable immune effects, massage therapy is an excellent adjunct care method for those suffering from cancer.

Several studies have demonstrated that individuals suffering from certain types of cancer including breast, lung, and stomach cancer, patients who were given massage therapy had a lower amount of nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy treatments. Additionally, these same patients reported have lowered anxiety, physical discomfort, fatigue, and mood disturbance when tested against a control group that did not receive massage.

Perhaps even more importantly than the outcomes mentioned above are the effects noted on cancer patients with regard to their Natural Killer (NK) cell activity. In two separate studies, one reported in Autonomic Neuroscience, and another reported in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, (see references at the end of the article), massage therapy had a positive effect on Natural Killer cell activity.

Natural Killer cell activity can often deteriorate during radiation and chemotherapy, which has a negative effect on the body’s own ability to fight off infection. Oftentimes, people being treated with radiation and chemo will contract secondary infections in addition to the cancer, further complicating their medical treatment.

In the study reported in Autonomic Neuroscience in 2009, “massage decreased the deterioration of natural killer cell activity occurring during radiation therapy…” Since radiation therapy is so damaging to the body’s immunity, the fact that massage therapy can help to counter that negative effect is very important news for those undergoing this type of treatment.

In the study reported in Journal of Psychosomatic Research, a group of women with Stage 1 or 2 breast cancer were treated with massage or a control group receiving no massage therapy. At the end of the study, a subset of the women had their blood drawn to measure their immune system. The women had increased Natural Killer cell activity versus the control group after the massage intervention. Since cancer is a disease that has negative effects on overall immunity, and the treatments provided also decrease immunity while they are active, massage therapy shows promise as an adjunct treatment to help with these specific issues.

In conclusion, it appears from these and other studies published in the scientific literature that most cancer patients, whether in active treatment or just diagnosed with cancer, can benefit from massage therapy. To view more studies about massage therapy with regard to various conditions, please visit our studies page by clicking here. For information on booking a massage therapy appointment, or for our long term massage care packages for your loved one, please visit our website by clicking here.

References:

The effect of massage on immune function and stress in women with breast cancer--a randomized controlled trial; Billhult A, Lindholm C, Gunnarsson R, Stener-Victorin E. Auton Neurosci. 2009 Oct 5;150(1-2)


Breast cancer patients have improved immune and neuroendocrine functions following massage therapy; Hernandez-Reif M, Ironson G, Field T, Hurley J, Katz G, Diego M, Weiss S, Fletcher MA, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, Burman I. J Psychosom Res. 2004 Jul;57(1):45-52.

CranioSacral Therapy For Common Health Complaints

CranioSacral Therapy is slowly gaining recognition in the medical community as an acceptable alternative healthcare modality. Part of the reason that the acceptance is so slow is because it challenges long held beliefs that there is no movement in the dura mater or the craniosacral system as a whole, which is the basic principle that inspired the creation of craniosacral therapy.

There are some scientists of late, however, who have determined that there is a movement in the craniosacral system. Their contention, though, is that it cannot be detected by the therapist but only by means of specialized instruments. While it is true that specialized instruments can detect it, the sensitivity of the therapist’s hands has long been under-appreciated. Micro movements, such as the movement of the craniosacral system, can be detected with practice and development of sensitivity. In the classes, learning to feel the rhythm is the most important part of the teaching.

One of the more common health conditions that craniosacral therapy has been shown to be effective in treating is migraines. As healthcare professionals are well aware, migraines have been studied for a very long time, and conclusions have been reached about what they are. Migraine is a type of headache that is caused by vasoconstriction in the area of the occiput and neck. A possible but unstudied cause of migraine can also be that the vasoconstriction occurs because the occiput has become improperly set upon the atlas, or first cervical vertebra.

When patients are treated with craniosacral therapy, this issue is reversed, and many of the participants in the studies related to migraines reported an immediate relief of symptoms. The most promising part of these studies was that some of the migraine sufferers reported that the migraines did not return for a month the treatments had been discontinued. This is great news for those suffering, since most of the treatments available must be continuously administered.

Another health condition which is a great deal rarer than migraine, but no less difficult to treat, is fibromyalgia. When patients were treated with craniosacral therapy for fibromyalgia, they reported less anxiety, less pain, and a better quality of life. Fibromyalgia is another condition that requires life-long treatment most of the time, since it is such a mystifying disorder without a thoroughly understood causative relationship having been determined.

Many patients with this disease are given regimens of various pharmacological interventions throughout their lives. However, alternative methods such as massage therapy and craniosacral therapy are gaining recognition as acceptable treatment methods, since they improve the quality of life and reduce the pain these patients experience.

There are many other examples of conditions that can benefit from craniosacral therapy, which will be discussed in greater detail in future blogs. If you would like to learn more about CranioSacral Therapy, please visit our CranioSacral Therapy page by clicking here.

