The Massage Geek^® Blog

Living with chronic pain is exhausting.  It gradually wears on a person until there is simply no energy left to do something about it.  We know that getting a massage or taking a vacation or even getting in for a regular check up with the doctor would be really good for us.  But do we schedule that appointment?  No.  Life is just too busy, especially if we are busy caring for children, parents, or managing a big project.  We put ourselves last on the list of caretaking duties.   We get tired, irritable, just downright unhappy.   But what if you knew that your happiness, or lack thereof, affected everyone around you?  Well, it does.  In fact, not only does it affect those around you, but also those around them, and those around them. Happiness seems to spread like a contagion and researchers repeatedly find clusters of happy and unhappy people:

Clusters of happy and unhappy people are visible in the network, and the relationship between people’s happiness extends up to three degrees of separation (for example, to the friends of one’s friends’ friends). People who are surrounded by many happy people and those who are central in the network are more likely to become happy in the future.   Fowler and Christakis, 2008

So, when you are putting yourself last on that list of people to make happy, you are actually perpetuating their unhappiness.

…clusters of happiness result from the spread of happiness and not just a tendency for people to associate with similar individuals. A friend who lives within a mile (about 1.6 km) and who becomes happy increases the probability that a person is happy by 25% (95% confidence interval 1% to 57%). Similar effects are seen in coresident spouses (8%, 0.2% to 16%), siblings who live within a mile (14%, 1% to 28%), and next door neighbours (34%, 7% to 70%). Effects are not seen between coworkers.  Fowler and Christakis, 2008

“Effects are not seen between coworkers.”  I would love to hear your thoughts about that!

Conclusions People’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected. This provides further justification for seeing happiness, like health, as a collective phenomenon.  Fowler and Christakis, 2008

So pick up the phone right now and make that appointment.   Take some days off.  Start treating yourself better and dozens of people will benefit from your good work.   Earlier this week I received the best testimonial yet.  My client said “I was singing yesterday.  I haven’t caught myself singing in – well, I don’t know how long!”   That made me happy.  Oh! See?  It works!

A client asked me lately how to get rid of those little bumps that are common on the back of the arms and thighs.   I recommend dry skin brushing just before a shower.  It exfoliates dead cells and brings blood to the skin.  A quick Google search for “dry skin brushing” uncovers a lot a sites that talk about the miraculous effects of skin brushing.  Evidently it cures everything from eczema to cancer.  <sarcasm> Amazing! Will it whiten my teeth, too? </sarcasm> Eh, unlikely.

Look for a brush with natural bristles, like this one from Yerba Prima.  The bristles are firm, yet soft enough to be comfortable.

Is it essential to stretch and be flexible? I think yes, it is. Can a person stretch too much? Yes. Here is a very interesting New York Times article about the economy of flexibility. According to them, the more flexible a runner is the lower their performance. And they are probably right.

For years I have been telling my clients to NOT stretch before an event for this very reason. Instead, I recommend they stretch AFTER an event. But the purpose is not to lengthen a muscle or stretch out tendons and ligaments. The purpose is to separate the fibers and layers of tissue to prevent adhesions. THAT kind of suppleness will serve you quite well. And I think that is why resistance stretching is so effective. The best analogy I can think of is those 3M Command adhesive strips. Pull them taut and slow, voilà! Unstuck.

Someone might say “But Lynn, if you are more flexible you can extend further and your running stride will be longer and more fluid.” I would answer “Yes. If you are STRONG at your end-range.” If your are just loose and weak, the flexibility will not improve your performance and possibly will be detrimental. Hm. I see opportunity for injury here. I surmise this weakness is why the loose feeling after a stretch does not last (as mentioned in the article). This is why resistance stretching is doubly effective. It builds strength at the end-range.

I’m starting to sound like a commercial for resistance stretching. That is not my intention. Resisted and passive stretching make good partners. Passive stretching seems to target the attachments and tendons while resisted stretching seems to target the belly of the muscle.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

“…they found that, across the board, the tightest runners were the most economical. This was true throughout the groups and within the genders. The inflexible men were more economical than the women, and for both men and women, those with the tightest hamstrings had the best running economy. They also typically had the fastest 10-kilometer race times. Probably, the researchers concluded, tighter muscles allow “for greater elastic energy storage and use” during each stride. Inflexibility, in other words, seems to make running easier.”

