The Lymphatic System is one of the most overlooked systems in the body, despite the fact it plays a central role in your overall health. Keeping your Lymphatic System in top shape is an important aspect in maintaining a healthy life.

The Lymphatic System is a network of vessels that runs through your entire body. Lymph nodes are strategically located throughout the system for optimal performance, and are clustered in areas like the underarms, lower abdomen and neck.

Be Aware!! Cancer loves an acidic environment. It can’t survive in an alkaline one. Your Immune System is the most important in the fight against this disease, so a healthy Lymphatic System is essential.

But back to talking about your body’s amazing filtration system!

In a nut shell, the bloodstream acts as the cell environment and ideally the lymphatic system prevents much debris from getting in the way and slowly drowning and poisoning the tissue.

Once enough of the tissues become acidic then the vital organs gradually begin to lose their ability to maintain optimal blood, and this is just the environment in which cancer thrives. This is your body`s amazing filtration system!

Aquarium enthusiasts know that without a filter to constantly renew the quality of the water for the fish, the fish would die swimming in their own acidic, toxic excrement.

Now think about many trillions of cells packed tight and close together and every single one of them requiring groceries and waste management services. That presents quite a demand that only approximately 90,000 miles of blood capillaries and an estimated 180,000 to 300,000 miles of lymphatic vessels can fulfill!

To our many trillions of cells this is the equivalent comparable to fishes in a fish tank with the most amazing filtration system conceivable. This is simple, basic “groceries and waste management services” for the cells.

What does the Lymphatic System do?

Your Lymphatic System performs the vital function of cleansing the fluid that surrounds the cells in your body by removing impurities and waste products. This process not only protects your body from toxins, but also allows cells in the body to function at their best.

So how does our Lymphatic Fluid move?

Mainly through our normal daily movements, and especially during exercise… the more vigorous, the better.

Now, having said that, I have treated girls who were Physical Training Instructors in the services who displayed swollen Lymph Nodes and no one could be doing more exercise than them. So how come?

This is my take on it. Imagine hosing out a drain. The water runs free for a time until a stick or something gets caught along the way. Soon, a bit of grass, maybe, gets hung up on the stick and before long a leaf or two does the same. As more and more builds up on the stick, we notice the water is backing up behind the debris and the drains effectiveness is compromised. This is what happens with your Lymphatic System.

What happens when the Lymphatic System can’t function properly?

An unhealthy Lymphatic System can have a serious impact on your health. Poor lymph function is associated with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, aches and pains, bloating and poor digestion. Studies have shown that an unhealthy lymph system can contribute to cellulite, fat deposits and obesity as well.

How can you keep your Lymphatic System healthy?

Drink plenty of water. The Lymphatic System depends on a constant supply of fluid, so it’s very important to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep it functioning at its best. Purified or filtered water is the best choice.

Choose healthy foods. Preservatives, artificial sweeteners, refined grains, excess sugar, chemicals and processed foods all put strain on the Lymphatic System. Choose foods that are organic, whole and natural as much as possible.

Eat your fruits and veggies. Fruits and vegetables supply the Lymphatic System with important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients. The chlorophyll in green vegetables is especially beneficial to the Lymphatic System.

Get your essential fatty acids. Healthy fats are necessary for the proper function of the Lymphatic System. Good sources of essential fatty acids include pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds and avocados.

Stay active. When your muscles move, they essentially massage the Lymphatic System and promote the flow of fluid through your lymph vessels. Regular exercise like stretching, yoga, daily walks and strength training are all great ways to keep those lymph juices flowing.

Practice deep breathing. Like exercise, deep breathing promotes the movement of fluid through the Lymphatic System while providing it with fresh oxygen.

One of the exercise methods recommended for improving Lymphatic function is rebounding… or bouncing gently on a small in-home trampoline (called a rebounder). Since our Lymphatic Fluid circulates upward via a network of vessels, through one-way valves, this bouncing action helps push our Lymphatic Fluid up through these tubes and throughout our bodies. The more it circulates, the healthier it can keep us.

Of course, we’ll also benefit from the cardiovascular workout, but the Lymphatic function is just as critical. Without proper circulation through the system and into our detoxifying organs, poisons just sit there.

That’s why, when an older person breaks a hip and is bedridden, other problems often arise. It’s not the broken bone… it’s the inactivity that follows. Even the modest movements of independent living (walking, sitting down then standing up) are far superior to extended bed confinement.

Do you need a Manual Lymphatic Drainage?

Maybe you do if:

There is stress in your life…
If you are dark under the eyes…
If you aren’t getting enough greens in your diet…
If you aren’t getting enough sleep…
If you feel as if you have already done a days work when you wake up…
You tend to be short or snappy with people…

Give the nod to half of the above then the answer is most definitely “Yes!”

A Manual Lymphatic Drainage is especially supportive of the Lymphatic System and removes the toxins that have accumulated in your body making you lethargic and run down. (A general Swedish or Remedial massage will reveal the extent your Lymph Nodes are swollen). However… be sure to wear loose fitting underwear because you don’t need anything acting as a tourniquet and restricting fluid movement.

