Massage Therapy for Veterans

On May 31, 2022   /   Massage Therapy   /   Leave a comment
Massage Therapy for Veterans

Most people don’t think of massage therapy as a treatment for veterans, but it can be very beneficial. Veterans, you deserve the best of the best when it comes to your health and well-being. That’s why we’d like to let you know about the amazing benefits of massage therapy. From reducing stress and anxiety to easing pain and improving sleep quality, massage can help you feel your best both mentally and physically. Did you know that massage therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat PTSD?

If you’re a veteran who is interested in trying massage therapy, be sure to talk to your doctor first to see if it’s right for you. There are many different types of massage therapies available and it is important to find the right one for you.

Massage therapy for veterans can manage pain and stress

Chronic pain is a major health concern within the veteran population. According to the American Massage Therapy Institute, Musculoskeletal pain is common, with research showing it’s the leading cause of disability among veterans and that up to 70 percent of the veteran population is affected.

Massage therapy can help with chronic pain. Massage therapy is often prescribed as a regular, non-evasive, non-addictive pain management tool.

Besides the pain itself, as if that wasn’t enough, chronic pain can cause other symptoms like loss of sleep, elevated levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. These issues, coupled with the pain, create a vicious cycle of pain for those who suffer from the problem. Massage can break that cycle.

Massage Can Help With PTSD

While massage can help with stress and anxiety, it doesn’t make PTSD go away. It can make it easier to manage. If you, or someone you know, suffers from PTSD, a massage may be a great way to manage triggers and reduce anxiety.

According to Psychiatric Times, massage controls pain severity through its effects on both physical and psychological symptoms. A significant reduction of PTSD symptoms has been seen in veterans after massage therapy. Moreover, findings suggest a reduction in substance abuse, anxiety, stress, depression, and dissociation.

Massage Can Help with Anxiety

The Mayo Clinic reports a 60-minute massage can lower cortisol, the stress hormone, by up to 30 percent after just one session. Stress is a huge part of anxiety and lowering stress is the key to managing anxiety.

If you have been feeling overly anxious lately due to events you can identify or are looking for ways to manage your anxiety disorder in a gentle, relaxing way, the good news is that massage therapy can really help.

Massage Therapy Promotes Better Sleep

Insomnia and sleep disorders are also common in the veteran population. According to the AMTA, “While insomnia is a common issue among the general U.S. population, this condition presents an even greater problem to veterans. A study conducted in 2017 involving primary care providers’ perspectives on veterans showed that more than half of the veterans already enrolled in VA health care centers in the Midwest demonstrated having significantly higher levels of insomnia.

As with so many other conditions, sleep disturbances can lead to other problems. For example, a 2017 study found that sleep disturbances and nightmares may be linked to an increased risk for suicide.

The best way to achieve healthy sleep habits is by natural medication-free means. Studies have shown that regular massage therapy reduces fatigue, promotes relaxation, and contributes to high-quality sleep. The benefits of massage are both immediate and long-term.

People who receive massages experience a more restorative type of sleep, both immediately following the massage and even several hours afterward. Their bodies are more relaxed, with reduced aches and pains, and able to fall more quickly into a deep sleep.

There are many different types of massage, so veterans can find one that best suits their needs

As a trained and certified massage therapist, I offer a variety of services to suit different needs. The following types of massage could be helpful.

Swedish Massage

This is one of the most well-known types of massage. When people talk about massage therapy, they most likely mean a Swedish massage. It is sometimes called a “classic massage.” A Swedish massage is characterized by long gliding strokes, kneading, and circular movements on the body. Massage lotion or oil is applied to reduce friction on the skin during a session. This type of massage helps ease joint pain, muscle aches, and stiffness. It also improves circulation and facilitates healing after an injury. It is highly adaptable and could be very gentle and relaxing.

Chair Massage

Chair massages are also known as seated or on-site massages. The fully-clothed client sits on a specially-designed chair, which facilitates the session. The massage is concentrated mainly on the back, arms, and hands of the client. The therapist may use a variety of techniques, such as Swedish and Deep Tissue massages. An advantage of this type of massage is its versatility and portability. 

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massages, as the name implies, go deeper into the muscles than a regular or Swedish massage. It can help with rehabilitation after an injury, chronic muscle pain, and conditions such as arthritis and tendonitis. It is often combined with other types of massage.

Massage therapy is an effective way to manage chronic pain and improve your overall health. As a trained and certified massage therapist, I offer a variety of services to suit different needs. Please contact All Body Kneads and schedule a message today.

Thank you for your service.

