When your pain is in the back, it is usually because of a problem in the front.
This statement sounds completely backwards. Let me explain. When you are in pain, it is easy to assume that the problem is wherever you feel the pain. So you take a Tylenol and put the heating pad where the pain is and you feel better. But then a few days later, you are in pain again. Why is that?
I have an experiment for you. Take a thick rubber band. Put it over your thumb and forefinger. Now with a paperclip, shorten the front side by folding the band on top of itself, but only on the front side. The opposite side gets pulled and the tension it feels becomes visible. That tension is the pain. It is simply the symptom. The reason for the tension is the shortening of the band in the front. Now remove the paperclip from the front. The tension on the rubber band evens itself out again.
Your muscles work in a similar manner. When you sit, your abdominal muscles and hip flexors are shortened, and your low back muscles are lengthened. Now think about how often you are in that seated position; in the car, at your desk, on the couch, while you are eating, etc. That is a lot of time that for your body to be in a flexed position! That whole time, your low back muscles are working over time trying to hold you upright.
Similarly, think about all the times your arms and head are in front of your shoulders; using a computer, texting, driving in the car, etc. Your upper back and neck are working so hard to pull you back into a homeostatic position that they get over worked and begin to hurt. By lengthening your pectoralis muscles and the Sternocleidomastoid, you are allowing your neck and shoulders to return to the proper position.
Massage therapy uses a combination of gliding and compression movements to lengthen the muscles that have become shortened and increase blood flow to the areas that are in pain, allowing for the body to heal. Regular massage therapy appointments ensure that the clients’ muscles stay hydrated and pliable to help reduce the risk of new and recurring injury.
Having worked in the massage therapy field for almost 15 years I have had the pleasure of working on hundreds of bodies. While some clients find silence to be relaxing, others like to talk. I encourage everyone to do whatever helps them to feel comfortable. I also like to encourage people to ask questions so that they better understand what I am doing and help put their mind and body at ease. Below is a collection of just a few of the more frequently asked questions I have been asked.
- Don’t your hands get tired?
- Sometimes, but not very often. My forearms tend to get tired before my hands.
- How many massages can you do in a day?
- I try to do no more than 6 hours
- What is the greatest number of massages you have ever done in a row?
- 7, and I couldn’t write my name for a week!
- Has anyone ever fallen asleep?
- All the time! I take it as a compliment
- How often should I get a massage?
- That depends on the goal of your session. If you have an issue that you are trying to alleviate, I recommended twice a week for 6 weeks. If you are looking to maintain your health and wellness, every 2-4 weeks will best fit your needs. The good thing about massage is that it is impossible to overdose!
- What makes a knot?
- A knot is when muscle fibers adhere together in the muscle belly making the area inflamed and cause pain.
- Did you go to school for this?
- And I take continuing education classes to help improve the work I do.
- How can you massage people’s feet and butt?
- Just like I massage the rest of their bodies, with my hands!
- How did you find that spot?
- Does your husband get a massages all the time?
- No, have you ever met a house painter who comes home excited to paint their own house?
- Do I have to get naked?
- Whatever is comfortable for you. If that means you leave on your undergarments, you can.
- What does it feel like when the muscle releases?
- It feels like my hand is moving, just a little, when in fact I am keeping it still on the pressure point.
- My pain is in the back. Why are you working on the front?
- I believe in working the cause, not just the symptom. While the pain you are having in located in the back, it is because those muscles are elongated and compensating for the shortened muscles in the front.
If you have any questions that you would like answered, please feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer!
Hot stone massage has been used in therapeutics for thousands of years. History shows the Chinese using hot stones for treatment over 2,000 years ago. It wasn’t just the Chinese who used hot stone massage, many ancient societies all over the world used and still use hot stones to heal and treat ailments. So, what exactly is hot stone massage?
Hot stone massage is just what it sounds like, heated stones used in the massage process. These are smooth, flat stones made from basalt, which is a type of volcanic rock that retains heat. Imagine the wonderful feeling of massage and then add in the relaxing feeling of heat concentrated on the areas that are being massaged. Seems like it would feel pretty good right? People from the last 2,000 years would agree with you.
Hot stone massage allows for increased blood circulation. Don’t worry about the stones being too hot, your therapist can ensure that they are at a comfortable temperature for you. There are many benefits to hot stone massage which include but are not limited to: alleviation of muscle tension and pain, reduction of stress and anxiety, relieving symptoms of autoimmune diseases, promoting relaxation and sleep for insomniacs, decreasing pains associated with fibromyalgia, arthritis, back pain, and many more health conditions. All of these benefits are great for today’s fast-paced type of society.
Still not convinced? Then, try it out for yourself and schedule an appointment today to feel your tensions melt away!
-Thomas Pearce, Pinky Uttayaya-Andrews
Definition Fitness is pleased to add Sports Massage Therapy to our array of performance training services.
Regular sports massage provides many benefits to athletes, including:
•Reducing the chance of injury both through education on stretching and event preparation, as well as deep tissue massage.
•Improving range of motion, strength, performance times.
•Shortening recovery time between workouts.
•Maximizing the supply of nutrition and oxygen through increased blood flow.
•Enhancing elimination of metabolic wastes (i.e., lactic acid) that are a by-product of exercise.
Athletes that work with sports massage therapists improve performance, lengthen their careers and experience fewer injuries. When injured, sports massage can speed recovery and help an athlete come back after surgery more quickly.
We welcome Thom Moody, LMT, to the staff. Thom brings 16 years of clinical and sports massage results to Definition Fitness. He has been the lead instructor at Heritage Institute and is a sports massage therapist for Jacksonville University and the Jacksonville Jaguars. His private clients have included NCAA, professional and Olympic athletes from several countries. Massage appointments are available (DAYS) mornings and by special appointment.
Thom Moody, Sports Massage Therapist
Thom is a licensed massage therapist who trained at Southeastern School of Massage Therapy in Jacksonville and is certified in Neuromuscular Massage Therapy. His continuing education in sports massage has included workshops with Benny Vaughn and Mike McGillicuddy, both nationally recognized as leaders in sports massage techniques. He is also certified as a Level One USAA Track and Field Coach.
Since 2000, Thom has been working with athletic teams at Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida, performing over 10,000 sessions of massage in the training room and on the field in coordination with a team of medical doctors, sports trainers and coaches. He has worked on male and female student athletes on football, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, swimming, crew, and track and field teams. He’s also worked with world class athletes such as NCAA All American track stars Monique Tubbs, Andrea Pressley and Natasha Harvey, and members of the Irish Olympic track and field team.
Thom has achieved results with former NFL athletes in private practice, good training for his current work as part of the sports medicine team of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Thom has worked with injured athletes pre- and post-surgery, and worked on performance enhancement with healthy athletes. The diversity of his experience, both in nature of the therapy and variety of teams, helps him understand and get results with athletes from almost every sport. He works with elite runners, triathletes, cyclists, and weekend golfers trying to better their game.
As a past athlete and retired Navy rescue swimmer, Thom has an understanding of the unique needs, both mental and physical, of an athlete preparing for competition or recovering from an injury.
Thom Moody, LMT, will provide onsite massage therapy beginning September 3. Inquire about appointments and rates at the front desk.
License #MA 0024478
