Physical Therapy Schools|Benefits Of Massage Therapy Schools

What would you say if I told you that these 5-star Hotels put this poor quality out on purpose, would you be shocked? I was.

Oh don't get me wrong, these Hotels are first rate as far as their non-spa services, ambiance and amenities, so why do they go out of their way to hire fresh-just-out-of-school massage therapist?

• Profit margins




• Easily trainable for their "Spa Culture"

I'm positive that they have more reason for this other than what I listed, for instances, I know that these 5 star hotels impress upon newly graduated massage therapist, the allure at working such a prestige luxury spa. Once this is accomplished, they throw in a bunch of fluff "employee benefits" to make their massage therapist think, "wow" I am special.

By design someone needs to pay for that terry robe.

These 5 star hotels are very smart they know their industry. They purposely avoid hiring massage therapist with experience as they know most likely this massage therapist is "set in his ways" and will not work for such low wages. These Hotels lose a lot of money for instance if they hire a veteran massage therapist, who specializes in deep tissue and delivers that massage to all guest. Advance massage therapist may also find a problem and spend more time there, which the guest did not pay for.

Let me explain have you ever noticed how much they charge just for a 50 minute Swedish Spa massage and have you noticed how much that price jumps when you get anything extra (i.e. aromatherapy, reflexology, deep tissue or scalp massage), I don't need to tell you folks. If you had gone to a hotel to a massage then you know what I am talking about it. A 50 minute deep tissue massage with aromatherapy and tip will be over $200 easily, and all that goes to your hotel. Your massage therapist might be lucky to make 15-18% of that total.

Your veteran massage therapist on the other hand may find a problem that needs that extra attention and not care if their customer only paid for a Hotel Signature Spa massage. The massage therapist with experience often will know that in this spa business, your tips may be well over what you get hourly from the Hotel. Your veteran massage therapist will be more customer service orientated than your newly graduated massage therapist will be more likely to do what is required no more no less, until they become smart.

All fluff and no substance, 5-star ambiance, 2-star massage service

Even with their reputation at stake here, I am amazed that these 5-star Hotels would not want to put the best quality experienced massage therapist on their payroll. I cannot tell you how many times customers of certain Hotels have come to me and express their disappointments. Do these spa's think that they can win you as a repeat customer, just on fluff alone, but hey if fluff is what you like, I can give the names of many places to check out.

There is common ground between Shiatsu and Western massage. Both systems are wonderful ways of relieving stress and promoting health and they focus on the body of the person to be treated. Further, neither system uses any sophisticated electronic or mechanical machinery in the diagnosis or implementation of treatment. The third common ground is that both Shiatsu and massage are classified in most of the Western World to remain outside the bastion of Western medicine, which is based on current Western mainstream scientific tradition. Outside Japan both Shiatsu and Western massage share the outfields of non-traditional treatment or alternative medicine with Healing, Reiki, Hypnosis or Crystal Healing.

Shiatsu practitioners tend to distance themselves from the bandwagon of alternative treatment approaches like Reiki or faith healing by demonstrating their usage of anatomy, physiology and pathology in the same vein as Western medicine. This could be one of the explanations for the great popularity of Shiatsu in the West as it bridges the West and the East.

When we explore the differences between Shiatsu and Western massage, we notice four main differences.

1. The historical evolution of the treatments.


2. Technique used and ingredients in treatment.


3. The philosophy behind the approach and the essence, which every practitioner attempts to capture.


4. The nature of derivative systems that have emerged.

Body massage might be one of the oldest forms of medical care known to man. Though we may not know what the ancient Egyptian practitioners actually believed in, Egyptian tomb paintings show people being massaged. A Chinese book from 2,700 B.C., The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, recommends massage of skin and flesh as the appropriate treatment for many ailments. Ayurveda, the 5000-year old traditional Indian system of medicine, greatly stresses the therapeutic benefits of massage with aromatic oils and spices. Writing in the 8th century BC, Homer of Greece mentions massage being used commonly also for Olympic athletes in the same way as it is used today.