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Massage for PTSD

On June 28, 2021   /   Massage Therapy   /   Leave a comment
Massage for PTSD

July is right around the corner and many people associate fireworks and celebrations with PTSD. While massage can help with stress and anxiety, it doesn’t make PTSD go away. It can make it easier to manage. If you, or someone you know, suffers from PTSD, a massage may be a great way to manage triggers and reduce anxiety.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder that occurs in response to an overwhelming or traumatic event. It is commonly seen in veterans, but sadly, 1 out of 11 people experience these severe, life-changing occurrences.  

According to Michigan Psychological care, trauma can occur in various ways, but a few common experiences are generally known to be traumatic. These can include:

  • Abuse or neglect
  • Sexual or physical assault
  • Divorce
  • Family or parental abandonment
  • Incarceration
  • Job loss
  • Natural disasters
  • Physical injury
  • Serious illness
  • Terrorism
  • Violence
  • Witnessing a crime, accident, or death

Massage for PTSD: How Can it Help?

The relaxation effects of massage therapy can be very beneficial to many types of anxiety and stress, including PTSD.

According to Psychiatric Times, massage controls pain severity through its effects on both physical and psychological symptoms. A significant reduction of PTSD symptoms has been seen in veterans after massage therapy. Moreover, findings suggest a reduction of substance abuse, anxiety, stress, depression, and dissociation.

Massage techniques range from a very light touch to a deep touch. Some use only pressure points; others use oil, rocking, stretching, petrissage, and cross-fiber friction with the patient either clothed or unclothed and draped. At least moderate pressure is required to stimulate vagal activity and induce parasympathetic response.

Types of Massage for PTSD

As a trained and certified massage therapist, I offer a variety of services to suit different needs. The following types of massage could be helpful.

Swedish Massage

This is one of the most well-known types of massage. When people talk about massage therapy, they most likely mean a Swedish massage. It is sometimes called a “classic massage.” A Swedish massage is characterized by long gliding strokes, kneading, and circular movements on the body. Massage lotion or oil is applied to reduce friction on the skin during a session. This type of massage helps ease joint pain, muscle aches and stiffness. It also improves circulation, and facilitate healing after an injury. It is highly adaptable, and could be very gentle and relaxing.

Chair Massage

Chair massages are also known as seated or on-site massages. The fully-clothed client sits on a specially-designed chair, which facilitates the session. The massage is concentrated mainly on the back, arms and hands of the client. The therapist may use a variety of techniques, such as Swedish and Deep Tissue massages. An advantage of this type of massage is its versatility and portability. 

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massages, as the name implies, go deeper into the muscles than a regular or Swedish massage. It can help with rehabilitation after an injury, chronic muscle pain, and conditions such as arthritis and tendonitis. It is often combined with other types of massage.

Infrared Sauna for PTSD

Infrared spa treatments are a great way to rid the body of unwanted toxins and can be very relaxing. Environmental chemicals and any heavy metals such as mercury or lead that have built up in the body are excreted through sweating, and the infrared sauna is a way to comfortably sweat, relax, and purify skin.

Infrared technology allows treatments to be available at different heat levels: near, middle, and far. These levels refer to different infrared wavelengths and heat intensity. Testing has shown that near-infrared levels are excellent for the healing of wounds and increasing the function of the immune system. Middle levels are better for improving circulation as well as enhancing the relaxation of muscles. And the far infrared levels? Those are ideal for detoxification. Often new users prefer to start their sauna time slowly, working up to thirty-minute sessions from an initial five minutes to start, but if you use a standard Swedish sauna frequently or have a high tolerance to heat, it’s fine to spend a longer period of time initially in an infrared sauna.

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Can Massage Improve Mental Health?

On August 3, 2020   /   Massage Therapy   /   Leave a comment
Can Massage Improve Mental Health?

As many people have adjusted to wearing face masks, working from home, and social distancing, there has been a lot (a really lot) of information on how to keep ourselves and our environments clean and safe. However, there has not been enough discussion on the topic of how all of this is affecting our mental health. Sure, we know this is hard. But are we taking a good, long hard look at what these extreme changes are doing to our mental health? And then, what are we doing about it?

We watch the news and ingest stories of people raging at each other and pulling knives and guns out over masks or other seemingly minor issues. “People are losing their minds.” “It’s so hard to know how to feel about all of this.”

We say these things about other people, but are you checking in with yourself? Sleeping normally? Eating normally? Crying more? Fatigued? Sad?

This article addresses three things you can do today to help you feel relaxed and more balanced. If you have been experiencing prolonged depression or suicidal thoughts, please contact a doctor or therapist for additional help.

How is your mental health?