If you’ve already had a Lymphatic Drainage, you’ll know how good you feel afterwards. Sometimes there can be side effects, but this is relevant to the amounts of toxins that were removed from your body and how it is performed.

One of the best preventative measures for back pain is to exercise regularly and keep your back and abdominal muscles strong.

Here’s a few pointers:

• Always stretch before any strenuous physical activity.  In fact it’s a good idea to engage in a regular stretching program like active isolated stretching every day.

• Don’t slouch when standing or sitting.

• Be sure you sit with good lumbar support.

• Switch sitting positions often and periodically walk around or gently stretch muscles to relieve tension.

• Don’t bend over without supporting your back

• Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.  Sorry ladies… no I’m not!

• Reduce any curve in your spine while sleeping, and always sleep on a firm surface.  Get a good mattress.  Think about what you spent on your car and how much time you are in it each day.  Now, when you consider that you spend around a third of your life on your mattress, it should be a good one… a really good one.

• Lift with your legs, keeping your back straight.

• Control your weight.

• If you smoke, give it up!  Smoking reduces blood flow to the lower spine and causes the spinal discs to degenerate.  It won’t worry the government.  They’ll find other ways to tax you.

Also, to keep your spine strong.   As with all bones, you need to get enough Vitamin D every day.

So what causes Back Pain?

Naturally, accidents and sports injuries can be the cause of the pain, but a number of other factors can contribute to back pain, including:

• Poor posture..

• Obesity..

• Poor physical conditioning like lack of exercise..

• Psychological or emotional stress..

• Internal disorders such as kidney stones, infections and blood clots..

• Osteoporosis (bone loss)..

Pain in the Back? Let’s look to the Front!

What a lot of  people fail to realise is that many times, the pain can actually originate from the opposite side of where it hurts.

Sitting for long periods can shorten the Iliopsoas muscles that connect from your lumbar region to the top of your Femur (just under the Greater Trochanter… the ball joint), at the front.)

When these muscles are shortened, it can cause severe pain when you stand up as they will effectively pull your lower back (lumbar) forward.  Many people end up going through drastic medical procedures to “fix” this type of pain, or end up taking big mobs pain killers for extended periods of time, when in fact it can be easily remedied by massaging the Iliopsoas muscle to affect a release.

This type of massage should ONLY be done by a qualified massage therapist.  Why?   Because your Vena Cava… a large thick vein is nearby.  This massage technique is a deep one, but should be done gently.   If you are talking to a therapist about back pain, ask first if he or she is familiar with a Psoas Release. (Pronounced ’so-as’)

You can also use mild stretching to counteract the shortening of your Iliopsoas, especially if you sit for long periods of time every day.

Likewise, having firm abdominal muscles not only holds your gut in, they also stabilise your spine, vertebrae and discs.  Many people completely eliminate their back pain simply by developing stronger abdominal muscles.  Some even wind up with a bonus six pack!

If Back Pain is a problem to you… consider natural, drug free, non-surgical remedies for this common problem.  Make a call today… arrange an appointment and experience the many benefits that Remedial Massage has to offer.

It’s a time of joy, because giving birth to new creation blesses most women with an immense sense of purpose and fulfillment.  To me, the birth of a child is another miracle of God.  Nevertheless, while most women enjoy the bright side of being pregnant, mere men must acknowledge that every pregnant woman goes through her share of discomfort and anxiety, and being pregnant is possibly the most stressful time she will ever have.

The changes alone in a woman’s body are enormous.

A woman who has been pregnant previously would know just how hard it can be.  The first few weeks or months entails morning sickness and confusion.  During the forty weeks before the birth, she will have endured periods of back pain, neck pain, nausea, varicose veins, swelling of the feet and legs, anxiety, fatigue, forgetfulness and constant lethargy.  Her blood circulation is reduced and general movement is likely to be limited.

From a males point of view, all this is not much to look forward to.   However, the mums I know reckon it’s worth every second!

There are so many things ladies  give up during their pregnancy because their baby’s well-being is the centre of their focus.   Prenatal Massage helps a woman through what can be a both interesting and difficult time.  During this time, women rightly deserves to be indulged and comforted often (remember this, men), and Prenatal Massage will fit the bill for her.

Prenatal Massage soothes and relaxes the pregnant woman’s sore, overburdened and aching muscles.   The baby in the woman’s womb also benefits much in Prenatal Massage.  It improves health and well-being.  Prenatal Massage is said to promote a healthier and more comfortable environment for the unborn inside its mother’s body.

Does Prenatal Massage help?

Like any massage, Prenatal Massage loosens and relaxes the pregnant woman’s muscles while improving the blood circulation in her body.  Most importantly, Prenatal Massage helps to increase the flexibility of the pregnant woman’s body making her labor and subsequent delivery easier and less painful for her.

