BeYOND MASSAGE THERAPY

Medical Tax Deduction

2010-04-19T14:27:00.001-07:00

May 19, 2010

Hon. Ted Menzies, MP

4925 1st Street West
P.O. Box 40
Claresholm, Alberta
T0L 0T0

** MASSAGE THERAPY Should Be An ALLOWABLE MEDICAL EXPENSE **

I ________________________ want to deduct Massage Therapy as an allowable Medical Expense on my 2010 & all future tax returns. Massage therapy is an invaluable part of my healthy lifestyle.

I receive the following benefits from regular massage therapy treatments:

Decreased pain

Fewer visits to medical clinics and hospitals

Activities of Daily Living are easier for me

Increased proactive self care, ie: stretching and exercise

Improved Quality of Life

Decreased use of over the counter painkillers

Increased overall well being

I feel that I am more responsible for my overall health

Other __________________________________________

I will cast my votes for candidates who support a wider access to alternative healthcare modalities including massage therapy. I wish to see more therapies reflected in our allowable tax deductions.

Sincerely,

__________________________________

Print Name

__________________________________ _____________________________

Address Email address

cc Minister of Finance, Hon. James M. Flaherty,

House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6

Medical Deduction

2010-04-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

LETTER CAMPAIGN to make Massage Therapy Tax Deductible

I was shocked to learn that Massage Therapy is not an allowable medical expense for our 2009 taxes, when it WAS allowed in 2008.

How crazy to make massage therapy even less accessible to the many people who need it! This is a step backwards in our efforts to mainstream alternative therapies. We know that massage therapy plays an important role in health care. We need to get this back as a legitimate deduction.

We are the voice of our clients. Let’s flood Parliament with letters from us and all of our clients demanding that massage therapy be allowed as a tax deduction under medical expenses in our 2010 taxes.

Please make copies of the attached letter, http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Abho-QOn64X8ZGZ6a3h3M3BfMGN0YnR3NmM2&hl=en Ask each client fill in their name and address and mail one copy to their local MP and another copy to our Finance Minister Jim Flaterly.

Use this handy website to find your local Member of Parliament based on your postal code: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

We can make a difference. Restoring massage therapy as a tax deduction under Medical Expenses brings us closer to all insurance companies covering massage therapy and closer to being included under provincial healthcare coverage.

Muscle Origin & Insertion Worksheet

2009-10-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

To the Mount Royal University Arthrology class, here is a simple spreadsheet that makes studying the muscles a little easier: Muscle Worksheet

Massage Therapists benefit from knowing the Origin, Insertion and Action of the major muscles.

Hand Stretch

2009-09-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

Hands can cramp when overworked and tired. Our hands are our tools. They're constantly working. In roping cattle, many throws are directed by the hand's position on release. Keep hands and limber enough to completely open your palm and stretch out your fingers when you need to.

FLAT HAND STRETCH: Place both hands on a table or any flat surface. Press evenly through your palms and feel the pull through the length of each finger as you stretch them out. Do not bend your wrist past 90 degrees. Just focus on flattening the knuckles evenly into the table.

Dupeytren's Contracture

2009-09-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Stretch to avoid or slow scar tissue forming in the hands which will severely limit use of the hand. Dupeytren's Contracture is a disease where the membranes in the palm slowly contract, pull the fingers closed making it difficult to completely open the hand.

Surgery is the final treatment, but still not the cure since it usually returns calling for repeat surgery. Therefore self treatment is crucial to maintaining the heath and use of your hand. Stretch and myofascial massage are excellent self care techniques.

Roping Stretch: 4. Tricep Stretch

2009-09-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

Finally stretch deeper into your shoulder by letting one hand fall down your back by bending the elbow. Then add gentle traction either with the opposite hand on the elbow or by using a rope to pull the forearm down. Repeat with the opposite arm. This opens the shoulder even further by stretching the triceps and latissimus dorsi muscles.

Stretch only as far as you can feel slight discomfort but no pain. Don’t force it and don’t bounce. Hold each stretch for 3 – 5 slow breaths. Repeat 3 times every day and you’ll see fast improvements. With looser muscles and greater range of motion, you’ll notice easier swings and longer throws. You’ll be able to rope more often with less soreness.

