Archive for March 8th, 2010

Seasonal Affective Disorder

March 8, 2010

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. Symptoms usually start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping energy and making people feel moody. Less often, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer. Massage therapy can be perform on client with SAD and may relieve some of the symptoms of depression, as massage can give a client a sense of well-being.

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Posted in Emotional Disorders, Endocrine Pathology | Leave a Comment »

Bell’s Palsy

March 8, 2010

Bell’s palsy is characterized by facial paralysis on one side. The paralysis is usually proceeded by pain behind the ear that lasts for a few days. It happens quite suddenly. Usually the person will go to bed at night fine and wake up in the morning with the condition. People with this condition experience paralysis or sometimes just weakness on one side of their face. The face will droop on the affected side and the expression will remain flat. If the upper part of the face is affected, you will be unable to blink your eye or it will be difficult to blink. Doctor’s are still unsure as to the cause, but know it has to do with the function of cranial nerve VII. They think that it could be an inflammatory condition that affects the nerve. Facial muscles attach to the skin allowing us to make many expressions. When these muscles are paralyzed, they begin to atrophy. Massage can be used to stimulate circulation in the face and maintain the health of the muscles. Massage can also help encourage the muscles to move and ease the discomfort associated with Bell’s palsy.

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Posted in Nervous System Pathology | Leave a Comment »

Massage benefits to Musculoskeletal Problems

March 8, 2010

Muscles, like everything else in the body, take orders from the brain. When the brain wants action, it sends a message through the spinal cord and connected nerves to reach the muscle itself. That movement is regulated by signals from the nerves in the muscle, which provides a constant progress report. During various specific soft tissue manipulation techniques used in Massage Therapy, there is a massive increase in the number of messages sent to the brain by the nerves. This sudden deluge of information readjusts muscle tension, increasing their ability to work while preventing injuries. Massage Therapy can appease many muscle disorders. Muscle spasms, for example, can be eased by certain Massage Therapy techniques because the kneading and stretching of the muscle fibers encourages a relaxation response in the muscle spindle receptors that are maintaining the spasm. Stretching or pressure on tendons can further interrupt the spasm. Massage benefits are enormous, for optimal results massage can be done once a week.

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Posted in Musculoskeletal Pathology | Leave a Comment »

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