Massage therapy is one of the most effective ways to bring about balance and reduce pain in the body.
In fact, remedial massage is underrated in how quickly it can assist the physical body to shift from a state of pain to a relief. And if we couple this with Aromatherapy by creating a tailored blend of essential oils to relax the nerves that innovate the muscles we get a compound effect. This is only one aspect of massage that can help to resolve issues that manifest as pain. In Naturopathy we work from the inside out, and with bodywork and massage, we work from the outside in. Hence this is a perfect coupling of treatments to help you relax, restore and replenish your mind, body and soul.
Megan Taslaman, The Thyroid Naturopath has a long history with remedial, sports, deep tissue, aromatherapy, reflexology and therapeutic massage from over 20 years of experience in private clinical practice. Given the physical body is deeply connected to our emotional and mental state, it’s not a surprise that working to help restore thyroid wellness includes physical rebalancing.
The massage services offered by Megan are Remedial Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Relaxation Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Reflexology, Hot Stones Massage. However as each ‘body’ reads differently, Megan tailors your bodywork massage treatment to what you require for restoration, relaxation, pain relief and rejuvenation.
Megan offers bodywork services in her private Medowie practice and at The Wellness Path in Nelson Bay. Whether you’re currently working with Megan with Massage or Naturopathy to help rebalance and restore your Thyroid Wellness, the coupling of therapies will provide next-level results. An intuitive therapist, Megan will ‘pick up’ the workings of your body through the art of massage and this information helps to clarify areas of your health that need addressing. For example, did you know that the texture of your skin can highlight insufficiencies of Vitamin A, Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Zinc? Nothing beats a little more information to marry with the subjective and objective data that provides your complete health picture.
The Evolution of Massage Therapy
The word massage means “friction of kneading” in French, “to touch, feel or handle” in Arabic, and in Greek it means “to handle, touch, to work with the hands, to knead dough”.
Massage used to be a part of Naturopathy, however split off to be its own modality in the early 1900’s. Personally, I see bodywork as a significant tool when it comes to reading the body, and one’s health, which certainly provides feedback for Naturopathy.
Massage therapy is a ‘hands-on’ bodywork therapy where a symbiotic relationship develops between the therapist and the client. Questions may be asked, and feedback provided – hence a feedback loop exists or is created between the therapist and the client. The therapist may ask certain questions, for feedback on areas of the body worked upon. For a deep tissue or remedial massage, a common question may be: on a pain scale where do you rate this on a number from 1 – 10! If the massage sought after is for relaxation, generally the massage ‘style’ is different, more rhythmic, flowing, lighter.
Benefits of Massage: More than Just Relaxation
Massage therapy in its entirety has evolved to a level where it has become mainstream and is regarded as an essential health service. Fully qualified remedial massage therapists will be a health provider for all funds. In my early days of training as a massage therapist, I remember massage used to be regarded as more of a luxury. Now it is definitely a necessity. In a society where ‘we’ try to do X, Y and Z all at once, we push our bodies too far.
I’m not just talking about a physical sport or job either, I’m talking about the whole picture, the way we do life, the way we live. There are more demands on our body as we push ourselves to the limits and this contributes to imbalance, tightness, and tension, which may cause a variety of effects such as headaches, migraines, insomnia, depression and chronic pain. It could be from poor posture, or overwork, or generalised stress.
Even chronic conditions such as Asthma can take a toll on certain muscles in the body. For example, with Asthma, I often find that the sternocleidomastoid (front, neck muscle) is tight, as well as the diaphragm and thoracic area.
Just like you get your car serviced, it’s important to service your body. Let’s face it, we’re not “ever ready” batteries. Massage helps us recharge as it literally lessens the load on our bodies. By kneading the muscle tissue, we create balance in the body by manually smoothing out all the tight knotty, lumpy bits which allow fresh blood into the area and helps to warm the muscle tissue while calming and centring the nerves.
There are many reasons why massage is a beneficial modality to have as a part of your health and wellness plan. It not only serves to make you feel better but also helps to prevent chronic stress, and physical injury and helps to maintain balanced muscles.
What to expect from a massage?
Typically, you will be asked a few questions such as:
- What brings you here today?
- Are there any medical issues, medications, injuries, hospitalisations, concurrent allied therapy treatments?
- Are you undertaking any sports/ activities?
- After this, your massage therapist will provide you with a brief overview, and/ or assessment and provide instructions in terms of positioning on the massage table. A full body massage may be indicated or focusing on a specific area due to an acute or chronic issue.
How often should you get a massage?
This really depends on the issue or reason you’ve come for a massage. For acute conditions, as a general rule, I suggest 3 x massages in a row – i.e. either weekly or fortnightly. This close succession of treatments really allows for the body to adjust back more quickly as each treatment compounds on the previous one. For chronic conditions or tightness, 4-6 treatments may be required, to literally ‘chip away’ at the layers, bringing about balance, reducing knots and tightness, and allowing better freedom of movement to ensue.
