Physical Therapy Schools|Benefits Of Massage Therapy Schools

If you have Parkinson's, you would know that it is a neurologic disorder that causes your brain to have difficulty in controlling muscle movements. Most physicians would claim that it has no direct cure, and would prescribe various drugs to control symptoms. But apart from this it is also important that some other methods, such as physical therapy for Parkinson's disease, are done in order for improvements to surface.

Treatment for Parkinsons however, does not target the root cause of the disease, but instead aims to manage symptoms by decreasing them through various types of drugs. Your doctor may wait for your symptoms to really become a hindrance to your activities before prescribing drugs.

What physical therapy for Parkinsons disease does is that it helps you compensate for movement difficulties. A therapist may teach you how to control your muscles to be able to do basic activities, like picking up objects.

This type of non-pharmacologic therapy along with a change in lifestyle may not promise to eliminate all symptoms, but are still very important to help improve your condition. After all, you cannot rely too much on your prescribed drugs as they may add toxicity to your body.

With physical therapy for Parkinson's disease, you are empowered to naturally address your symptoms like problems in coordination, pain, and weakness. And if partnered with much more natural methods such as a healthy diet, then significant changes may be expected.

This particular illness may be difficult and you cannot rely solely on medications because often times they may do you more harm than help you with your condition. But with practicing physical therapy for Parkinsons disease [http://parkinsons-disease-treatment.blogspot.com/2007/09/parkinsons-alternative-treatment.html] and adopting other natural methods, you are one step forward to taking control of your condition.

Some pregnant mums have it easy. Yet others have to go through many hours of labour.

But one thing's for sure. After the delivery process, many are just plain tired. In addition, having to breastfeed and nurse a newborn several times a night can be exhausting.

The new mum today does not have much time to rest and relax during her confinement period at home. She needs to get back to work pretty quickly and that means, facing added pressure to lose weight so that she can fit back to her office wear.

Post-natal massage therapy may just be the solution to her needs. Here are 6 top benefits of post-natal massage therapy:

1. Relaxation

2. Stress Relief

3. Relieves aches on shoulders or neck

4. Hasten the reduction of fluid retention

5. Help uterus to shrink to original size

6. Reduce cellulite and help to tone up the body.

In many parts of Asia, many women before delivery would in fact, prebook sessions with an Indonesian massage therapist for post-natal massage. The treatment is a traditional one which has been handed down several generations and even practiced today. This treatment involves the use of a massage oil applied to the stomach and a tummy wrap (bengkung), essentially a cotton cloth of several metres. The bengkung is used to wrap the body so as to push up the uterus, clear water retention, wind, spasm, shrinks the tummy and helps to reduce weight. Post-natal massage is usually done in the privacy of one's own home.

For a mother that has delivered her baby naturally, it is generally pretty safe to go for a post-natal massage. For those that delivered by caesarian, be sure to consult your professional massage therapist or your doctor first. Most in fact, would recommend that you wait a few more weeks before proceeding with a post-natal massage.

Post-natal massage provides a sense of continuing comfort for the new mother. The aim of this massage is to give nurturing and emotional support as well as alleviate the muscle strain of labor and childbirth. Some post natal massage therapies also come with a detoxification ritual that rids the midriff of post birth bagginess.

In some instances, post-natal massage can bring about a much shapelier silhouette, compared to the one just before pregnancy!

Learning Deep Tissue Massage can help set you apart from many of the other massage therapists at spas or massage franchises and help you find a job in massage. There is a very big misunderstanding in the massage profession as to what is deep tissue massage. It is not just applying deep pressure to the body during a massage. There is more skill involved in giving a good deep tissue massage. Most spas and franchises just think it is applying more pressure.

First off it should not be painful to a client. It also should not be hard on your body. Doing this type of work correctly you will be able to access deeper muscles of the body when you learn to relax more and not use force. Using force will make people resist more causing more tension.

Deep tissue massage is working with the deeper muscles of the body and being able to work on them in a way that lengthens them using awareness, intent and your own body weight. You will learn to "use the force" like Luke in "Star Wars". It takes more than a weekend workshop to learn this type of massage. It takes a few years of practice and training or working in an apprenticeship program to be effective in this modality.

When you really know how to give a good deep tissue massage, it is an almost sure-fired way to be a successful massage therapist. People love a good effective massage. You will learn to use your knuckles, elbows, fist and fingertips and learn how to use good body mechanics to work more effectively. Clients will feel invigorated and will leave with less pain, making you look good.

