The Anatomy of Touch: May 2013

26 May 2013

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

20 May 2013

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

14 May 2013

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

7 May 2013

One Litre of Warm Oil = Indian Massage Bliss

There are a couple of healing systems that have been perpetually in use over the past several thousand years. Can you name them?

If you guessed Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda you would be correct. But did you know that both consider massage treatment to be an integral part of these two respective healing arts?

This image shows a similar setting to
the massage I experienced in India.

While I was in India last year I experience Ayurvedic massage a couple of times for relaxation. The process involved a lot of warm sesame oil and some massage principals I was not accustomed to. The result, however, was delightfully oily and blissfully soothing.

Ayurveda, or Science of Life, as it translates from the Sanskrit, is understood as the art of living harmony with nature and has been practiced continuously for over 5,000 years. Ayurvedic practices are known to restore balance and harmony in the individual, resulting in self-healing, good health, and longevity.

Ayurvedic treatments aim to treat the root of the cause of the ailment, not just to suppress the symptoms. The use of medicinal herbs, diet, pranayama (breathing exercises), spiritual and bodily cleansing, asanas (yoga postures) and abhyanga (oil massage) are some of the common modalities used in achieving wellness under the supervision of an Ayurvedic doctor.

Ayurvedic theory asserts that each human possesses a unique combination of doshas which are mind/body constitutions that define a person's temperament and characteristics. When a person is ill, it is thought that one of their doshas is overly dominant, causing an imbalance of the three constitutions. A perfectly healthy person is thought to have an evenly balanced Vata-Pitta-Kapha doshic constitution. It is very common to have a dual constitution, or have your constitution change depending on the time of year or time of life.

Discover your dosha by taking an online quiz here or here.

When working with an Ayurvedic doctor practitioner, your doshic constitution is always carefully considered before choosing herbal, dietary, exercise, and lifestyle prescriptions. Ayurvedic practitioners regard physical and mental existence a unit, each element having the capacity to influence the others.

Abhyanga, 'Oil Massage' in Sanskrit, is a form of Ayurvedic medicine that involves massage of the body with large amounts of warm oil - up to a litre - and the oil is often pre-medicated with herbs for specific conditions.Abhyanga can be done as part of the steps of a greater therapeutic plan or as its own therapy. Abhyanga is often performed by two or more practitioners working in sync. Oils used can vary depending on the season and the individual's constitution. Commonly used oils include sesame, coconut, sunflower, mustard, and almond. In addition to the copious application of oil, abhyanga massage differs from many Western therapeutic massage techniques in that it is not very deep or specific, but achieves influence with long rhythmic, repetitive strokes.

With Ayurveda being the oldest recorded healing system I am inspired to learn more about these methods. But don't worry, I won't suddenly don my turban or sari and pour warm oil all over you with out warning. For now, my clinical practice is safely harboured in the realms of western therapeutic massage.

If you are interested in experiencing Ayurvedic style massage in Vancouver, Vida Spa offers a selection of luxurious Ayurvedic massage treatments in their downtown locations. The dosha-specific all natural aromatherapy products used are manufactured in Richmond. Keeping it local is always good.

See you in the clinic or the spa,
Dana

A Peek at my Mumbai-Udaipur Adventure in 2012

Our kind eyed veggie wallah ensured daily fresh papaya for our lunch.

My Mumbikar glass bangle wallah.
With over-sized hands, I required the enormous-sized bangles be hauled from secret storage.
Read more about my giant hands here.

Who knew that curb-side holy cows had such a resemblance to Mick Jagger?

The lovely ladies who made the very best pakoras I've ever tasted.

Be-decked in farewell garlands from our new friends
my traveling companion and I head to the airport in a tuk-tuk.

Ayurvedic Practitioners I have the pleasure of knowing:

Asrael Zemenick lives on Vancouver Island and introduced me to abhayanga many years ago. She has dedicated many years to learning this ancient healing system in it's motherland, India. Visit Ananda Ayurveda to learn more about her services and expertise.
Angie Inglis is a Vancouver Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga instructor and singer/songwriter. She's a really awesome and talented chick and you should visit her website: Rediscovery Vitality.