Some ladies can easily lie in their tummy up to the four month stage with no discomfort but after that, she is more comfortable in a special massage chair.
Some women even ask for their massage therapist to be present while they are in labor.  It is proven that mothers who have undergone Prenatal Massage during their pregnancy and in labor have an easier time of the birth.  Massage stimulates the body to release endorphins, which are natural pain-killers.

Benefits of Pre-natal Massage.

• Eases backaches, headaches, shoulder and neck aches that may be caused by muscle tension and shifts in posture to accommodate increasing weight.

• Helps reduce swelling in such places as hands and lower legs.

• Decreases pain in the pelvic/hip area.

• Increases blood circulation which provides more oxygen and nutrients to both mother and fetus and stimulates the lymph system, thereby increasing immunity and removal of toxins.

• Soothes and relaxes the nervous system by releasing endorphins into the mother’s body.  As a result, the expectant mother feels more relaxed and at-ease and will also sleep more easily and more deeply.

• Improves  and aids digestion.

• Reduces fatigue.

• Improves skin elasticity that can help reduce stretch marks.

• Can alleviate the stress on weight-bearing joints, like the knees, which take the extra weight of a growing baby.

• Promotes relaxation and deep breathing.

• Stabilises hormonal levels and helps relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes.

• Eases the load on the heart and helps keep the blood pressure in check

• Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues

• Prepares the mother-to-be for an easier delivery with its sedating effect on the nervous system, promoting relaxation and stress relief.

• Offers a natural, safe, drug-free alternative choice for pain relief because taking medications are often limited during a pregnancy for the risk to the unborn child.

Pre-natal massage may not be recommended to expectant mothers with high blood pressure or diabetes.

All expectant mothers should check with their midwife or obstetrician prior to getting a massage.

It is important to share information about your condition and your preferences with your pregnancy massage therapist so that he can a render a massage suitable to your personal needs.

During labor, massage brings you closer to the midwife or whoever is caring for you.  Just being touched by someone who wants to help you can be very empowering when you’re coping with contractions and are perhaps tired and anxious.

In advanced labor, your husband can use the heel of his hand to massage firmly over the base of your spine. He will need to apply quite a lot of pressure to counteract any strong contractions. He can also use his thumbs to make circles over the dimples in your bum, but you need to tell him what feels best.

Don’t forget the Feet.

It’s also important to know if your therapist is aware of certain trigger points that are to be avoided.

There are women who say that they can’t tolerate having their feet touched, but enjoy a firm, rhythmical foot massage. The massage does need to be firm, using the flat of the hands rather than the fingers or thumbs.

Prenatal Massage is not suited to all expectant mothers.  Some may benefit from it, while others will not… in fact there are those who should refrain.  It is therefore important for a pregnant woman to ask her midwife or obstetrician if she can have Prenatal Massage and if it is going to be safe for her.

After the birth, massage is also helpful.  The massage is supposed to bring back balance back into the woman’s body, which has been through literal turmoil.  As well as helping the mother through possible depression afterwards, it helps improve the skins resilience, which has been stretched by pregnancy.

This brings back her muscle tone and helps get rid of her ‘mummy tummy’.

Trigger points are areas in a muscle that are sore and react to direct pressure, and are there to tell us that all is not well in that area.

There are two types of trigger points that include Active Trigger Points that cause muscular pain and cause “referred pain” to another area of the body when pressure is applied to them.

Then there are Latent Trigger Points that only hurt when pressure is applied.  They don’t refer pain to other areas.

Trigger Points are are also referred to as knots in the muscle and are quite common in people who lead active lives.

Trigger Points and Acupressure Points are different.

Acupressure points are blockages of the body’s energy pathways.

Trigger points are physical and an experienced therapist can feel them.

Western medicine is only beginning to understand the effects of active points stimulation.  It’s believed that stimulation of active points leads to an increase in the release of Endorphin, a natural body painkiller and muscle relaxant.

It’s possible that pain caused by Trigger Point activity may be the biggest cause of lost time in the workplace.

What do we do with them?
Trigger Point Therapy is a technique where a therapist uses direct pressure to sore muscle tissue to relieve pain in the body.  Massage and Trigger Point therapy are often performed together.

The purpose of trigger point therapy is to eliminate pain which enables us to get the muscles back to where they are supposed to be without it hurting so much.
Therapist locate and deactivate them using direct finger pressure.

Generally, muscles don’t like being moved to where they are supposed to be when they were content to be some place else.  When worked on, they probably will let you know it for a day or two, and if it took a while for the muscle into that fatigued condition, it will likely take more than one massage to make it behave.

However, when the pain is reduced, your range of motion will be enhanced, tensions eased, and your circulatory system cops a boost as well.

If you’re experiencing muscular aches and pains, call today and arrange an appointment for a Remedial Massage.  We’ll have you feeling better in no time.

If you’ve been trying to find the best massage tool to relieve your tired body of its aches, pains and stress… forget it… give it a miss.

