All athletes are familiar with the aches and pains of training. Sore muscles and aching joints are considered part of the game. What some have discovered is a way to help alleviate the pain through sports massage therapy. In addition to helping with the pain, those receiving sports massages are recognizing the other benefits massage can offer.

Therapeutic sports massage is a type of massage that focuses on the deep muscular tissues. During athletic training the tiny fibers in the muscles are torn. When they repair they are stronger. This is the basic principle of athletic training. During this process scar tissue can develop. The focus of the masseuse is to reach these deep fibers to massage them. This will break up the small fibers that have been bound with scar tissue, allowing the muscle to become more flexible. The massage will also assist in ridding the muscles of any excess lactic acid that is a remnant of the training process. After the massage, the athlete must properly hydrate their body to assist in the healing process.

While the sports massage will help athletes with sore, stiff muscles, there are several other benefits. Massage can help reduce an athlete’s stress. It has been found that cortisol levels, which are raised when a person is stressed, are actually reduced following a massage. Massage has also been found to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure). Many people report an increase in the ability to sleep. It has been reported that massage releases endorphins, which creates a sense of euphoria. With decreased stress the body’s immune system is better able to fend off bugs and viruses, which results in fewer illnesses.

With all of the potential benefits of therapeutic sports massage, the most important result is how it makes you feel. Every person responds differently. Give it a try and see how you respond!

Tags: Annapolis, Maryland, Massage, Massage Annapolis, Massage Therapist, MD, Sports Massage

Looking for a way to unwind after a hard day? Need to de-stress, both mentally and physically, from the anxieties of modern living? Well, by taking a Swedish Massage you can soothe away stress and leave yourself feeling revitalized, relaxed and refreshed.

As the name suggests, the Swedish massage was first perfected in Sweden but the practice has now been adopted all over the world. It is the general all over body massage which many people opt for when they are in the spa. The Swedish massage uses the techniques of kneading (just like making pastry or bread),  rubbing the skin with the palms of the hand and fingertips, chopping with the side of the hand and also sometimes incorporates the use of vibrating balls to help the body to relax and work out any anxieties. There should be no pain at all, just deep relaxation. However, if you are having any problems with muscle pain the massage can help to relieve the pain and loosen the muscles.

The Swedish massage techniques used can have an enormous benefit in many different ways. First of all, you will feel calmer and the blood circulation will be increased all over your body. This improvement in circulation will in turn mean more oxygenation in the muscle tissues leaving you feeling like you have much more energy. A regular Swedish massage can help to reduce pain in joints or muscles and make movement more free and easy.

A Swedish massage can also help to detoxify your body. The stroking movements and pressure removes toxins and poisons from within your body tissue and your internal organs and into the bloodstream, from where they can be successfully eliminated from the body. This will help to decrease levels of tension and subsequently blood pressure, as well as the heart rate. By drinking plenty of water in the hours and days immediately following your Swedish massage you can significantly help with this procedure and also eliminate any light headed feelings which can follow the massage.

The many essential oils which are used in the Swedish massage help not only the hands of the massage therapist to glide effortlessly across your body, but also each has their own individual therapeutic properties. Rosemary oil can help with many muscular pains and conditions, and help to relieve the stresses of busy modern living. It can also aid depression, migraines, memory loss and fatigue. Eucalyptus however, can help to cool the body in summer and protect it from chills in the winter. It is also excellent when used on inflammations such as muscle strain and even acts as an insect repellent. Lavender oil, apart from smelling divine, has excellent healing properties and helps to prevent scarring on wounds.

Relaxing music playing quietly in the background can really add to the whole ambience of the experience and you will leave feeling refreshed, revitalized and completely relaxed. If you’ve never been for a Swedish massage, isn’t it about time you gave it a go?

