Are Massages or Trigger Point Therapy a Part of Your Routine?

Written By Lauren Glendenning

There's a reason massage therapists are on the sidelines at NFL games — it's because the benefits of sports massage are undeniable.

Professional athletes across all kinds of sports often rely on regular massages to reduce muscle tension or promote recovery, but consistent massage therapy has benefits for the everyday athlete, too.

"Most athletes know it's helpful and effective for their training to get consistent massage," said Karen Taylor, owner of Simply Massage in Glenwood Springs.

Cycling along western Colorado's endless roads, trails and mountain passes can become addictive, and regular cyclists in these hills know the importance of perseverance through a long season.

Soft tissue manipulation that occurs during massage encourages blood flow through the muscles, said Michael Bica, a massage therapist at Simply Massage in Glenwood Springs. The muscles need that oxygenation after they've been exerted to help promote healing and speed up the recovery process, he said.

Techniques such as trigger point therapy help massage therapists target chronic pain or muscular dysfunction, while sports massage focuses on recovery, performance and well-being. Pain and injury massages focus on major muscle groups to relieve chronic and acute pain, according to Simply Massage.

For anyone cycling regularly, there are certain times that massage might be more beneficial than others. Bicycling.com recommends massages three to five days before a physically demanding ride, and a light rubdown is in order within 48 hours after a strenuous effort. When muscles aren't as sore a few days later, a deeper massage is recommended to break up adhesions, according to Bicycling.com.

Bica said working with athletes regularly is especially efficient because the therapist could more easily detect abnormalities in the patient. He said some athletes get massages as often as once a week, while others might come every two weeks or once a month.

"I believe consistent massage would benefit anyone," Bica said. "It just keeps everything in check."

The benefits of consistent massage for all levels of athletes

• Reduces muscle tension
• Promotes relaxation
• Increases range of motion
• Improves soft tissue function
• Supports recovery
• Decreases muscle stiffness and fatigue
• Decreases delayed onset muscle soreness
• Reduces swelling

Source: American Massage Therapy Association

Acupuncture can reduce the frequency of migraines!

This past week, CNN highlighted the results of a clinical study verifying that acupuncture can reduce the frequency of migraines and prevent future attacks.

 

From CNN:

 

"A study published Monday in The Journal of the American Medical Association said acupuncture may be helpful in reducing the frequency of migraines and preventing attacks.

 

Researchers in China found that properly administered acupuncture therapy may reduce the frequency of the most common types of migraines. The research, which builds on a body of knowledge from smaller studies, looked at how true acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture in reducing migraine attacks and symptoms in those who have been battling the condition for at least a year.

 

All treatments were administered by trained and licensed acupuncturists who trained for at least five years and had four or more years of clinical experience. Recipients of 'true acupuncture' were treated in four acupoints chosen by clinical experts. The four points used for the 'sham' group were chosen to avoid migraine relief.

 

Twenty weeks after receiving treatment at five times a week, patients in the true acupuncture group saw a reduction in the average number of migraines from 4.8 per month to 3 per month, with no adverse events reported requiring 'special medical intervention.'"

Acupuncture for Babies

Acupuncture for Babies

Click on the Link to read the article published by TIME, on

The Soothing Benefit of Acupuncture for Babies

Weight Loss Lull?

Weight Loss Lull?

As a supporter of western medicine I started out skeptical of acupuncture. As if sticking needles in my body would help me lose weight (thank you lobster rolls), get rid of my acne (thank you bad luck), have no shoulder pain (thank you giant handbag) and make my boobs bigger (thank you genetics).