Roping Stretch: 3. Overhead Stretch

2009-09-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

Next keeping the arms extended, raise your arms above your head. This allows your should blade to move outward. You should feel it at the back of your armpit.

Roping Stretch: 2. Arm Extension

2009-09-26T14:05:00.001-07:00

Then interlace your fingers and stretch your arms straight out in front of you, opening the palms as much as you can. You should feel a stretch from your shoulders through your arms to your hands.

Roping Stretches: 1. Prayer Stretch

2009-09-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

Keep shoulders and arms flexible with these simple and inconspicuous stretches that can be done anywhere. 1) Start by placing the palms of your hands together as if you’re praying. Press evenly through the palms and the length of each finger. Arms should be at a 90 degree angle from your hands. This stretches your forearm muscles, the palm of your hands and fingers.

SHOULDER STRETCHES FOR BETTER ROPING

2009-09-26T13:43:00.000-07:00

If you rope, chances are you’ve suffered from ‘Roping Shoulder’ at one time or another. Easily recognized as sore, aching muscles resulting from days of roping and usually ignored until scratching your head becomes an impossible feat.

Roping is a dynamic movement requiring incredible fitness and flexibility from your entire arm from your finger tips to your shoulder. A clean catch depends on so many subtleties from your palm direction to your arm height. Therefore the fitness of your arm and shoulder tremendously impacts roping success.

Your typical week probably includes enough grunt work to tighten up your back and arms enough to limit your mobility. In order to perform in the arena, add some stretches to your routine and give yourself the advantage of loose, flexible muscles. A stretched muscle is stronger and reacts faster than a tight muscle, plus has the added advantage of not aching or cramping.

Rhomboid Muscle

2009-09-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

Massage Treatment. Direction of Massage: From Superior & Medial to Inferior & Lateral

Rhomboid Muscles

2009-09-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

Trapezius

2009-09-18T19:56:00.001-07:00

Latissimus Dorsi

Intervertebral Disc

2009-09-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

Anatomy of the Spine

2009-09-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

Vertebrae

2009-09-18T19:32:00.001-07:00

Purpose

2009-03-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

All are in that position of being able to be used, if they will but recognize their opportunities day by day in their choices of dealings with their fellow-men.
What is the choice? That as creates love, hope, faith, patience, kindness, gentleness in the experience . .

Edgar Cayce Reading 1992-1

Service

2009-03-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

For he that contributes only to his own welfare soon finds little to work for. He that contributes only to the welfare of others soon finds too much of others and has lost the appreciation of self, or of its ideals.
. . . Know that the power or strength for any influence as related to the help of others must come from the universal source and not from self alone. For the individual may sow the seed, the Infinite must give the increase--it must do the multiplying. Man can detract, but he can add little to God's purpose in the earth save through the grace and mercy of God Himself.
Edgar Cayce Reading 3478-2

Locust Pose

2009-01-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

Do this 'Locust' exercise daily to strengthen back and shoulders, and improve posture:

$20

2009-01-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200 he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20."

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE.

You are special - don't ever forget it.

CRANIAL SACRAL THERAPY

2008-12-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

Alternative Therapies with Life Changing Results

Can you imagine being free of pain? Free of the emotional scars of past trauma? When you’ve tried everything else, it’s time to try something new.
Cranial Sacral Therapy is a complementary therapy which enhances the central nervous system by encouraging the free flow of spinal fluid around the brain and down the spinal cord to the tailbone and back.The skull is made up of several bones which seem solid but actually have a natural rhythmic movement similar to a dock on a lake. If the bones cannot move at all, the entire body suffers out of sync as the bones grind and jar on each other.

Cranial Sacral Therapy complements the body’s natural healing process, bolsters the immune system and is helpful for headaches, stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, neck pain, TMJ, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia among many other ailments.

The treatment is painless and relaxing. As you lay fully dressed,the therapist softly touches pressure points on the skull, face and tailbone. The therapists’ intention is always to enhance the body’s natural state of health. CST enhances but does not replace medical treatment. Best results are found when several treatments are scheduled two weeks apart. Judy Fiddick is a Registered Massage Therapist in Nanton (403) 818-1514.

