Massage is the study of anatomy in braille.

"Massage is the study of anatomy in braille."
Jack Meagher

Extended Health Coverage - You're Already Paying For It...

Take care of yourself!
Painting by: Wayne Thiebaud

Fortunate we Canadians are to have universal healthcare but blessed are those who can afford complimentary therapies for preventative care. You may have an extended health care plan to help you cover the expenses for dental, prescriptions, chiropractic, physio, acupuncture, massage therapy, et cetra. If this plan is available to you through your employer then you are likely making a contribution to it in the from of a deduction from your pay. 

That's right, folks, you are already paying for your extended healthcare plan. Your employer has arranged for this so their employees are happy and healthy. Don't waste your hard earned money, put it to use in the form of self care.

How to use your plan:

If you have no idea what your plan covers or how to claim for the services you've received, give your insurance provider a call. Every provider is a bit different. Often plans cover a certain number of treatments or a dollar amount to use toward treatment per year. When I say 'cover' I mean that you will be re-reimbursed by the insurance company when you prove to them that you received and paid for treatment. This is why the receipt I issue to you is so important; it's like money in your pocket (or at least an IOU) so don't lose it! You'll likely be required to submit your receipts once or twice a year in order to receive the re-reimbursement.

It's already more than halfway through the year!

It's always notoriously busy in the clinic through December, with our clients scrambling to use up their benefits before year end. Why not figure out how much yearly coverage you have, which modalities are covered by your plan, and then book a series of appointments spanning through the year? I know, it sounds very adult and responsible, doesn't it?

If you are looking to maximize your plan, the practitioners at Oceanside Wellness Centre can work together to formulate a treatment plan that will promote your overall well-being while putting your benefits to full use. For example: If your plan covers five each of chiro, acupuncture, and massage treatments per year, you could be receiving some form of therapy every three weeks. We are big fans of prevention and would much rather help you steer clear of injury than have to help you recover from one. It's just no fun seeing people in pain. Plus the benefits you will experience by receiving regular treatment are too many to name!

Some other great reasons to use up your plan:

• If you don't use it, you'll lose it. If employees don't use the plan, it may be scaled back or removed. Yikes!
• Be a leader. Show your employer and colleagues that your health is important to you by making self-care a priority. You will find that the little bit of effort to get into the clinic will be worth the outcomes.
• Support local small business. If not for yourself, then do it for your local private practitioner who is building their business in your area.

From someone who doesn't have any extended health insurance and pays out of pocket for treatments for all members of my family, please don't take for granted the services you have access to.

I look forward to seeing you in the clinic before December!
Dana

The Shape of Sound

The maleus, incus & stapes bones are so small
that they all fit on the face of a penny.

A Little Background on Sound

As you may already know, deep within the human ear are the smallest bones in the body: malleus (mal'-ee-us) or hammer; incus (in-kus) or anvil; stapes (stay-peez) or stirrup. They percuss on delicate auditory membranes in response to sound vibrations in the environment. Perception of sound is a complicated matter involving the fields of physiology, neurology, psychology, and acoustics.  In the human auditory system invisible sound waves become noise that is perceived as language, music, emotions, and memories.

How Does it Work?

Sound waves travel down the ear canal, hit the eardrum which stimulates the vibration of the smallest bones in the body that

The ear has sensory receptors for both sound and balance.

causes a chain of events through a densely anatomically populated area behind the temporal bone culminating in signals sent to the brain via the auditory nerve. After arriving in the brain (very much unlike taking an elevator up a couple of floors, but more like fireworks in the night sky), synapses in various parts of the brain take this info from the outside world and turn it into our auditory perception of the world.

Good Vibes Are For Real

Sound is vibration and vibration affects the physical form. Chanting in the spiritual practice of yoga is thought to influence how the physical and spiritual bodies function. Since these practices have been around for a few millennium, you'd think there must be something to it. Perhaps these yogis fine tuned their senses so that they could feel the effects of sounds on their bodies. The following video backs up what I'm trying to explain here. Just watch how the sand dances and then settles into various patterns depending on the tone of the resonance. If we surround ourselves with or create certain vocal frequencies why wouldn't our bodies shift in response to this?