Putting my skepticism aside, I decided to try acupuncture because I was tired of working out violently without any change in my body, wasting money on ineffective facials, and taking ibuprofen excessively and probably damaging my liver in the process. Before you quickly scroll away because you have a phobia of needles, let me tell you that brushing your hair the morning after a Saturday night out hurts more than this. Way more. In fact, you don’t feel a thing.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves stimulating strategic points on the body by penetrating the upper layer of the skin with the tip of a hair-thin needle. Stop freaking out. The first time I got acupuncture, I asked my doctor, “When are you going to start?” only to find out I already had 5 needles in my back. This may sound archaic and torturous, but it alleviates pain and helps treat an extremely wide amount of health conditions. Acupuncture can clear acne, help you lose weight, reduce water retention, promote fertility, manage pain, reduce stress levels, increase your mood, help you get better sleep and naturally enhance your breasts; all determined by the points the needles are inserted on your body. Don’t roll your eyes. I know- you’re thinking “There is no way this earthy-crunchy-granola BS could make my boobs bigger, it would obviously be the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure in the city.” Oh, you’re not? Well that’s what I’m thinking. If this works, why isn’t it as generic as going to yoga? More important, how does this work?

By stimulating points on and surrounding the breast, your body recognizes there is a foreign object and sends blood to that area, thinking that it’s repairing skin cells. Since nothing is actually wrong, this increased blood flow increases hormone production and cell growth, resulting in larger breasts. Dope, right? Don’t go into this Kendall and expect to be Kim, but after about 4 sessions you can expect to go up one full cup size. In the instance of losing weight, needles inserted into the ear can suppress appetite by lowering blood levels of the hormone responsible for regulating hunger, leptin. Again, don’t go into this Kim and expect to be Kendall, but I lost 3 pounds after just two sessions. Have I convinced you yet?

How do I go about getting acupuncture?

First step, research. Find a doctor who not only is great at what they do, but also explains to you what each needle represents. Trust me, there is nothing worse than laying down completely still for an hour with randomly placed needles in your body and leaving without an explanation of what their purpose was. Be direct, explain what’s wrong and what you want to take away from the session. I expressed concern about fat on my stomach, so my doctor inserted six needles to the targeted area and connected electrical stimulation to the base of each needle. This, along with a heat lamp located above my stomach was strategic in breaking down fat and ultimately led to my flat tummy (I’m not bragging, I just want everyone who has access to acupuncture to reap the same benefits). Since starting acupuncture my blemishes have reduced dramatically, I never have to deal with puffiness from retaining water, and my neck pain is almost completely gone. There are no adverse side effects, only potential benefits - making this a no-risk, non-invasive cosmetic procedure that’s free. Yes, most health insurance plans cover 100% of the bill. You have nothing to lose. Go and thank me later.

Beauty Benefits of Acupuncture

Surprising Beauty Benefits of Acupuncture

Photographed by Kim Andreolli, Vogue, September 1997

Acupuncture has been popular since ancient times for a reason: It makes people feel better. What’s more, in recent years, patients undergoing the procedure to treat health concerns have often noticed that their looks have benefited, too—leading to a rise in “acupuncture facials” that combine whole-body rebalancing with targeted needle stimulation (and, sometimes, spa-like add-ons) for glowing skin. Less well known, however, is the fact that the technique can also be used to address specific, pesky cosmetic issues—and as it turns out, those are one of the first things a practitioner might look at when diagnosing you.

“In traditional Chinese medicine, we look at the face as a reflection of what’s going on inside,” explains New York City acupuncturist Shellie Goldstein, M.S., L.Ac. “We look at your internal well-being to decipher what’s going on. From the inside, we will make that change, and it will be reflected on the outside.” In other words, the lasting solution to your breakouts or sagging skin might not be a cream or device, but rather a healthier, more balanced body.

Here, Goldstein explains five specific ways that acupuncture can provide a beauty boost from the inside out.

De-Puff
A swollen face is likely a sign of larger issues, according to Goldstein—issues that acupuncture is designed to address. “If you have digestive problems, allergies, or poor lymphatic drainage, what you may see in the face is puffiness,” Goldstein explains. “Not only will we correct it, we will adjust it from the inside.” This is accomplished by inserting fine sterile needles at certain points on the body identified in traditional Chinese medicine. Each resulting “micro-trauma,” as Goldstein calls it, causes a healing response both locally and throughout the body; different points correspond to different bodily systems.