REIKI

2008-09-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Reiki is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), similar to the laying on of hands, which channels the universal life force or ki (chi) though the palms into a recipient. The healing energy is intended to open blockages in the body’s meridians and to restore energy to depleted areas of the body and aura. This holistic therapy can bring about healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

Developed in 1922 by Mikao Usi in Japan, reiki teachings claim that this “healing energy” is an inexhaustible, universal "life force". Anyone can tap into this spiritual energy which restores our perfect self, reminding each cell of its’ God given perfection and induces a healing effect.

A typical Reiki treatment lasts from 45 to 90 minutes withthe recipient lying on a massage table wearing loose, comfortable clothing. The practitioner places her hands either on the recipient or a few inches above the body in various positions. The practitioner allows the energy to be drawn through them into the recipients body for the purpose of healing an injury or restoring vitality. Recipients often feel warmth or tingling in the area being treated, even when a non-touching approach is being used. The Reiki treatment is said to be stimulating our natural healing processes. A state of deep relaxation, combined with a general feeling of well-being, is usually the most noticeable immediate effect of the treatment, although emotional releases can occur.

The teaching of Reiki is commonly divided into three levels:

Level I teaches the basic theories and procedures. Four "attunements" are given to the student by the teacher. Students learn the hand placement positions on the recipient's body that are thought to be most conducive to the process in a whole body treatment. Participants finish ready to treat themselves and others with Reiki.

Level II teaches the student to use more Japanese symbols which are said to enhance the strength and distance over which the effect can be exerted.Another attunement is given, which is said to further increase the capacity for Reiki to flow through the student, as well as empowering the use of the symbols. Having completed the second level, the student can work without being physically present with the recipient

Level III further attunes the student and passes on a master-level symbol. Upon completion, the new Reiki Master can attune other people to Reiki and teach the three degrees of Reiki.

Reiki can be used to complement conventional medicine but should not replace clinically proven treatments for serious conditions.

霊気

Reiki Principles:

"The secret method of inviting good fortune. The marvelous medicine for all sickness. Just for today:

Do not be angry

Do not worry

Be grateful

Work with integrity

Be kind to others.

Goal Categories

2008-02-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

You need to have goals in all of the following categories. Ideally life is balanced and fulfilled in all areas.

Social
Mental
Physical
Family
Career
Spiritual
Financial

Fear

2008-02-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real

Seven Steps of Goal Setting

2008-02-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

Write down clearly identify goals
Date those goals with a deadline for achievement
Obstacles, identify them and how to overcome them
Associations / Groups

That you need to be around or work with to help achieve these goals

Identify what you need to know.

skills and knowledge required to achieve goals

Write a plan of action
List benefits

Why do I want these goals?
What’s in it for me?

Complementary Alternative Medicine

2008-01-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

Canada

’s health care system is starting to integrate complementary alternative therapies with modern medicine. Although not covered by Alberta Health, people are finding relief with these ‘New Age’ therapies:

Types of Alternative Therapy:

Naturopathy
Massage therapy
Acupuncture
Chiropractic
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Reiki
Qigong
Reflexology
Homeopathy
Shamanism
Rolfing
Alexander Technique
Craniosacral Therapy
Mind body stress reduction
Ayurveda

Different things work for different people. At the very least, it’ll be a new experience. Who knows what’ll work for you.

The Association of Doctors Integrating Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) has three principles:

All healing therapies have validity
Prevention has equal weight as therapy.
Patient participation, empowerment, self-management

How to be a bad patient:

Get many opinions
Research the disease
Try lots of therapies
Get better

Where you put your mind, there goes your experience. Remember that the locust of control is inside you and around you.

URGENT: Never alter prescribed medication without the supervision of your family doctor. Never take herbal medication if on prescribed medication without consulting your physician.

The traditional view of the ‘doctor as expert’ can breed dependency, helplessness, blame and apathy on the part of the patient as well as resentment and burnout for the doctor. Therefore, share responsibility for your health with the Medical doctor.

An ideal complementary and integrative approach occurs when the patient's doctors know about the complementary care, agree that it will not be harmful, and continue to monitor the patient's progress while keeping an eye on the effects of both the complementary and the conventional therapies.

