More oops I did it again ….
We all wonder why after an injury or issue has healed and after several weeks of feeling pretty good, bang it flares up again, why? Last week I explained so factors influencing why this happens, now I want to explore the physiological aspects.
The Physiological Law of Facilitation (the path of least resistance) The law explains why old injuries flare up under stress.
When an impulse has passed once through a certain set of neurons in your brain to the exclusion of others, it will tend to take the same course on a future occasion, and each time it does, the resistance will become less.
An analogy of this would be the image of rain on a dirt hill each time it rains the pathway becomes more entrenched, larger, and more intricate spreading out to nearby pathways. So once a nerve learns a pain pattern it tends to repeat it even in the absence of the injury. So the effects of stress to your mind and body can be a trigger for this response to kick in.
But wait, there is good news!
The Law of Facilitation can be maneuvered to help a massage therapist make the benefits of their treatment last longer. You may be wandering how can this be? In massage, patterns of imbalance which result from trauma, or from habitually stressful patterns like poor posture can be addressed. So your body should adapt to changes taking place in the musculoskeletal system and create new pathways.
The body likes sameness, which produces habitual patterns. When a pattern is established, it does not take as much stimulation to activate the response.
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What is a muscle cramp?
What is a muscle cramp? Normal movement of our bodies involves muscles alternating between contract and relaxation. A muscle that contracts involuntarily and is unable to relax is a spasm; and a forceful and prolonged spasm becomes a cramp. A muscle cramp can last anywhere from a few seconds to up to 15 minutes or occasionally longer. Any muscle can develop a cramp, but the most common site for muscle cramps are the legs, particularly the front of the thighs (quadriceps), back of the thighs (hamstrings) and calf muscles (gastrocnemius & soleus). Unfortunately almost everyone, one estimate is 95% of the population will experience a muscle cramp at some time in their life. Muscle cramps are one of those things that also increases as we get older. Those of you that have already had a muscle cramp will undoubtedly remember the unrelenting pain! Tip: Most muscle cramps can be stopped if the muscle can be stretched. Muscle spasms & cramps are one of the most common complaints that massage therapists deal with.
What is Acupressure Massage?
What is Acupressure? Acupressure has its roots in traditional Chinese and Japanese cultures through Shiatsu and Anma. How does Acupressure Work? Acupressure points are places on the body that are especially sensitive to bioelectrical impulses and conduct these impulses readily. In Chinese medicine terms acupressure points are junctions on the meridians that carry human energy, which the Chinese call Chi and the Japanese call Ki. Western scientists have also mapped out and proven the existing of this system of acupressure points by using sensitive electrical devices. Stimulating these acupressure points with pressure, acupressure massage triggers the release of endorphins which are the neurochemicals that relieve pain. Tension tends to concentrate around the acupressure points. When a muscle is chronically tense or in spams, the muscle fibres contract due to the secretion of lactic acid caused by fatigue, trauma, stress, chemical imbalances or poor circulation. When acupressure points are pressed, the muscle tension yields to the pressure, enabling the muscle fibres to elongate and relax. Seated Acupressure Massage incorporates the pressing of a number of acupressure points, depending upon the length of treatment up to 100 points may be stimulated. Below are the some of the points that may be incorporated into a Seated Acupressure Massage for someone who is experience neck pain or stiffness:
What is the difference between Acupressure and Acupuncture? With acupressure the acupressure points are stimulated with pressure, with acupuncture the same acupressure points are stimulated with needles. What is the difference between Acupressure and Seated Acupressure Massage? Seated Acupressure Massage is very modern; it was created in 1984 by David Palmer who used traditional Acupressure techniques to give 15 minute treatments on the neck & shoulders of clothed employees at Apple Computers in the USA to relieve neck & shoulder pain. You can think of Seated Acupressure Massage as utilising the ancient wisdom and healing art of acupressure to address the modern office woes of stiffness due to muscular tension and pain in the upper back, neck and shoulders.
GV16 Wind Mansion – which aids the release of headaches, stiff necks and neck pain. GB20 Gates of Consciousness – which aid the release of neck pain and headaches. TW16 Window of heaven – aids the release of stiff necks, shoulder & neck pain and headaches. B10 Heavenly Pillar – which helps relieves stress and stiff necks. GB21 Shoulder Well – which as the name suggests helps relieve tension and pain in the shoulders.