It seems like this question is coming up more and more thanks in part to a lot of gloom and doom stories in the press about tough conditions facing many spas because of the economic climate of the past few years. Based on these, put out the fear that going to a massage therapy school will be a big mistake. Well, let me tell you that massage therapy's death has been greatly exaggerated. Here, we take a look at several reasons why this is the case and why massage therapy school is the right choice for you.

1. No decisions on a career should be made based on short term conditions.

This type of thinking should make a lot of sense as it is where will the field or job prospects be 10 years from now, not where is it right now that matters. In addition, we are already starting to bounce back from the tough economic times of a couple of years ago and we have already seen its worst impact on the industry. Therefore, one should not be scared off by these gloom and doom stories as the storm has now passed. Instead, we are left with a great deal of opportunity as these tough times have kept others from becoming massage therapists giving you an opportunity to fill that void.

2. Massage therapy is anything but an ordinary job.

For those who really want to become a massage therapist, you will find that the opportunities are there. You will also find that it is not like other jobs which is partly why many find it so appealing. No cubicles for you or a less than ideal working environment. Instead, you will likely find yourself working in very pleasing environments that are designed to keep the stress of everyone low making them a great place to work. They also can be very luxurious in design as spas and luxurious hotels spare little expense to make the "workplace" look amazing to guests. Obviously, many people like the prospect of working in these environments over a stuffy office space.

3. Going to school can improve your skills and get you qualified.

The same great reasons to go to any school are that it gives you the chance to learn and make mistakes in a safe environment. This is important because it will help you build up your confidence and abilities. You will also feel confident in being able to pass the certification exams need to practice in your state. Going to school can be a great way in ensuring you will pass on the first try.

By keeping these different tips in mind, you should have clear understanding of why massage therapy school could be the beginning of a great career as a massage therapist.

Massage is an integral part of many physical rehabilitation programs and the benefits of massage provide relief to people from all walks of life.

Here we will go through the benefits of massage and how they can help anyone in terms of healing and relaxation.

What is Massage?

The benefits of massage as a healing therapy date back 4,000 years when massage was used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure a number of conditions.

Massage is a 'hands-on' therapy. There are many variations, ranging from a gentle stoking and kneading of muscles to firmer, deeper, manual techniques.

The benefits of massage affect the body as a whole and influences the activity of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems.

Types of Massage

There are several types of massage available that offer different benefits.

o Aromatherapy Massage: Essential oils from plants are massaged into the skin in order to enhance the healing and relaxing effects of massage;

o Lymphatic Massage: Light, rhythmic strokes are used to improve the flow of lymph throughout the body;

o Reflexology: Specialized thumb and finger techniques are applied to the hands or feet;

o Shiatsu: Gentle finger and hand pressure are applied to specific points on the body to relieve pain and enhance the flow of energy through the body's energy pathways;

o Swedish Massage: A variety of strokes and pressure techniques are used to enhance the flow of blood to the heart, remove waste products from the tissues, stretch ligaments and tendons, and ease physical and emotional tension.

Other massage treatments, which may be more specialized include:

o Craniosacral Massage: Gentle pressure is applied to the head and spine to correct imbalances and restore the flow of cerebrospinal fluid;

o Myofascial Release: Gentle pressure and body positioning are used to relax and stretch the muscles, fascia and related structures;

o Polarity Therapy: A form of energy healing, used to stimulate and balance the flow of energy within the body to enhance health and well-being;

o Rolfing: Pressure is applied to the fascia to stretch, lengthen and make it more flexible, realigning the body so that it conserves energy, releases tension, and functions better;

o Sports Massage: Often used on professional athletes and other active individuals to enhance performance and prevent and treat sports-related injuries;

o Trigger Point Massage: Pressure is applied to "trigger points" (tender areas where the muscles have been damaged) to alleviate muscle spasms and pain.
Benefits of Massage - How can massage help me?

The benefits of massage are extensive and include the ability to reduce stress, relieve muscle tension and evoke feelings of calmness and relaxation.

Growing evidence suggests that if you allow regular periods of massage in your schedule you will gain a sense of wellbeing be fitter and be healthier in mind and body.
The benefits of massage include:

o Enhanced flexibility and circulation

o Encourages lymphatic flow

o Assists venous flow of blood

o Reduces edema

o Stimulates sensory receptors of the skin and subcutaneous tissues

o Improved self-esteem

o Provides gentle stretching of the tissues

o Encourages endorphin release

o Stimulates or soothes nerves

Massage isn't capable of curing any serious or life-threatening medical disorder. The benefits of massage however, can provide welcome relief from back pain, muscle pain, headache and symptomatic relief of some psychological disorders.