For example, someone with cancer who has acupuncture to help with the side effects of chemotherapy would be taking a complementary approach.

Physicians who practice integrative medicine focus on the whole person. And, just as they must keep abreast of current research in conventional medicine, they also review the latest research results for complementary therapies. This ensures that the treatments don't conflict with each other and don't cause any harm to the patient.

For any proposed CAM therapy, it is important to consider:

Safety (appropriateness for particular conditions, producers' quality control for items such as herbal medicines, etc.)
Effectiveness
Cost in time and money in relation to potential benefit
Credentials of the practitioner

DEPRESSION

2008-01-18T15:08:00.000-08:00

Depression is a troublesome and sometimes incapacitating condition that affects more than one million Canadians a year. Sadness is a normal occurrence. Depression often has no identifiable trigger and can last anywhere from a week to two years. If unrecognized and untreated, it may look like a prolonged bad mood, stealing your energy and joy. Not knowing why you’re in a ‘bad mood’ spirals the symptoms with self degradation and deepens the depression. Many people coping with undiagnosed depression, are relieved to realize that they’re not bad people, they’re just depressed and there is help.

Signs and Symptoms of depression:

Irritability & anger
Fatigue
Headaches
Weight gain
Indifference to favorite activities
Chronic Pain
Hopelessness & pointlessness

Some types of depression:

Seasonal Affected disorder
Bipolar
Postpartum
Perimenopausal

Depression is not just in your head. It’s in your organs and glands which control the level of over 40 hormones in your body plus your immune system. Hormones impact our stress response, our happiness, healthiness, even sleepiness. Too much or too little of any particular hormone will change our mood and clarity. That’s why it’s important to discuss medical treatment with your doctor if depression is affecting your daily life.

Medical therapy:

Psychiatry or counseling
Medication

Complementary Alternative Therapy:

Acupuncture to regulate hormones and reduce stress
Massage to reduce stress and increase well being
Tai Chi for exercise and meditation
Light Therapy

Give high priority to learning to unwind and to let go after a stressful encounter. Holding onto resentments and negative feelings is proven to reduce our immune system, which is trying to keep us healthy. Perceiving a situation differently will actually cause a different hormonal response in the body. When you feel depressed, make an extra effort to do things that make you feel good even if it’s difficult to get yourself motivated. Socializing with friends and positive people will actually improve your immune response.

Activities to Increase Good Feelings:

Exercise
Volunteer
Games
Music / Funny movies
Socialization

Research has recently identified inflammation (redness and swelling) as a precursor to depression. In fact, many anti-depressant medications actually include an anti-inflammatory agent. This is a major break through in understanding what triggers depression. Inflammation diseases include: Asthma, Allergies, gingivitis, Crohns & Ulcerative colitis. Inflammation also rises during the third trimester of pregnancy which commonly leads to postpartum depression.

You can reduce Inflammation by:

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet rich in colourful vegetables and healthy fats found in olives, avocados, cold water fish.
Supplementing with ultra-refined fish oil.
Reducing sugar and preservatives especially MSG.
Daily multi-vitamin rich in B vitamins.
Following prescribed treatment, if applicable.

Depression can be healed with the help of your doctor and self care. There are many on-line sources of information and support.

References:

“Proinflammatory cytokines and negative emotions”

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2007 by Robert A. Anderson

What High Heels are doing to your body

2008-01-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Alkaline vs. Acid Foods

2008-01-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

Diseases Thrive in an ACIDIC Environment

Scientists report that over 150 or more degenerative diseases are caused by high acid levels!! Parasites, viruses, bad bacteria, and disease cannot live in an alkaline body.

Body fluids range between 4.5 and 7.5 pH (blood must maintain 7.35 to 7.45 pH). A 1-point drop on the pH scale is 10 times more acidic - from 7 to 6 is 10 times, from 7 to 5 is 100 times, from 7 to 2 is 100,000 times more acidic.