Post Natal Massage For Healthy Mother and Baby Bonding

Post natal massage therapy has been recognized as an essential part of post-partum care in cultures around the world. In India, the mother and baby are secluded for a period of 40 days, with the mother receiving massage therapy and giving her baby regular massages throughout the day.

Oxytocin is a hormone that has been shown to facilitate the bonding between a mother and her baby, in addition to the widely known effects of increasing breast milk production and making feeding easier for the infant. A recent controlled clinical trial performed at UCLA determined that massage therapy, in contrast to a control group, was able to increase levels of oxytocin in a person’s bloodstream.

This is great news for first time mothers especially, but also for all mothers in general. Very often, first time mothers have a hard time producing enough milk for their infant, and are forced to seek out formula rather than underfeed. Since this hormone is known for increasing milk production, it makes perfect sense that other cultures have appreciated the effects of post-partum massage therapy.

An article published on parenting.com strongly suggests infant massage by their mothers are further facilitating the bonding between the mother and baby. Simple infant massage techniques can be taught to new mothers by massage therapists or by books readily available online and in bookstores. Massage therapy’s stimulation of oxytocin production in the infant and the new mother has also been shown to help the new mother and baby bond.

For more information about post-natal massage and how it can benefit you and your baby, please visit our post-partum massage page by clicking here.

Post Natal Massage to Address Common Complaints Following Pregnancy

Post Natal Massage is recognized as beneficial in many cultures around the world. In countries such as India and China, post natal massage is a normal part of after birth adjunctive medical care. Most women who live in India have two or more massage therapy sessions a week for several weeks after the birth of their baby. The reasons for this are two fold.

First, there are many areas of tension and soreness that were caused by carrying the baby, and then by pushing during labor. Muscles that are most affected by the pushing include the quadratus lumborum, which is on the side of the body, and the lower abdominal muscles. The muscles of the lower back and hips are also affected, although they are primarily made sore by the pregnancy itself.

Post natal massage therapy is quite effective in addressing these common concerns after pregnancy, especially the very common muscle soreness that develops during pregnancy and labor. Other areas of tension and soreness that are often present are in the hip area, especially the gluteus maximus, minimus, and piriformis muscles. Piriformis syndrome can also develop after delivery as well as before, and can be addressed by deep tissue post natal massage.

Another common complaint for post natal women are the issues that occur from nursing. When nursing, the new mother holds her newborn up on one side of the body, and cranes her neck to see her baby to assist with bonding. This position causes tension in the side of the neck and in the shoulder area, especially the top of the shoulders such as the trapezius.

Post natal massage therapy is very effective in addressing all of these muscular related tensions and other issues caused by pregnancy, labor, and nursing. It is most beneficial to find a therapist certified in pre and post natal massage, since there are a number of issues specific to pregnancy that continue for several months after the baby is delivered. If a massage therapist is not experienced in post natal massage, they can unintentionally cause harm to the new mother.

For more information, or to schedule a session of post natal massage, please visit our pregnancy massage page at postnatal-massage.njmassage.info by clicking here.

Massage For Children Suffering From Autism Shows Promise As An Adjunctive Treatment

Children suffering from autism and the autism spectrum disorders are often in a very lonely and vulnerable place. They are unable to communicate with their peers, parents, or other adults who are trying to help them. Autism is a disorder that is characterized by brain development issues, where social interaction, intellectual ability, motor coordination, and other aspects of the person’s development are affected.

Oftentimes, the child suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder will excel in creative activities such as art and music. Naturally, parents of these children, who are often also extremely gifted and highly intelligent, are looking for ways to help their children to develop into healthy and well-adjusted adults. Autism has increased in frequency ten fold over the last forty years, with improved diagnostics and testing having been determined not to be responsible for this increase.

So, more children are suffering around the world with this disorder, for which parents are justifiably lead to seek out alternative treatment options to help their children. Most of the treatments offered for children on the autism spectrum center around behavior therapy and behavior interventions. There are many different types, but most of them have been proven to be effective.

There are, however, additional methods that can be used in the treatment of autism and related disorders. Massage therapy, for example, has been shown in various studies to be effective in reducing stereotypical autistic behaviors in children when compared with a control group. Stereotypical behaviors are those such as touch aversion, off task behavior, orienting to irrelevant sounds, and withdrawal. In three studies on the effects of massage therapy on these children, these behaviors were significantly reduced.

For those seeking to add more help for their children with autism, massage therapy holds definite promise. Another modality that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of autism is CranioSacral Therapy. Having been studied primarily in a case study environment, there are no studies that have been performed with a control group. However, an article on autism which can be linked to here, publishes the conclusions of John Upledger, who has worked with many children with autism spectrum disorders.

