New insights into MS

Deep tissue is a very descriptive name and is self-explanatory.  The confusion comes when it is compared to sports massage.  The big difference is the focus. Sports massage is dedicated to

• improving sports performance
• prevention of and treating sports injuries

The reasons for booking a sports massage are:

• You work out religiously, but aren't as relgious about stretching
• You cycle or run to work and don't think to stretch
• You play sports but don't cross train so have specific trouble spots
• Your performance (in a particular sport) has dropped
• You have a history of injuries and want to reduce the likely hood of further injuries

Deep Tissue massage is a problem solving massage for everyone. The reasons for booking a deep tissue massage are:

• You work at a computer all day and your neck, shoulders & back are chronically sore
• You are so tense your back feels like concrete
• You have tired achy legs
• You are in pain
• You are stiff (or are unable to move your neck/arm/leg freely)
• You are stressed or anxious
• You have a knot or a muscle spasm

To book a treatment click here.  

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble, hormone-like vitamin, which means body fat acts as a "sink" by collecting it. If you're overweight or obese, you're therefore likely going to need more vitamin D than a slimmer person -- and the same holds true for people with higher body weights due to muscle mass i.e. amateur and professional athletes. It is common knowledge that obesity and physical inactivity can lead to type 2 diabetes.  But what about your impact does your levels of Vitamin D have?. The Endocrine Society, published details of a study that looked at the vitamin D levels of 118 people with a wide range of weights (from slim to morbidly obese) while taking into account whether they had diabetes.   According to the researchers people who have low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have diabetes, regardless of how much they weighed.  The researches concluded that vitamin D is associated more closely with glucose metabolism (and hence your chance of getting diabetes) than obesity! One Indian study found that vitamin D and calcium supplementation, in combination with exercise, can prevent pre-diabetes from progressing into type 2 diabetes. The study found that for every unit increase in vitamin D levels, the risk of progression to diabetes in people with pre-diabetes went down by 8 percent. In 2013 Taleai, Mohamdi and Adgi found that type 2 diabetics given 50,000 IUs of oral vitamin D3 per week for eight weeks experienced "a meaningful reduction" in fasting plasma glucose and insulin. Other research showing this link includes but is not limited to the following:

• One study involving nearly 5,680 individuals with impaired glucose tolerance showed that vitamin D supplementation increased insulin sensitivity by 54 percent (see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9516221?dopt=Abstract)
• The mechanisms by which vitamin D reduces insulin resistance include its effect on calcium and phosphorus metabolism and by up regulating the insulin receptor gene (see >> http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbf.951/abstract)

In 2016 scientists studied 23 children with type 1 diabetes to understand the  association between type 1 diabetes control and vitamin D deficiency.  The team found those children with healthy weight had a high incidence of low levels of vitamin D, especially if they were Caucasians. In particular, they found children who were not normally considered to be at risk for low levels of vitamin D had low levels. The researchers recommending monitoring the vitamin D levels of all children with type 1 diabetes.   Research Endocrine Society study see>> https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-02/tes-vdd021815.php Indian Study reported in Nephrology 22 June 2014 see>> http://www.nephrologynews.com/raising-low-vitamin-d-levels-lowers-risk-of-prediabetes-progressing-to-diabetes-in-study/  2013 study see >> https://dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1758-5996-5-8 2016 study see >> http://www.hcplive.com/medical-news/children-with-diabetes-may-lack-vitamin-d

In the UK around 10.5 million people run or jog as a leisure activity and or fitness activity.  Running injuries are common and may variables can contribute.  Running injuries can happen to both experienced and inexperienced runners - up to 79% of runners with get injured in any one year. Most running injuries occur in the lower extremities as you would expect.  With the knee being the most common injured site followed by the lower leg, foot and upper leg.  The top five injuries are:

1. Patellofemoral pain - generic term for describe pain at the front and around the knee cap.
2. Illiotibial band (ITB) syndrome - pain on the outside of the knee.
3. Tibial stress fractures/syndrome - fatigue induced stress fracture.
4. Plantar fasciitis - pain in the heel or bottom of the foot.
5. Achilles tendonitis - pain, swelling and stiffness of the achilles tendon.

All the above injuries apart from stress fractures can be treated with sports massage. The high rate of injury among runners is a cause for concern so in future posts I will look at the common causes we see in clinic and discuss how to prevent injuries. Reference Sports Marketing Surverys Inc (2014) UK's running population reaches a remarkable 10.5m says Sports Marking Surverys Inc. A Altman, IS Davis (2012) Barefoot running: biomechanics and implications for running injuries.  Current Sports Medicine Reports 11(5):244-50 JE Taunton, MB Ryan, DB Clement, DC McKenzie et al (2002) A retrospective case-control analysis of 2002 running injuries.  British Journal of Sports Medicine 36(2):95-101