Therefore: Eat more Alkalizing foods and Less Acidic Foods

ALKALIZING FOODS

VEGETABLES
Garlic
Asparagus
Fermented Veggies
Watercress
Beets
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chlorella
Collard Greens
Cucumber
Eggplant
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Dulce
Dandelions
Edible Flowers
Onions
Parsnips (high glycemic)
Peas
Peppers
Pumpkin
Rutabaga
Sea Veggies
Spirulina
Sprouts
Squashes
Alfalfa
Barley Grass
Wheat Grass
Wild Greens
Nightshade Veggies

FRUITS
Apple
Apricot
Avocado
Banana (high glycemic)
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Currants
Dates/Figs
Grapes
Grapefruit
Lime
Honeydew Melon
Nectarine
Orange
Lemon
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
All Berries
Tangerine
Tomato
Tropical Fruits
Watermelon

PROTEIN
Eggs
Whey Protein Powder
Cottage Cheese
Chicken Breast
Yogurt
Almonds
Chestnuts
Tofu (fermented)
Flax Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Tempeh (fermented)
Squash Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Millet
Sprouted Seeds
Nuts

OTHER
Apple Cider Vinegar
Bee Pollen
Lecithin Granules
Probiotic Cultures
Green Juices
Veggies Juices
Fresh Fruit Juice
Organic Milk
(unpasteurized)
Mineral Water
Alkaline Antioxidant Water
Green Tea
Herbal Tea
Dandelion Tea
Ginseng Tea
Banchi Tea
Kombucha

SWEETENERS
Stevia

SPICES/SEASONINGS
Cinnamon
Curry
Ginger
Mustard
Chili Pepper
Sea Salt
Miso
Tamari
All Herbs

ORIENTAL VEGETABLES
Maitake
Daikon
Dandelion Root
Shitake
Kombu
Reishi
Nori
Umeboshi
Wakame
Sea Veggies

ACIDIFYING FOODS

FATS & OILS
Avocado Oil
Canola Oil
Corn Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Flax Oil
Lard
Olive Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sunflower Oil

FRUITS
Cranberries

GRAINS
Rice Cakes
Wheat Cakes
Amaranth
Barley
Buckwheat
Corn
Oats (rolled)
Quinoi
Rice (all)
Rye
Spelt
Kamut
Wheat
Hemp Seed Flour

DAIRY
Cheese, Cow
Cheese, Goat
Cheese, Processed
Cheese, Sheep
Milk
Butter

NUTS & BUTTERS
Cashews
Brazil Nuts
Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Pecans
Tahini
Walnuts

ANIMAL PROTEIN
Beef
Carp
Clams
Fish
Lamb
Lobster
Mussels
Oyster
Pork
Rabbit
Salmon
Shrimp
Scallops
Tuna
Turkey
Venison

PASTA (WHITE)
Noodles
Macaroni
Spaghetti

OTHER
Distilled Vinegar
Wheat Germ
Potatoes

DRUGS & CHEMICALS
Chemicals
Drugs, Medicinal
Drugs, Psychedelic
Pesticides
Herbicides

ALCOHOL
Beer
Spirits
Hard Liquor
Wine

BEANS & LEGUMES
Black Beans
Chick Peas
Green Peas
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Lima Beans
Pinto Beans
Red Beans
Soy Beans
Soy Milk
White Beans
Rice Milk
Almond Milk

Simple Stretches to avoid arm pain

2008-01-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

Everything we do works our hands and arms. Keep them healthy and strong by doing some simple stretches every day:

1. Arm straight out in front of you, palm up, pull fingers down so palm gradually faces away from you.

2. Arm straight out in front of you, palm down, pull fingers up so that palm gradually faces away from you.

3. Arm straight out in front of you, palm down, let fingers drop so that palm gradually faces you.

There are many common causes of arm pain, such as:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Tennis Elbow
Golfer’s Elbow
Frozen shoulder
Pinched nerve
Tired muscles

Any activity requiring a repetitive motion will overwork a muscle. A tired muscle will encourage you to compensate and may swell from muscle break-down. High risk jobs:

cashier
construction
dry walling
typing
cleaning

If the pain doesn’t go away and if it’s painful to do your normal activities, see your doctor. In depth testing and diagnosis is urgent to identify the true cause in order to treat the source effectively. Then the treatment can be focused on the cause rather than the symptom.

Meanwhile the following home remedies may minimize and possibly heal arm pain.

