Massage News Update - November 2009
Inside this issue: Massage reduces pain in patients with open heart surgery. Phantom limbs make impossible moves. Trial raises doubts over magnetic bracelets for arthritis. Massage is Used More Than Ever for Medical/Health Reasons. Ideal posture questioned. Posture Affects Thoughts. Massage & Exercise Benefit Diabetes Patients
Dear Bodyworkers,
There are few events in these few weeks. Last week, we were at the AMT National Conference. Thanks for all of your support. And just finishing is the 2nd Fascia Congress in Amsterdam. We will keep you up to date on the news that are coming. And next week there is an online World Massage Conference 12-17 Nov 2009, where you can log-in the website and listen to great bodyworkers sharing their thoughts and ideas, including Tom Myers, Robert Schleip, Paul St John, James Waslaski, Whitney Lowe, Ruth Werner, Gil Hedley and more.
It is near the end of the year already!, and next month we are preparing an e-magazine for you. With full colour exciting articles! IF you have something to contribute, send us an article by the end of this month.
We have a set of new DVD on Orthopedic Assessment, teaching all the muscle testing techniques. A great offer at the moment as well. Check out Gil Hedley's Integral Anatomy and the book the Brain that Changes Itself.
Art Riggs, author of best selling Deep Tissue Massage Manual & DVD, will be visiting Sydney and NZ October-November next year. He will share his experiences in classes. Check out in our upcoming events news.
This newsletter brings you what's happening in the latest research and news on massage related issues. We sell massage videos and books so the advert is at the end of this page. Archive of our past news can be found at http://www.massage-research.com/blog/ You can search for and comment on articles. We don't just sell DVDs, we provide you with the latest information. Happy reading and stay healthy… from us at www.terrarosa.com.au
Also Inside this issue:
Massage reduces pain in patients with open heart surgery
At the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, they’ve an active research program in the field, including treatments like massage. The ABC radio recently has an interview with Brent Bauer, the director of Complementary and Integrative Medicine at Mayo.
Brent Bauer explained their research: We’ve done two studies now, in patients who’ve had cardiovascular surgery. So big a incision down the front of the chest, rib cage spread open, and what we’ve done is taken a group of patients, given them massage on Day 2 and Day 4 after their surgery, and mostly worked in the upper back, because that’s where a lot of the pain and discomfort resides after having your chest opened. And what we found is comparing that group to a group who did not receive massage, we were able to show a statistically significant improvement in pain, anxiety and tension.
This was a certified massage therapist who was fairly free to use the different types of massage that she wanted. She could use light massage, deep massage, Swedish massage and so forth. We didn’t try and restrict her to a certain number of strokes, or certain patterns, we wanted to allow a massage therapist to do the best job she could.
And it’s important to do that though, you have to have some kind of control, because otherwise we can’t be sure if it’s the massage or just the simple fact that somebody’s spending time with you. So we did as we actually had our massage therapist go in the control group, the patients that did not receive massage, and she actually spent about the same amount of time, about 20 minutes, speaking to them, talking to them, and just mostly trying to be a caring presence. So we were matching the amount of time spent in both groups.
The first one was a small study, about 60 patients that did show statistical significance, but the second study which we’re just looking at now, is about 220 patients, and that’s where we’re trying to tease out some of the questions Can we reduce the use of narcotics? Can we reduce the length of stay?
Phantom limbs make impossible moves
It’s all in the mind’, takes on a whole new meaning with research revealing that phantom limbs can be taught to do physiologically impossible tasks. The research could have ramifications for how we view the interaction between mind and body, and how amputees perceive limbs where there are none.
Clinical neurologist with the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute , Dr Lorimer Moseley, says it shows for the first time that body images can be formed independent of any outside sensory input. “The experiment shows that the brain can create a completely new way of working the body and it can do that without any external feedback.” Moseley’s work, done with Swiss neuroscientist Dr Peter Brugger, appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
When we try to identify an image of a left or right hand we mentally rotate our hands to adopt the position shown. Moseley and Brugger took advantage of this innate ability, measuring how long it took. By showing images of the hand at two extremes of an impossible wrist movement, it was possible to determine that those manipulating phantom limbs were envisaging a shortcut movement that is anatomically impossible. But those with real limbs were unable to operate their envisaged wrist in the same way and took the long route. This may be because of the continuous feedback from the existing limb. The amputees who envisaged the shortcut simultaneously reported a profound change in the internal image of the wrist – they now perceived a wrist that would allow the movement.