Tags: Annapolis, Edgewater, Maryland, Massage Annapolis, Massage Therapist, MD, Swedish Massage

When one is stressed and one’s muscles feel tight, getting a massage is a fantastic way to release all of the negativity in the body. It is also a wonderful way to enhance and begin a rehabilitation program. However, there are many different types of massages that benefit different types of stress and add-on to certain relaxation techniques. One that is looking to get the most out of their massage experience should consider choosing a deep tissue massage. These types of relaxation techniques are beneficial not only to one’s stress level, but also to their health.

A deep tissue massage focuses on the more nasty side of one’s body that cause one to have both tight muscles and stress. The toxins in one’s muscles are released during this type of massage. By doing this, it also improves one’s health and immune system. During this massage, T-Cells are released. This causes one’s body to actively react to any health-related issues in a healthy and safe manner. When a masseuse gives a deep tissue massage, they are working the muscles by using specific techniques that massage the farthest tissue muscles in the body.

This type of massage is an incredible way to treat oneself. Unlike other massages, this type can rehabilitate injuries and decrease chronic muscle pain for the recipient. Patients that suffer from arthritis, tendinitis, or other types of muscle inflammation commonly receive deep tissue massages to lessen their daily constant pain. This type of massage focuses on the entire group of muscles rather than just finding the “knots” in a person’s body like some other types of massages. It is important for those who are getting deep tissue massages to stay hydrated and not do anything strenuous afterward. If one does activities that are too strenuous may cause bruising.

Getting a massage is a great way to heal one’s body, health, and mind. When receiving a deep tissue massage, one needs to remember to relax and prepare one’s body for the experience. One deserves to pamper their body and mind, especially when it is beneficial to their health. Deep tissue massages are a great way to relax and heal one’s bodies.

Tags: Annapolis, Deep Tissue Massage, Maryland, Massage Annapolis, Massage Therapist, MD

Pregnancy can be so uncomfortable! Time for a massage – but do you need a special kind of massage when you’re pregnant? What’s different about it besides the fact that you might not be able to lie on your stomach? Here’s why the experience, techniques and benefits of a prenatal massage are different from a standard massage.

When you’re expecting a baby you’re likely to feel all kinds of aches and pains. The added weight you’re carrying,  along with the way it’s centered in the front of your body, can cause changes in your posture and gait as your body tries to compensate for your changing center of gravity. But as the uterus expands, the baby grows and your hormone levels shift, it’s more than just backache that can ensue.

There are several ways in which a real prenatal massage is different than the average relaxation massage you receive at a typical day spa. These differences become more important and more pronounced as your pregnancy progresses — with more adjustments made in your second and third trimester vs. in your first trimester.

Prenatal massage techniques are designed to …

• Reduce swelling. Special manipulation techniques can be used to stimulate soft tissues to reduce edema (fluid retention). Edema is often caused by the fact that the heavy uterus can reduce circulation and increase pressure on major blood vessels, notes the American Pregnancy Association based on research published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
• Relieve sciatica. Sciatic nerve pain is a common complication during pregnancy because the uterus rests on the pelvic floor and lower back muscles. The pressure radiates pain through the sciatic nerve into leg muscles, in turn causing those muscles to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy can reduce inflammation in the nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many pregnant women experience significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain through regular massage.
• Balance hormone levels. Recent studies have shown that massage during pregnancy significantly improved regulation of the hormones norepinephrine, cortisol and serotonin — hormones associated with stress, relaxation and mood. These improvements can help expectant mothers balance out mood swings and reduce the risk of low birth weight or complications with delivery, reports the APA  based on an article on massage therapy effects on pregnant women suffering with depression, in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
• Keep baby safe. The intensity of the pressure applied to the muscles and tissues, and the positioning of the mother’s body, should be adjusted to ensure that the baby is protected.