All of those different massage balls, electric massager chairs and other hand held tools that claim to make you feel good  are absolutely nothing in comparison to a good old fashioned “hands on” massage where a therapist can feel your muscles and know what to do with them.

People think these massage gadgets, which can include exotic chairs worth thousands of dollars are great, but they can never match the motions and feelings that you will receive if you are getting a “hands on” massage from a qualified and experienced therapist.

Put simply, there is no tool or machine that can do what a human hand can do on your body during a real massage.

Another great reason why you should get a “hands on” massage instead of the current massage tool that you are using is because a proper massage can get all of those places that relax you instead of just giving you a bit of a rattle.

It’s possible to use your home massager and find a spot that allows your muscle to feel nice and relaxed.  It may work for a little while, but eventually you realise that the tool is really not really doing much for you at all.

Massage involves various pressures and a variety of techniques such as kneading, effleurage, cupping, hacking and stroking… and you won’t find a chair that can do all that.

A “hands on” massage from a skilled therapist will have lasting effects and you will feel the results for days.

A massage conducted by a qualified and experienced massage therapist will be able to loosen you up in ways you could never imagine.

Experienced therapists know all of the tender, “ooh-aah” spots on your body… places you probably didn’t know know existed.  Do yourself a favor and arrange  a real massage today.

Bursitis of the hip causes heaps of pain in the region.  A Bursa is a sac of Synovial Fluid that acts to reduce friction between surfaces, and this is where the problems originate.  The amount of fluid in the bursa increases and thickens, restricting movement and causing masses of inflammation.

The major bursae are found around and near the large joints including the shoulders and hips as well as the elbows and the knees.  An inflamed bursa is known as “Bursitis.”
Bursitis is not a young person’s problem and it is more common in women. Anti-inflammatory medication may… ease the pain, but this doesn’t treat the cause.

So what’s going on?
Around the hip, there are several bursae that will cause stiffness and pain around the hip joint, groin as well as in and around the Glutes.

The Trochanteric Bursa is located on the side of the hip.  It’s usually the one to become inflamed and is separated from the actual hip joint by tissue matter and bone.   Once it becomes inflamed, it’s the cause of pain around the bony projection on the side of the hip.  This is the one that will give you the most grief.

As well as local pain in this region, Trochanteric Bursitis will be the cause of pain down the outer thigh along the Iliotibial Band (aka ITB), the bum, and even into the groin.

The Ischial Bursa is located in the Gluteal region or the bum.   It can cause dull pain in this area that is most noticeable ascending stairs.  Pain often appears after sitting on hard surfaces for a while.

Another Bursa found in the hip is the Iliopsoas Bursa.  This Bursa will cause pain to the thigh and groin areas as well.

Symptoms of Trochanteric Bursitis.

Trochanteric Bursitis and causes extreme tenderness on the outer hip.  The pain will make it difficult to sleep on the affected side.

There will also be a burning painful sensation on the outer part of the thigh and into the groin.

Walking and going up stairs will tend to exacerbate the condition as will trying to perform squats.  The area will suddenly go weak also.

Sitting cross legged is difficult and applying pressure to the Trochanteric Bursa causes pain.

Hip Bursitis is sometimes referred to as Frozen Hip, and is is a condition that sneaks up on you over a period of time.  You’ll notice, for instance, that as you walk, you’ve begun to feel a slight pain in the hip.  This pain will get worse over time.  It can be the result of an injury like a fall, so a long time ago you probably don’t even remember it.

The stiffness in the region is an overreaction of the hip joint to counteract the inflammation.  Once established, this inflammation spreads into other soft-tissues and causes swelling in other bursae.

Cortisone injections are often tried.  It is usual to have up to four injections.  These may give brief periods of pain relief, but mostly, they seem to give only a few days or weeks of symbolic respite.  Cortisone, which is a steroid, is a crystalline substance and is injected into the joint capsule.  The best remedy for Hip Bursitis is Drug Free!

A massage based treatment works.

The body and the brain is tricked into healing itself by addressing the two main components of the problem … pain and stiffness. Initially the aim is to significantly reduce the pain by treating the swelling around various  tendons.

Following this, the technique moves on to rapidly ‘thaw’ and improve the range of  motion by stimulating a unique sequence of reflexes hidden within the muscles.  One reflex is triggered against another in sequence and the hip is not forced.  Instead it’s kept still whilst applying the pressure.

Patients treated in this massage based technique will notice a definite improvement with each treatment session.  These should be twice a week for twenty to thirty minutes a session and complete relief should be within twelve weeks.

Hip Bursitis can be overcome without drugs or surgery.

They provide support when we are standing, which can be a big ask if one is overweight or has been standing still for extended periods.  Walking or running, the first to feel the impact of the contact between the ground and our bodies… are our feet.

Ladies are prone to stressing out their feet more because of the fashionable but questionable desire to wear high heels.

Your feet are the most used, abused, re-used and most neglected parts of our bodies.

