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These common symptoms can be greatly relieved with massage therapy. However, this is NOT medical advice. If you have any concerns, please see your doctor.
Tension headaches are common and can be debilitating. Taking regular doses of over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetomenophen and naproxen are usually temporarily effective but can also have rebound- and side-effects, which are sometimes worse than the original headache.
An alternative to medication for tension headache is massage therapy. Massage can relax the affected muscles by decreasing spasms, increasing blood flow, and improving range of motion. If your pain is located above the eye, around the ear and down the side of the neck, your treatment will be concentrated on your upper trapezius muscle, which run from the base of your skull to your collarbone and pulls your head back and to the side.
Another common symptom is pain around the eye, ear and across the forehead. Here, the usual suspect is your sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. And, almost always, the SCM affects your scalene muscles. These are important muscles that flex, rotate and tilt the head and neck. If you find yourself 'jutting' your chin when you drive or view your computer screen, you're in trouble with these muscles.
Occasionally and rarely, a headache is a sign that you are seriously ill. You should always consult with your physician before attempting any treatments, including over-the-counter medications and massage. If a new headache appears, especially after the age of 50, it should be reported promptly to your doctor. If the headache comes with other symptoms, such as drowsiness, confusion, weakness, loss of muscle coordination, fever, nausea/vomiting, visual disturbances or muscle rigidity (like a stiff neck), contact your physician immediately. Also contact your medical practitioner if the pain steadily worsens over time or with exertion, or is accompanied with high blood pressure.
The TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) is formed by the temporal and mandibular bones. Attached to the mandibular bone is a fibrocartilage disk, which allows the mandible to move smoothly. The chewing muscles (temporalis, masseter, lateral pterygoid, and medial pterygoid) are responsible for movement and stabilization of the TMJ. When stress, teeth grinding (Bruxism) or misalignment of the jaw interfere with normal opening and closing of the mouth, it is referred to as TMJ.
Relaxation of all neck and facial muscles is a good place to start. But by far the best treatment is to work inside the mouth, directly on the joint. This is done very carefully and gently by a trained professional. Results usually occur after the first treatment. Sometimes multiple treatments are required to fully relax the affected muscles.
Most people will have neck pain at some point in their life. The most common causes are sprain (injury to the ligaments of the spine) and strain (injury to the spinal muscles). Neck sprain may occur after a neck injury that causes forcible stretching or tearing of the soft tissues of the neck, such as a sports injury or whiplash from a motor vehicle accident. Neck strain may also occur as the result of postural or repetitive stress (overuse), often related to sleep position or poor standing and sitting posture. Ongoing pain related to neck sprains and strains occurs as a result of soft tissue inflammation and swelling.
Other causes of neck pain include pinched nerves or a variety of structural or degenerative spinal disorders such as a herniated disc and cervical spondylosis (osteoarthritis). The ailment may also be associated with dental disorders or rotator cuff injuries (muscles of the shoulder).
For most neck pain, massage therapy can work wonders. Expert care in working both the front and back of the neck is most effective.
The term rotator cuff refers to the group of tendons and muscles that construct the shoulder joint. It is comprised of four muscles: Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor and Subscapularis, or SITS for short. Their primary purpose is to stabilize the connection of the arm to the torso via the shoulder joint and to control movement of the arm. Tendons link the four main muscles of the rotator to the bones that comprise the shoulder and ligaments further support the shoulder joint in connecting the bones together. Tendons and ligaments are avascular, which means that they do not have their own blood supply. When a tendon is injured, it cannot heal as quickly as muscles because of the lack of blood. Tendenitis is typically the result. Additionally, most joints in the body contain a bursa, which is a fluid-filled sack that acts as a pillow between bones and cushions against impact or rubbing. Bursitis is the inflammation of this sack, which can be very painful and sometimes debilitating.
Massage is very helpful in restoring mobility and reducing pain associated with various types of rotator cuff problems. Restoring proper blood flow to an injured area is crucial to healing. Each rotator cuff muscle must be thoroughly worked to provide maximum relief.