1. The History and Evolution of Shiatsu

Though the earliest modern reference to the term Shiatsu in a publication might be the 1915 Japanese book, Shiatsu Ry繹h繹 written by Tenpaku Tamai, Tokujiro Namikoshi's (1905-2000) followers consider him to be the founder of Shiatsu. His approach was entirely different from the Chinese meridian or Qi-based therapies. Namikoshi at age seven in 1912 independently developed a technique of pressing with his thumbs and palms as he tried to nurse his mother who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Namikoshi's influence on Shiatsu can be compared to the role of Picasso in art because he not only created an important genre, but also became an inspiration for many other creators of derivative therapies.

Tokujiro Namikoshi opened his first clinic for Shiatsu Therapy in 1925 in Hokkaido using the system that he perfected. In addition to founding in 1940 the first school of Shiatsu Therapy in Tokyo (Now known as the Japan Shiatsu College), Namikoshi was involved with the legal recognition of Shiatsu in Japan, which may account for his emphasis on Western medical theories. Namikoshi achieved fame and successfully treated many high-ranking persons such as the former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. As his fame spread foreign celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali sought his treatment. Currently in Japan, Namikoshi's system enjoys special legal status. Starting from 1947, after an eight-year clinical investigation period to ascertain which of 300 treatments could be legalised, the Ministry of Health of Japan acknowledged Shiatsu Therapy, as it proved effective. Shiatsu was placed in the same category with Anma and Western Massage in 1955.

In 1964 Shiatsu was acknowledged as a separate therapy on its own in Japan. Everyone practising Shiatsu in Japan should obtain a licence from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Licensing also requires that Shiatsu practitioners study a 2,500-hour educational program of Shiatsu therapy lasting about three years in the universities or colleges authorized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and pass the national exam.

2. Technique used and ingredients in treatment

The second difference between Shiatsu and Western massage is in technique and in the use of ingredients like oils and spices. Shiatsu technique relies on finger and palm pressure, while western massage uses a rubbing motion. Since shiatsu does not involve rubbing, no oil or lotion is ever used during a treatment.

3. Philosophy of Western Massage and Shiatsu

The third and main difference comes from the philosophy behind Western Massage and Shiatsu.

The principal difference between Shiatsu and other modern Western forms of bodywork, e.g., Swedish massage, is that Shiatsu is a form of holistic healing while modern Western massage is based on conventional Western views of wellness and healing. Western massage usually considers the human body the domain of the masseur while the mind is the domain of psychology and psychiatry. Adapting a holistic approach, Shiatsu regulates the nervous system and promotes natural healing by stimulating chemical responses in the body.

Western massage is based on the idea that muscle tension and improper alignment may cause or worsen physical, mental and internal imbalances. Massage techniques attempt to reduce tension within the body to facilitate the free flow of blood and energy. This in turn makes the major systems of the body (immune, circulatory, nervous, etc.) to be better able to naturally heal disease and promote health and well-being.

In Shiatsu, there are 838 basic shiatsu pressure points, or Atten in Japanese, located on the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymph vessels, bones and endocrine glands. Depending on the condition of the body, the therapist applies proper types of pressure. The tighter the muscles are, the lighter the pressure. As the muscles relax, the pressure becomes deeper but is always firm and steady. This triggers the release of hormones and body chemicals necessary to heal, to soothe and to make you mind and body perform optimally. This method of triggering the own healing system of the body does not produce side effects or toxins and is thus a totally healthy way of getting relief from ailments.

Looked at casually from far Shiatsu whole-body charts can be confused with Qi or meridian charts used in Chinese medicine. But Namikoshi Shiatsu practitioners are quick to point out that Namikoshi's style of Shiatsu places emphasis only on regions based on anatomy and physiology rather than on energy channels/pathways/meridians. Shiatsu works the whole body (including doing stretches).

4. Derivative treatments

The last area of difference between Shiatsu and Western massage is that of derivatives. Derivative Shiatsu usually refers to the other current styles of Shiatsu, which have evolved after Namikoshi Shiatsu, such as Meridian Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu, Tao Shiatsu, Tsubo Shiatsu, Ohashiatsu and Quantum Shiatsu. None of these derivative styles are recognised by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Within Western massage there are many styles and techniques, which focus on particular areas of the body (e.g., deep tissue massage, tendo-muscular massage, scalp massage, etc.). However, Western Massage can be broadly grouped into three camps, sports massage, well-being massage and erotic massage. Sports massage aims to get the athlete in fit shape and ensure superior performance. Creating a certain type of ambience with candles, colours, incense or music is very important to well-being and erotic massage but almost totally absent in sports massage. The camp of well-being massage displays the widest divergence in different types of derivative forms like aromatherapy, reflexology or deep tissue massage.