“The brain’s sense of how to implement this movement depended on the brain reconstructing the limb in order to let this movement happen according to the normal principles of physics,” he says. Moseley says that they were surprised to find that afterwards, the amputees had difficulty envisaging their phantom limbs doing the more routine tasks again. The researchers believe this implies that our body image must obey Newton’s laws, and we may make adjustments to ensure they continue to do that even when the mind is making the rules for itself. More broadly, it demonstrates that profound changes can occur to body image and self awareness that are independent of outside input.
But what is the practical significance of being able to teach imaginary wrists to do impossible things? In the near future, the findings could potentially be used to help guide amputees experiencing acute pain in phantom limbs to internally adjust their body image in a way that will remove the pain, says Moseley. In this way, an amputee who may be experiencing pain caused by the sense that their phantom arm is stuck behind their head, can be helped to reset the body image to have the phantom arm in a more comfortable position.
Moseley says there may be broader applications in the future in using the knowledge that we may potentially adjust images internally in ways that could have physiological effects. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/10/27/2725151.htm
Trial raises doubts over magnetic bracelets for arthritis
Copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps are ineffective in relieving arthritis pain, according to a new study led by a University of York academic. Researchers conducted the first randomised placebo-controlled trial on the use of both copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps for pain management in osteoarthritis – the most common form of the condition.
“It appears that any perceived benefit obtained from wearing a magnetic or copper bracelet can be attributed to psychological placebo effects” Stewart Richmond
The devices are used worldwide for helping to manage pain associated with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. The results of this trial conflict with those from previous studies, by showing that both magnetic and copper bracelets were ineffective for managing pain, stiffness and physical function in osteoarthritis. The research is published in the latest issue of the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine. The trial was led by Stewart Richmond, a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, who said: “This is the first randomised controlled trial to indicate that copper bracelets are ineffective for relieving arthritis pain.”
“It appears that any perceived benefit obtained from wearing a magnetic or copper bracelet can be attributed to psychological placebo effects. People tend to buy them when they are in a lot of pain, then when the pain eases off over time they attribute this to the device. However, our findings suggest that such devices have no real advantage over placebo wrist straps that are not magnetic and do not contain copper.
“Although their use is generally harmless, people with osteoarthritis should be especially cautious about spending large sums of money on magnet therapy. Magnets removed from disused speakers are much cheaper, but you would first have to believe that they could work.”
The trial involved 45 people aged 50 or over, who were all diagnosed as suffering from osteoarthritis. Each participant wore four devices in a random order over a 16-week period – two wrist straps with differing levels of magnetism, a demagnetised wrist strap and a copper bracelet.
The study revealed no meaningful difference between the devices in terms of their effects on pain, stiffness and physical function.
Massage is Used More Than Ever for Medical/Health Reasons
Results from the 13th annual consumer survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) indicate that 32 percent of Americans are seeking massage for medical and health reasons, tying relaxation and stress reduction for the first time as the top reasons people get massages.
Additionally, 25 percent of Americans ages 35-44 have talked to their doctor or healthcare provider about massage therapy this year, compared to 14 percent in 2008. Of those who discussed massage therapy with their doctors, 52 percent say their doctor strongly recommended/encouraged them to get a massage. These survey results are announced in conjunction with National Massage Therapy Awareness Week®, October 25-31.
A vast majority of Americans, 86 percent, agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain, and 85 percent agree that massage can be beneficial for health and wellness. “Even with the ongoing economic crisis, people are not willing to compromise their health,” says Judy Stahl, AMTA president. “It’s a clear signal of massage’s value when those making less than $35,000 a year are the second most active income bracket getting massage therapy.”
For the second year in a row, the survey results showed that massage therapy use is fairly steady, despite the lagging economy. Thirty-two percent of stressed out Americans are getting massages to relieve their stress and 57 percent of Americans say they feel more stressed this year than last year, particularly among females (61 percent) and those ages 18-24 (66 percent).
“Consumers understand that massage therapy is essential to a healthy balance between stress and relaxation,” said Stahl. “We are pleased to see that consumers are prioritizing massage to help them through these difficult times.”
Ideal posture questioned
Current recommendations for sitting posture and chair design are based on limited evidence, says one researcher Questions are being raised about the science used to support the sitting postures recommended as being good for our backs and bodies.
