Sonia Bancroft, LMT LLC

We are making much-needed strides in researching women’s health.
I will take this new finding into my practice and utilize it!

Fact: women experience pain longer than men. Even when the two sustain identical injuries, a woman’s pain is more likely to linger.

Usually, this is brushed off as women being “more dramatic.” But research is flipping that assumption on its head, showing that men’s immune systems appear to have a built-in mechanism that helps shut off pain signals, likely influenced by higher levels of testosterone.

In the study published in the journal Science Immunology, 245 people who had experienced traumatic injuries (primarily car accidents) rated their pain over the course of three months. While men and women reported similar pain levels on day one, men’s pain resolved faster.

Blood tests revealed that men had higher levels of interleukin-10, a molecule that helps switch off pain signals to the brain. What influences this molecule is testosterone. Men simply have more of it than women.

The silver lining? This could help the development of new treatments for chronic pain in women, including therapies that target this immune response and employ testosterone-based interventions.

Most relaxing 90 minutes of my life . . Based on true events. We got massages on our mother son trip and I woke myself up several times snoring 🫣 I wasn’t sure if I should say anything or play it cool like she didn’t notice sooo I didn’t say anything 😂 I’m sure they’re used to it 😬 . . . #momsofinstagram #momof4 #momlife #tiredmom #toddlermom #momcomedy #momprobs #comedyskit | mom memes

This feels more momentous than it actually is, but let’s celebrate any win!

If I ask if he wants a massage any other time, the answer is no. But when I’m cleaning my room, he loves to hop on the table and get his!

I had the privilege to take a continuing education class at Got Your Back in Conshohoken over the weekend. It really filled my cup to spend time with and learn from others who are so passionate about massage. The good local food and break from being a mom were nice as well 😅

Massage is no longer just about helping those in pain, but about overall wellness, both physically AND emotionally!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PUBLISHES LARGEST STUDY EVER ON MASSAGE THERAPY USE

July 2024

"Many people receive massage therapy and for many reasons. But according to a new study – the largest and most comprehensive ever conducted on the subject – the prevalence of visits to massage therapists is higher than one might have imagined and the reasons may be surprising."

“What our study shows is that it’s probably not helpful any longer to label massage as an ‘alternative’ therapy, with all of the marginality that the term conveys.”

“Licensed massage therapists ought to be respected as mainstream practitioners, whose profession provides a therapeutic approach not just to address pain and functional challenges but to foster wellness and overall well-being, physical and emotional.

Everyone can benefit from working with a skilled massage therapist. They’re the hidden gems in the healthcare system.” - Jeff Levin, Ph.D., M.P.H., University Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health. (Robert Rogers/Baylor University)

Study Link: Journal of Science & Healing
Prevalence & Determinants of Massage Therapy Use in the US
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550830724000958

In my years doing massage and working for a chiropractor, my experience shows that chiropractic adjustments are the first step. Then, we can address the muscles involved.

I have great suggestions for all of these, so feel free to ask away. Sitting ergonomics is especially important for anyone who works at a computer. Your chair, desk, computer, keyboard, and mouse all need to come into consideration.