Massage therapy rubs out life's tension

By Brian Attebery

Published: July 8, 2008

The amazing thing about total fitness, or wellness as it is called, is it can encompass many health components. Strength, stamina, flexibility, cardiovascular health, injury prevention, mental health and even spiritual health come into play for total wellness. In my business, I often find situations in which fitness combined with rehabilitation is part of many American's daily goals with their wellness program. One of the tools I recommend to help my clients be more efficient is a licensed massage therapist.

The professionalism of massage therapy in the U.S. began in 1943 when the graduating class of the College of Swedish Massage in Chicago formed an association with 29 charter members. What they created was destined to become the American Massage Therapy Association. The organization has been successful in establishing standards that are incorporated in many state licensing laws.

Cindy Kuhrt, registered massage therapist with Healing Hands Therapy, said 58 programs are accredited by the massage organization. She says it is important to find out about your therapist's education. The group requires at least 500 hours of classroom instruction in massage therapy, technique training, anatomy, physiology, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

People generally seek out a massage therapist for relaxation, but there are many more reasons to hire a massage therapist than simple relaxation. There are many forms of massage, but here are some general benefits the American Massage Therapy Association says massage can do for you:

•Blood circulation.

•Movement of lymphatic fluid.

•Release of toxins.

•Release of tension.

Consequently there are many conditions or areas that massage can help in.

•Spinal pain.

•Pain control.

•Lymphedema.

•Inflammatory bowel disease.

•Therapeutic touch.

•Wound healing.

•Reflexology.

•Premenstrual syndrome.

The use of massage therapy is broad-based, much like exercise in a sense. I recommend different therapists to work on my clients based on their specialties. Usually, when I recommend massage it is more for rehab. One of the most common trends that I see in my clients is tightness, primarily in the trapezius muscle between the shoulder blades, all the way to the base of the skull. We recognize this tightness as neck pain.

Most people carry around that stress. The problem is that they have a hard time releasing it because of life — computers, driving and reading. We tend to croon our necks forward and round our shoulders. Doctors sometimes will call this condition "head forward posture.”

My job as a trainer many times centers on raising people's awareness to this tendency and making a conscious effort to strengthen the muscles between the shoulder blades to help them pull their shoulders back better and deliver better posture. The problem can sometimes be compounded with muscles in the front of the shoulders and chest that have tightened and consequently shortened in response to bad habits and posture. I recommend stretching the front of the shoulder and chest muscles, while we strengthen the back of the shoulders and upper middle back known collectively as the sub-scapular region. Many times, strengthening and stretching are not enough.

Kuhrt says she can relieve tension in those muscles and open up the myofascia, a protective covering that surrounds the muscles.

It can sometimes become too tight, making movement limited. She says low-back problems represent the highest percentage of difficulties for her clients and are among her greatest challenges.

Patients usually benefit from techniques that release the hamstring and muscles of the hips, which have a direct effect on the lower back. "People just do not realize how much tension they carry in the muscles, leading to impaired range of motion,” Kuhrt says.

If you have been working out for a while, or even if you have just started, I would recommend investing in a qualified massage therapist. I have seen many benefits for myself and my clients. It can be part of a complete wellness plan.

Brian Attebery is a degreed and certified trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center in Edmond. Web site: www.resultsfitnessusa.com.

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