Although the machines that massage feet are becoming popular, there is no replacement for the real deal, and what the genuine human touch of a persons hands can achieve.

We keep our feet confined in shoes and socks or stockings for most of the day.  No wonder our feet hurt so much at the end of the day, but a good foot massage can be an exhilarating experience.

Practitioners of alternative medicine say that the nerve endings on the foot correspond to a specific organ of the body, and so massaging certain areas of the foot is like massaging that particular organ to which it is linked.

Be kind to someone close to you and give them the gift of a foot massage.

And men…  Pay attention and you’ll reap rewards!

If you send your wife for a foot massage…  you get her to pay attention to how it’s done and she can do it for  you.

It’s just a thought… but you never know.

Best of luck!

If you’re reading this, chances are you are in pain and have probably already seen a doctor or therapist who hasn’t helped you much. You’ve probably even had injections… even surgery with little or no improvement!

There is currently no evidence that conventional treatments including anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections, physiotherapy and even surgery reduce the duration of this condition.

In a nutshell, a Frozen Shoulder is a condition that causes intense pain and stiffness of the shoulder and has the medical profession stumped.  There’s lots of theories about the cause and pain killers are prescribed by the bucket load, but from my experience, nothing works.  If there was a medicinal cure for Frozen Shoulders, the chemist shops would have walls covered with the stuff.

Some doctors say “Leave a Frozen Shoulder alone for 18 months or so and it will get better on its own”. I’ve heard of others saying “You have what’s called a Frozen Shoulder.  Get used to it, because you’ll have it for two years.”

It will eventually get better on it’s own… but never completely.  In reality, a Frozen Shoulder will take a bit longer than that to heal itself.

X-rays can’t reveal the cause of shoulder stiffness in most cases of primary adhesive capsulitis, and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) shows soft tissue and may be used in cases in which another disorder is suspected, such as a torn Rotator Cuff.   So when nothing shows up, it’s frustrating to be told there’s nothing wrong with your shoulder when it’s really hurting like blazes.

At this point, let me say that I was sent for a MRI when I had the condition.  I listened to the technicians discussing their findings and heard the boss say “Write your report and say muscles appear to be normal, and leave it at that.”

The technician then went on to say he did find a thickening in the Synovial Fluid around the Gleno-Humeral Joint.
The response?  An off-handed  “So what?”

That told me everything I needed to hear… that’s what.  I was then sure of what I was dealing with!

Signs and symptoms of Frozen Shoulder.

The pain of a Frozen Shoulder can be horrendous. Ask a sufferer what the pain would be on a scale between 1 and 10 and you’ll often hear 20.

The major symptoms of Frozen Shoulder are:

• Pain and loss of motion:

• Night pain and especially when trying to lay on the affected side.

• Severe sharp catching pain at the front of the shoulder when you inadvertently extend the arm and lasting up to a minute or so. (You have to protectively hold the shoulder tightly.)

• Pain reaching for the hip pocket, (not necessarily a bad thing if it’s your shout), putting on or taking off a coat, brushing the hair and inability to do up a bra.

• Pain down the outer upper side of the arm.

• Inability to drive.

• Swelling of tendons causes severe limitation in movement, especially reaching up behind the back.

Immobility / Stiffness

This is the key diagnosis of a Frozen Shoulder. You can’t move the arm and neither can anyone else if they attempt to lift the arm for you. If they do try, it’s very painful and you want to kill them for their effort.

From when you first notice the pain, the shoulder becomes stiff or stuck for a period that could be between 48 hours to a month and it’s all downhill from there. If your shoulder is not ‘stuck’ you may not have a true Frozen Shoulder. Many people are forced to give up work as a result of the pain and stiffness that commonly persist for many years.

The inability to work and the constant pain and stiffness can have a considerable impact on you psychologically as well as financially, and you can become extremely depressed and anxious as a result.

Frozen Shoulder Facts:

• 2-5% of the population suffer from it. This doesn’t mean 98-95% enjoy it.

• It is more common in women (60%)

• It is five times more common in diabetics

• It is common, but not limited to people with Dupuytren’s contracture (an uncommon hand condition where the connective tissue under the skin of the palm contracts and hardens over time.

• It may be genetic. i.e it can run in the family.

• It seems to affect 40-70 year olds.

• About 15% of people get it on both sides.

There are three phases to Frozen Shoulder, (which lasts an average of 30 months. Some say longer).

1.    Freezing (1 – 8 months) You notice some things you normally do are starting to hurt.
2.    Frozen (9 – 16 months) It’s full on! Any movement using the arm is incredibly painful.
3.    Thawing (12 – 24 months) Slowly gets back to normal and pain free use of the arm.

Not much to look forward to, is it.

The pain and loss of function associated with this condition can become so severe that it can significantly affect the quality of life, and prevent some people from sleeping well or working.

What causes a Frozen Shoulder?