Rest
Stretch
Apply alternating warm and cold over the forearm muscles, (those muscles just below the elbow).
Massage therapy
Acupuncture

Good health reflects a balanced lifestyle including exercise plus stretches, proper nutrition, rest and fun. Respect and honor your body for a long and happy life.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2007-12-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a well know term for pain at the wrist. Did you know that the pain may only be a symptom and may actually have little to do with the wrist? As the name implies, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a symptom of many issues from the wrist to the neck. In depth testing and diagnosis is urgent to identify the true cause in order to treat the source effectively. Then the treatment can be focused on the cause rather than the symptom.

Diagnostically, CTS is a disease of nerve compression. Specifically, the big nerve running down the inside of your forearm gets squished as it goes through a canal made by the wrist bones, just above your palm.

This canal is designed for your nerve to pass through easily along with several muscle tendons and blood vessels. When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, space in the canal is crowded out by swelling and inflammation in any of the tendons traveling through the canal or in the sheath covering the canal. It would be similar to your truck transforming into a monster truck while in your garage, the same tendons that were fine last year are now bigger. There is only a limited amount of space and now nothing can move.

How does this happen? When you do repeatedly twist your wrist or hand in jobs like check outs, construction working, dry walling, typing, cleaning and accounting, the forearm muscles are overworked and become tired. A tired muscle will encourage you to compensate and will eventually swell from muscle break-down and tendonitis.

If compensating changes your posture, the problem may go into your neck, if the swelling goes down your arm, carpal tunnel pain may start. In this case where the carpal tunnel syndrome is a symptom of a problem somewhere else in the arm, then the traditional surgical treatment is not a cure. Treatment may include exercises to strengthen the muscle, stretches to elongate the muscle and massage therapy to release adhesions and realign the muscle.

You may first notice tightness in your wrist and then some or all of the following symptoms: pain and/or tingling in the hand, numbness, weakness of the thumb, sensitivity to cold. It can feel like gripping a coffee cup takes all the strength you have.

Although potentially crippling, there is a lot you can do to prevent and treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If it’s painful, see your doctor about medical treatment. Meanwhile you can do the following yourself to minimize and potentially heal the problem:

Daily wrist stretches are very effective:
Arm straight out in front of you, palm up, pull fingers down so palm gradually faces away from you.
Arm straight out in front of you, palm down, pull fingers up so that palm gradually faces away from you.
Arm straight out in front of you, palm down, let fingers drop so that palm gradually faces you.
Alternating heat and cold over the forearm muscles, (those muscles just below the elbow).
Massage therapy, 30 minutes twice a week for 4 – 8 weeks

The wrist is designed to bend 90 degrees to your arm bone, forwards or backwards (not side to side). Stretches will benefit everybody by maintaining health in the forearm muscles.

Often this problem sneaks up on us when we start a new job or activity, but whenever possible prevention and staying healthy is the best treatment. Be aware of your body and treat sore muscles early to avoid larger problems.

Tennis Elbow

2007-12-27T11:16:00.000-08:00

Did you know that you could be diagnosed with Tennis elbow even if you don’t play tennis?

Characterized by pain near the outside of the elbow, tennis elbow is common in the spring when warm weather entices us outside to play tennis, golf, paint, etc. Tendinitis (epicondylitis) is defined as inflammation of a tendon, is caused by repetitive actions particularly while gripping something.

The tendon attaches muscle to bone. Repetitive actions strain the junction between the tendon & the muscle causing fatigue, then micro-tears.

If the muscle is not rested, it then becomes weak & painful especially when you grip something. You may first notice it as a general arm soreness and then a feeling of weakness as if you’re not as strong as you used to be. You may not notice it all day and then feel it throbbing at night as the muscle relaxes. To repair muscle tears, collagen fibres (scar tissue) grow in & around the musculo-tendinous junction. This scar tissue & has no contractile power & will hinder your range of motion.

Although most common near the elbow with the wrist flexors & extensors, tendinitis also occurs in other area such as the rotator cuff tendons and the achillies tendon in runners.

Tendinitis can be treated with massage therapy, but requires a commitment by the client. The more active a person is in their own recovery, the less you need therapists. Treatments can be painful & should be 3 days apart for 6 – 10 sessions depending on the extent of the injury. Recovery is faster is clients stretch & rest the muscle between sessions.