January 2005 [Volume 4, Issue 1]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Don't Worry...Be Happy
• Sometimes Going to Work Just Doesn't Pay
• Answers to Your Massage Questions: Highlights From This Month's "Ask a Massage Therapist" Online Forum

Think optimism is over-rated? Perhaps a recent study that found a link between optimism and longevity will change your mind. Researchers in the Netherlands set out to determine if optimistic people live longer than their more pessimistic counterparts. Approximately 1,000 elderly men and women between the ages of 65-85 were interviewed about their health, self-respect, morale, optimism and contacts, or relationships.

Results: During a nine-year follow-up period, researchers discovered that participants who reported higher levels of optimism were 55 percent less likely to die from any cause and 23 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular-related causes than the pessimistic group. Researchers cited several possible reasons for the correlations between optimism and longevity, including that happier people tend to engage in more physical activity and handle stress better than pessimists.

Want to increase your chances for a longer and healthier life? Try changing your outlook. Things like exercise, nutrition and massage therapy can help bring about positive changes in the psyche -- changes that can potentially be life-saving.

For more information on the benefits of massage therapy, visit www.massagetoday.com/aboutmt.

Reference: Giltay EJ, Geleijnse JM, Zitman FG, et. al. Dispositional optimism and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a prospective cohort of elderly Dutch men and women. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2004 Nov 61(11): 1126-35.

Some people like to "tough it out" and come to work every day regardless of how under the weather they feel; however, employees who work while sick are often less productive than healthy employees, and research is showing that in some instances this slowdown in production -- known as "presenteeism" -- may cost a company more than if an employee stays home for the day.

Researchers tried to estimate the losses in productivity caused by common health conditions such as allergies and headaches, and compared that estimate with other costs associated with the conditions. The analysis showed that in many instances, the costs of presenteeism were greater than costs from absenteeism or health benefits. When other costs were added to losses from presenteeism, absenteeism, health benefits and disability benefits, the most expensive condition for employers was high blood pressure, followed by heart disease, mental health problems, arthritis and allergies.

If you're an employer, consider adjusting your company's sick-time policy so employees don't feel burdened to come to work when they are sick. And employees, take the day off the next time you are sick. Toughing it out will likely prolong your illness, and you'll be less productive.

And don't forget that massage therapy is one way of preventing illness from occurring in the first place. For more information on the benefits of massage therapy, visit www.massagetoday.com/aboutmt.

Reference: Goetzel RD, Long SR, Ozminkowski RJ, et al. Health, absence, disability, and presenteeism cost estimates of certain physical and mental health conditions affecting U.S. employers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine April 2004;46(4):398-412.

Question: What steps should be used in the detoxification process?

Answer: First, identify what caused the build up of toxins. One person I treated for detoxification wanted to reduce and eliminate the use of pain medication. The goals of massage for detoxification are enhancing lymph flow to deliver nutrients to the cells to help restore tissues; improving digestion; improving circulation; improving kidney function; assisting respiration; and facilitating the elimination of toxins through the skin by enhancing circulation to the skin tissue and decongesting pores. There are different types of massage techniques (e.g., Swedish, manual lymph drainage, intermittent pressure techniques, etc.) but the intent is the same: to move released toxins toward the areas where the body's elimination process can take over.

Question: I have often wondered why certain muscles, especially the trapezius (lower part), rhomboideus and erector spinae give the feeling of being filled with jelly. Nothing seems to happen when applying effleurage, at least not during the first or second treatment. The "swollen" muscle moves and it seems out of place, but then neatly goes back to its position and remains swollen. Though the client does not experience pain, I wonder if someone can explain this phenomenon and if there is anything we can do about it.

Answer: The trapezius, rhomboids, and thoracic erector muscles are very prone to trigger points. That soft jelly-like feeling is probably a combination of trigger points, adhesions, and thickened fascia. The patient probably doesn't experience pain because the pain sensors are compressed and circulation is greatly diminished. Once massage increases circulation and begins to release adhesions in the tissues, the client will probably experience some pain. It takes a long time for the body to reach this state, so it will also take some time to work out. The cumulative effects of several massage treatments (depending on the individual) would work best. Include deeper techniques that addresses the fascia.

Note: Information provided in this Q&A section is drawn from the "Ask a Massage Therapist" online forum, in which massage therapists field questions relative to the massage profession. Readers are encouraged to post their questions at www.massagetoday.com/ask/.

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