Sensuous massage or erotic massage has been a derivative of traditional massage for centuries in all parts of the world but to date there is no sensuous or erotic Shiatsu therapy.

Shiatsu and Western massage do have common ground but differ much in theory, philosophy and practice. However, in spite of the differences, the aim of both systems is the same - a balanced, healthy and happy individual.

References:

• Tokujiro Namikoshi, Japanese Finger-Pressure Therapy Shiatsu. Japan Publishing - (1974)


• Tokujiro Namikoshi, SHIATSU; HEALTH AND VITALITY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Japan Publishing - (1971)


• The Canadian College of Shiatsu Therapy


• The Shiatsupractor Association of Canada

Massage can be used for relaxation, stimulation or rehabilitation of the whole body, or just part of it. Although all too often we only ever treat ourselves to a massage therapy when our bodies are exhausted and we have over exerted ourselves and we are feeling a bit burnt out...

Massage is a technique derived from many cultures, used for various reasons; comfort, touch, communication and a safe non threatening natural therapy, whatever the power of touch is of real benefit and can heal the mind body and soul... So treating ourselves to regular massage therapies and experiencing all the various types of treatments available is of real benefit to our well being.

There are so many benefits to a good massage treatment, and if added to our routine of body maintenance it can help us in so many ways, the real pick you up treatment, the buzz and the healing and nurturing effects of a good massage are so beneficial...experience it for yourself.

Soothing- for most of us we hold and retain all the everyday stress we encounter and the soothing touch of massage when applied to the body can reduce stress and improve our general well being. A massage therapy that combines a soothing touch when applied with oils and creams can simply smooth away all our stress and lift our mood.

Comforting - the power of touch is so comforting, from all ages we all appreciate the comfort gained from touch, as children when we fell and hurt ourselves the gentle touch from our parents comforted us and " massaged " away the pain and discomfort... even animals licking their wounds and healing the pain... never under estimate the comfort of touch. When we are upset and anxious, following bereavement or relationship stress and anxiety, massage therapies can comfort us and leave us feeling safe and secure. It's a natural therapy and the power of touch can be the strongest non-invasive therapy.

Physiological - In addition to all the psychological benefits of massage there are all the true physical benefits... massage can improve the circulation, remove dead skin cells, remove toxins improving the lymphatic system, and encourage better breathing and all of these benefits can be achieved through regular body massage treatments.

Clients all enjoy different types of massage, with so many to choose from and all of these treatments offering their own benefit, do some research and book a few types of massage to see which type works best for you.

Some of the more gentle therapies such as aromatherapy massage, or lymphatic drainage massage can improve the circulation, remove toxins and combined with the power of aromatic essential oils can soothe, uplift, energise, relax or stimulate.

Stronger massage therapies like deep tissue massage or sport massage is beneficial for releasing the tension in the muscle and for restoring the balance. After any sports injury the massage therapy will improve the muscle flexibility and reduce swelling and assist the body to recover and repair the injury that has been sustained.

So there are real benefits to massage treatments, and more and more clients are seeing the improvement in their well being, the improved sleep patterns, reduction in stress, and better muscular structure.

If you have never experienced massage it's not too late...

There are many therapists that can visit your home; there are therapists that work from health clubs, spas or home studio. Whatever type of massage treatment you want, if you feel more comfortable with a male or a female therapist, even speak to your friends, often first timers feel more comfortable with a therapist that has been recommended to them.

Go on book yourself a massage and experience the benefits for yourself.

Massage therapy is a natural medical remedy for many ailments like chronic headaches, insomnia, constipation, joint pains, and many more. According to a trusted massage spa is Sarasota, FL, regular sessions of therapeutic massage can help increase your chances of avoiding colds and muscle fatigue by 4 times.

Different massage techniques can target different conditions. Dr. Annie Bond of Sarasota explained some of the common massage techniques that help improve certain physical conditions.

SWEDISH MASSAGE uses soothing, tapping and kneading strokes to work the entire body, relieving muscle tension and loosening sore joints. Swedish massage therapists use five basic strokes for the treatment. They are effleurage-stroking; petrissage-muscles are lightly grabbed and lifted; friction-thumbs and fingertips work in deep circles into the thickest part of muscles; tapotement-chopping beating, and tapping strokes; and vibration-fingers are pressed or flattened firmly on a muscle, then the area is shaken rapidly for a few seconds. A According to a Venice, FL massage therapist, Swedish massage is ideal for people experiencing insomnia and muscle fatigue.

DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE targets chronic tension in muscles that lie far below the surface of your body. You have five layers of muscle in your back, and most massages like the Swedish massage, can only reach the first two layers. A deep tissue massage uses slow strokes, direct pressure or friction movements that go across the grain of the muscles. Massage therapists will use their fingers, thumbs or occasionally even elbows to apply the needed pressure. According to one massage spa in Sarasota, many patients feel sore after a deep tissue treatment, but this is just a natural reaction of the body to the heavy and slow strokes.

SPORTS MASSAGES are designed to help athletes train and perform better. The techniques are similar to those in Swedish and deep tissue massage, but a Sarasota therapist says a sports massage has been adapted to meet the athlete's special needs. Pre-competition massage can help warm up muscles and improve circulation before competition, but it can also energize or relax an athlete and help him focus on the competition. Post-competition sports massage can detoxify the body of waste products and hasten recovery.

REFLEXOLOGY is a bit different from most massages because it focuses on vital points on our hands and feet. This massage technique works with the idea that there are specific points on our hands and feet, directly connected to our organs like the liver, heart, lungs, etc. Reflexology manipulates these points in order to improve the functions of our organs or even treat it from its dysfunction. However, a Sarasota massage spa suggests that pregnant women avoid this massage because it could induce labor.

PREGNANCY MASSAGE is designed, strictly for the pregnant woman. This massage is also known as a prenatal massage. A Venice, FL massage therapist says the technique help pregnant women get through the common pains of pregnancy like back ache, leg cramps, headaches, and anxiety. Using a special massage table that can accommodate the growing belly, the therapist then targets the lower back, the legs, and neck, and the head. One Sarasota therapist reiterates the importance of avoiding the hands and feet during a pregnancy massage because it can cause premature labor.

Getting a therapeutic massage one a month can sometimes make all the difference. Make sure you subscribe the help of a professional Sarasota massage therapist before you set an appointment.

Frozen shoulder is the condition of pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint accompanied by loss of motion. An inflammation in or around the shoulder may trigger the body's normal defensive response of stiffness. When the shoulder becomes stiff, it becomes too painful too move. Someone with frozen shoulder may not be able to reach above and over the head or touch the back.

While there is no definite cause of frozen shoulder, over 90 percent of patients experience full recovery. Doctors recommend physical therapy for frozen shoulder as the best treatment.

Physical therapy for frozen shoulder starts with reducing the pain and stiffness of the shoulder and increasing blood circulation through heat. One effective way of the heating method is taking a 10-minute hot shower or bath. Alternatively, the physical therapist may apply heat to your shoulder locally with the use of heating pads, wraps or towels. Hot water bottles and heat creams and ointments may also be used.

Shoulder massage is also a good way to start physical therapy for frozen shoulder as it increases the flow of blood and oxygen into the area. Once pain is reduced either through heating or through massage, the therapist proceeds with a series of physical therapy exercises.

In physical therapy for frozen shoulder, you will first perform weight and non-weight stretching exercises to improve the flexibility of your shoulder joint. The common exercises include arm swing with weights, arm raise, overhead stretch, stretching your arms across your body, and towel stretch.

It is important to note that during these stretching exercises, you should feel tension but you should not overstretch your shoulder to the point where you feel pain or severe discomfort. These exercises are done once or twice daily until the shoulder restores its normal range of movement.

Your doctor will advise you should you need to perform other exercises to tone and strengthen your shoulder muscles such as rotation exercises. Remember not to force movement in your shoulder. This does not mean you should not move it at all but instead to limit activities that may further injure your shoulder.

If physical therapy for frozen shoulder does not work for you, your doctor may recommend surgical treatment. The good news is physical therapy for frozen shoulder is usually enough for patients to get effective results that improve with time. If you have frozen shoulder, consult a physical therapist and get the treatment that you need.

Treatment for aching bones, joints and  muscles is the sole specialty of the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin. The Glendale, Wis.-based hospital sees a steady stream of patients who require physical and occupational therapy. Because of high patient demand, the hospital's state-of-the-art rehabilitation clinic grew from having a handful of therapists on staff to having 16 clinicians in just a few years. During the growth spurt, the clinic experienced problems with its manual processes for information management. Therapy clinic scheduling was the thorniest challenge. Patients were turning up for appointments that weren't on the books.