There’s no explanation for the development of Frozen Shoulder in most patients. The majority of cases seem to be more prevalent in women. Some who develop Frozen Shoulder have sustained an injury and developed stiffness as a result. The trauma can be quite mild or severe, and the body’s response to the event is probably more important than the event itself.

What is happens inside a Frozen Shoulder?

The shoulder joint is a ball and socket (Gleno-humeral) joint. The ball is at the top of the Humerus (arm bone), and the socket is a shallow cup on the end of the Scapula (shoulder blade).

Surrounding the Gleno-Humeral joint (shoulder joint) is a bag called the Capsule. When the arm is raised above the head, this Capsule is fully stretched. When the arm is lowered to the side, the capsule hangs down like a small pouch.

To improve the stability of the shoulder a group of four muscles called the Rotator Cuff braces the joint as well as an elaborate bunch internal ligaments.

Inflammation.
In a Frozen Shoulder Syndrome the Lax Capsular Sack and the Synovial Fluid it contains becomes sticky and thick and can sometimes form adhesions. The stickiness is brought on through inflammation. This can occur after a small injury, but often you may not remember anything about it. Once established, this inflammation spreads into other shoulder soft-tissues and can cause swelling in other shoulder sacks (bursae).
Stiffness.
The stiffness is an ‘overreaction’, or the shoulders attempt to counteract the inflammation within the Biceps groove. The body seems to ‘switch off’ muscles in a coordinated sequence. This sequence is the same for everyone.  Arm movements start to diminish, and within a few weeks the arm literally becomes frozen and for many, cannot be raised more than 40° in any direction. The muscles of the Rotator Cuff become weak and start slowly to waste away, leaving the arm to hang stiff and immobile.

The shoulder may not be completely stiff for several months and both active and passive movements are stiff and neither you nor anyone else can lift it because it’s too painful!

At this point, you’re probably saying “He’s talking about me!”

Traditional treatments may include:

Cortisone Injections:
Cortisone injections are often tried during both the freezing and frozen phases. It is usual to have up to four injections. Cortisone injections may give brief periods of pain relief, but mostly, they seem to give only a few days or weeks of symbolic respite. Cortisone, which is a steroid, is a crystalline substance and is injected into the joint capsule.

Suprascapular Nerve Block:
The suprascapular nerve is the major sensory supply to the shoulder joint and motor supply to the Supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles.

A Suprascapular Nerve Block has been used in patients with severe pain associated with Frozen Shoulder syndrome. This injection technique is usually performed 3 times over as many weeks. It has given some relief for pain, but has no effect on the stiffness in the shoulder.  This injection consists of a local anesthetic and steroid, and is done with x-ray guidance and involves inserting a needle through skin and deeper tissues.

The procedure is not without pain.  However, the skin and deeper tissues are numbed with a local anesthetic. Most of the patients also receive intravenous sedation which makes the procedure easier to tolerate.

Manipulation:
Under anesthetic, manipulation can be performed in the freezing phase (after about 6 months).  It is performed under general anaesthetic and followed up by several months of physiotherapy. Complications arising from this include fractures and dislocations of the Humerus, Rotator Cuff tears, increased inflammation and scarring. Nerve damage can also occur, especially to the Radial Nerve.

Physiotherapy:
Physiotherapy is commonly advised  by doctors during the ‘Frozen’ stage and is mainly aimed at keeping the shoulder mobile through stretching and pushing the joint.  However, it rarely seems to hasten the recovery of the condition.

Halleujah.
The good news is that even very severe types of Frozen Shoulder syndrome can be treated effectively. Treating Frozen Shoulders is massage based and naturally utilises the body’s own healing mechanisms. No drugs, no surgery. It utilises a specific sequence of manipulations to the shoulder joints and soft-tissues.

In a Frozen Shoulder there are masses of inflammation and on top of this the brain starts to recruit the ‘wrong’ muscles to move the shoulder.

The body and the brain is tricked into healing itself by addressing the two main components of the problem … pain and stiffness. Initially the aim is to significantly reduce the pain by treating the swelling around various shoulder tendons, especially the biceps tendon.

Following this, the technique moves on to rapidly ‘thaw’ and improve the range of shoulder motion by stimulating a unique sequence of reflexes hidden within the muscles. One reflex is triggered against another in sequence and the arm is not forced. Instead it’s kept still whilst applying the pressure.

Patients treated in this massage based technique will notice a definite improvement with each treatment session. These should be twice a week for twenty to thirty minutes a session and complete relief should be within twelve weeks.

There is a couple of testimonials regarding Frozen Shoulders you might care to visit, and if you believe you might be displaying the symptoms of this condition… call me to talk about it.

Frozen Shoulders CAN be fixed… but it won’t happen with medication.

When dealing with patients, as Therapists,we need to view the body as a whole. Our perspective should be modified to incorporate a complete picture from head to toe including an appreciation of its component parts.

By becoming aware of our own posture, and of ways to correct it, we are often able to give advice to all those who are open to receive it.

