During a career in massage, any given therapist will almost certainly encounter clients with sprained muscles. In today’s post, we’re taking a look at how sprains feel, where they often occur for athletes, and how these ubiquitous injuries may be healed through massage.

At some point or another, most active individuals have experienced a sprained muscle. Sports massage therapists are especially likely to work on sprains. As students learn in our massage training school, a sprain typically feels like a “popping” sensation, followed by a severe, sudden pain. After the sprain occurs, the area feels tender, with bruising.

Strains occur when muscle is […]

Fascia, or connective tissue, is a stabilizing substance. Acting like cables in a tension bridge, it stabilizes bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This thick, elastic tissue is rich in nerve endings, so it transmits messages from the brain quickly, and assists with proprioception (awareness of where the body is in space).  Fascia wraps around every muscle, every muscle fiber, and every joint. It supports every organ, pads every vertebra (discs are considered a part of the fascial system) and protects bones. When fascia is healthy, it allows us to move gracefully, as it helps control and coordinate our movements. It […]

While sitting at a computer or reading our digital devices, many of us unwittingly jut the chin forward. This forward head posture may also appear when driving. In this position, the upper back will tend to hunch, as the abdominals grow soft. Upper back and neck tension are common results, as these muscles must support the head when it’s pushed forward in this way. (With proper posture, the skeleton would support the weight of the head instead.) This shape also causes the scalene muscles on the neck to tighten, which in turn can cause pain and even numbness down the arms. […]

Deep tissue massage can help alleviate muscle adhesions, or “knots” as they are commonly known. Dehydration, injury, and overuse of a muscle can cause adhesions to form. An adhesion is comprised of continually contracting muscles. Muscles may become “too tight” in this way when we use them repetitively.

Like all contracted muscle, adhesions suffer poor circulation of lymph and blood; waste removal is also restricted as circulation decreases. Deep tissue massage works on the sub-layers of muscle and connective tissues that may feel “frozen” in place through repetitive movement or injury. By breaking up scar tissue, deep tissue helps release waste toxins, […]

Michelangelo said, “To touch is to give life.” Today we’re exploring how science proves him right. We’ll explore findings from researchers like UC Berkeley professor Dacher Kelter, who has overseen experiments on how well humans can convey emotions to each other through touch alone (about half of the time, it turns out.) Beyond expression of compassion and other emotions, we’ll find that touch can improve health and activate brain centers for reward and compassion.

Primates spend 10-20% of their waking time grooming each other—that’s time spent touching family members and peers. Yet many people in the West go days on end without […]

Craniosacral therapy, sometimes called cranial osteopathy, is massage that focuses on the skull and sacrum. It is rooted in the idea that the health of the craniosacral system is central to our overall health.

To understand this type of therapy, it’s helpful to have a basic grasp on how the craniosacral system works. Basically, this system provides a healthy environment for the central nervous system. The craniosacral (CS) system is composed of membranes and fluid that protects the brain and the spine. The membranes of the craniosacral system stretch from the bones of the skull and face down the spine to the […]

Most people who choose massage careers are enthusiastic healers, passionate about relieving others’ pain through healing touch. But in addition to changing a person’s physical experience, did you know that massage therapy can also change the way the brain works? Fascinating new research from across the country shows that physical posture has a direct impact on brain functioning. Let’s review some of the research:

A Straight Spine Brings a Positive Outlook and Increased Confidence. San Francisco State University professor Erik Pepper has found that people can more easily think of positive thoughts and memories when they are sitting up straight.

A Ohio State […]

Medical researchers around the globe are exploring the healing powers of massage. Therapists already knew that the ancient healing modality of massage was an effective way to alleviate a wide variety of ailments. Now Western science is catching up, as researchers deliver formal studies on how massage can heal. This blog lists just a handful of the findings regarding massage.

Medicinal Massage Research Findings: Massage as a Proven Healing Modality

Infant Massage to Improve Baby’s Sleep and Digestion
Infant massage classes are becoming standard in massage schools. Portland, OR facilities such as OHSU and East West College offer infant massage classes, resulting in many […]

A massage is a great idea any time, right? Wrong. There are certain times to avoid getting a massage, as any Portland massage therapist can attest.

DON’T Get a Massage When…

…You are ill. Don’t risk passing on your sickness. Stay home and rest until your symptoms clear up. When you’re sick, the body already has enough “work” to do—namely fighting infection and resting. Massage may actually make that work harder, by stimulating tissue when rest is really the best medicine.

…You’re taking certain medications. Always ask your doctor about counter indications to proscribed drugs. Massage can interfere with the action of certain medicines. […]

During the winter, the blues strikes about 10% among the general American population; that number rises to 20-30% in northern latitudes such as Portland (Portland Psychotherapy). About 6-8% of Americans and 5-9% of Portlanders will develop a more serious form of cyclic depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is triggered by the scarcity of natural light the fall and winter.

Symptoms of SAD include:
–Fatigue during the day.
–Decreased ability to focus; feeling like you’re “in a fog” mentally.
–Grumpiness and irritability.
–Decreased libido.
–Amplified need for sleep.
–Growing appetite for “comfort foods” such as starchy carbohydrates and sweets.
SAD may also prompt social withdrawal. Women between […]