5 Tips for Neck and Shoulder Care Between Massage Appointments

People with neck and shoulder issues often have their pain return before their next massage appointment. Work, play and children all make demands on the body. A dull ache can quickly turn into a burning pain especially while folding laundry, doing yard work, playing on the computer or any of the other million things you do.

What can you do between professional massage appointments to take the edge off neck and shoulder pain? Here are some ideas.

Take a Break
Take short breaks as often as you can if you sit at a computer all day. Move your shoulders around and s-t-r-e-t-c-h. Ideally you can get up and move around a bit. But even if you’re chained to the desk, you can rock out a little Deskercise to stay loose.

Get the kids into it
Have a short yoga break together! There are plenty of videos made especially for kids, and the moves are just as beneficial for adults. Bonus: got a little one averse to naptime? Try the lying-down postures here and maybe you’ll get a short break.

Heat it
Just 10-15 minutes of moist heat on your shoulders can make a huge difference in how your tissue moves and feels. You don’t need a fancy heating pad, you can DIY that. And if you aren’t already among those I’ve mentioned this to: throw that heating pad away, please.

Choose the right pillow
You spend about a third of your time in bed, be sure it’s supportive for your neck. Side-sleepers have different needs than belly-sleepers. The right pillow at night can help you all day.

A few minutes of self care every day, little changes, can make a huge difference in how you feel. See you at your next appointment!

LGBTQ+ and Massage Therapy

I recently had a conversation with a friend that made me realize something. I’ve always assumed that my clients understood that my radical acceptance of their body, their pain, and their trauma extended to everything about their identity. I have come to realize that that was a foolish thing to assume.

A human who is marginalized will often assume non-acceptance until they are shown evidence to the contrary.

You are safe here. Oakwood Therapeutic Massage is a place of acceptance and non judgement. You are welcome.

Massage Helps with Pain and Fatigue in MS Patients

A pilot study published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork measured the effects of massage therapy (MT) on fatigue, pain, spasticity, perception of health, and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The 24 patients who completed six weeks of regular massage treatment showed significant improvement in pain, fatigue, and spasticity symptoms.

The study authors concluded: “MT as delivered in this study is a safe and beneficial intervention for management of fatigue and pain in people with MS. Decreasing fatigue and pain appears to correlate with improvement in quality of life, which is meaningful for people with MS who have a chronic disease resulting in long-term health care needs.”

Read the abstract at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27974947.

Call today to schedule your appointment at Oakwood Therapeutic Massage 937-668-9454

The Reboot for your Mind and Body at Oakwood Massage

 

Do you feel stretched in a hundred different directions?

Obligations, deadlines, appointments, meetings, work, housework, sports, everything. More often than not, it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week for all that needs to be done. We’re on constant high alert. We’re always moving.

 

All this chaos can be hard on your body and mind.

When this happens, we tend to be less mindful of our eating. Or chasing sleep like it’s a lively kitten. Or we get snippy with loved ones and coworkers.

 

The effects of this day to day stress are cumulative for most of us. Stiff joints get stiffer. Cranky shoulders get crankier, then one rogue golf swing or one heavy laundry basket makes it worse.

Massage therapy is a reboot. It’s the control-alt-delete for your body and mind.

A massage resets your thoughts, slows your pulse, regulates your breathing, and recharges your mind.

 

Spend some time on my massage table, taking care of you. You can schedule online right here, Book Now

Or you can call or text 937-668-9454 to make your appointment.

 

Even adding one or two self-care activities to your life can make a drastic change.

via 100 Ways To Practice Self-Care — Dalindcy

We know that substance abuse disorders carry a stigma. But when is a stigma something even worse?

via Society’s Stance on Mental Health and Addiction Needs a Reboot — 800 Recovery Hub Blog

PART 2 OF 4: Geriatric massage takes into account physical, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. The elderly population presents us with unique challenges. There is an increased incidence of disease, medication use, impairment, and disability. This blog will help teach you about how to position your geriatric clients and provide maximum comfort during their massage.

via Geriatric Massage: Positioning & Techniques — Susan Salvo’s Massage Passport

The two main categories of surgery are major surgery and minor surgery. Massage was reported to benefit patients before and after surgery. Benefits were also found when massage was given to caregivers of patients undergoing surgery. Intrigued? Read on.

via Massage & Surgery — Susan Salvo’s Massage Passport