tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1250480 2008-07-10T09:25:32-07:00 How-to's and tips for the professional. TypePad tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14179 2010-03-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-03-01T12:00:07-07:00

Ankle and heel pain is a common complaint. Patients often are surprised to discover their pain is caused by trigger points in the fibularis tertius, a small and easily overlooked muscle in the front of the lower leg. This article will review the anatomy of the fibularis tertius muscle and discuss the trigger points that cause lateral ankle and heel pain, as well as treatment techniques and ways to educate your patients about the causes of their pain.

By David Kent, LMT, NCTMB Ankle and heel pain is a common complaint. Patients often are surprised to discover their pain is caused by trigger points in the fibularis tertius, a small and easily overlooked muscle in the front of the lower leg. This article will review the anatomy of the fibularis tertius muscle and discuss the trigger points that cause lateral ankle and heel pain, as well as treatment techniques and ways to educate your patients about the causes of their pain. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14164 2010-02-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-02-01T12:00:07-07:00

A therapist once asked me in a CranioSacral session if I wanted to talk to my ovaries. I didn't, thank you. I was afraid they'd talk back. But, I did become intrigued with the art of dialoguing, a feature made popular by Dr. John Upledger in his particular model of cranial work.

By Sharon Desjarlais, CC A therapist once asked me in a CranioSacral session if I wanted to talk to my ovaries. I didn't, thank you. I was afraid they'd talk back. But, I did become intrigued with the art of dialoguing, a feature made popular by Dr. John Upledger in his particular model of cranial work. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14166 2010-02-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-02-01T12:00:07-07:00

Balance is such an integral part of a massage therapists' life. We must physically maintain our balance during a session in order to properly work on a client; we promote massage as a way of maintaining balance in our lives; and because we often work late and on weekends to accommodate clients, we often struggle to balance work with the other demands in our lives. One way to maintain the various balances in our lives is to practice the ancient art of meditation.

By Sharon Puszko, PhD, LMT Balance is such an integral part of a massage therapists' life. We must physically maintain our balance during a session in order to properly work on a client; we promote massage as a way of maintaining balance in our lives; and because we often work late and on weekends to accommodate clients, we often struggle to balance work with the other demands in our lives. One way to maintain the various balances in our lives is to practice the ancient art of meditation. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14170 2010-02-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-02-01T12:00:07-07:00

Some time ago, a client going through intense chemotherapy treatment asked me if deep massage would help her cleanse the drugs from her system. She had read about a number of liver cleansing protocols that suggested very deep massage to facilitate the process of elimination. Her question touched on a number of issues in the oncology massage world and there were several layers to my response to her. I share my answers here, because the issues are relevant for our many clients in chemotherapy.

By Tracy Walton, LMT, MS Some time ago, a client going through intense chemotherapy treatment asked me if deep massage would help her cleanse the drugs from her system. She had read about a number of liver cleansing protocols that suggested very deep massage to facilitate the process of elimination. Her question touched on a number of issues in the oncology massage world and there were several layers to my response to her. I share my answers here, because the issues are relevant for our many clients in chemotherapy. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14151 2010-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Patients with shoulder pain that inhibits them from combing their hair, brushing their teeth or reaching behind their back for their bra strap often can't sleep on the affected side. When these symptoms include deep anterior shoulder pain that extends down the front and side of the arm, the radial forearm and into the hand, the infraspinatus muscle could be involved. This article will provide useful information covering the anatomy, function, trigger point patterns and treatment tips for the infraspinatus muscle.

By David Kent, LMT, NCTMB Patients with shoulder pain that inhibits them from combing their hair, brushing their teeth or reaching behind their back for their bra strap often can't sleep on the affected side. When these symptoms include deep anterior shoulder pain that extends down the front and side of the arm, the radial forearm and into the hand, the infraspinatus muscle could be involved. This article will provide useful information covering the anatomy, function, trigger point patterns and treatment tips for the infraspinatus muscle. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14152 2010-01-01T12:00:32-07:00 2010-01-01T12:00:07-07:00

Soft-tissue foot pain is widespread, especially in active people. Problems such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, or tarsal tunnel syndrome are common causes of chronic pain and disability. However, another muscle in the foot should be considered when investigating medial ankle or plantar-surface foot pain. Disorders of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) are routinely overlooked and may frequently be misdiagnosed as some of these other foot problems mentioned above.1

By Whitney Lowe, LMT Soft-tissue foot pain is widespread, especially in active people. Problems such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, or tarsal tunnel syndrome are common causes of chronic pain and disability. However, another muscle in the foot should be considered when investigating medial ankle or plantar-surface foot pain. Disorders of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) are routinely overlooked and may frequently be misdiagnosed as some of these other foot problems mentioned above.1 tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14141 2009-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

If someone had told me two decades ago that my career would revolve around CranioSacral Therapy, I would have laughed and recommended another glass of wine. It was the mid-'80s when I first heard about cranial work. I was visiting my sister-in-law, a physical therapist, in Florida. She had just returned from learning this "wild new technique" from some guy name Dr. John and she wanted to try it on me. So I lay down on her living room floor, and she went to work.