Clear Up Acne
Acupuncture’s rebalancing effect has a way of calming breakouts, whether chronic or caused by monthly hormonal fluctuations. “We look at acne as a reflection of internal heat, and the digestive system,” Goldstein explains. “We can adjust premenstrual breakouts through acupuncture as well by treating the heat that arises” in the body during certain times of the month.

Calm Rosacea
“Similar to acne, it’s about adjusting that internal balance within,” Goldstein says. “Rosacea in Chinese medicine is often about digestion—by clearing up the internal digestive issues, it really helps to minimize redness and irritation in the skin tissue.”

Brighten Dull Skin
Acupuncture can boost a lackluster complexion both directly—by triggering local healing processes in the face—and indirectly, by recalibrating bodily systems. “Simply by putting a needle in the skin, you’re stimulating skin circulation, lymphatic drainage, and collagen production,” Goldstein says. But also, “dullness can often be a lack of energy flowing through the body properly. We work to raise your energy and balance what’s going on.”

Tighten and Tone
Whether your concern is the gravitational pull on your legs or slack facial skin, according to Goldstein, a few needle pricks can help to firm things up. Acupuncture is “absolutely amazing for muscle tone and deeper tissue tone in the body,” she says. “It will help to relax the deeper tissue muscles that are too tight, and tighten the ones that are [loose]. It’s really good for lifting and sculpting the cheeks and jawline, and even for lifting eyebrows.”

OCTOBER 10, 2016 7:20 PMby EVIANA HARTMAN

NUTRITION + WELLNESS

Get to the Point: Treating Infertility with Acupuncture

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 by SARA NOVAK

Infertility–which is on the rise–generally means that a couple isn’t able to get pregnant after a full year of trying. It may be caused by the fact that couples are waiting longer to have kids, but other factors may also be at play.

It’s a problem that impacts 12 percent of all women ages 15 to 44 years old in the U.S. But it’s far from just a women’s problem. In fact, out of all men under age 45 that sought help for infertility, 18 percent were diagnosed with male infertility. While the root of the growing problem is not completely clear, a growing number of couples are turning to a more holistic, Eastern approach to treatment.

A Closer Look at Treating Infertility

There’s a lot that has to happen for a woman to get pregnant, and if seventh grade sex ed has slipped your mind, here’s a quick recap: A woman must release an egg from one of her ovaries which must join with a man’s sperm along the way to the uterus to fertilize. The fertilized egg must go through the fallopian tubes and implant on the inside of the uterus. So, a problem with any of these steps can cause issues getting or staying pregnant.

Infertility can be caused by any number of issues including:

• A lack of ovulation
• Hormone imbalances
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Fibroids
• Insufficient eggs or poor egg quality
• Environmental toxins including endocrine disruptors
• Low sperm count
• Abnormal semen
• Getting pregnant later in life

Whatever the reasons, infertility is heartbreaking for the couples that go through it.

Conventional Methods for Treating Infertility

When it comes to treating infertility, common methods include intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). IUI is the process of placing a concentrated sample of sperm directly in the uterus at the proper time to help a women get pregnant. It can be done with or without fertility drugs. IVF is a more intensive process and it works by manually combining the egg and sperm in a laboratory dish, and then transferring the embryo to the uterus. This requires fertility drugs. IUI costs around $800 per treatment and it’s usually done before IVF. IVF costs at least $12,000 but it can often cost as much as $17,000 per round.

Using Chinese Medicine to Treat Infertility

There are a number of reasons why people might turn to less invasive fertility treatments like Chinese medicine instead of Western treatment methods. Here are a few:

• In general, it’s just a fraction of the cost of IVF. Costs are usually between $60 and $100 per treatment.
• It’s less invasive.
• It doesn’t require fertility drugs.
• Many find the treatments relaxing and even pleasurable.