Front-desk staff and clinicians were at odds over who was to blame. Todd Heikkinen, director of rehabilitation services, decided it was time to toss the clinic's scheduling books in favor of a physical therapy software system. As a result, those errors have fallen off to near zero. What's more, the department has witnessed an 80 percent improvement in the timeliness and accuracy of therapist documentation by implementing the therapy software. The new system also came with the unexpected advantage of ensuring complete accuracy in therapist billing and coding, says Heikkinen. He calls that fact huge and says it allows him to rest easy about the prospect of a visit from JCAHO or Medicare.

The Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin is a relatively young facility, and since they were only beginning with a small clinic (a staff of six or seven clinicians), the hospital's rehabilitation department chugged along with old-fashioned information management processes. "We used paper scheduling books and paper charts," says Heikkinen. "All of our statistics were compiled manually out of the scheduling books." The paper-based system wasn't ideal, but it worked - for a time. With each new therapist hired, however, the office began to experience an exponential increase in scheduling errors.

Just eight months after opening its doors, the clinic reached a crisis point with its manual recordkeeping methods. It needed an automated information management solution, and fast. "Front desk employees had to deal with patients who were coming in at incorrect times or whose appointments had been erased," says Heikkinen. "It created friction between patients, the front desk and clinicians. These errors triggered tense moments." When the clinic's staff reached critical mass at about 14 or 15 therapists, the system had cracked. "The small systems just weren't working for us anymore," says Heikkinen.

Heikkinen wanted a new system that would improve the accuracy and dependability of the clinic's scheduling system. He also wanted help monitoring the clinic's workflow and performance. Finally, he hoped to find a system whose reporting capabilities would allow him to provide an accurate portrait of the practice - on demand - to Orthopaedic Hospital's CEO and owners. "My concern was for accuracy above all else," says Heikkinen. "I wanted a fail-safe system for therapy scheduling, clinical documentation and administration." The industry movement toward an electronic health record also swayed Heikkinen's decision. "I don't think anyone disagrees that the electronic health record is going to be a standard feature everywhere in a short period of time," he says. "It's important not to end up so far behind that it's difficult to catch up."

After examining several products, Heikkinen selected a comprehensive physical therapy software  to solve his clinic's scheduling woes and other errorprone processes. He found a system that had everything he wanted. Some products he looked at had great scheduling programs; others had great documentation modules. But there was only one proven software program superior in tying all of the administrative and clinical information management aspects together.  He had found a therapy software system that had seamless integration.

What the front desk enters into the system automatically appears in the clinicians' systems and in the administrator's system. There's no duplication of data entry or room for more errors. It all happens behind the scenes electronically in one unified suite of software. Four or five key staff members attended a demonstration for the software to confirmed Heikkinen's choice.  As clinicians, they particularly liked the point-and-click menu system, which meant they wouldn't have to type so much. "They appreciated being able to click boxes instead of typing sentences," says Heikkinen. "The knowledge base is very thorough. It's rare that a clinician would have to type in a sentence that doesn't fit the normal flow of the knowledge base." Some of the systems Heikkinen rejected had clunky interfaces that required clinicians to use a lot of keyboard commands. "Those systems would never fly at my practice," he says.

After implementing the software, the rehabilitation clinic decided to eliminate even more manual processes. It asked the software company to integrate to the main hospital system, one for medical records and one for billing. "We were an island that was functioning well, but to get billing information from the rehab software to our hospital system, was a manual process," says Heikkinen. The software interface connected to the hospital's document management system. Medical records transfers that once required 100 hours of labor now took only 20 minutes with the  interface.

Accuracy in therapy scheduling and in other aspects of clinical information management has improved nearly to the point of perfection since the clinic implemented a physical therapy software system.   "Errors are obviously still going to occur," says Heikkinen, "but with this system, we can find out where the process is breaking down and deal with it." Heikkinen has noticed improvements in clinic productivity, even though this was not an explicit goal of the implementation. Therapists who were quick on paper are "fast as lightening on the therapy software," he says. However, those who always took a lot of time to complete their paperwork still take a lot of time on the electronic system. Nevertheless, says Heikkinen, the clinic has seen an 80 percent improvement in the timeliness and accuracy of therapists' documentation. Moreover, the system makes it easy to monitor workflow.  