Visual Patterns of Audio Frequencies

Please watch this astounding video. It depicts the patterns formed by varying tones of sound and it blows my mind. Honestly, after seeing this video I had to come up with some legit anatomical reason for sharing it with you, hence this blog post. The comments on Youtube are wonderfully nerdy. It makes me so happy to know that some folks use math to quantify beauty such as this. I'm fulfilled by knowing that beauty simply exists whether or not we know how or why.

See you in the clinic,
Dana






Sources:

• http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/06/the-visual-patterns-of-audio-frequencies-seen-through-vibrating-sand/
• http://www.gallaudet.edu/clerc_center/information_and_resources/info_to_go/hearing_loss_information/hearing_loss_for_older_children.html
• http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/sound/u11l2d.cfm

I Heart Myofascia

I talk about fascia with my clients a lot, mostly because I often work with this tissue and I want my clients to be informed about what I'm doing to their bodies so that they understand my treatment rationale and get behind my approach. I also do this because I'm a fan of informed consent. 

Many people are not aware of what fascia is, and until fairly recently - the past couple of decades- mainstream medicine has not really appreciated it's importance either. Fascial connective tissue surrounds every tissue in the body and is completely continuous throughout. It's contribution to bodily biomechanics and physiology has been historically underestimated. Scientists are now looking very closely at the importance fascia which is really exciting for manual therapists because it helps to give our profession more quantitative evidence that further validates the medical importance of fascial release techniques and massage therapy in general. 

Don't let fascial adhesion interfere with your jazz hands.

So what is it?

Fascia is tough connective tissue that creates a 3-dimensional web extending without interruption from head to toe. Fascia surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, and organ all the way down to the cellular level.

The fascial system acts to support, stabilize, and cushion the structures of the body. Fascia creates separation between vessels, organs, bones, and muscles. It creates space through which delicate nerves, blood vessels, and fluids can pass.

Trauma, repetitive motion, inflammation, or poor posture can cause the fascia to become solidified and shortened. These thickened areas are referred to as a fascial restrictions which can cause pain and dysfunction. Fascial restrictions do not show up on common standardized tests such as x-rays, MRI, or CAT scans and are therefore often overlooked as a cause of dysfunction.

Analogy #1: The Unitard

Sometimes I use the metaphor of a full body unitard as an example. I know - great image to conjure up. If your unitard gets all bunched up at the knee - maybe you snagged it while prancing about - it can affect your ease of movement at other areas, perhaps pulling in the groin or even as far north as the shoulder or neck. Fascial adhesion can affect bodily function in a very similar way. If left for long periods of time, these adhesions can lead to postural imbalances, movement restrictions, and the sequelae of dysfunctions that can follow these. It is possible to reverse the damage of fascial adhesion with the skillful application of myofascial release. But remember, it is always better to prevent injury rather than having to recover from one!

Analogy #2: Chicken Skin

Superficial fascia lies beneath the skin & surrounds the muscles.

Another example I use to explain this tissue to my clients is chicken skin. (Yes, more lovely imagery.) If you have ever skinned a chicken - or watched someone else - you may have noticed a slippery spiderweb-like tissue beneath the skin that surrounds the muscles of the bird. It is durable and dynamic, easy to lift in some places but adhered firmly in others. This is chicken fascia and our bodies have tissues just like this.


Please understand that this is a massive topic to address, and in no way am I trying to encompass all significant fascial topics, nor sound like any sort of expert on the matter. (My brilliant uni-tard analogy certainly boosts my credibility as a near-expert, no?) This is simply an introduction.

Videos to Deepen Your Understanding:

Gil Headley's entertaining "Fuzz Speech" explains - with great enthusiasm - how fascial adhesion can accumulate due to lack of movement. *Just a little warning: Human cadavers are used for demonstration in this video, but don't let that deter you.

This next video explores fascia magnified 25x. Subtitles explain what is being viewed, and is a great addition to Dr. Headley's previous talk.