Researchers at the University of Queensland’s Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, have found that the posture often recommended as ideal cannot be achieved without assistance. More importantly, the ‘ideal’ curved lower back posture is not only difficult to achieve in a sitting position, it also takes effort to maintain. Lead researcher Dr Andrew Claus says this is the first time that researchers have accurately measured how our spine and the muscles respond when manipulated in a range of postures.
Theories surrounding good and bad postures have been based on measurements of the pressure applied to spinal discs in different positions, says Claus. He says the belief that slumped postures are worse for your spine than upright ones is making assumptions based on this limited evidence. “That’s the thing that we’re starting to redress,” says Claus. “It may be that slumped postures are uncomfortable for the spine and may cause people some problems, but the science to actually test or prove that is really weak.” The research, published in the journal Manual Therapy, used sensors attached to the backs of ten male volunteers to monitor the angle of their backs as they imitated pictures and descriptions of various postures. They were later helped to achieve the positions by a physiotherapist. Intriguingly, the men could not achieve the much-recommended curved lower back posture unless hands-on guidance was provided, but were able to adopt the flat back and slump positions without any help. Claus says that it suggests that if such a posture is the ideal, people must be educated properly on how to achieve it and specially designed chairs are unlikely to be enough.
The work is part a growing cross-disciplinary field – involving neuroscience, physiotherapy, biomechanics and psychology – to examine how our spines operate. It is expected to have future implications for how we sit and how much sitting is healthy for us. Separate research by the centre has already shown that sitting is not linked to damaged spinal discs as had been previously thought. “There’s reason for confidence that why we sit all day is partly because it’s not as bad as we used to think,” says Claus. “I do think that we’re heading towards something really clinically useful once we get to the stage of clinical trials comparing one posture versus another and how people respond to that.”
Posture Affects Thoughts
Researchers found that people who were told to sit up straight were more likely to believe thoughts they wrote down while in that posture concerning whether they were qualified for a job, according to a press release from Ohio State University. On the other hand, those who were slumped over their desks were less likely to accept these written-down feelings about their own qualifications.
The results show how our body posture can affect not only what others think about us, but also how we think about ourselves, said Richard Petty, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at the university.
"Most of us were taught that sitting up straight gives a good impression to other people," Petty said. "But it turns out that our posture can also affect how we think about ourselves. If you sit up straight, you end up convincing yourself by the posture you're in."
"People assume their confidence is coming from their own thoughts. They don't realize their posture is affecting how much they believe in what they're thinking," he added.
Massage & Exercise Benefit Diabetes Patients
New research shows a 10-week combination of massage and exercise improves systolic and diastolic pressures in patients' lower extremities, according to an article published by Spanish researchers in the Spanish Medicina clínica journal.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent disease that can favour the development of peripheral arterial disease. The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a massage and exercise program on the ankle-brachial index and arterial pressure of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and peripheral arterial disease.
The study showed that after 10 weeks of treatment, significant differences between the intervention and placebo groups were found in right and left ankle-brachial index values and in systolic and diastolic pressures in right and left lower extremities.
"A combined program of exercise and massage improves arterial blood pressure and ankle brachial index values in type 2 diabetics with peripheral arterial disease," the researchers from Spain's Universidad de Almería noted.
World Massage Conference 12-17 Nov 2009
AAMT National Conference, 21-13 May 2010, Sydney with Whitney Lowe as Keynote. http://www.aamt.com.au/page.php?pgname=Conf10Announce
Art Riggs' Deep Tissue Massage Workshop. Sydney & New Zealand, October 2010. Class size is limited. To register your interest, email: terrarosa@gmail.com. The schedule is:
Sydney:
Fundamentals of Touch: 29, 30, 31 October 2010
Integrated Deep Tissue Massage: 2, 3 November 2010
Second class (Advanced Integrated body) : 18, 19, 20, 21 Nov 2010
New Zealand:
Fundamentals of Touch: 5,6,7 November 2010
More details:
http://www.terrarosa.com.au/articles/art_riggs.pdf
FLOAT ON A CLOUD WITHIN 30 SECONDS! Contoured headrest to let you relax your neck, head & shoulder. The REAL-EaSE is the most advanced and comfortable neck support available today. The product is so unique that it has a U.S. patent. Imagine surrendering the weight of your head into a massage therapist’s healing hands, while the muscles in your neck, shoulders and face completely relax. This is just what the REAL-EaSE can accomplish for you. Find out more
Pinpoint the exact cause of pain with this new DVDs for Massage Therapists produced by Sean Riehl from Real Bodywork. These two DVDs cover Orthopedic Assessment for the whole body, including the ankle, knee, hip, spine, neck, shoulder and elbow. Lavishly produced and filled with beautiful 3-D animations that show exactly which structures are involved. Over 4 1/2 hours of footage, and 249 assessment techniques such as passive range-of-motion, active range-of-motion, strength tests, nerve conduction tests, spinal facet joint assessment, impingement tests for the rotator cuff, knee meniscus assessment, ligament tests and more. These are the most beautifully produced and informative DVDs we have ever made. Now buy both at a special price!
