The Divine Touch

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Arthritis & Massage Therapy

I was reading some articles the other day about massage therapy for those who suffer from osteoarthritis. And, it was pretty revealing to me.

Does massage benefit arthritis sufferers?

According to the Arthritis Foundation, massage can help with arthritis in two ways. First, it reduces muscle pain that is usually caused by spasms. Second, it increases your body’s ability to produce endorphins which reduces pain. Now, I do not know about you but this sounds pretty good to me.

Going back to a study reported in late 2006, some clinical findings regarding osteoarthritis of the knee had a lot of good to say about massage. In a December of 2006 article, The Archives of Internal Medicine said that those receiving massage therapy had less stiffness, pain and increased physical function in their knees.

A similar study was done in 2006 that focused on those who suffer arthritis in the hands. The Touch Research Institute found that massage on a regular basis eased the symptoms that flowed from that arthritis. That included less depression and anxiety; less pain; better gripping power; and in general, greater improvement.

So, what does it do?

There are really two issues with massage therapy as it relates to arthritis. The first is what it accomplishes. That is, that massage helps the arthritis sufferer by loosening up the joints. Namely, in the muscles and ligaments that break up the adhesions that slow or hinder motion. And, when gentle joint stretching is done it can actually stimulate the production of synovial fluid which acts as a cushion. This reduces inflammation and pain.

Frequency of the therapy

Just like all therapies, this requires some attention to repeating to make it most effective. Sure, the first time you go in you will get some relief. But, to get the most out of it you really need to do massage therapy on a regular basis and it is best to use a therapist with experience with OA sufferers. (The risk is that they do massage too deeply if they are not used to working with OA)

The best schedule seems to be seeing a therapist once a week for about a month and thereafter, once a month should keep you on track.

30 min 60 mins
Swedish Massage $35 $60
Deep Tissue $50 $75
Aromatherapy $45 $70
Hot Stone Massage $45 $70
TMJ Massage $40
Plantar Fasciitis $50

Available: Monday – Wednesday 8 am to 8 pm.

Call for appointments: 251-654-3414

There are some things that can never fall within the do-it-yourself category.
Try as you may to push and squeeze those tender spots from over the shoulder, it is not quite the same as having a second pair of hand to do the kneading.
If you’re looking for a professional massage therapist, you’ve come to the right place.

I am trained in a variety of modalities. I like to combine these various techniques in every massage to give each person exactly what they need.

Also, if you’d like to request an appointment with me, just leave a message on this page. I will call you back to set up your appointment, and also answer any questions you might have.

Thanks for visiting, and have blessed day.

» Swedish Massage
» Deep Tissue Massage
» On-Site Chair Massage
» Aromatherapy
» TMJ Massage
» Hot Stone Massage

Swedish Massage is a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork. It combines oils or lotion with an array of strokes such as rolling, kneading, and percussion to help the body improve its circulation. The benefits of this type of bodywork are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, improved appearance, and greater flexibility.

Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body. Deep Tissue Massage is a highly effective method for releasing chronic stress areas due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries. Due to the nature of the deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to make sure you don’t get too uncomfortable. Keep in mind that soreness is pretty common after the treatment, and that plenty of water should be ingested to aid with the flushing and removal of toxins that will have been released from the deep tissue during the session.

On-Site Chair Massage for Businesses or Special Events
Chair or "Seated" massage makes use of a special, comfortable massage chair that the fully clothed client is seated in and receives treatment on the back, neck, arms, and hands. The chair massage helps to release stress, muscle tension, and pain, while increasing circulation. It is very helpful for employees who sit for long hours and/or use computers in preventing serious conditions such as carpel tunnel syndrome, rounded shoulder/head forward postural problems, and other work-related conditions. It can be done at location of employment, at special events, and in our massage studio. Corporate accounts are available.

Aromatherapy is an ancient practice of using essential oil to heal by stimulating the olfactory senses, mental responses, circulatory and respiratory functions. It is one of the fastest growing forms of the healing arts in this country. It employs highly concentrated essential oils extracted from herbs and flowers that contain hormones, vitamins, antibiotics and antiseptics. Applied to the skin during a massage or through inhalation, the oil or combination of oils can be used for medicinal, meditative, restorative, or relaxation purposes.

TMJ massage can be a great aid in reducing or eliminating most of the pain that a TMJ patient is having. In fact, almost 90% of the pain in these patients comes from stressed muscles. The muscles are attempting to protect the jaw joint and reposition the whole jaw to avoid pain. However, because this is a constant activity, the muscle's work never ends and the muscles begin to have problems. At first, the healthy muscle goes into spasm while holding the jaw in a protected position. The muscle then becomes inflamed and tightens. TMJ massage can help a muscle that has overly tightened. A tight muscle can squeeze the arteries and veins going into and out of the muscles. Then, blood cannot get into the tight muscle so there is a buildup of waste products inside the muscle. This could cause more TMJ pain and can escalate into a vicious cycle of further tightening and pain. TMJ massage relaxes the muscles and allows nourishing blood to get into the hurting jaw muscles. This allows the healing process to begin. However, if the bad jaw joint continues to be a problem when the patient goes home, the muscle will again overwork holding the joint out of proper alignment and the muscle pain may return.

Hot stone massage is a form of massage therapy that uses specialized stones called basalt stones. These stones hold heat, helping to create a deep tissue massage to work tight, knotted muscles and release tension. Hot stone massage is relaxing and is known to have some health benefits

Call For Your Appointment Today: 251-654-3414