Take care & I'll see you in the clinic ready to answer your questions about fascia,
Dana





Sources:

• A great link to Overview on fascial mechanoreceptors written by Robert Schleip, PhD., who I had the pleasure of very breifly meeting while he was in Vancouver for the Fascia Congress a couple of years back. 
• Website full of useful links to fascia research articles - http://fasciaresearch.de/
• image - http://tarhearted.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/my-life-is-unitarded.html
• image - http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/cooking-tips/remove-chicken-skin#slide-1
• http://loseandimprove.tumblr.com/post/40846187585/handmadehealth-from-anatomy-in-motion-on-fb

DIY After Sun Gel

aloe + lavender + vitamin e = skin happiness

Since it's been so delightfully sunny in these parts lately, it seemed the perfect time to share with you my all-natural, skin saving, after-sun lotion recipe.

After-Sun Lotion

• 1/2 cup aloe vera gel
• 1 Tbs vitamin E oil
• 15  (+ or -) drops lavender essential oil

Pour all ingredients in a small bottle or jar and shake vigorously for several minutes until well incorporated.  Apply some and adjust lavender oil to your liking (perhaps add lavender conservatively if using on children). Rub into sunburned skin frequently especially if badly burned. All three ingredients are readily available in natural pharmacies.

Adding witch hazel to the concoction will make a watery version that can be poured into a small spray bottle. (Add a splash at a time until it's the right consistency.)

Why Does it Work?

• Aloe is cooling to the skin, replenishes lost moisture and acts as an antioxidant, providing electrons for free radicals to bind to, saving your healthy molecules from becoming depleted.
• Lavender essential oil is known to be a powerful skin healer for all types of burns that can even be applied undiluted to acute burns to speed healing, and act as an antiseptic.
• Vitamin E is extremely important in skin healing, and also acts as an antioxidant.
• Witch hazel is a distilled liquid that has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties on irritated skin. It is also a useful facial toner as part of cleansing regimes.

This lotion can also be used after shaving/waxing, and to recover from other types of burns or abrasions.

Take care of your skin so I can see you this summer for a massage in the clinic,
Dana

Gas - This Too Shall Pass

Thermal image of flatulence.

Dogs do it unapologetically. Cats do it occasionally. I bet if I ever spent time with a monkey, I would discover that they do it too. I'll confess that I did twice while writing this blog post. Be it symphonic, percussive, silent, or abrupt farting is part of every mammal's existence. Colloquially known as a fart, toot, fluff, or passing wind, we appreciators of Latin like to call this act flatus or flatulence.

I have been in the middle of massage treatments when my clients fart. Sometimes they are aware it has happened, sometimes not. Either way I continue working and they continue receiving the massage. This is normal and no big deal.

Just last week I saw a cyclist with this image tattooed
on his low back. I'm assuming he's flatus proud.

During a massage, the body relaxes and the parasymathetic nervous system takes action. Among other things, this response stimulates the digestion and absorption of nutrients, which often results in borbarygmus, or rumbling noises made by gasses passing through the intestines, or even the escape of gas at the end of the tunnel, resulting in a flatus expelled through the anus. The scientific study of this area of medicine is termed flatology.

According to my friends at Wikipedia, the number of flatus episodes per day is variable, the normal range is given as 8-20 per day. Given these numbers, there is a good chance that you may rip one during your massage treatment. Hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane are all produced in the gut and contribute 74% of the volume of flatus in normal subjects. But how the flatologists deciphered what a "normal" farting subject is is beyond me.

My lovely treatment room has large opening windows
to air out the room as needed.

Know that if you do happen to fart during treatment, there's no need to be mortified. Sure, the result can be unpleasant for those nearby, but this too shall pass.

And if need be, I can open a window.

See you in the clinic,
Dana


P.S. I've included a couple of fun videos to entertain and inspire.








I wonder if Ok Go were thinking of passing gas while designing their Rube Goldberg machine? After all, digestion is a chain if events each only occurring when something has come before it. Watch this incredibly brilliant music video called This Too Shall Pass (preferably a couple of times) to be amazed. You never know, it may inspire the expulsion of a fart or two.