5 tips for getting the right prenatal massage for you

1. Tell your massage therapist how far along you are and when your due date is.
2. Ask for a massage therapist experienced in prenatal massage techniques. These professionals specialize in prenatal and postnatal massages.
3. Advise the therapist of any particular troubles, concerns, aches … Point out where you’re feeling pain or discomfort, when it tends to be at its worst, and what activities seem to aggravate it or cause it to flare up.
4. Be specific. “Feels like” comparisons are helpful here — does it feel like a needle in your back every evening, or a dull ache in your hip when you try to bend?
5. Ask about Swedish massage. Swedish massage is a recommended prenatal massage method because it is effective at relieving many discomforts related to the changes in hormone levels, spinal and joint alignment, and circulation that are often experienced by pregnant women. Swedish massage aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation. The therapist uses long, gliding strokes and kneading and tapping techniques on the top layer of muscles; and may also manipulate the joints gently to improve range of motion.

Be sure to consult your doctor first about whether a massage is suitable for your condition.

When you’re nearing delivery, schedule yourself for a postnatal massage. This type of therapy is differs from a prenatal massage in that it focuses on toning a new mother’s body and reducing fluid retention. And of course, it can help ease the stresses of all the change you’re experiencing at home (like getting up with the baby in the middle of every night) — and that release and renewal can help you be a better mom.

At Elements Therapeutic Massage, we’ll work with you and your practitioner to create a plan for regular, ongoing massage therapy sessions that can keep you healthy while working with your schedule and lifestyle, your health concerns and your priorities.  Call or come in today and let’s talk about how you can get more massage and well-being in your life.

Tags: Annapolis, Edgewater, Maryland, Massage Annapolis, Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy, MD, Prenatal Massage

Lying awake at night? Can’t stop your mind from worrying about what happened yesterday and what will happen tomorrow? It’s not healthy – and that’s not just a saying.

Stress and the way you react to it may be affecting your health, even though it may not be apparent to you. You may think that persistent headache or inability to focus is caused by a physical illness, but the culprit may actually be excessive ongoing stress in your life. And it can lead to serious health problems.

According to the National Institutes of Health, stress is at the root of 80 percent or more of all illness and doctor visits in the U.S. Here’s how stress increases your risk of serious disease, your healthcare cost and your productivity.

Stress and the way you react to it may be affecting your health, even though it may not be apparent to you. You may think that persistent headache or inability to focus is caused by a physical illness, but the culprit may actually be excessive ongoing stress in your life. And it can lead to serious health problems.

Health effects of stress

The health effects of stress identified by The Mayo Clinic can range from relatively minor symptoms and conditions including …

* Headache
* Back pain
* Upset stomach
* Sleep problems
* Irritability
* Lack of focus
* Forgetfulness
* Overeating

… to more acute and critical health conditions including …

* Chest pain
* Heart disease
* High blood pressure
* Depression
* Decreased immunity

What can you do to reduce stress?

First, recognize that you can’t prevent stress. It’s part of everyday life — and some level of stress is actually good for you. It’s how you react to stress, as well as a lifestyle that brings a frequently elevated levels of stress into your life, that can get you and your state of health into trouble.

Health experts agree that making lifestyle changes to help you identify your stress triggers and, most importantly, better manage your reactions to stress, can bring numerous health benefits.

Stress management techniques recommended by medical experts include massage as well as exercise, guided relaxation and breathing techniques, meditation, yoga and tai chi.  (please spell check)

How massage can help you manage stress

The Mayo Clinic notes that studies have found massage helpful for stress relief and for managing anxiety and depression, as well as boosting immunity. Massage has been shown to help regulate hormones including norepinephrine, cortisol and serotonin — naturally occurring chemicals in the body that are associated with stress, relaxation and mood.

Beyond the physical effects of tactile manipulation of the muscles, tissues, joints and organs, the stress-relief and health benefits of massage also come from the caring and comfort of physical touch.

These benefits of regular massage can help you cope with stress when it’s occurring — and also develop a stronger everyday resilience to the stresses life will inevitably bring.