He concludes that in many cases of autism, membrane tensions of the craniosacral system due to inflammation may be a significant causative factor in the development of autism. He additionally recommends that those receiving craniosacral therapy for autism continue to receive it throughout their growth period, as their growth spurts can create additional membrane tensions as they grow older.

If your children are suffering from autism or from autism spectrum disorder, and you are interested in learning more about how massage therapy can help, you can visit our website by clicking here. You can also visit our massage benefits area for autism by clicking here. Pediatric massage for kids is available from Mountainside On Site Massage Therapy.

Craniosacral Therapy and Massage For Migraine Headaches

People who suffer from migraine headaches can tell you that a migraine is one of the most painful conditions they have ever experienced. Due to the nature of a migraine, the pain is inescapable. The head is pounding, there may be visual disturbances and nausea, and all that one can do when in the midst of a migraine headache is sit or lie still and hope to fall asleep. There are alternatives available, including massage therapy and craniosacral therapy that can help with migraines.

Several recent studies have demonstrated that both massage therapy and CranioSacral Therapy can have beneficial effects on those who suffer from migraines. A study published in Annual Behavior and Medicine demonstrated that based on heart rate, state anxiety, and cortisol levels which were tested before and after massage therapy interventions, massage demonstrated beneficial effects for sufferers of migraine headaches.

A study on CranioSacral Therapy and migraines was published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. The study asked participants to receive CranioSacral treatments as treatment for their migraines. All study participants suffered from migraines a certain number of times a week. Questionnaires that were provided to participants demonstrated that the severity and frequency of migraines were reduced following treatment.

These studies listed above can be found on our studies page by clicking here. These studies should provide hope that there is help for those who suffer from migraine headaches. While the treatment methods used were not a cure for migraines, they did provide some relief.

A review study published in the Journal of Headache Pain compared the results of manual therapies with the available and commonly prescribed medications for migraine headaches, and found that manual therapies were as effective as the pharmacological interventions. This is also promising news for those suffering from migraines, as there are many individuals for whom side effects of the drugs prescribed for migraines can be as debilitating as the migraine itself.

If you are interested in learning more about craniosacral therapy, or to book a session, please visit our website by clicking here.

Couples Massage At Home For Busy Moms and Dads

Busy new mothers and fathers have very little time to go out for a couples massage at the local spa. It is hard enough just to get a babysitter for an hour long massage session at home, even if Grandma or Grandpa is the babysitter. Forget about going to the spa and having to get a sitter for several hours!

New moms and dads are under much more stress than they were before they became parents. Sleepless nights for the first several weeks before the new baby is ready to sleep through the night adds stress to the body, which needs a certain number of hours of sleep every night to function properly. For those parents who already have small children, it is even more of a challenge to manage more than one child, especially with a new baby around. Sibling jealousies make it even more difficult while the other children adjust to the new baby. So, suffice it to say, new moms and dads can use a couples massage probably more than anyone. The new mom’s aches and pains from childbirth and pregnancy can be helped by massage therapy. The new mom’s massage can feature some aspects of post-natal massage, which she has not yet had time to get for herself. New dads are also in need of massage, since they have the added stress of working every day while the new baby is at home, and he too has to suffer the sleepless nights the first few weeks, right along with mom! So you can see why a couples massage at home would be an excellent choice for this of couple.

Next time you have a night to yourselves, which may be rare but is possible, think about booking a couples massage for the two of you. For more information about couples massage, or to book a session, please visit our website by clicking here.

Couples Massage: When Is the Best Time To Schedule a Session?

This topic, often overlooked, is something that should be addressed. Couples Massage may be scheduled based on one rule: Both parties to have the massage must be around! That's really it! Even so, trying to find a block of one hour or 90 minutes for both persons in a relationship can be hard work, in and of itself.

So, supposing both of you have a free hour or two on Tuesday evening around 10 PM. Is that too late? Definitely not! We do travel to New York City and New Jersey during that time. And it's a good time to have a session, because you will have had dinner hours ago, and can just relax and let the day's stress diminish.

What about a Friday morning? Why not?! It's really wonderful to have a massage early in the morning, just after showering. Contrary to the notion that you'll be tired the entire day, most people feel energized and awake. It's like dealing with the daily tension before it even gets a chance to begin accumulating. Mornings, in general, make a good time for a Couples Massage session.

That leaves us with afternoons. Is this a good time as well? Yes; and no. Firstly, most people naturally get sleepy during the afternoon. That's just how our biorhythms work, in most cases. So it's a lot more likely that you'll fall asleep, even more so than an evening session.

Falling asleep during a Couples Massage session may not be what you want. Some people wish to stay as conscious as possible to savor every moment with their loved one. But for couples who do not mind an unexpected nap together, an afternoon of Couples Massage can be perfect. If your loved one is the type to feel upset about such things, this is not the best time for you! Avoid a trifle and schedule at another time.