It’s that time of year!

We are officially in the “flu season.” There are three versions going around. 1) the regular flu with aches and congestion, 2) a version that includes just a fever and a dry cough, and 3) the H1N1 virus. I hear the H1N1 virus is particularly miserable to have.

Don’t be casual about the risk this year. Even if you don’t mind being sick, you could be the carrier that infects someone else who is at greater risk of complications. Do your part to be a dead end for the chain of contagions.

Usually the flu is just an inconvenient annoyance. But this year it is especially important to be diligent. At the least, being sick could mean lost income from missed work. Not good in this economy. At the worst, it could put someone at risk of death. You don’t need to panic, but please don’t be cavalier.

Here are my top ten suggestions to help therapists and their clients to stay healthy, including a surprise at #1:

10. Should you come in for an appointment is you are feeling sick? If you answer “Yes” to ANY of the following questions, you should stay home:
Do you have a fever of 100 degrees or more?
Do you “expel” more than once every 20 minutes? (“Expelling” means coughing, sneezing, wheezing, dripping, sniffling, etc. )
Do you have to breathe with your mouth open because of congestion?

9. That being said, you don’t need to be afraid of people with the flu. If you are around someone who is sick, the best thing you can do for them, and for yourself, is to be friendly. A smile can go a long way to boost the immune system. A fist-bump is safer than a handshake. In fact, a HUG is safer than a handshake.

8. Wash your hands. Frequently! This the THE most important thing you can do to stay well. You don’t need to use antibacterial soap. Any soap will do. Lather for 20 to 25 seconds, scrub under the nails, then rinse. But the water and soap is only half the story. The other half is DRYING your hands thoroughly. A quick wipe is not good enough. A good towel is essential, especially if you don’t have soap handy. Moisturize after washing to keep the skin soft. I prefer Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. Until you have washed you hands, do not touch your eyes, mouth, nose, or ears.

7. Keep bottles of alcohol hand sanitizer handy (like Purell). I have a bottle in my massage room and in the waiting room. My favorite brand is EO. But don’t use too much. You don’t want your hands to get dried out from the alcohol. It should only be used as a back up. Rub it all over your hand up to the wrists, between each finger, under the nails. Rub until dry.

6. Keep the vulnerable areas clean: Ears, nose, eyes, and mouth.

Where is the most vulnerable site for the virus to enter your body? It is the eyes. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR EYES. Your eyes do not have the same natural defenses that other membranes do. If your eye has an itch, use a tissue or your shirt to gently scratch the itchy spot.

What should you do after possibility of exposure?

Rinse the eyes with saline or “fake tears.” Do not use the anti-redness kind of eyewash. The hydrating kind is more expensive, and worth it.

Gargle. Use a solution of one part Listerine Antiseptic and one part hydrogen peroxide. DO NOT SWALLOW HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. Alcolol rinses should only be used on a short-term basis, not every day. Another good mouth rinse is a drop or two of grapefruit seed extract diluted in two tablespoons of water. This is also a good hand sanitizer.

Rinse your nose with a neti pot. If you really don’t like that option, just get your finger wet and swish it in your nostrils, then blow.

Wipe ears with a wet washcloth. Or, when you use a hand sanitizer on your hands, use your finger to swish a bit in each ear.

5. At the end of each day, perhaps after each visitor to your home or office, wipe hard surfaces that may have been touched. This includes door knobs, door frames, counters, desktops, wood arms on armchairs, light switches, etc.

4. Sleep. Rest. Change bed sheets regularly. Change the pillow case frequently.

3. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, use the inside of your elbow.

2. Avoid sharing objects like pens, cups, utensils, etc. If you must, clean or wipe the item before use it. Are you self-employed? This is the perfect time of year to have pens with your logo and phone number on them. After a client uses the pen, they can take it with them! Keep tissues handy to grab objects like door knobs, or use your shirt sleeve.

