Year: 2012

Ever wonder why you wake up in pain? A lot of clients that start going to a massage therapist complain of pain that started suddenly in their backs, necks or legs when they wake up in the morning. This may be due to poor posture while sleeping, and the key to a pain-free sleep may be easier than you think.

If you sleep on your side keep in mind that your spine, on its own, will not be straight. A crooked spine all night is what causes the pain that you feel in the morning. By pillowing between your knees and using a thick pillow under your head that fits the space between your head and your shoulder, you will keep your spine straight from your tailbone to your neck. Hugging a pillow when you sleep on your side will also prevent your shoulders from rolling into a forward position and putting strain on your mid-back.

Sleeping on your stomach is, by far, the worst position to sleep in. It causes pain in your low back due to the curve of your back in that position. It can also cause problems leading to pain in the ribs, feet, and neck. If you can’t fall asleep any other way, try sleeping on a firmer mattress and use a pillow under your shins and stomach for joint and back support. Back sleepers, remember to pillow under your knees. This will help prevent low back pain in the morning.

Having a restful sleep in a proper posture is important to your health and so is massage therapy. Visiting a massage therapist on a regular basis will help work out those other aches and pains that may not be sleeping related. Remember to book a massage to maintain your muscle tissue health. Your body will thank you for it!

Having a broken bone is never fun and more than likely you would not first think to see a massage therapist to help with the healing process. Believe it or not, massage therapy can help speed your recovery and help prevent future issues with a break or fracture.

The most important thing to do, besides going to see a doctor to get your bone set and casted, is to decrease the inflammation in the area. Swelling causes a lack of oxygen to the region which can cause more damage and pain. Rest the area, use ice and elevate to reduce the swelling. This will help speed recovery on its own, but massage therapy can also help.

In the early stages of healing, seeing a RMT who is knowledgeable about lymph drainage will greatly help reduce the swelling in the limb. The quicker the swelling goes down, the faster the healing process will be. In the later stages of healing, after the cast has been removed, massage can help reduce the tension in the muscles that were casted along with the bone. Muscles can become rigid and tight when immobile; by loosening these muscles, you will also rehabilitate the limb faster.