Physical Therapy Software helps root out any issues before they turn into bigger problems, but with paper charts there's no way to know if somebody's beginning to drown." As director of the rehabilitation department, Heikkinen may be asked at any time to give a snapshot of his service line's business to the CEO or other top executives. The software allows him to do that. Productivity figures, referral patterns and reimbursement rates are just a few of the reports available at his fingertips. "With this therapy software, I can generate a report on anything I want to see, for any time frame, within three or four keystrokes," says Heikkinen. "The system gives me hard numbers to show exactly how the practice is doing. With a manual practice that's impossible. You'd be looking at chart audits, and only dealing with a rough estimation."

One benefit of the rehab software that surprised Heikkinen is its accuracy in therapist billing and coding. The importance of this feature is huge, he says. While working for previous employers, he always dreaded the moment when JCAHO or Medicare would come around to do their inspections. What if they pulled the one chart showing how a therapist billed four units instead of two? "With our new therapy software, there's literally zero concern over that issue," says Heikkinen. "All a therapist has to do is enter what they did with the patient. The software automatically converts that into the proper billing amount. It's all perfectly done, every time."

As a new parent it is daunting knowing exactly what activity to introduce to your baby and what value it will bring to your baby's life. You want to give your baby the best, the best love care and attention. Yet it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available to you. I remember when my daughters were new-born I was so confused about the array of baby products available...do you buy this gadget, feed your baby this formula or take her to every mother-baby group....It was all too much. I wanted something, simple, affordable, and brought joy to the parenting process. That is why I started baby massage.

What Is Baby /Infant Massage?

Baby massage consists of a series of gentle simple stroking movements over your baby's body. You can undress your baby and massage her as part of her daily care routine or you can slip in a quick massage during the day when she is wearing her clothes.

What Are The Benefits Of Baby Massage?

If you have ever received a massage you will know how relax, energised and stretched you feel afterwards. Baby massage has the same benefit for your baby.

There are many physical and psychological benefits from giving your baby a gentle massage.

Five Main Benefits of Baby Massage

1. Improves Confidence. Baby massage helps you to get used to touching your baby. If you are apprehensive or unsure how to handle your baby, giving her a simple massage can help you feel more confident and assured in your ability to carry and touch your baby.

2. Enhances Communication. Every time you massage your baby, you pick up non verbal and verbal cues about how they feel and what parts of their body like stroking. This information is useful if your baby feels distressed, unhappy or cold. You learn how to respond quicker to their needs.

3.Eases Parental Stress. Parenting is stressful and hard work. Giving your baby a massage allows you time to sit down, relax and enjoy quiet time with your baby. The more relaxed and comfortable you are it becomes easier for your baby to settle and enjoy a good nights sleep. A definite boom for you.

4.Stimulates Circulation and Digestion. As you massage your baby you help to stimulate all her bodily systems especially the digestive and nervous system. This makes it easier for your baby to settle and be contented. Feeding and sleeping play a central role in your baby's life. So the easier it is for your daughter to digest her food and sleep the happier she grows.

5.Encourages Bonding.If you had a difficult birth or your baby has a medical problem or you suffer from post natal depression, it is hard to bond with your baby. Massaging encourages you to slowly get used to looking after your baby and spending quality time with her.

Are There Are Disadvantages Of Baby Massage?

Although massage is fine, it is best to wait till your baby has had their 6-8 weeks check before progressing on more advance massage techniques involving moving the hips. Always listen and respect your baby. if at any time they look distressed or uncomfortable, stop what you are doing and give them time to readjust and settle down.

As your baby grows you can still give them a massage. My "babies" are now teenagers yet they still love me giving them their hand or foot massage as part of their "wind down- bedtime routine!".

I urge you to find out more about the benefits of baby massage. Maybe there is a class near you or you can look online for in-depth articles and videos.

What is the largest joint in our body? Answer: The Knee.