Benefits of Massage - is it safe for everyone?

In general, massage is considered relatively safe.

However certain medical conditions require caution.

These include cardiovascular conditions and heart disease especially in cases of thrombosis, phlebitis and oedema.

Pregnant women should avoid massage on the abdomen during the first three months of pregnancy when the risk of miscarriage is highest.

After this period the benefits of massage during pregnancy can be enjoyed and many practitioners specialize in this area.

If you are in any doubt, check with a qualified medical practitioner before embarking on a course of massage therapy.

Benefits of massage - finding a therapist

There are many different ways that you can enjoy the benefits of massage.

You can choose from traditional couch massage, chair massage, normally carried out in the office or similar location, or have a therapist come to your home so that you can enjoy the benefits of massage in your own surroundings.

The industry is an unregulated activity so ensure you use a reputable organization and check that they have the necessary experience in the discipline before trying massage treatment for yourself.

Craniosacral massage is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the function of the craniosacral system.

It is a form of healing therapy, we look at the benefits of craniosacral massage and examine the benefits of it in more detail.

What is the Craniosacral System?

The Craniosacral system is a physiological system like the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and provides the physical environment in which the brain and spinal cord develop and function.

The membranes and cerebrospinal fluid of the craniosacral system surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Craniosacral Massage therapy deals with the bones of the head, spinal column, sacrum and the underlying structures.

This type of massage employs a very light touch and uses specifically designed techniques to release restrictions and compression in these areas.

Craniosacral Massage - How Does it Work?

Craniosacral massage taps into the inherent wisdom of the body which allows it to heal itself where possible.

The craniosacral system has a rhythm that can be felt throughout the body. Craniosacral massage therapists use a very light, soft touch to monitor this rhythm and pinpoint sources of obstruction and stress in the body.

Once located the therapist will assist the natural movement and release of the restriction to help the body self correct.

Craniosacral massage therapy can be used to treat childhood conditions such as poor sleep, restlessness, colic and ear infections.

It is a gentle and non-invasive therapy and can be used to treat babies while they are asleep.

Craniosacral Massage - Is it safe for Everyone?

Craniocascral massage is safe if performed for the right condition.

As with most massage treatments there are some medical conditions that are contra indicated and craniosacral massage should not be recommended.

These include conditions where a variation and/or slight increase in intracranial pressure would cause instability.

Acute aneurysm, cerebral hemorrhage or other pre-existing severe bleeding disorders are examples of conditions that could be affected by small intracranial pressure changes.

It is advisable to consult your medical practitioner before embarking on a course of treatment.

Craniosacral Massage - What are the Benefits?

Due to its influence on the functioning of the central nervous system, craniosacral massage benefits the body in a number of ways.

It is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease and alleviate a wide range of specific medical conditions including:

o Chronic back and neck pain

o Headache

o Tension

o Migraine

o Autism

o Chronic Fatigue

o Post traumatic stress disorder

o Emotional difficulties

Craniosacral massage has also proved effective in treating stress related dysfunctions and various sensory disorders.
What Happens during a Session?

As with most massage treatment, craniosacral massage usually takes place in a quiet, private setting.
During the massage you will remain fully clothed and it is recommended that you wear comfortable clothing. Most people choose to remove their shoes.

You will be asked to recline on a massage couch or treatment table. The practitioner sits or stands and
will move around between the client's head, torso and feet.

Some therapists may use a light organic oil to facilitate the massage.

Finding a qualified therapist

To get the best results from a craniosacral massage, seek out a suitably trained and qualified therapist who you feel comfortable with.

More and more massage therapists and osteopaths are incorporating some craniosacral massage techniques into their treatments and you should find craniosacral massage available at spas, salons and healthclubs.

Parents of a child with Down syndrome have their hands full just trying to get used to their child's condition. What could get them more dubious is when someone suggests that their child should have a physical therapist. Why physical therapy? Won't he learn to walk and run, just like other children do?

Down syndrome and physical therapy may be an odd pair yet the parent should realize the inherent benefits that physical therapy could offer. First of all, the arrangement of Down syndrome and physical therapy offers the child one of the most important services he will receive in the early intervention period. It is during this early phase that the Down syndrome and physical therapy match will have the greatest chemistry to improve the child's condition in the future.

Although the limitation of having a child with a Down syndrome and physical therapy as his early treatment is apparently that it does not accelerate the rate at which the child achieves his total motor skill, physical therapy still helps the child in avoiding his development of abnormal compensatory movement patterns. A child having a Down syndrome and physical therapy deficit are nearly certain that they will develop the following compensatory movement patterns: standing and walking with hips in external rotation, knees stiff, feet flat and turned out, sitting with trunk rounded and pelvis tilted back, and standing with a stomach out and back arched, in a more pronounced, difficult, and precarious way.