This next video is adorable, quirky, and great commentary on social smoking. Had to share it - I mean really, how many blog posts will a person write on flatulence? It's a perfect fit!

Sources:
http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/hazard_symbols/restricted_products/
http://www.hotlikesauce.com/2009/11/14/the-most-beautiful-fart-ever/

Nocturnal Neck Advice - How to Use Your Pillow

Your pillow should support the natural
curve at the back of your neck.

Are you using your pillow correctly and is it the best pillow for you? The most common mistake people make  is to place their pillow beneath their shoulders so that it slopes down and provides no support for the delicate curve of the neck.

Ideally, the cervical spine lordosis - the little curve at the back of the neck - should be supported while you sleep so that your head is aligned with the torso. If it is not supported, the neck muscles are forced to rest for long periods of time in a shortened position.This can lead to muscle imbalances, trigger points, myofascial adhesions, reduced circulation to the brain, and possible compression of nerve pathways. Hopefully not all at once, but the correct pillow choice and position can keep these health issues at bay.

This illustration shows how to snuggle your pillow in around your neck
and shoulders in order to provide decent nocturnal neck support.

There are many types of pillows on the market - buckwheat, chipped foam, shaped foam, poly-fill, feather, wool. This image shows how to use a filled pillow (not shaped foam) to your advantage. Not sure which one is for you? Read a review on  natural fibre pillow options.

Are you a side-sleeper like me? Take a look at yourself in the mirror noting the distance between your outer shoulder and the side of your head. For me, this is about 15 centimeters (6 inches). When I sleep on my side, the distance between the side of my head and the bed is a bit shorter than this measurement, due to the rolling in of my body, but there is still a significant distance to be taken up by a pillow in order to achieve ideal sleeping alignment.

I happily use a buckwheat pillow. This variety works for me because I don't mind shifting my pillow around as I reposition my body throughout the night. I find special satisfaction as I turn to my side and stuff my pillow in around my head, neck and shoulder filling that head to bed discrepancy I spoke of. Yes I know, I am a posture nerd, even at night.

If you are a dead-to-the-world sleeper, who wakes with your pillow as shown in diagram B or D, consider using a shaped foam pillow to provide the needed support while you are out for the night. But take care in choosing this type of pillow as exposure to common petroleum based chemicals (as are found in most common foams) have been shown to weaken or damage the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. Yikes! Read more about the hazards of polyurethane foam here. Fortunately, there are non-toxic natural latex foam varieties available on the market, just be sure you know what you're getting.

Rest well, choose natural, and I'll see you in the clinic,
Dana



Sources:

• Illustraion from page 326 of Travell & Simon's Trigger Point Manual Vol.1
• http://www.drkarencann.com/2011/08/31/do-you-suffer-from-cervical-lordosis/
• http://blog.remakehealth.com/blog_Healthcare_Consumers-0/bid/9046/What-does-an-MRI-scan-of-the-cervical-spine-upper-neck-show

Inflicting The Good Pain - The Ins and Outs of Trigger Point Release

Inflicting the good pain.

Almost daily people come to me with discomfort in one area and to get at the origin of their pain I treat supplementary areas that they didn't even know were involved. Sometimes this treatment approach is used to create whole-body myofascial balance and other times it is because they are experiencing referred pain from active trigger points.

A muscle becomes injured from causes such as over use, immobilization, nutritional, metabolic or endocrine inadequacies which result in a myofascial trigger point. Trigger points are often experienced as aching or super-tender areas within a muscle, often with a referral pattern of discomfort that affects other areas that are seemingly unrelated to the injured muscle.

Trigger points in the gluteus minimus can present with symptoms
all the way to your ankle!

Because of this intramuscular damage the body responds with an inflammatory response to protect the injured muscle cells and speed  recovery. Unfortunately, when a cell is damaged it creates more metabolic waste in the process of healing itself but because of the swelling it is incapable of attaining the nutrition required nor is it able to get rid of the waste it has created because the vessels in the damaged area are compressed by the inflamed tissues. This only results in the perpetuation of the problem: an increased need for circulation but a decreased supply. It is thought by some that pain is perceived in trigger points far from the source injury because the swelling and metabolic waste irritates nocioceptive (pain perceiving) nerve endings in that area.