After these initial phases of a few treatments in succession, a maintenance plan is discussed. This may be monthly, 6 weekly or even 8 weekly depending on the body’s response, lifestyle impacts and the need.
What is the difference between Sports and Remedial massage?
The techniques used in Sports and Remedial Massage may be very similar. The main difference is the use of the technique and the way they are applied to the body.
Sports massage is focused on reducing tension in the soft tissue that may have tightened up or become out of balance due to the nature of the physical sport. It’s generally a more active massage style, which may require working with the client to release muscular tension. The timing of the sport is also important, for example, when is the main event, training days, and whether the massage is a pre-event or post-event massage for either event preparation or recovery.
For example, in a pre-event massage, the techniques should not involve deep tissue, especially since this can create a ‘detox’ response of the muscle, and potentially make the client feel a little sore or sluggish. This would generally clear within 24-48 hours, however, not ideal if your main event is the next day!!! On the other hand, post-event may also not involve deep tissue due to DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), injury or dehydration of the muscle tissue.
DOMS typically occur after intense workouts or sports particularly if different muscles have been recruited so the microtears and lactic acid build-up cause muscle pain and generalised soreness.
The best way to help a case of DOMS is to drink plenty of water (and electrolytes) and have an Epsom salt bath, or infrared/ normal sauna. Another way is to dunk yourself in the ocean (no wetsuit) so as to cool down the muscles which shunts away the blood, and once you warm up fresh blood comes into the area. This kind of creates vascular gymnastics!!!
Remedial or Sports Massage for Acute Injury
The nature of the injury will depend on the type of treatment applied. If the injury is a sprain, and inflammation is present, the area is usually avoided until the inflammation goes down. This goes for any area where there is ligament or tendon inflammation. However, the muscles surrounding the area can be massaged to help relieve the tension on the tendon.
Remedial or Sports Massage for Chronic Injury
Massage is a fantastic adjunct to help the repair and healing of any muscular-skeletal issues that is of chronic nature. Basically, it helps to relieve tightness and improve the local blood flow to the area. Improving blood flow will provide the nutrients into the healing zone, and help detoxification of the tissue. Bringing balance back into the muscular system naturally takes pressure off the skeletal system and helps in the rehabilitation process.
Remedial Massage
Remedial massage is an effective non-invasive treatment option for numerous muscular-skeletal ailments such as postural issues, neck, mid-back, lower back pain, shoulder injuries or mobility issues, hip mobility issues, glute tightness or pain, calf and Achilles tighten, and plantar fasciitis.
In my own personal circumstances begin a remedial massage therapist, having regular treatment helps to keep my own body in balance, and address any tightness caused by doing the work that I do!
The two most common ailment areas that we treat at our practice are: lower back pain, and neck/ shoulder pain. In fact, a clinical trial done in 2000 provided statistically significant evidence that remedial massage helped reduce lower back pain.
Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy Massage is an effective bodywork treatment to help reduce tension and pain that may manifest during stages of pregnancy. First and foremost is comfort while positioned on the massage table. There are specific points on the body that are contraindicated during the pregnancy, so a skilled remedial massage therapist is recommended.
Massage therapy helps chronic headache
A common complaint that we treat in our practice is chronic or acute tension headaches. There are many triggers for a headache – water intake, blood sugar issues, stress and tension, hormonal imbalance or emotional trauma. Remedial massage therapy focuses on softening and releasing the muscles that are inserted into the head to help create neck and head rotation and movements.
Sometime jaw clenching or teeth grinding (bruxism) can place tremendous tension and bring on a headache. There are particular techniques applied that are very effective in helping to reduce the pain and tension associated with muscle pain and causing headaches.
A recent clinical trial has shown that by releasing the neck muscles at the front (the sternocleidomastoid and scalene) helps to lower tension and provide relief from tension headaches.
Massage therapy helps anxiety and stress
Massage therapy helps to reduce mental stress by physiologically reducing the level of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is our stress hormone – our fight or flight reactive hormone.
Gentle relaxation massage supports the nervous system and helps to flick that switch from an alarm state to a relaxed state. By doing this, naturally the ‘threat’ has dissipated and the body starts to relax, so hence cortisol levels drop. This is important because in today’s society sustained elevated cortisol impacts blood sugar and causes weight gain as well as triggers for anxiety.
Massage therapy helps lower blood pressure
It’s interesting to note that massage therapy helps to reduce blood pressure. This would be via the mechanism of reducing stress in the body and promoting relaxation. Stress is such a major contributor to so many disease processes, and I love that a simple massage can have such great impacts on the body creating healing and calmness.
Post Treatment Plan
Post treatment plan is very important, to empower clients to get the most out of their treatment for sustained improvement and healing. As a professional remedial massage therapist of 20+ years experience, Megan Taslaman will advise clients on certain stretches, or other important self-care strategies that they can do at home in-between treatments. This may include use of heat and ice, supplementation, use of aids such as foam rollers, spiky balls, Epsom salt baths and stretching.