Stressed to the max? We can help. Our team of massage therapy professionals is trained to help you identify your stress “storage”  points and release the tension physically — so you can let it go more easily and feel calm, cool and in control of whatever comes at you. Life brings it on. We get it out.

Tags: Annapolis, Maryland, Massage Annapolis, Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy, MD

Not feeling your best and not sure why? Might be time to detox.

You don’t have to go on a detox diet or drink special smoothies to detox. Start with a massage to kick-start your body’s own natural cleansing processes, which can slow down for a variety of reasons – lack of regular exercise, too little fluids or fiber in the diet… If you haven’t been taking the best care of yourself, a detoxifying massage can help set things right again.

How does massage help the body detox, exactly?

The rhythmic strokes and pressure applied to muscles, tissues and organs during massage therapy help stimulate the circulatory system. It works sort of like a sponge: When pressure is applied to the tissue and fat, toxins are literally “squeezed” out from in between the muscle fibers and cells. They’re released into the circulatory system for easier elimination.

The lymph system is key

Your lymphatic fluid system works with your cardiovascular circulatory system to flush out toxins and carry immune cells throughout the body to help defend against infections. If your lymph fluid circulation gets sluggish, toxins can accumulate and immune cells may not get carried to the areas of the body where they’re needed.

Since the lymph system doesn’t have a big central pump like the heart to keep things moving, it has to rely on gravity, exercise, breathing … and massage. So if you haven’t been as good as you should about your exercise, diet and “me time” routine (it happens to the best of us!), that can affect how you feel, causing aches, pains and swelling (lymph edema). It can also cause deterioration in organs and glands like the thymus that are vital players in your immune system.

It’s easy to see why detoxification is important to avoiding illness and chronic health conditions. So if you’re not feeling your best or haven’t been as good about your diet and exercise routine lately, try a massage to get back on track. Remember to drink a glass or two of pure water after massage to help the body flush out toxins more rapidly.

Tags: Detox, Detox Massage, Maryland, Massage, Massage Annapolis, Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy, MD

You might think of a massage as a luxury. But can massage therapy actually pay for itself by reducing your medical bills?

There’s growing evidence that massage is a beneficial complement to medical treatments for certain chronic health conditions. Significant research is ongoing in this area, notes the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). While experts emphasize that the medical benefits of massage need more study, some research has shown evidence that massage therapy is effective in treating chronic health conditions that lead to billions of dollars in healthcare costs a year in America.

Ranging from back pain, migraines and fibromyalgia to anxiety and depression, chronic health conditions are costing Americans dearly in out-of-pocket medical expenses to seek relief at doctor’s offices, pharmacies and operating rooms. These are the types of conditions that massage can help with the most.

• According to NCCAM, a 2008 review of 13 clinical trials found evidence that massage may help relieve chronic low-back pain.

• The Mayo Clinic notes that some studies have found evidence that massage therapy is beneficial for anxiety and noted that ongoing sessions of massage therapy can reduce “trait anxiety” (general anxiety-proneness) — as well as improve symptoms of depression.

• According to The Mayo Clinic, some research has shown that massage decreases chronic pain in people suffering with fibromyalgia or migraines.

Massage is even being used to help make cancer treatment less traumatic and debilitating. Massage therapy has been shown to bring a 50 percent improvement in symptoms including anxiety, pain and fatigue among patients being treated for cancer, according to the Integrative Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. And a study of more than 300 advanced-stage cancer patients in multiple hospice facilities found that massage may help relieve pain and boost mood for cancer patients.

Increase the benefits with regular massage treatments

Regular ongoing massage treatments can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year, notes the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals group. Getting a massage at consistent intervals is an investment in your health, and just because massage feels like pampering doesn’t make it any less therapeutic.

Think of massage appointments as one of your ongoing health and wellness habits that you do to prevent the costs, stress, pain, discomfort and upheaval associated with illness and disease.

More massage! Better health!

Tags: Annapolis, Baltimore, Edgewater, Maryland, Massage, Massage Therapy, MD