Lastly, that leaves us with late nights. Do we even travel that late? Usually, we stop at 11 PM. That's our latest session. But we can go later, for an extra charge. Late night Couples Massage at home can be the most "cosmic", clients report. Few find that they fall asleep, but rather enter a dreamy, less-solid waking state. Maybe this is the best time to experience cathartic Couples Massage sessions with your loved one? Could be.

In summary, we must conclude that every time during the day offers a different benefit, in terms of when to schedule a Couples Massage session at your home. Get massages when you can. Try different time slots, if possible. See how you and your partner like the effect of different times. You may find that morning Couples Massage sessions energize, just as we stated, and then decide to continue exploring the effect that the time of day has on the outcome, as well as moment-to-moment experience, of a Couples Massage session.

Couples Massage: Sharing Time In a Way You Likely Overlooked

When we think of all the activities couples can do together, it's usually because we're trying to find something new and exciting to do with our significant other. And of course, that's a good thing, because we should never stop exploring life and finding new places to go and things to do. But one often overlooked activity for two is the Couples Massage.

Couples Massage At Home is one of the original flagship services that we offered to clients in New Jersey and New York City, and we still do. Over the course of the last ten years, we've seen many people experiencing Couples Massage for the first time. Evidently, it's a great way to spend time together, as clients often book again.

Activities are usually thought of as things to do, or visiting places where there's good food to eat. Sometimes we engage in activities as couples that are more passive, such as seeing a movie or going to the theatre. Even as an engaged and rapt audience member, compared with white water rafting, or even a drive around the town with your significant other, watching a performance or movie is just not quite an active activity. That doesn’t really matter; what does, is that it's fun, a great way to spend some time cuddled together.

Many might think that Couples Massage might be a boring way to spend time as a couple, but that is just not so. Couples Massage is yet another passive activity that, like viewing a movie together, is both a personal and private experience. However, Couples Massage is an experience that has been regarded by many past clients as one of the closest times they've experienced being with their significant other. Sharing time while being worked on, healing together, can be a transcendental experience of incredible closeness.

Do keep Couples Massage in mind the next time you're trying to figure out what to do as a couple. It's definitely one activity that is more fun than it even sounds, and is worth trying at least once. There is a place in the life of a couple for eating out; there's also a place for a home-cooked feast. When planning our activities, it's great to diversify our time among all different sorts, from active activities, like gardening together, to more passive activities, like Couples Massage at Home.

Check out our website for more information by clicking here.

Massage Therapy for Post Surgical Recovery

Massage therapy has been shown to have some benefits to patients going in for surgery, as well as for those patients recovering from surgeries. Massage has shown promise for use as an adjunctive therapy for the surgical floor of hospitals and outpatient medical centers.

A study published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery demonstrated a benefit to patients who received a hand massage before going in for a cataract surgery procedure. Patients who received the massage had reduced levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, where the control group had increased levels of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. The study concluded that hand massage before cataract surgery decreased psychological and physiological anxiety levels.

Another study published in Lik Sprava, a Ukrainian publication, in 2002, demonstrated that neck massage on patients who had undergone thyroid surgery had a beneficial effect on their recovery. In 85% of patients, the skin tone of the surgical area improved, the cutaneous and muscle tone of the surgical area was improved, and 48% of patients in the study had reduced edema and swelling of the tissues involved in the surgical procedure. The patients were also able to reduce their doses of hormone medications.

Many people today are having many different types of surgeries. The medical technology is increasing at an ever faster rate, so that many new procedures are being devised every day. From simple cataract surgery to correct vision problems, to major spinal and open heart surgeries, many people are in need of help with their post surgical recovery. Considering the studies above would lead one to believe that massage therapy can help with post surgical recovery for many different types of surgery. This would be a correct assumption, since massage has been shown to have numerous beneficial effects on those who are healthy, as well as on those who are suffering from various conditions or who have had surgery.

If you are interested in learning more about mobile massage therapy, please visit our website by clicking here. If you would like to view our studies pate, with links to many studies on a variety of health conditions that can benefit from massage therapy, please click here.

Please see the studies page, and click on "Massage For Surgery" to view the studies referenced in this article.

Kids Massage At Home For Children Experiencing Health Issues

Many people think that children can’t really benefit from massage. It is believed that kids don’t suffer from stress, or other health issues that can benefit from massage. However, there are many common issues that children can experience which may benefit from massage therapy.

One very common condition that infants and toddlers experience is colic. This is an issue with unknown causes which makes children cry for more than three hours per day and more than three days per week. Massage therapy has been shown to have some beneficial effects of infant colic. See our studies page for more details on massage and colic.