Posture’ means simply position or alignment of body-parts.  It means:

• Body-alignment that favours function.
• Position that requires the least muscular work to maintain, and which puts the least strain on muscles, ligaments and bones.
• Keeping the body’s center of gravity over its base.

Good posture in standing position, for example, means head and chest held high, chin, abdomen and buttocks pulled in, knees bent slightly and feet planted firmly on the ground slightly apart.

Thanks to gravity, the only way the body can be kept upright is through muscles exerting a continuous pull on the bones in the opposite direction to gravity.

The muscles are able to do that thanks to their property of tonicity.

Tonicity or muscle-tone refers to the constant readiness of the muscles to react.  Our muscles are never completely at rest.  They can lose their tone through illness, old age, accident and lack of exercise, and become flabby.

Massage is an excellent way to restore muscle-tone.

Effects of Bad Posture:

• Poor posture throws more work on the muscles to counteract the pull of gravity and therefore hastens fatigue.
• It puts more strain on ligaments… more abnormal strain on bones… and could lead to deformities (e.g. spinal misalignments).
• Bad posture interferes with respiration and heart action.  It can even diminish the feeling of self-confidence.  You’ll probably start feeling like a dag and your quality of life heads south.

Ideal Plumb Alignment:

If we were to drop a line down the side of the body and line it up with the Lateral Malleolus (aka ankle bone), on the way up, it should pass slightly to the front of the midline of the knee.
Progressing higher, it should pass through the centre of the hip joint… higher and through the shoulder joint and through the lobe of the ear.
Slightly posterior to the apex of the normal surface.

Muscle Role In Posture:

Mans basic instinct is to prevent himself falling forward, consequently his muscle maintain the original stance.

The muscles that hold man erect against gravity are called postural muscles.
These muscles have a majority of slow twitch (red) muscle fibres, which can hold a contraction for a long time before fatiguing. If posture is not balanced, postural muscles are required to function more like ligaments and bones. Postural muscles tend to shorten and become hypertonic when under strain.

In contrast the phasic muscles, which have a majority of fast, twitch (white) muscle fibres and will tire out fast. It is more common to find muscular tendinous junction problems in phasic muscles. The four most common problems are micro tearing of the bursitis. Phasic muscles will weaken in response to postural muscle shortening. Phasic muscle can become hypertonic. This almost always results from some sort of repetitive behaviour and is a common problem in athletes.

Imbalance between these muscles leads to postural abnormalities, which need to be corrected by an exercise program that stretchs thePpostural muscles and strengthens the Phasic muscles.

Military Type Posture:

Many people try to solve their slouching problem by telling themselves to “Stand Up Straight!” … and if they didn’t correct themselves, their parents or teachers did.  These people take on a military-style posture. But in reality, military-style posture causes just as many problems as slouching.

The phasic muscles are purposely being used to maintain the military-style posture and these muscles will fatigue quickly. This is why when most slouchers try to correct their posture they can only maintain the “correct” posture for a few minutes and then they collapse back into their comfortable slouch.

In this ‘military type’ position, the chest is elevated and the pelvis is tilted forward putting the rectus abdominis in a somewhat elongated position. The lower back and the hip flexor muscles are in a shortened position. Due to the anterior pelvic tilt, the hamstrings are in a slightly longer position than in ideal alignment.

Although this posture is not one of the four main types of postural alignment, the Military type posture can occasionally be observed.

With  this “military type” position, the chest is elevated and the pelvis is tilted forward putting the rectus abdominis in a somewhat elongated position. The lower back and the hip flexor muscles are in a shortened position.

It is characterised by an increased curve in the lumbar spine of lower back and an anterior pelvic tilt.

The client shows a posture in which the chest is pushed forward.

Kyphosis Posture:

This image shows the typical posture of someone with an increased Thorax (Kyphosis) and an hyper extended lower back (Lordosis).

This position places stretch on the anterior hip joint ligaments, the one-joint hip flexor muscles and the external oblique abdominal muscles. These muscle groups usually show stretch – weakness. The lower back and hamstring muscles are likely to be strong and somewhat short. In the upper trunk, the opposite conditions prevail. The upper back muscles show stretch ‘96 weakness and the upper abdominals are likely to be strong.

Kyphosis is usually associated with an increase curve of the thoracic spine. Along with this, a slightly posterior pelvic tilt is seen along with a reduced lumber curve and a forward head position. The client will show a hunched over posture with a depressed chest.

Lordosis:
We speak of Lordosis when there is an increased curve in the lumbar spine of lower back. Often there is also an increased pelvic tilt. This posture shows the stomach and head are pushed forward.

Lordosis is defined as an excessive inward curve of the spine. It differs from the spine’s normal curves at the Cervical, Thoracic, and lumbar regions, which are, to a degree, either Kyphotic (near the neck) or Lordotic (closer to the low back).

The spine’s natural curves position the head over the pelvis and work as shock absorbers to distribute mechanical stress during movement.