Integral Anatomy with Gil Hedley
See what you touch. Rare visions of the human form explored through dissection. Each volume of this series presents the anatomy of human form, layer by layer, from an integral, whole body perspective. The DVDs in this series systematically document tissues and dissection perspectives missing from the established anatomical texts and videos. Skin, superficial fascia, deep fascia, muscle, visceral wrappings and viscera are dissected and demonstrated on camera as whole body layers in a series of truly unique and revealing sequences available nowhere else. In these DVDs, the viewer is brought directly into the laboratory as a first-hand eye-witness to the dissection and discovery process. Warning: contains human dissection.
Advanced Myofascial Techniques
These series of DVDs and manuals by Til Luchau are now available in a new format. The 5-Program DVD series gives practicing manual and massage therapists unique, interesting and fresh approaches that will increase effectiveness, inspire innovation and lead to increased client satisfaction and covers these areas of the body: (1) Neck Jaw and Head, Improve your skills for working with neck pain, facet fixations, whiplash, migraines, jaw issues, and more. (2) Spine and Lower Back, relieving chronic back pain and spinal fixations, easing diaphragm and rib issues, increasing spine mobility, and more. (3) Arm Wrist and Shoulder, work with rotator cuff and shoulder issues including carpal tunnel, repetitive stress injuries, thoracic outlet syndrome, and more. (4) Legs Knees and Feet, hamstring injuries, knee and ankle issues, hammertoes, Morton’s Neuroma, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and more. (5) Pelvis Hip and Sacrum, work with hip, back, and thigh pain, sacroiliac issues, sciatica, and more. . Each DVD program contains 2 discs and includes manual. Run time 2+ hours
"Let thy Food be thy Medicine and thy Medicine be thy Food" - Hippocrates. That is the message from the founding father of modern medicine echoed in the controversial new documentary film. Food Matters is a feature length documentary film informing you on the best choices you can make for you and your family's health. In a collection of interviews with leading Nutritionists, Naturopaths, Scientists, M.D.'s and Medical Journalists you will discover... How to use food as medicine, Who needs vitamins, Is organic better, How safe is our food, Natural treatments for lowering Cholesterol, Foods that fight Anxiety and Depression.. and more
A series of lectures by Spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle. He is a sought-after public speaker who teaches and travels extensively throughout the world. His books include the #1 New York Times bestseller The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and the highly acclaimed follow-up A New Earth, along with Stillness Speaks and Practicing the Power of Now. His DVDs include What is Meditation, Bringing Stillness into Everyday Life, Finding Your Life’s Purpose.
Gunther von Hagen's Back... And This Time He's Trying To Save Lives. From the creator of Anatomy for Beginners, Dr Gunther von Hagens presents his third series of lectures. First he dissected human bodies to show you how they work. Next he did it to show you how they die. Now he's going to show you how to save them. In these master classes, von Hagens recreates serious injuries on human bodies to reveal just what happens to the body when faced with assaults or accidents and to show what doctors, nurses and first-aiders can do, working against the clock, to try to preserve life.
Yoga Therapy for Back Pain includes 13 routines to help restore proper function to the entire back. These safe and gentle exercises increase mobility and reduce pain. This beautifully filmed DVD features five 15 minute & five 30 minute routines for the upper back, sciatic pain, bulging disk and sacro-iliac joint pain. Each condition is addressed separately, so you will get the proper care for your condition. Whatever the level of your pain, or if you just want to strengthen your back, this DVD has the safe and appropriate therapy for you!
