Can massage help relieve pain?
When a toddler falls his mother will instinctively rub the sore spot to make it better. Likewise, an office worker with stiff shoulders will probably try to knead them. Because from an early age we have learnt the touch of a hand will ease pain.
There are two type of pain:
- Acute
- Chronic
Acute pain can be mild and last just a moment, or it might be severe and last for weeks or months. Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months. In addition to chronic pains extended duration it is often more life limiting and hence may have an emotional effect such as depression, anger, anxiety, and fear of re-injury. Such a fear might limit a person’s ability to return to their regular work or leisure activities.
Deep Tissue or Sports massage may relieve pain by way of several mechanisms, including relaxing painful muscles, tendons, and joints; relieving stress and anxiety; and possibly helping to “close the pain gate” by stimulating competing nerve fibers and impeding pain messages to and from the brain.
Related Posts
‘Alternative cancer therapies’ may increase your risk of death
“Cancer patients who use alternative medicine more than twice as likely to die,” is the stark message, which has been reported in the press including CNN, Daily Mail and the Sun newspaper (see below). https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/4249489/cancer-patients-who-shun-chemo-for-alternative-therapies-are-twice-as-likely-to-die/ I know that I have written blogs about cancer in the past and pointed recent ideas and research. But I want to make it crystal clear that I believe in complementary therapy not alternative therapy. While this may sound like symantics its a crucial difference. At Vitality Therapy we always recommend you follow your GP, consultant and conventional medicine's recommendations and we work in a manner that is complementary to that advice, guideance and medication. In the articles I mentioned earlier, people were using "Alternative Medicine" instead of conventional cancer treatments. The researchers concluded that people using "Alternative Medicine" were less likely to survive after a cancer diagnosis for 5 years. What I discuss in my blog articles and we recommend in clinic is "complementary therapy" which is completely compatible will all forms of western medicine. Below is an extract from the NHS choices - Cancer section.. "There are reports that some people find complementary medicines (CAMs) of benefit during cancer treatments. For example, some people have said that acupuncture helped them cope better with the side effects of chemotherapy." The basic premise of the press articles is that ignoring medical advice on the treatment choices that potentially offer the most benefit for cancer (or any other illness) could be fatal. Here at Vitality Therapy we never suggest or imply that you ignore medical advice.
What is magnesium effective for?
In part 1, I introduced what magnesium is used for the body and what foods its found in. But with magnesium supplements being "trendy" right now, what are they effective for:
- Constipation. Taking magnesium by mouth is helpful as a laxative for constipation and to prepare the bowel for medical procedures.
- Indigestion. Taking magnesium by mouth as an antacid reduces symptoms of heartburn. Various magnesium compounds can be used, but magnesium hydroxide seems to work the fastest.
- Magnesium deficiency. Taking magnesium is helpful for treating and preventing magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency usually occurs when people have liver disorders, heart failure, vomiting or diarrhea, kidney dysfunction, and other conditions.
- High blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia). Administering magnesium intravenously (by IV) or as a shot is considered the treatment of choice for reducing high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia) and for treating eclampsia, which includes the development of seizures. Research suggests that administering magnesium reduces the risk of seizures.