Lordosis is found in all age groups. It primarily affects the lumbar spine, but can occur in the neck (cervical). When found in the lumbar spine, the patient may appear swayback, with the buttocks more prominent, and in general an exaggerated posture. Lumbar Lordosis can be painful, too, sometimes affecting movement.
Not every Lordosis requires medical treatment. However, when the curve is rigid (fixed), medical evaluation is warranted.

Flat Back Posture:

The term ‘flat-back’ describes a faulty posture where the spine appears straight.  It doesn’t have the normal curves of a healthy spine. A ‘flat-back’ posture has a forward head, or excessive extension of the cervical spine. He has increased flexion of the upper portion of the thoracic spine while the lower portion of the thoracic spine is straight. His lumbar spine is flexed. As a result, his pelvis is tilted backward and his hip joints are extended. His knees may be extended as well.

People who have flat-back posture often have strong abdominal muscles, though the positioning of the pelvis indicates that the hip flexors are weak. The hamstrings will be tight also, pulling the pelvis into a backward or posterior tilt. Weak neck flexors and tight neck extensors contribute to a forward head.

In flat low back posture, generally the hamstring muscles are tight, which brings the back side of the pelvis closer to the thigh. As the pelvis moves forward, it has a straightening effect on the curve of the lower spine.

Along with tight hamstrings, the flat low back posture will also show strong lower abs, back muscles and weak quadriceps muscles.

While it is good for your back to have strong abdominal muscles, a flat low back posture is a deviation from ideal alignment, and affects posture and balance.

Occasionally due to the position of the hip it can be difficult to fully straighten the knees when standing.

Sway Back Posture:

A Sway back posture can be seen with a neutral or posterior pelvic tilt with the hip almost rolled upward to the front. The client shows a relaxed posture, leaning backwards with the upper body.

A Sway-Back posture has several characteristics.

The head is forward. There is increased flexion in the upper back.

• The ribs are positioned behind the hips.
• The pelvis is tilted back, yet it sways forward from the feet. Both hip knee joints are hyperextended and the ankle joint is usually neutral.
• The consequence is someone whose trunk seems to be behind the rest of the body. The chest seems to be depressed, and the hips seem to thrust forward.
• Pregnant women tend to have this posture, and some continue to stand this way when carrying their children after birth, to offset baby’s weight and have their arms free to do chores.
• Someone with sway-back posture may complain of back pain.

A person that has the sway-back posture has weak hip flexors and external obliques. The muscles that extend the back are weak also. The forward head position makes for weak neck flexors, and the low back can be very tight, requiring stretching. The hamstrings and internal obliques may also be tight.

Scoliosis:

With this condition, we have a lateral or sideways curve in the spine that is apparent when viewing the spine from behind. It can be genetic or due to abnormalities or diseases of bone, muscle or nerves. A mild degree of Scoliosis is common, occurring in up to 50 per cent of the population.

Scoliosis generally does not require any specific treatment. However, severe scoliosis does indeed need treatment. Scoliosis occurs mainly in the thoracic and thoraco-lumbar regions.

Between the ages of about nine and fourteen, children bones grow rapidly and can in some children form excessive bony deposits in spots of the skeletal structure. At this time the backbone or spine may show signs of developing Scoliosis.

There are two basic types of Scoliosis.

Structural and Functional.

In the structural Scoliosis the mechanics of the curve are such that rotation of the vertebrae occurs in combination with lateral curvature, and this usually produces a protruberance of one side of the rib cage, seen best when a person bends forward. This is the worst type of scoliosis, and it can be progressive.

In the functional Scoliosis, fixed rotation does not occur, and the curvature is usually non-progressive. This type of Scoliosis is classified into postural, and most commonly due to a short leg.

The big muscle at the back of the lower leg is called the Gastrocnemius.   It’s the muscle that’s visible from the outside of the body. Under it, and further down the leg is a smaller muscle called the Soleus.

The larger and most superficial of the two muscles, the Gastrocnemius, attaches to the heel with the Achilles Tendon and originates behind the knee on the femur, crossing two joints.  The Gastrocnemius is the main propellant in walking and running.

The Soleus is used constantly in standing to maintain an upright position, and attaches below the knee joint and also to the heel using the Achilles. The Soleus is not visible when looking at the body from the outside as it lies underneath the Gastrocnemius on the rear of the lower leg.

Either or both of these two muscles can be strained or torn.

Both muscles act to plantar flex the ankle which means it’s used to point the foot away from the body.  Attaching above the knee, the gastrocnemius also helps with bending the knee.  In this position, with the knee bent, Soleus becomes the primary plantar flexor.  A damaged Soleus will give you pain in the lower leg, and there will also be pain when you contract the muscle against resistance with the knee bent.

A calf strain may be more likely in athletes who have tight calf muscles, and the symptoms are a gradual tightening in the calf muscles which can get worse when running, or… improve while running only to tighten up later.

If you haven’t tried massage therapy for those aching muscles, make a call today.  Make an appointment and experience the many benefits that Remedial Massage has to offer and we’ll also help you with some great stretching techniques.