Professional Make-up Techniques
Start your dream career as a makeup artist. Professional Hollywood makeup artist, Melvone Farrell, shows you how to provide the latest looks being sought by clients, whether they are brides-to-be or models on a glamour shoot. In these new Professional Makeup Techniques DVD series, Melvone — who has international media and film experience spanning 20 years — demonstrates how to provide natural day makeup, sophisticated evening looks, and amped-up glamour straight from the catwalks of Paris and Milan. Each DVD in the series focuses on a different ethnicity — Black, Caucasian, and Asian — so you can provide services to the full array of beautiful women.
The Ultimate Thai Massage Video
Learn authentic Thai massage with Dr. Anthony James, CMT, ND, MDAM. This series of DVD include basic and advanced mat techniques, basic and advanced table techniques. Each DVD shows a step-by-step demonstration of a complete routine on the mat and tables. Includes overviews of different styles, Chakras, Ayurveda anatomy and more.
A best seller in Australia and the world.The discovery of neuroplasticity, that our thoughts can change the structure and function of our brains, even into old age, is the most important breakthrough in our understanding of the brain in four hundred years. Dr. Norman Doidge introduces principles we can all use to overcome brain limitations and explores the profound brain implications of the changing brain in an immensely moving book that will permanently alter the way we look at human possibility and human nature. A must read for bodyworkers to understand how the brain controls pain, movement, and the body.
You've got the book, now decorate your room with these 8 posters, designed to align with the second edition of the book, are intended as a visual reference to the myofascial meridians discussed in Anatomy Trains. The set of posters illustrate the bones, muscles and joints described in the book The Anatomy Trains on the basis of "train" lines, tracks and stations. Each poster focuses on one "train" line and features full-colour illustrations, line drawings to clarify and tables summarising the tracks and stations for each line. Measuring 12 by 17 inches (30 by 43 cm), these laminated posters make a valuable addition to the walls of manual and movement therapists’ studios, for refreshing their memory about connected anatomy or to show clients why work in one area will be effective in another.
Orthopedic Massage 2009 2nd Edition by Whitney Lowe
Fully updated and revised Orthopedic Massage has been written for those interested in understanding and applying massage as an intervention for soft-tissue disorders. Full colour. Recent research into the physiological effects of massage has strengthened the justification for its use in the treatment of soft-tissue pain and injury conditions. The definitive resource for all those wanting to use massage therapy to treat pain and injury conditions. Whitney Lowe approached orthopedic massage as a broad spectrum of techniques and approaches to treat soft-tissue dysfunction.
By Australian Author Michael Clarke. Hojo undo means 'supplemental training equipment' for traditional martial artists. This book comprehensively details how to construct and use the most popular martial arts training tools of Okinawa. The value of hojo undo is that the strength building exercises are linked to the motion of the fighting techniques of karate; this is the kind of information many practitioners need to have in order to make sense of where karate's devastating power comes from. This book shows you how to construct and use the most common martial arts training tools, First book in over twenty years to systematically present these traditional power
A Massage Therapist's Guide to Treating Headaches and Neck Pain by Leon Chaitow & Sandy Fritz
This is a practical guide for the massage therapist to assist them in identifying appropriate massage treatment for those experiencing headaches and neck pain. The book describes the most common headache types and causes for neck pain that can be effectively addressed with therapeutic massage and associated methods easily incorporated into massage. Assessment procedures are provided both to identify appropriate treatment and to alert the massage therapist to more serious conditions that could be responsible for the symptoms and require a referral for further diagnosis and treatment. Protocols for treatment using massage and other soft tissue methods are provided. Incorporates a DVD demonstrating the palpation and treatment methods.
The Anatomy of Pilates by Paul Massey
This book shows what actually happens to the body’s muscles and joints during Pilates exercises. Each two-page spread features detailed anatomical illustrations of an exercise (with muscle actions highlighted in red), a detailed description of the exercise and its objectives, the particular breathing pattern to be used, a list of the specific muscles being worked, visualization techniques, complementary exercises, and more. The Anatomy of Pilates is an accessible, authoritative guide for current and prospective teachers of Pilates, practitioners at all skill levels, physical therapists, and other health professionals.
The Soothing Art of Baby Massage by Roma Turner, Susie Nanayakkara
This highly illustrated book is filled with step-by-step photographs to guide you through a massage from preparation and basic movements to a full-body massage sequence, with detailed advice on massage for mothers before and after childbirth, and healing techniques for common infant ailments, and sequences for older children. It shows how to give babies a soothing massage to help with relaxation and sleep. This book demonstrates a number of different techniques which are effective with most babies. Originally published in 1996, this is the last of the stock. Every book is personally signed by the author. Also a great gift for new parents.