Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT) is a gentle touch therapy to assist the drainage of stagnant and excess fluid from our body. The relaxing repetitive touch soothes our pain receptors while increasing circulation and detoxification.

Ideal for: * Detoxification * Sports Performance * Speed Recovery * Boost immune system * Reduce bloating and swelling * Chronic pain such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue

What & Where is the Lymphatic System?

The lymph system is basically our waste removal system designed to clear wastes, fluid and to move immune cells (including white blood cells) and hormones from between the cells. The lymph system is everywhere we have vessels. We each have 450 – 600 lymph nodes throughout the body. Nodes are those bumps under the jaw that your doctor feels get swollen when you’re sick. They get larger when we’re fighting an infection or inflammation.

Is it important?

If the Lymphatic System is not working, lymph nodes get swollen and sore, then lymph fluid stagnates, we swell and become toxic. Therefore, the better the circulation the healthier we are.

My personal experience after 3 daily 30 minute lymphatic therapy treatments I lost 5 lbs of water (that’s just extra water that was floating around my body), reduced asthma medication, had absolutely no muscle soreness after a 30 km day hike and decreased sugar cravings.

Self care: To support your immune system at home you can:

• Drink water • Deep belly breathing • Walk (The pressure on the sole of your foot acts as a pump sending venous circulation and lymph up towards the heart.) • Avoid allergens and food sensitivities (These cause inflammation which clog the lymph vessels.) • Book a Lymphatic Drainage Treatment

Medical Tax Deduction

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

Muscle Origin & Insertion Worksheet

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

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

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

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

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.