…and the number hint for keeping well? As I mentioned above, hand washing is THE most important thing you can do to avoid spreading germs. And mostly we do a good job of this. But there is one precaution that is completely overlooked by most people:

1. Keep moist with a humidifier. Yes, drinking water is important. But we gain and lose most of our moisture through respiration. I prefer to use a “hot steam” humidifier over one that uses a fan to evaporate the water. You want to keep the membranes moist. Any dry spots can crack and provide an entry site for viruses. If your kleenex is a little bloody after blowing your nose, you are at greater risk of infection. Moisture will also help the body to maintain its natural defense: watery phlegm. Sticky phlegm, not so good. No phlegm, worse. Watery phlegm, best. Indoor humidity should be around 40 to 50 percent. It is important to keep the humidifier clean, free from mold and bacteria.

Whew! That is a long list. The extra care is worth it.

Disclaimer: This is an original work written on 10/15/09 by Lynn K. Patricia. I am not a doctor, nor a nurse. I am a massage therapist. These suggestions are not informed by scientific expertise. They are the result of my personal experience. Don’t take my word for it. Use your experience to confirm or deny the ideas for yourself. Feel free to share this list with others. Please include my name as the source.

… and here are some extra hints just for my friends. I have had great success with a product called “Esberitox.” It is an herbal remedy that I get at The Wedge. It has Echinacea, etc. to boost the immune system. I start taking it at the first sniffle or tickle. It helps a lot! Check with your doctor before using. I am not a doctor. Also, I have found Kombucha beverages to be very effective in loosening phlegm and lessening congestion. You can find them in the beverage case at a natural foods stores. They come in many delicious flavors.

Thanks for listening.

Jessica wrote:

“Hi, I have been practicing massage therapy for 3 years. I love it. However, I am torn about what CE’s to take. I have an opportunity to learn Lypossage. What do you think?”

Hi, Jessica.

Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to write.

I also have struggled over which CE’s to invest my hard-earned money in, not to mention time. Ultimately I believe that my money is best spent on things that excite me. In other words, if I half-heartedly participate in something, I won’t succeed at it.

I had never heard of Lypossage before, so I browsed the internet to learn about it. I have to say that I am not very impressed. It seems like more of a gimmick than a true therapy. It is not something that I would be interested in. But you should decide for yourself whether it is something that you can do with passion and enthusiasm. In the right hands, Lypossage might be therapeutic. I personally am drawn to techniques that help me focus on specific muscles, like stretching or structural integration.

There are days at work when I literally fall to my knees and say a prayer of “thanks” to whatever forces guided me into this profession. I have requested to have this same job in my next life. Even if I have to have the exact same struggles and problems that I had in this life. If they are required to get me to this spot, then bring it on! It was all worth it.

One colleague of mine is very passionate about pregnancy massage, another is very excited by doing energy work with clients, and so on. What excites you? What would make you spontaneously fall to your knees because you are grateful to be so privileged?

Lynn Patricia
The Massage Geek

Here is a video about the history of chair massage. It is surprisingly fascinating!

Thanks to Mark at www.chairmassagecanada.com.

Mark also alerted me to this little tidbit:

FEASABILITY STUDY
The effect of chair massage on stress perception of hospital bedside nurses

Conclusion?
Incorporating chair massage into a nurse’s hospital shift is feasible and a 10 min session reduces the stress perception of the nurse more so than the standard “coffee break”.

Read more about the study here.
See Mark’s blog here.

It is that time of year again in Minnesota when the air becomes crisp and the humidity drops.  That means it is the beginning of the season of cracked skin on our heels, thumbs, and fingers.

As a massage therapist I am vigilant about keeping my hands moisturized and soft.  Which can be difficult since I have to wash my hands frequently.

Here is what I have learned about preventing cracked skin around the fingernails and heels:

Find a good hand lotion and keep using it.  It will keep the skin from getting dried out and hard.  I like  Neutrogena Norwegian Formula creams.  A little goes a long way.

But, once the skin is already dry and starting to harden, the best thing to do is file the skin down.  For example, on the heel you will start to see dry flakes forming in lines on the edge of the sole.  But it is not the dryness of the skin that will actually make it crack open into those painful, bleeding cracks.  That is the result of the hardness of the skin.  Use a file to file down the flakes and any hard skin.  Once you get down to soft skin you can moisturize again.  Use a fingernail file for the skin around the fingernails.  For the feet you will need a special foot file.