Another condition that children often suffer from that has been shown to benefit from massage therapy is anxiety. A study published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology in 1999 showed that children suffering from anxiety caused by their condition of cystic fibrosis had improved mood and sleep after massage therapy, as well as less anxiety caused by their condition.

Another study regarding anxiety and depression with regard to children who had depression and adjustment disorder showed that giving the children a 30 minute back massage every day for a five day period had reduced levels of anxiety and depression. The self reported findings were also correlated with nurse reports and salivary cortisol level tests. Nighttime sleep for these patients also increased during the time of the study.

One uncommon complaint of infants and children are migraines and headaches. Some children have constant migraines and headaches, and although it is rare, this is a condition that can be successfully helped without drugs or surgery with massage therapy. A study published in Annual Behavior and Medicine in 2006 showed positive benefits for people suffering from migraines who were given frequent massages. Another study published in the Journal of Headache Pain in 2011 showed that massage therapy, as well as chiropractic spinal manipulation, physiotherapy, and relaxation were as effective as two of the most commonly prescribed drug therapies for migraine. The results of these studies are promising for individuals seeking a non-pharmacologic treatment for migraines, especially with regard to children who may be too young to take the prescription medications.

Craniosacral therapy has also demonstrated effectiveness on migraines sufferers, in many cases causing alleviation of migraine symptoms for one month or more from a single treatment. Since craniosacral therapy helps to gently move the bones of the spine, particularly those of the occiput and sacrum, it is likely that some migraines may be caused by incorrectly aligned spinal bones. The results of these studies are very promising to those suffering from migraines, especially small children.

These studies explored above show that massage therapy can have very beneficial effects on children suffering from certain medical conditions. While this is the case, ordinary children who do not currently suffer from any medical conditions can also benefit from massage therapy, both as a preventative measure and as a way to alleviate stress and tension caused by everyday living, including schoolwork and other obligations.

If you are interested in learning more about pediatric massage therapy, please check out our website by clicking here.

CranioSacral Therapy: A Positive Therapeutic Approach to Pain Management

Craniosacral therapy is a relatively new therapy, in that it has been around much less than a hundred years, being developed in the seventies by Dr. Upledger. Utilizing small amounts of force and pressure, measured in grams, osteopathic manipulation is performed. Craniosacral therapy is built on the principles of osteopathic medicine, and specifically the work of Dr. Sutherland in the 1930s.

Using the craniosacral rhythm of the body, which is the circulation of the craniosacral fluid around the brain and spinal cord, assessments are made of the bones of the cranium and pelvis. Light pressure techniques, sometimes called releases, are performed to certain bones of the cranium and pelvic.

Very often, patients receiving craniosacral therapy are surprised by the relief of symptoms in one area which have been affected by therapy to a very different and sometimes distant area. For example, there have been patients suffering from TMJ or migraine headaches who experience an alleviation of pain symptoms after therapy at the sacrum and pelvis. Some of the principles of craniosacral work are that the body system is connected, and that often times, pain in one area can be what is known as referred pain, coming from an entirely different area.

While there are not very many studies on the effects of craniosacral therapy, the few randomized clinical trials that do exist have shown positive effects on pain in patients who received it. For example, one study published in Clinical Rehabilitation in 2011 concluded that craniosacral therapy “improved medium-term pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia.” Anyone who knows someone with fibromyalgia will understand that it is a very difficult disorder to treat. When someone has this disorder, they are in widespread generalized pain all of the time. Craniosacral therapy can be used as an excellent adjunct to standard medical care for these patients.

Another study published in Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice concluded that craniosacral therapy can help to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches. Considering the debilitating nature of migraines, this is very promising to those suffering from migraines.

These are only two of the available studies on CranioSacral Therapy, both of which had positive findings for pain relief. Further research into the effects of craniosacral therapy are certainly warranted. If you are interested in learning more about CranioSacral Therapy, or in booking a session, please visit our website by clicking here.

Mobile Hot Stone Therapy: An Ancient Technique for Modern Relaxation

Hot stones have been used in the healing practices of many diverse cultures. They have been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, as well as in Anma, one of the oldest Asian healing modalities.

In Anma, the hot stones were placed upon the body on the energy points, which are also known as tsubos. The hot stones are placed upon these points to stimulate them and release their energy, in much the same way as using moxibustion in shiatsu or anma. Hot stones have been used in China since ancient times. The heat of the stones, through stimulation of the tsubos, also helps the internal organs to function properly. ‘

There have been many other uses for hot stone massage over the centuries. Native American cultures as well as other indigenous cultures have used hot stones for various purposes. The stones are used in sweat lodges to adjust the temperature, and in Hawaii, healers have used hot stones in much the same way that they are used today. The stones were also wrapped in leaves from the castor plant to increase the healing power of both the stones and the leaves. The healing aromatic oils from the castor plant were released by the heat from the stones, to encourage deeper penetration and more thorough healing effects.