While it is true that your child is going to learn how to walk eventually and that what is only takes is for you wait more patiently, it would still be more worthwhile if you avoid making that wait wasted. Physical therapy during this development stage is so powerful in preventing impending orthopedic problems in your child once he reaches his adolescence and adulthood. Otherwise his physical functioning will have the tendency to be impaired later in life. Physical therapy can help a child with a Down syndrome by proactively teaching him some optimal movement patterns to developed strength in particular muscles.

And aside from eliminating the compensatory movement patterns that the child with a Down syndrome is prone to, physical therapy can also help the child in attaining a mastery of his total motor development. His total motor development - rolling over, sitting, crawling and walking are the first challenges he will meet in life. Hence this will also be his first area of strength. Once the both of you has learned how to walk, your team will advance to refining the pattern, ultimately allowing you to access community recreation programs like 'gymboree', dance, gymnastics, or any other program that you both would enjoy in.

Once choosing to attend the classes of a physical therapy school you must know already that this will qualify you into learning the clinical traits involved in a therapy and rehabilitation sessions. Apart from this you will learn skills into assisting patients to recover from their injuries.

But one thing you are not taught while attending these classes: how to market your business in case you want to operate in this field with your firm. You won't get the chance to learn how to make your clinic known to various patients who could need your services. And being known is of a great importance if you want for your business to be successful.

A good thing to do this, even if physical therapy school is not teaching you, is to firstly find a job position in this field. In this way you can get in touch with many people, inform them about your plans and what you are planning to provide through your services. It can be a first step to make yourself known while preparing also some business cards to spread them within your community. All these shouldn't stop here, as you would have to maintain a constant plan of implementing and developing your business initiative.

You should be aware of the fact that marketing your physical therapy clinic is a fact that involves various strategies and promotional practices. You must find out the type of marketing that can work successfully for your practice.

Each month many therapy clinics invest a great deal of money on marketing strategies and plans to keep their business going, especially that these ones are not displayed in any of the physical therapy schools. But as many of these strategies are out there, this doesn't mean that each one of them brings good results.

Do not rely on these strategies, such as spending a lot of money on printing expensive colorful brochures that are further spread within doctors' offices. Yours would be just another one piling up with others existing already ahead of you. It is however quite hard to penetrate in a market that is sometimes saturated with these sorts of businesses. Not to mention that is hard to compete with the already established ones.

Instead, try to approach a different marketing strategy that is also not taught within physical therapy schools classes. Try to stand out from all the rest such as specializing in services that are unique and diverse as compared to other clinics.

Night schools can be a way through which you can learn various effective marketing strategies for any kind of business one might run, physical therapy center being as well included. Successful marketers are always the ones to teach these classes allowing business people to learn new advertising methods for their particular business.

There's nothing more relaxing and rewarding than spending time at a day spa! Nonetheless, do you find yourself surprised at the number of different techniques available? Although someone at the spa can help you choose a particular one, it would be much better if you had an idea of what to expect from each one of these different massage approaches.

The primary goal for the various therapy techniques is to promote relaxation; yet each method offers its own unique approach to this goal. Here are some of the more common massage treatments being offered at most day spas so that you can learn what makes each one unique and different from another.

Swedish- Among all the massage techniques known, nothing is more utilized than the Swedish version. This is probably because most people find it more relaxing compared to the other treatments. It consists of 5 basic strokes; the effleurage or the sliding motion; petrissage, the kneading motion; tapotement or tapping; friction; and vibration.

Aromatherapy - Similar to other massage techniques, the goal for aromatherapy is total body relaxation. It is, however, achieved by using the two senses, touch and smell. This method utilizes essential oils that produce a relaxing scent. Most people claim that the combination of the two heightens the degree of relaxation.

Hot Stone- As the name implies, hot stone massage primarily uses hot basalt stones to relax the muscles. Each stone is placed at specific points of the body and with the combination of oil, heat of the stone, and the long, flowing strokes of the therapist, relaxation of the muscles can be achieved.

Deep Tissue - If your body is suffering from severe tension, such as after a physically intense workout, this is one massage that you should try to loosen up those cramping muscles. You do need to be aware that you may endure a little pain from this method as the pressure goes into superficial and deep-layer muscles. In fact, it is common to experience slight pain a day or two after the treatment. Many people find this kind of therapy well worth the initial temporary discomfort.