DO NOT file wet or damp skin.  Make sure you skin is free from lotion, water, or oil before you file.  Otherwise you will end up filing away good, healthy skin.  The filing should not hurt.  If it does hurt, then you have filed too deeply.

If your heel is already cracked open and bleeding or red, do your best to file down the hard edges on either side.  Then apply an antibiotic ointment, if it is safe for you to do so.  Ask your doctor if necessary.

I have tried MANY over-the-counter creams and lotions that promise soft feet or say that they will prevent or even heal cracked heels.  NONE of them have worked.

This type of cracking around the nails and heels is different from the cracking that occurs in the soft skin in creases between the fingers or between the toes.  I have never had that kind of cracking, so I don’t have any wisdom or experience to pass on in regards to it.  I would guess that is more likely caused by bacteria and excess moisture and would suggest a routine of washing hands thoroughly and then drying hands thoroughly.  I have heard good reports about a cream called “Look No X E Ma” from Four Elements.

I am now officially certified as a Resistance Stretching Trainer, the first in Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Yea!

I’ve been practicing on clients and I attended a weekend training in Chicago with Anne Tierney and Steve Sierra.  They are both excellent instructors and they had several assistants with them as well.  So each student had a lot of one-on-one feedback.  I felt great after a weekend of working out with them.

I have been able to apply the method with great success.  It is very easy to incorporate it into a massage session.  I still would like to have one more practice client….

A few weeks ago I realized that a lot of my clients are fellow massage therapists. In one week I worked on 4 massage therapists, one shiatsu therapist, an acupuncturist, and a retired family physician. I’ll take it as a compliment that other healers like my work and are willing to pay for something from me that they could probably trade for with someone else.

One massage therapist said:

“You are a massage god! You should be famous. I would bet all my money that you are the best massage therapist ever.”

Wow. Am I the best massage therapist EVER?? Well, probably not:

• A, I wouldn’t know because I can’t experience my own work. I can only depend on feedback I get from my clients.
• and B, I know that I am good at what I do. But what I do is not good for every body. Most people really like my work. Some do not.

Here is what makes my massage different from other therapists:

• I have advanced training in Anatomy and Kinesiology.
• I have very good palpation skills (finding things by touch)
• I have high mechanical aptitude
• I have artistic sensibilities

This means that I can quickly identify problem areas based on description of activities. I can find just the right spot that is causing the discomfort and focus on releasing the knot without overworking the areas around it.  All that combined with graceful strokes that make it feel complete and nurturing, not abusive.

I use my mechanical reasoning to move limbs and joints into just the right position that allows me to access the knot. I can work very deeply in areas that other therapists can’t reach or even find. Most of the time I work with my eyes closed. I become so intimately in touch with the muscles that when I open my eyes I am surprised to see the skin over the muscles.

You should come to see me if you:

• have old injuries that have been bothering you for years.
• have chronic headaches
• have an unexplained pain that doctors suggest is all in your head
• are completely dissatisfied with other therapists who just don’t work deep enough and keep missing the good spots
• depend on a strong and efficient body for your livelihood (musician, dancer, athlete, performer)

One thing that I really love about my job is being able to validate people’s pain. I can say “Yes. Your head hurts because you have a big knot here in your left shoulder.” Many people with chronic pain are made to think that there is no explanation for the pain and that it is all in their head. But when I work on them I can exactly touch the spot that hurts. I can feel it, measure it, describe it, predict a referral pattern, and trace the boundaries of it. I wouldn’t be able to do that if it were all in their head. You can imagine how relieved they are when another person can validate the pain and identify the source.

By touching a body, we touch every event it has experienced. For a few brief moments we hold all of a client’s stories in our hands. We witness someone’s experience of their own flesh, through some of the most powerful means possible: the contact of our hands, the acceptance of the body without judgment, and the occasional listening ear. With these gestures we reach across the isolation of the human experience and hold another person’s legend. In massage therapy, we show up and ask, in so many ways, what it is like to be another human being. In doing so, we build a bridge that may heal us both.

Tracy Walton,
“The Health History of a Human Being,”
Massage Theray Journal, Winter 1999