There are other cultures that have used hot stone therapy as a means to effect healing and to stimulate and relax the body. Suffice it to say that hot stone therapy has a long tradition of healing and relaxation among human cultures.

Mountainside On Site Massage Therapy is now offering mobile hot stone massage therapy. Our hot stone page will be up soon, but for more information on booking an appointment for hot stone massage, please click here.

Massage and Anxiety: Managing Anxiety and Dealing Better With Life

Many people today suffer from anxiety in one form or another. Sometimes it is a temporary anxiety, where they are anxious about a certain deadline that will pass, or a stressful situation at work. In rarer cases, they are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder that affects their life in a more extreme way, making it hard to function and deal with others socially.



The type of anxiety that has been most studied is the type that is temporary or recurring, but is not a chronic condition requiring a diagnosis and treatment. With temporary anxiety, such as the kind engendered by a working environment, massage therapy has been shown to help significantly. In many of the studies, not only was self reported anxiety diminished, but also salivary cortisol levels were reduced, where cortisol is the stress hormone.

This is good news for people who work in high stress environments, most especially nurses and other healthcare providers who work long hours with few breaks and for many days at a time. Another small study done by the Touch Research Institute showed that massage therapy enhances alertness and brain power, as demonstrated by improved scores on math computation tests. The same study also showed that people given the massages had less anxiety, both self reported and measured by cortisol levels.

With regard to the second type of anxiety, which is more long term and can be debilitating, several studies were done on psychiatric patients who received massage therapy. These patients suffered from anxiety, depression, hostility, and lack of sleep. The results showed that even these individuals benefited from massage therapy. They had less anxiety and depression, as well as better sleep at night. Their hostility and aggression were also significantly reduced, prompting the researchers to state that “massage… may be a useful de-escalating tool for reducing stress and anxiety in acutely hospitalized psychiatric patients.”

When it comes to dealing with life and the stresses produced by it, it seems that massage therapy has been shown to be very helpful. Stress, anxiety, tension, depression, and aggression have all been studies with regard to massage, and the results are promising. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of massage therapy, please click here. If you are interested in having your own session of massage therapy at your location, please click here.

Mobile Massage For Fibromyalgia Sufferers

Individuals suffering from fibromyalgia have a very difficult time functioning in this world. The excessive amounts of pain that they feel, along with a brain fog from the pain, can make it very difficult to function normally. Intense widespread pain in the body, as well as fatigue and sleeping difficulties, are common for fibromyalgia sufferers.

Although this disorder does not have a known cause, there are many things that can help a person with it. Massage therapy has been shown in studies to improve the amount and quality of sleep that people can have with this disorder. Also, levels of stress hormones were reduced, and anxiety and depression were also reduced among patients.

Fibromyalgia can be a torturous disorder for some, and it is not surprising that it leads to greater levels of anxiety and depression. The inability to function can be very frustrating, as the body is unable to do what the mind want it to do. Instead, people often find that they need to just lay in bed all day. Thus, this is a population that would be prone to depression and anxiety, especially because there is no cure and many of the treatments are only marginally effective.

Based upon the studies of massage with fibromyalgia, it would also appear that the pain causing substance, known as Substance P, can also be reduced in people who receive massage therapy. Since many people with fibromyalgia find ordinary activities draining, including walking and driving, having a mobile massage at their home would probably be best for people in this population.

If you have fibromyalgia or care for someone who does, please click here to find more information about having a session of mobile massage. To find the studies referenced above, please click here.

References:

J Clin Rheumatol. 2002 Apr;8(2):72-6. Fibromyalgia pain and substance P decrease and sleep improves after massage therapy. Field T, Diego M, Cullen C, Hernandez-Reif M, Sunshine W, Douglas S.

J Dermatol Sci. 2000 Feb;22(2):138-44. Firm stroking of human skin leads to vasodilatation possibly due to the release of substance P. Morhenn VB.

J Clin Rheumatol. 1996 Feb;2(1):18-22. Fibromyalgia benefits from massage therapy and transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Sunshine W, Field TM, Quintino O, Fierro K, Kuhn C, Burman I, Schanberg S.

Stressful and Hectic Lives Benefit From Mobile Massage

One of the most common complaints we get from people in today’s modern world is that they are under enormous amounts of stress. This stress contributes to their entire life in a negative way. They are in constant pain, especially in their neck, shoulders, and lower back. They may have chronic headaches and other tension in their bodies. This is one of the main reasons why people seek out mobile massage at their own location.

One might wonder, as many of us do, what causes the body to react in this way. Why does stress build up in the body? For one thing, people today have very high stress jobs and lives. They work long hours, sometimes as many of 9 to 12 hours in a single day. Their workload is very heavy, with deadlines that loom quickly, and so much work to do before they pass that it can be a lot to deal with.