So you've injured a muscle, developed a tender trigger point, and booked an appointment with your RMT, now comes the skillful application of trigger point therapy. Imagine that your muscle is a sponge that has soaked up liquid. When the correct pressure (ischemic compression) is applied to the muscle (sponge) the fluid (blood and lymph) is squeezed out. When pressure is released, the sponge draws in fresh blood and lymph allowing the needed exchange of wastes and nutrients that your sore tissues require. Often the ischemic compression causes an increase in your symptoms until the intramuscular waste is squeezed out of the tissue, which can take several seconds to minutes of steady pressure.

I often encourage my clients to visualize the muscle as they are breathing through the release of a trigger point. With acute and chronic pain overwhelming feelings of anger, helplessness, and even claustrophobia can arise. It is thought that visualizing what is happening in the body can help it to heal while allowing the person experiencing the pain to accept the sensations but still feel in control. This is not only an effective coping tool but it also helps me avoid gaining a reputation as a pain inflicting masochist of a massage therapist.

The stretch to use following a gluteus minimus TrP release

Although it may seem like your RMT has super-human intuitive skills when easing your suffering, but often a trigger point referral is a textbook symptom of the underlying culprit. While he or she may indeed be extremely intuitive, when it comes to trigger points, referring to the attained banks of rote knowledge is often the secret massage therapy tool.

Following a trigger point release it is not uncommon to experience residual pain or discomfort. The application of heat - by taking a hot epsom salt bath, shower, or using a hot compress - combined with specific stretches of the treated muscles are used to promote full recovery and lasting results of the treatment. I always leave my clients with an arsenal of tools to help them recover from a trigger point release. So if this is what you are dealing with, be prepared to be taught stretches and other homecare techniques for use after your massage.

These interactive wall accents were designed for stylish in-home
self-administered trigger point release.

German design house, Touchy-Feely has created heated plaster wall nodules for self treatment.
Although fun, please consider that you may aggravate a trigger point, which will leave you with more pain than you started with. There is a certain protocol to follow to ensure the proper release of a muscle, so don't neglect booking in with your RMT after encountering such wall nodules;)

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Sources: 

• http://the-healthy-diva.com/2012/03/19/motivational-monday-the-benefits-of-breathing/
• http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p653.html
• http://www.triggerpoints.net/
• http://www.docpods.com/Illiotibial-Band-Wall-Stretch

How to Make a Hot Compress & Ease Muscle Pain in Minutes

There are all sorts of products available to act as hot compresses: gel packs, magic bean-filled bags, hot water bottles. But let's just keep it simple shall we? In fact, you already have all you need to provide deep moist heat to your achy muscles: two hand towels and hot water.

1. Loosely roll one hand towel from the narrow end.

2. Place the rolled towel lengthwise at one end of the other (unrolled) towel.

3. Pour boiling water on the rolled towel, enough to fully moisten it but not drip.

4. Roll the wet, hot towel in the dry hand towel from the wide end.

5. Place compress over area being warmed until the compress has cooled, about 15 minutes.

6. Do the stretches your RMT prescribed while your muscles are still nice and warm.

Keep in mind that if you are experiencing swelling from an acute injury, ice wrapped in a towel would be a better application.

Give this a try and let me know how it works for you.

See you in the clinic,

Dana

The Ultimate Guide to Good Posture

Let's admit it, we all know that we could further improve our posture. This can seem like a daunting task if you don't know what good posture looks and feels like or exactly how to begin making things better. 

Here's a fun infographic that will help you get started. I'm particularly fond of the simple self-test they offer to see if your spinal curve falls within normal parameters. Ask me next time you are in for an appointment and I will adjust your standing posture for you to see and feel what proper alignment is like. It is surprising how awkward aligned posture can feel when your body is not used to it!

What else are you doing to keep your posture in check?

See you in the clinic,

Dana