Repetitive strain injuries occur from repeated physical movements doing damage to tendons, nerves, muscles, and other soft body tissues. Occupations ranging from meatpackers to musicians have characteristic RSIs that can result from the typical tasks they perform. The rise of computer use and flat, light-touch keyboards that permit high speed typing have resulted in an epidemic of injuries of the hands, arms, and shoulders. Use of pointing devices like mice and trackballs are as much a cause, if not more so. The thousands of repeated keystrokes and long periods of clutching and dragging with mice slowly accumulates damage to the body. Another name for the condition is Cumulative Trauma Disorder. This can happen even more quickly as a result of typing technique and body positions that place unnecessary stress on the tendons and nerves in the hand, wrist, arms, and even the shoulders and neck. Lack of adequate rest and breaks and using excessive force almost guarantee trouble.
The term Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is often used in connection with these injuries, but in fact CTS is only a small percentage of RSI hand injuries. Tendinitis, Bursitis , Tenosynovitis / DeQuervain's Syndrome , Tendinosis , Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Trigger Finger/Thumb , Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, and several other related conditions may also be involved.
Each one of these potentially devastating conditions can be treated with massage therapy. By detailed working of all affected muscles, most RSI's can be soothed. While there is no magic bullet, massage has shown to be effective along with physical or occupational therapy and relaxation exercises.
Tennis elbow is a repetitive strain injury of forearm muscles. Typical complaints of tennis elbow include pain with gripping activities and moving heavy objects. Symptoms will worsen while using the arm and then lessen with rest. Tenderness is present around the outside of the elbow. Pain is reproduced with a passive stretch of the wrist and with resisted muscular tests of the wrist extensor muscle group. Numbness and tingling are usually not present.
Tennis elbow can emerge from faulty body mechanics while sitting at a computer with a keyboard that is positioned too high for the elbow and wrist. While sitting at a computer, keep a 90 degree angle at the elbows, knees and hips to minimize the chance of overloading the forearm muscles. Playing tennis with improper techniques can also result in tennis elbow, as can any activity where force is felt in the arm.
Deep tissue massage, myofacial release and trigger point therapy are very effective treatments for most forearm and elbow pain.
Massage therapy relieves back strain and sprain by gently stretching painful muscles that are in spasm and softening and breaking up scar tissue and adhesions. Often old back injuries leave scar tissue that can contract and cause current back pain.
Massage therapy also induces relaxation and reduces pain perception. This makes massage therapy a good choice of treatment for chronic back pain, breaking the vicious cycle of pain producing tension and tension producing or intensifying pain. Massage therapy isn’t appropriate for every condition that causes back pain, but a professional massage therapist is trained to recognize whether massage therapy is or isn’t appropriate.
Deep tissue massage therapy uses pressure while kneading and manipulating muscles and tendons and is very effective for treating back pain caused by muscle spasms or chronic muscular tension. The pain relief provided by massage therapy from the loosening of muscles is increased by the benefits of contact with the skin, which has a great influence on mood and pain perception.
Hip pain may be due to deterioration or arthitis in the joint, but the most common cause of hip pain is in the muscles of the buttocks. Deep tissue, trigger point and myofascial release techniques are all very effective treatments for most hip, low back and leg pain.
Sciatica is characterized by shooting pain from the hip down the outside of the leg, sometimes as far as the foot. This is caused by something, either a muscle or a spinal disk, pinching the sciatic nerve. If it's muscle, a trained massage therapist is more than qualified to give instantaneous relief.
Some knee pain is no more complicated than tight, sore adductor muscles - the long muscles on the inside of the thigh. Treating these muscles gently (they will be tender!) but specifically can relieve certain types of knee pain.
The foot is a very complicated mechanism and takes a lot of abuse! Tired, sore feet are rejuvenated with massage therapy. Even plantar fasciitis can be relieved with deep tissue, trigger point and myofascial release techniques.