Then, there is the way the body itself reacts to stresses that is the main culprit. Stress in general causes the heart rate to rise, the stomach to tighten, the blood pressure to go up, and adrenaline to be released into the system. Constant stimulation of this “fight or flight” response, which is not really the best response to the stresses that are presented, is one of the biggest contributors to long term health problems. When this autonomic system is constantly stimulated, the parasympathetic system which balances against it eventually burns out and is unable to counteract the above problems.



One of the greatest benefits of massage therapy is the balancing effect that it has on the autonomic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This is why one of most well known effects of massage is stress relief. Through balancing the autonomic nervous system, stress can be relieved.

When a person has more than one massage session, it can create a more balanced and relaxed atmosphere for their life. If you are experiencing stress and its many effects upon your body, mobile massage might well be worth considering. Click here to find out more information.

Mobile and Chair Massage for the Elderly and Infirm

Perhaps you have never considered providing mobile massage for your elderly patients or those you give care to. It is actually a very worthwhile consideration for many reasons.

(Photo from YODCOX! on flickr)

First of all, elderly patients, especially those in assisted living and nursing home facilities, tend to be very lonely. They may go for many days or weeks without being touched in a meaningful way, either by loved ones or by the nursing staff. At most nursing homes or assisted living facilities, nurses provide the care necessary for their elderly patients, but that more often than not does not include touch of any kind.

Touch can include hugging the person, holding them around the shoulders, and other gentle types of touch. Consequently, the loneliness that many of the elderly already feel can be intensified by the fact that they are not ever touched. Mobile therapeutic massage can provide that kind of meaningful and therapeutic touch that we as humans all crave.

(Photo from quinn.anya on flickr)

As an example of the need for touch, there is a now famous study using rhesus monkeys who never received touch from anyone, compared to a control group that was given normal touch and care by their mothers or handlers. The monkeys who were not touched exhibited aggressiveness, anger, rage, and other abnormal social behaviors. This study, as well as others that have been done in recent years, have shown that touch is essential to mental and physical health in humans.

Second, many elderly patients experience pain of varying types and intensities. Many of them have tense shoulders, arms, and hands, which can lead to thoracic outlet syndrome and other conditions. They may have tension and pain in their lower backs, which is one of the most common types of pain that people experience. Mobile massage can help with both of these conditions, as well as many others. Many elderly patients suffer from pain and numbness in their extremities, which when left untreated, can become debilitating.

Third, and perhaps the most important, many elderly patients are homebound. That means they cannot travel to the spa or to a chiropractors office to get a massage. These people, perhaps more than any other population, would benefit a great deal from having mobile massage at their nursing home or assisted living facility.

There are many other benefits from massage therapy aside from pain relief, many of which can be found on our massage benefits page, by clicking here. If you are interested in scheduling a mobile massage session, you may visit our website by clicking here.

Mobile Massage for Frequent Drivers Suffering Negative Effects

In our fast paced society, there are many among us whose careers make them into frequent drivers. Traveling salespersons, delivery drivers, car service drivers, limousine operators, and others can all benefit from sessions of mobile massage therapy.

As persons who frequently drive are all too aware, there are many problems that can be caused by frequent driving. Most often, driving on a regular basis leads to nerve impingement. The nerves most frequently affected are the ulnar nerve or the radial nerve. The difficulty with this type of nerve impingement is that it is very often difficult to pinpoint the source of the pain or to associate it with the activity which is actually causing it.



For example, sufferers of almost all types of arm nerve impingement will suffer from occasional or chronic numbness and tingling in the extremities, most often in the fingers. In this way, this type of impingement can actually quite closely resemble or mimic the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, often times this nerve impingement will cause pain in the elbows or the neck, without numbness or tingling, making it appear to be just general neck pain or pain in the elbow.

Consequently, the person suffering will not know what is causing it, or what can help it. Massage therapy is one of the very best treatments for nerve impingement in the arms, since massage relaxes the muscles surrounding the nerve that is affected, and can also in many cases help to calm the nerve itself. Since the nerve is generally being impinged by one or more of the muscles surrounding it, massage to the surrounding tissues is often a very effective way to reduce this condition.



Mobile massage is excellent for people suffering from these types of conditions, whether ulnar nerve impingement, radial nerve impingement, or even carpal tunnel syndrome proper (these conditions can often be confused). Many individuals who are traveling salespersons, delivery drivers, or car service or limousine operators have very little downtime. They simply do not have the time in their lives to visit a spa. Many of them work from morning until night, and when they arrive home they are so exhausted that they simply go to sleep. All of this to begin the same process the next day.

