Fascia- What Binds Us Together

What is fascia? Massage therapists toss the term around like everyone in the world knows what it is, but most people don't. And yet, everyone has fascia. It's the tough connective tissue layer of our bodies. Fascia makes up tendons and ligaments. It keeps everything in its proper place in our bodies and acts as a shock absorber.

There is no beginning or end to fascia. It is the three-dimensional tissue that connects our bones, muscles and organs. Fascia doesn't start and stop, but it can be damaged through tears, injury or incision. As it repairs itself, it often reconnects to places in the body that are not designed to be connective points. This repair process results in scar tissue and many times is the site of lingering tightness in the body.

Fascia can also become inflamed, as in the condition known as plantar fasciitis. It can contribute to trigger points, or knots, a condition where muscle fibers stay in a contracted state.

Stretching is an important technique in keeping fascia in good working order. Stretching helps the fascia stay loose and reactive. Reducing injuries and elective surgeries will also help fascia stay healthy. And lastly, massage therapy techniques help release trigger points and scar tissue, and lengthen fascial connections. So keep your fascia healthy! You'll feel better for it!

Three Good Reasons Why You Should Have Chair Massages at Work

Your employees are your greatest asset. What are you doing to take care of them?

Here is information on how massage therapy can improve your workplace.

1) Employee Productivity
Chair massages are usually 10-20 minutes in length. They are done fully clothed on a special chair designed for comfort during the massage session. The therapist focuses on the neck, shoulders, back, and often arms, hands and head. Even in a 10-minute session, the therapeutic benefits includes improving circulation, easing pain, and invoking a relaxation response in the nervous system. Employees leave the massage with greater ability to focus on their job tasks, and less energy going to their pain and other stressors.

2) Employee Morale
I had one massage client say after her chair massage session, "I am so much happier when I leave here than when I came in." In addition to feeling better about themselves, they also feel better about the environment they are working in. It is no surprise that employees like to know that their management team cares about their well-being, and is willing to make investments in them. We have one corporate client who provides two hours of chair massage a month, and they have fewer than 15 employees in the company. It costs the employer less than $130 a month for us to be there.

3) Improved Employee Wellness Habits
Your hardest working employees tend to focus a lot of time and energy on their work, and also tend to not take time for themselves. A ten minute massage session once a month may not seem like a lot of time for self care, but it does raise awareness. When people get off the chair, they have a renewed sense of well-being. A massage provides that quiet time for themselves, away from work, kids, and other energy-consumers. It rebuilds physical and mental stamina. As part of a chair massage session, we give tips on other self-care techniques.

It is that regular contact with a massage session that helps move employees toward healthier daily wellness habits. We often have employees tell us they have made a commitment to their personal wellness because of massage. In the long run, massage therapy improves productivity and morale. You can provide monthly sessions for your employees for a small investment in time and money, an investment that will pay you back in happier, healthier employees.

Consider how your company can include onsite chair massages as part of your employee wellness program.

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of massage which encourages lymph circulation. The lymph system depends on peristalsis and the movement of skeletal muscles to squeeze fluid through lymph ducts and vessels. Today, MLD is still used as a way to improve the work of the lymphatic system. The massage is applied gently in the direction of lymph flow in order to unblock any obstructed lymph vessels, and allow lymph flow to transport waste from the body freely.

Manual lymphatic drainage was introduced by Drs. Emil & Estrid Vodder in the 1930s for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. While working on the French Riviera treating patients with chronic colds, they noticed these patients had swollen lymph nodes. The Vodders began to study the lymph system in 1932, and developed careful hand movements to cause lymph movement. In 1936 after four years of research they introduced this technique in France. It is now recognized as a primary tool in lymphedema management. Lymphedema is the swelling of a part of the body due to excess lymph and often occurs after the surgical removal of lymph nodes.
MLD is performed by a certified MLD massage therapist, who applies a light form of circular massage to their client’s skin. MLD techniques must be applied to bare skin, and massage oils or lotions are not used to facilitate to the movement of lymph. MLD massage is applied in gentle strokes towards the heart. This technique will lightly stretch the walls of the lymph vessels and encourage lymph drainage.

The lymphatic system is composed of lymph vessels, lymph nodes, diaphragm, liver, spleen, and intestines. Part of the body’s defense system, the lymph nodes filter microorganisms and other foreign substances. These nodes keep particulate matter, such as bacteria, from entering the bloodstream until it can be broken down into material the body can handle.

Benefits include clearing areas of congestion such as swollen limbs and puffy eyes, promotion of scar tissue and post-operative healing, improving chronic conditions such as sinusitis, and deep relaxation.

Strengthening Your Immune System

With H1N1 flu in the news every day, we should all understand what our immune system is, why it is important, and how to take care of it.

Our immune system is made up of the skin, thymus, lymph nodes and glands, liver, spleen kidneys and intestines. Each of these play an important role in either preventing infections and bacteria entering the body, fighting the invaders when they get in, and disposing of the destroyed bacteria.

Things that compromise the immune system include drug, alcohol and tobacco use, pollution, food chemicals (like additives, preservatives and pesticides), stress, and physical inactivity.

When the immune system is working well, we are exposed to disease and bacteria, and never know it. Our immune system should stop the invaders outside our body, or kill the disease with white blood cells and send the destroyed bacteria out of the body. If the immune system is not working well, or is overwhelmed, the bacteria will get the upper hand, and you will find yourself feeling ill. Occasionally, the immune system will become so fatigued that it will begin to attack itself. This is what are referred to as an autoimmune disease.

Here are some ways to strengthen and repair your immune system .

•Diet

Free radicals are one of the most destructive forces to the immune system. Free radicals damage healthy cells by causing cell mutations which can lead to serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. However, certain substances present in food can destroy free radicals. These substances are called antioxidants. One of the strongest antioxidants is vitamin C, which boosts the immune system to aggressively react to cancer cells. Good sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits and broccoli. Other important antioxidants are vitamin E and carotenoids. Good food sources of Vitamin E are whole grain foods and vegetable oils. The best sources for carotenoids are the red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. The immune system also gains strength from minerals. Important minerals to the immune system include zinc, which increases the number of lymphocytes to fight cancers; iron, which fights infection; selenium, which helps to increase the number of antibodies and encourages growth of immune cells; and vitamin D, which plays an important role in the prevention of respiratory infections such as the cold and flu. In a study published this year by vitamin D expert Dr. John Cannell, it was shown that lower vitamin D blood levels during the winter can account for the increase of the flu virus. Increased levels of vitamin D can help prevent traditional flu infections by strengthening your immune system. According to the National Institute of Health, sunlight is important to the production of Vitamin D, so aim for 10-30 minutes twice a week. During the winter months, November through February, remember to supplement your diet and eat plenty of fish oils and Vitamin D-fortified foods.

•Rest and Exercise

Ensure adequate rest and exercise. Seven to eight hours sleep is ideal. Moderate exercise also improves the lymphatic function which helps improve the immune system. Spend some time walking in clean fresh air every week. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise daily is recommended.

•Stress Reduction

Cope with stress with massage therapy, meditation, prayer, yoga or Tai Chi. If depressed, consider seeing a therapist or a doctor. Look for the positive in life. Most importantly, surround yourself with healthy, happy relationships. All of these things will help improve your immune system.