The knee is the connecting point of a total of three bones in our legs: the lower end of the thigh bone or the femur, the upper end of the shinbone or the tibia, and the knee cap or the patella. Other parts of the knee are the cartilage or the shock absorbing cushions in between muscles, the tendons or the cords connecting muscles to bones, and the ligament or the bands connecting our bones to other bones. Any damage to all of these parts are accounted for by a Knee physical therapy, and just the ligament alone is so vulnerable to pulling, stretching and tearing, and with each knee having four major supporting ligaments: the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL at the center of knee, the posterior cruciate ligament or PCL also at the center, the lateral collateral ligament or LCL at the outer knee, and the medial collateral ligament or MCL at the inner knee - Oh the pains of a sprain! and much more other knee ailments. Knee physical therapy deals with damages to all these bones and parts altogether - so what better reason to take care of it!

Knee physical therapy injury prevention itself does so much in providing a better health for our knees. Being one of the most easily injured joints in the human body, the knee rightly deserves its warm- ups, before it lies fateful to Cartilage Injuries, Chrondromalacia, Tendon Injuries, Iliotibial Band Syndrome, Osgood-Schlatter Disease, Osteochondritis Dissecans, Plica Syndrome, or Arthritis.

If you are already suffering from any of these, then you should be in luck for knee physical therapy. Whether you are lying cooperatively on an injury RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation), or just watching your way for tripping stones, whether you have knee injury or knee pain, recovering from injury, or plainly trying to avoid it - Knee physical therapy can handle it all, as long as you get it immediately.

Yes there are other procedures to hold your back beyond a knee physical therapy, yet should you go that extra mile of surgery, arthroscopy, or knee replacement? Knee physical therapy offers easy access to prevention, emergency, or rehabilitation. Following simpler processes such as evaluation, therapy, education, and aftercare, knee physical therapy can literally make you good to go. Try to jump, stand, run, and pivot - jump for joy if you have a healthy knee!

Chiropractic, also chiropraxis, is derived from the Greek words cheir meaning hand, and practikos meaning to do or efficient. In simpler terms, it means done by hand. Chiropractic care is a therapeutic system based on the belief that physical disorders are a result of a malfunctioning nervous system. It also has as its doctrine that the body is self-healing. Spinal manipulation is the primary treatment that chiropractors employ because it is theorized that the realignment of the spinal cord will restore a person's normal health condition.

According to Chapman-Smith, Chiropractic is classified as complementary and alternative medicine or CAM. It is non pharmaceutical and nonsurgical. However, it should always be kept in mind that it may never replace the benefits of drugs and surgery in cases where these are the most viable options to get well.

Originally, chiropractic has existed in many cultures long before the 19th century, but Daniel D. Palmer, a grocer and a magnetic healer, is famous for the technique. He founded the modern chiropractic theory during the 1890s and a school seven years later. In his theory, Palmer stresses that all communication is directly associated with the spine, and its misalignment can cause physical disorders relating to the spine and other body parts.

After his death, his son B.J. carried on his work. Faculty member from the college he has established were divided over the role of sublaxation in disease. Sublaxation is a descriptive method of identifying and/or describing the signs and symptoms of the spinal column. It is usually a term common to straight chiropractors.

Neuromusculoskeletal disorders often result to low back pain, high blood pressure and headache and in chiropractic; these are treated via manual/physical therapy, exercise programs, diet management and lifestyle counseling. Manual/physical therapy may cause muscle spasms and acute muscular pains, but these go away in a matter of days after therapy and are deemed harmless side effects.

Traditionally, chiropractors aren't recognized by the medical community, but since its practice has been backed up by science, medical associations have come to acknowledge it benefits for ailing patients. Today, chiropractic claims its place in the medical world, although not as solid a background it has in the hospital scene, more doctors refer to this treatment as effective. Also, since it is non pharmaceutical and non surgical, patients or people have become more willing to try its benefits. Chiropractors are usually licensed to do the job. They have gone intense training and have been certified to practice.

Massage therapists often work with clients who have physical and mental disabilities, and they should be prepared to identify potential contraindications in order to best provide massage therapy to this population. Often, special needs clients may not disclose medical ailments or their need for accommodation until they arrive for the appointment, so it is up to massage therapists to be well educated about situations when it is, and when it is not appropriate to provide massage therapy services.

Special Needs

The term "special needs" is broad, and encompasses a large spectrum of minor to severe needs ranging from mobility assistance, to cognitive impairments, to clients with medical ailments. When special needs clients make an appointment for a massage therapy, they often (but sometimes do not) disclose that they have a physiological or mental impairment that may require special assistance. For massage therapists, it is best to be aware and prepared to work with clients who require additional attention and techniques to provide a quality massage while not compromising the client's health or safety.