Since mobile massage is performed in the client's own home, this type of service is perfect for individuals with such busy lives as described before. Additionally, the best type of treatment for nerve impingement is regular massage therapy so that the problem can be remedied. Since the pain is an indication of a problem, and the problem will often get worse if it is left untreated, it is best for massage therapy to begin as soon as possible after feelings of pain, numbness, and tingling begin. Pain is also one of the last indicators to appear, whereas the numbness and tingling will appear first to try to alert the individual that something should be done.



If you would like more information about mobile massage therapy, or to book an appointment, you can visit our website by clicking here. Our skilled and experienced massage therapists will travel to you location to provide sessions of relaxing, pain relieving massage therapy. More than just symptom relief, nerve impingement responds very well to long term massage therapy, and much of the pain that you are experiencing can be helped by massage.

Mobile Massage Therapy for Actors, Actresses, and Performing Artists

It is fairly well known that acting and performing is an extremely demanding career. For television and movie actors, 20 hour days on-screen or preparing between takes are the norm and not the exception for many. When it comes to the performing arts, the same actor may appear in a play three or more times in one night, with very little time for relaxation. For new actors, their lives consist mainly of going from audition to audition, with very little time for rest in between.



This is where I see the role of a mobile massage therapist as being very important. When such an actor or performer has only one hour to spare on a certain day, perhaps for a rare lunch break or just down-time, a mobile massage therapist can be called in to provide relaxation and relief from stress, tension, and anxiety.



For others performers and actors, their production company can hire a mobile massage therapist to be present for the duration of the work-day, where people can come in whenever they have a few minutes to spare for a short or longer session of massage therapy. When receiving a deep tissue massage, much of the soreness from constant performing can be worked out by the massage therapist.



Acting is a very demanding and also a very richly fulfilling career for many who have chosen this as their career path. For the most part, actors and performers of various types have said that there is nothing else that they would like to do with their lives. I believe it takes a great deal of courage, and I have a great deal of respect for those who have chosen to pursue this dream.



Perhaps you are a production company who would like to book massages for your overworked actors, or you are a Performing Arts Manager interested in having a day of massage therapy for your crew and performers, or perhaps you are an actor yourself looking for a way to de-stress and unwind in the little spare time you have. You can contact Mountainside On Site Massage Therapy by visiting our website, which can be found by clicking here. Licensed and experienced mobile massage therapists are on call seven days a week to visit you at your location and provide therapeutic deep tissue massage.

Couples Massage: A Wonderful Anniversary Surprise For Your Significant Other

Couples Massage At Home is always a great choice, bringing two people together in a shared experience of healing and relaxation. However, something even more special that we've witnessed are Couples Massage sessions couples shared on their anniversaries. Not everyone enjoys surprises, so unexpectedly finding massage therapists in the living room may be great for some, but not everyone. Consider whether your significant other would rather have an advanced warning that such goings on will occur. The idea is to lessen stress, not increase it!



Knowing your loved one as you do, you should know whether a surprise session of Couples Massage would be appreciated more than preparing and planning an Anniversary Couples Massage together. But if you know your loved one likes surprises, there's a lot that you can do. Some ideas we can share are what we've witnessed, from men and women who cared a lot about letting their spouses know that they really cared.



Candles are good. The more, the better. Be careful, though, as candles can spill and are a fire hazard. If you are placing candles on the floor, be sure there is enough room not to kick any over. A candle rolling over and setting fire to the curtain is not outside the realm of possibility, and while it may make good comic relief in a movie, it's not at all funny in real life.



Stick with the LED candles if you can, or keep real candles in a safe place, where they can't be kicked over or knocked over by the cat or dog. We bring our own LED candles to every Couples Massage session, but by all means, set up your own as well!

Rose petals are great. Roses in vases are a nice touch, adding beautiful atmosphere to any room. But some creative clients have also sprinkled rose petals on the floor of the room where the massages will take place. This really looks cool, especially when you mix different color roses.



Prepare a meal. (Or order takeout!) This always goes over well. A romantic evening beginning with a surprise Couples Massage, followed by a knock on the door for delivery of your loved one's favorite dish, from his favorite restaurant, really shows you care about making him feel loved. If you're more inclined to cook, make her favorite dish. If you imbibe, have a bottle of her favorite wine ready and waiting as well. Have everything pre-prepared so that after the massage you only need to heat everything up in the oven for ten minutes.

Follow it all up by some ice cream shakes or with a homemade cake. Depending on whether you want to leave the house or not, you could drive over to Carvel® or Baskin-Robbins® for freshly whipped up ice cream shakes. Or to the juice bar for some wheatgrass; it all depends on what you both are into. Couples Massage At Home is a great element of an amazingly memorable anniversary. The rest takes some time, effort, and real planning. If you think ahead, and consider your loved one's preferences and likes, you're sure to create an anniversary that is relaxing, fun, and unique.