Thai - Think of this massage technique as an assisted yoga. The goal of this treatment is to promote relaxation by loosening your body's ligaments. This is achieved by a series of assisted compression and stretches as well as light pressure. Throughout the session, all you have to do is lie comfortably on a workout mat on the floor and let the therapist manipulate your body.

Shiatsu- Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage brought to the West because of its therapeutic effects. During a shiatsu session, light pressure from the therapist's thumb will be applied on the energy meridians of your body. Unlike other types of therapy, you can be fully clothed during the session and no oil is used.

Reflexology- Also known as foot massage, this type of treatment is commonly done on both feet but can also be applied to the palms of both hands. Reflexology is actually a form of alternative medicine. Reflexologists believe that certain areas of the foot are connected to different organs in the body. Stimulating these areas is believed to improve the condition of these organs. There is not any medical study to back up these claims; however, there is little doubt that this is an effective way to relax the feet especially if you spend the whole day standing.

Since massage techniques vary quite a bit, hopefully this list will have given you some insight into which particular therapy may be best suited to the needs of your body. Relax and enjoy!

As a massage therapist it is vital to know the various parts of the human body and understand their significance. Two terms that you should know and understand are Golgi tendons and muscle spindle cells. As a massage therapist it is important to know these two sensory neuron proprioceptors and know what they do. The muscle spindle, for instance, is a proprioceptor that relays information regarding changes in the length of muscles. The Golgi tendon is a different type of proprioceptor that relays information regarding muscle tension changes. These two proprioceptors are important for stretching muscles and conditioning muscles. Together they help to protect the muscles from overstretching and becoming injured. First, though, it is important to know what each is and its particular function.

What are Sensory Neurons

Neurons are cells that work to carry messages through the body. The neurons are responsible for telling you to bend your finger or flex your foot. They also make sure that you don't overstretch your muscle or apply too much tension to a tendon, thus avoiding injury. Every neuron is comprised of a cell body and nerve fibers. It is the nerve fibers that receive impulses from other neurons and then send that information to the cell body. The fibers then send the impulses away from the cell body to other neurons.

The Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindle cells are both sensory neurons called proprioceptors. These sensory neurons are located in nerves and tracts but their cell bodies are found just outside of the spinal cord. They move messages from sensory organs in the tendons and muscles to the spinal cord. Some of these neuron fibers are called proprioceptive fibers. These fibers monitor the way that a muscle contracts and stretches as well as measures the tension that is in a tendon and transmit's that information to the spinal cord so that the information can be processed. This feedback allows the body to know positions and postures of the limbs even when they cannot be seen.

What are Golgi Tendons

Golgi tendon organs are located in the collagen fibers of the tendon at the point where the tendon fibers merge with the muscle fibers. While they function in a manner that is similar to muscle spindle cells in that they measure muscle changes, they only become activated when there is contraction of the tendon. They also monitor changes in the tension of the muscle that comes from a change of the muscle length. When the tendon or muscle is overstrained, it sends a message to the muscle which causes it to relax. This is important for preventing injury.

What are Muscle Spindle Cells

Muscle spindle cells are located in the muscle fibers, parallel to them. Their function is to monitor and measure muscle length on a continual basis, both when the muscle is at rest and when it is stretched as well as the speed of changes in muscle length. The muscle spindle cell is located inside the muscle while the Golgi is located at the end of the muscle.

How the Golgi Tendon Organs and Muscle Spindle Cells Work Together

The muscle spindle cells [http://www.think-diagonal.com/category/massage-therapy-bodywork/] have a very effective working relationship with the Golgi tendon organs. The muscle spindle monitors the changes in length and the speed of those changes within the muscle. It sends the message to the spine to convey the information to trigger the stretch reflex. This stretch reflex, for which the Golgi tendon organs are a part, tries to stop the change of the length of the muscle. This is a protective feature of the human body that prevents injury. The more the muscle tries to stretch and the faster it tries to stretch, the more the Golgi tendon organs cause it to contract. Over time, the muscles can be trained so that the stretch reflex allows for more and more of a stretch before contracting.

As a massage therapist it is important that you understand how the Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindle cells work together to prevent injury to muscles. As you work and stretch the muscles of your client, you must pay attention to the response of their body. Learn to detect the muscle spindle cell's span and ability to stretch, but also learn how to detect when the Golgi tendon organs begin to work to prevent injury. Then learn how to work with that push-pull action to help lengthen the muscle and increase the muscle spindle cell's ability to stretch the muscle until the Golgi tendon organs attempt to stop the stretch. This will help you prevent injury to your client and help them work with sports injuries.