Educating Yourself

How would you work with special needs clients who require a wheelchair for mobility? How will you approach treatment with a client who has had a full skin graft on his or her back? How do you provide massage therapy to a client with a history of seizures? For many massage therapists, the answers to these questions are often guesses at best, and educating yourself about possible special-needs situations can help you become knowledge and prepare for any unforeseen needs and potential contraindications.

For example, special needs clients with mobility issues may not be able to assume a supine or prone position on a conventional massage table to receive massage therapy. While a massage chair is a possible alternative, some clients may not want to / be able to move from their wheelchair and must be treated in a seated position. By being prepared with supportive pillows and bolsters, massage therapists can massage a client while they are in a comfortable position in their own chair. Be sure to educate your client about what you are doing during the massage therapy session, and why you are doing it. When working with special needs clients, ensuring their emotional and physical comfort should be one of your highest priorities.

Another example is working with clients with visual or hearing impairments. How will you communicate with your client if it is difficult for them to see or hear you? For clients who are hearing impaired, massage therapists should always know to establish a set of mutually agreed upon hand signals, or have a piece of paper and pen prepared to write down questions or statements. Just because special needs clients may not be able to hear you is no reason to not attempt to communicate things during the massage therapy session like "are you too hot or too cold?" "Is the pressure ok?" "Are you ready to roll over?" As with hearing impairments, massage therapists should also be prepared to modify their method of communication with special needs clients who have visual impairments. Before you begin the massage, describe the room, assist the client to the table, and explain where everything is. Do not move anything once you have described the layout, as this can be disorienting to your client. During a massage therapy session, clearly describe everything you are about to do, and give the client a moment to give his or her consent.

One more example is working with special needs clients who have medical conditions that may be ambiguous to the massage therapist. In school, massage therapists are educated about working with clients with autoimmune disorders, and communicative diseases. But what about clients with full-back skin grafts? What about a client who discloses that she occasionally has seizures? What about working with a terminally ill client? These special needs clients are examples of conditions that massage therapists will likely encounter during their practice, and each therapist should anticipate these concerns and prepare accordingly to provide quality massage therapy.

Preparing Your Practice for Special Needs Clients

For a standard massage therapy session, many massage therapists have a room set up with at least a table, a bolster, extra sheets, candles, and a headrest. But fewer massage therapists have a closet full of bolsters of various shapes (triangular, thin, thick, circular, flat), a massage chair to accommodate clients who cannot lie supine or prone, lights that can dim or brighten depending on a client's visual needs, or an erasable board to communicate with clients with hearing impairments.

Physically preparing accessories and the layout of your room for a massage therapy session can increase the positive experience had by special needs clients exponentially. Additionally, massage therapists should consider how clients will even get to your massage room. Are the hallways in your practice large enough to accommodate clients of all sizes, and clients in wheelchairs? Is your practice ADA compliant with stairs and a ramp to the front door and a method of moving from one floor to another such as an elevator?

Finally, are you advertising that your massage therapy practice is welcoming of special needs clients? By writing a sentence on your website such as "I am pleased to work with all clients, and request that you inform me of any special needs prior to making your appointment. I appreciate this extra time you give me to arrange your massage room, make a spot for any assistance animals, and prepare to provide you with a quality massage", massage therapists can let everyone know that they provide massage for special needs clients.

Continuing Education

As previously stated, "special needs" is a broad term and encompasses many medical, emotional, and physiological needs. There is a wealth of printed material about providing massage therapy to special needs clients, and these should be read by massage therapists to best prepare to accommodate all clients. Additionally, always understand that the client you are working with knows their condition better than anyone (including you). Ask them about prior massage treatments, and what did and did not work for them in the past. Always be mindful that they are above all people and clients with special needs - not a problem or a challenge to overcome.

More massage schools are offering continuing education courses about accommodating special needs clients, and massage therapists often have the chance to learn about ADA compliance, medical contraindications, complementary therapies, medical massage, and much more. It is always a good idea to educate yourself to stay informed about best practices to serve all clients. Subscribe (if you do not already) to a trade journal or newsletter about special needs massage. Therapists should read articles on reputable message boards about accommodating special needs clients, and always be prepared to identify potential complications in order to give the best massage therapy possible.