According to Sara Putnam of One Life Wellness, Chinese medicine practitioners take a holistic look at patients. They look beyond the obvious to all areas of physical and emotional health and then they tie everything together. Putnam helps patients all along the spectrum of fertility issues from those that are just beginning to try to conceive to patients who are using it along with Western treatments like IVF.

“We look at the root of the problem from emotional trauma to stress,” says Putnam. “Even digestion can play a role. For example, if your digestive system isn’t absorbing nutrients then it can be hard to get pregnant.”

Putnam uses acupuncture points customized for each patient’s fertility issues. For example, certain points can regulate ovulation or induce menstruation. Other points can influence hormones like the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Acupuncture can also increase blood circulation which keeps everything healthy and can increase the flow of cervical fluid.

Diet can also play a role. And while Putnam contends that dietary changes vary between patients based on needs, certain inflammatory foods are often removed from the diet including:

• Gluten
• Dairy
• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Caffeine

These food groups constrict blood flow, which is generally a negative for fertility. Tobacco (obviously!) is also off limits. Putnam may also combine massage with other treatments like Chinese herbs and cupping for the best results. She encourages couples to look toward a more holistic approach before exploring conventional treatments. Even if you choose IUI or IVF, Chinese medicine can increase your chances of these treatments being successful.

Are you struggling to get pregnant? Have you tried using alternative therapies for treating infertility? What have you learned? Drop us a line via Twitter @OrganicAuthorit.

Related on Organic Authority
This is Why the Benefits of Acupuncture for Pain are Unparalleled
New Hope for Menopause with Acupuncture
Ah Yes, The Orgasm & 6 More Unusual Methods to Cramp Relief

Acupuncture image via Shutterstock

Acupuncture & Sports Injuries

Acupuncture & Sports Injuries 

My son injured his lower back and right neck the other night at a football game. The trainer and the walk-in clinic diagnosed a spinal stinger. X-rays were taken and nothing is broken. The orthopedist said it was "just a strain" and wants to take him out of sports for four weeks. That's almost half the season. Nobody has offered any type of treatment other than rest and pain pills which do not help. Can chiropractic or acupuncture offer any quick relief? I would like to no what kind of treatments he can do at home to speed up the healing process. He wants to get back on the field.

First of all, that is what every athlete wants is to get back on the field Chiropractors have special training in sports injuries, and some, like myself, even have post-graduate training in orthopedics and sports medicine that can ultimately lead to diplomat status. This an additional 300 hours of sports orthopedic training that can be achieved after chiropractic school.

Lets address a stinger. This usually happens after an intense blow to the top or either side of the head. It is very common in football and should be taken very seriously.

After the injury, the player may experience numbness, tingling, burning and spasms of the neck, upper back and affected extremity. This is basically a pinched nerve in the neck. It usually in the lower neck, but it can be in the upper neck also. Chiropractors specialize in pinched nerves.

Once the medical personal have ruled out any serious damage to the spinal cord, it is time to get evaluated immediately by a chiropractor.

A thorough exam should be performed and a treatment plan will be implemented.

At my office, there will be an intense series of spinal manipulation, therapeutic massage sessions, physical therapy treatments and acupuncture performed.

Home treatments will include ice massage, TENS therapy, orthopedic bracing if needed and special instructions on stretching.

Remember, sprain or strains of the joints and surrounding tissues are the most common injuries related to any kind of sports injuries. Pain, swelling, redness, purple skin discoloration, reduced range of motion and a dull ache are the most common symptoms.

Along with the conventional R.I.C.E. formula (rest, ice, compression, elevation), acupuncture has been found to be very effective in quickly suppressing inflammation and swelling and typically speeds up the healing process.

I know what you are thinking, my kid is afraid of needles and is not going to do acupuncture. Maybe or maybe not, but you would be surprised at how many kids are willing to try acupuncture to get better faster and get back on the field.

My son was 9 when he first tried acupuncture for chronic stomach problems. He had miraculous results and is now receiving acupuncture for his low back pain.

By Layne Towery
Sept. 13, 2016 at midnight