By Sharon Desjarlais, CC If someone had told me two decades ago that my career would revolve around CranioSacral Therapy, I would have laughed and recommended another glass of wine. It was the mid-'80s when I first heard about cranial work. I was visiting my sister-in-law, a physical therapist, in Florida. She had just returned from learning this "wild new technique" from some guy name Dr. John and she wanted to try it on me. So I lay down on her living room floor, and she went to work. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14144 2009-12-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-12-01T12:00:07-07:00

We've all heard the old adage about the three most important considerations when opening a business are location, location, location! Similarly, I believe the very first skill you need to have to effectively treat athletes is highly developed palpatory ability. If you can palpate; you can heal! Knowing how to quickly assess tissue and treat properly will give you the techniques to deliver what I believe to be essential therapeutic value to the athlete.

By John G. Louis, CMT We've all heard the old adage about the three most important considerations when opening a business are location, location, location! Similarly, I believe the very first skill you need to have to effectively treat athletes is highly developed palpatory ability. If you can palpate; you can heal! Knowing how to quickly assess tissue and treat properly will give you the techniques to deliver what I believe to be essential therapeutic value to the athlete. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14117 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

Massage therapists are expected to alleviate stress, help with relaxation, and relieve pain caused by injuries, repetitive use and physical limitations. A therapist's success in doing so often leads clients to view their massage therapist as a "cure-all." Sooner or later, however, a massage therapist might be faced with questions from their clients such as: "Why does the pain keep coming back?" or "I feel better, but I am afraid to do anything that might start the pain again."

By Marjorie Brook, LMT, CIMI Massage therapists are expected to alleviate stress, help with relaxation, and relieve pain caused by injuries, repetitive use and physical limitations. A therapist's success in doing so often leads clients to view their massage therapist as a "cure-all." Sooner or later, however, a massage therapist might be faced with questions from their clients such as: "Why does the pain keep coming back?" or "I feel better, but I am afraid to do anything that might start the pain again." tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14122 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

Clinicians, athletes and rehabilitation specialists advocate stretching as a means for injury prevention and treatment. The primary purpose of any stretching technique is to enhance pliability and flexibility in the soft tissues. It is also routinely incorporated with massage in the treatment of pain and injury conditions. There are many different stretching techniques, which all fall into one of three primary categories: static, ballistic or active-assisted stretching.

By Whitney Lowe, LMT Clinicians, athletes and rehabilitation specialists advocate stretching as a means for injury prevention and treatment. The primary purpose of any stretching technique is to enhance pliability and flexibility in the soft tissues. It is also routinely incorporated with massage in the treatment of pain and injury conditions. There are many different stretching techniques, which all fall into one of three primary categories: static, ballistic or active-assisted stretching. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14125 2009-11-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-11-01T12:00:07-07:00

After nearly nine years of contributing as a columnist for Massage Today, Dr. John Upledger tells his readers farewell and leaves us with inspiring insight to this special field of work. Massage Today would like to thank Dr. John for his outstanding contributions and lifetime of dedication to, and accomplishment in, the advancement of CranioSacral Therapy.

By John Upledger, DO, OMM After nearly nine years of contributing as a columnist for Massage Today, Dr. John Upledger tells his readers farewell and leaves us with inspiring insight to this special field of work. Massage Today would like to thank Dr. John for his outstanding contributions and lifetime of dedication to, and accomplishment in, the advancement of CranioSacral Therapy. tag:mpamedia.com,2008:post-14094 2009-10-01T12:00:32-07:00 2009-10-01T12:00:07-07:00

In the current edition of my book, Palpation and Assessment Skills, there are 12 "special topic" sections, where subjects that don't quite fit into the regular chapters, have been placed. The special topic I want to bring to your attention is the so-called "red and white" reaction - the name of which has been expanded to "red, white and black" reaction. Mysterious? Not really - but it's a catchy name for a simple but useful assessment method that dates back well over 100 years. The name refers to superficial responses that take the form of red, white and sometimes blue-black lines following skin-friction, applied by a finger or probe, usually running down each side of the spine.

By Leon Chaitow, ND, DO In the current edition of my book, Palpation and Assessment Skills, there are 12 "special topic" sections, where subjects that don't quite fit into the regular chapters, have been placed. The special topic I want to bring to your attention is the so-called "red and white" reaction - the name of which has been expanded to "red, white and black" reaction. Mysterious? Not really - but it's a catchy name for a simple but useful assessment method that dates back well over 100 years. The name refers to superficial responses that take the form of red, white and sometimes blue-black lines following skin-friction, applied by a finger or probe, usually running down each side of the spine.