It is ok, and perfectly normal, to feel these things. What isn’t ok is not addressing this added stress to our mental health and not doing something to help with it. It is also really important that we are checking in with our family members and friends. Kids are particularly susceptible to depression as school districts and colleges and universities are still so up in the air about what they are going to be offering.

Things you can do right now to boost your mental health

Are you the type of person who recognizes stress first in your emotions (state of mind) or your physical body? For some, the shoulders get tight, headache sets in, and then fatigue creeps in quietly and steals our peace. For others, we get weepy, emotional, or mad.

Related: Can Massage Help With Fatigue?

Regardless of how you first recognize stress , the key is to know your warning signs and attend to them as soon as they happen. Recognizing them in others, especially those close to you, is important too. Sometimes it is easier for others to see it for us. “You have been looking really tired.” “Are you ok, you seemed really down.”

One of the first things to manage when addressing mental issues is stress. Stress makes everything harder so managing your stress will help you better be able to handle what life throws at you. Here are some things that can really help:

Massage Therapy

A professional massage from a licensed Massage therapist or self-massage techniques at home can provide immediate relief from stress and mental health anxiety. Massage minimizes anxiety and restlessness, improves sleep quality and creates an overall feeling of well-being.

Click here to schedule a massage with All Body Kneads or click here to buy a gift certificate for a loved one who could really use it.

Social Distancing with Massage Therapy. Picture of man with dark hair getting a massage

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy and diffusing certain smells can also instantly calm the mind and improve your mood. This works really will with children and teenagers. If your kids have been emotional, stressed, overtired, or sad, running a diffuser in either their bedroom or a centrally located spot in the can help the whole family. Some essential oils and blends that are good for improving mental health and reducing stress and anxiety include:

  • Lavender
  • Cedarwood
  • Frankincense
  • Chamomile
  • Grapefruit
  • Bergamot
  • Yuzu
  • rose otto
  • Sage
  • Jasmine
  • Rosemary

There are a lot of synthetic and impure essential oils on the market. Since you inhale them, it is important to read the labels and make sure there a no harmful chemicals and additives in the essential oils that you use. Young Living and Doterra are two brand that are trusted and used by many massage therapists and aromatherapy experts.

mental health wooden diffuser with blue light misting into the air

Meditation and Deep Breathing

In a world that is in constant turmoil and throwing 24-hour news cycles at us constantly, it is important to find time regularly to calm our minds and bodies. Guided meditation and deep breathing are two ways to still our minds and reconnect with our bodies. It is like a reset button for ourselves. A daily meditation practice, even if done for only 5 minutes, can really help our mood and reduce tension.

Some people find meditation intimidating at first or aren’t sure exactly how to do it. While there are lots of ways meditate, you can apps and audio recordings to help you get started. However, simply sitting quietly for a few minutes and concentrating on breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth can reset your mood too. Sometimes the simple things are what work the best.

No matter what you do to support you mental health and check in with yourself and your loved ones, please remember that our mental well-being is just as important as our physical health. Even if we are wearing a mask, sanitizing our hands, practicing social distancing, and boosting our immune system, if you are ignoring your mental health, it will affect you physically as well. You need both physical and mental health for a happy, balanced life.

All Body Kneads is here to help. We offer many healthy services and even have discounts for qualifying clients through our non-profit Mid-Michigan Massage Therapy Institute. Click here to see if you qualify.

Be well. Stay Safe.

mental health meditation. Young boy in red shirt and sunglasses sits cross lemeditatinggged
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Massage Can Help with Anxiety

On September 25, 2019   /   Massage Therapy   /   Leave a comment
Massage Can Help with Anxiety

Are you experiencing an abnormal amount of anxiety? Are you having trouble keeping your anxious thoughts and fears at bay? Maybe your anxiety is manifesting in your body and causing tension headaches, stressed and sore muscles, and exhaustion.

Anxiety is a real physical and emotional event that normally occurs in all of our lives from time to time. We experience anxiety when life throws us curve balls and becomes a lot more stressful. However, for some people, anxiety manifests into a debilitating sense of panic that is hard to overcome on your own. A foreboding sense of worry and fear can make it hard to navigate life in relatively normal situations.

There are different types of anxiety disorders including:

  • generalized anxiety disorder
  • social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
  • specific phobias
  • separation anxiety disorder

Regardless of the type of anxiety you experience, it is hard and can leave you feeling exhausted and down.

If you have been feeling overly anxious lately due to events you can identify or are looking for ways to manage your anxiety disorder in a gentle, relaxing way, the good news is that massage therapy can really help.

Maybe you know someone who is going through a particular tough time and is experiencing anxiety and fear. You could gently suggest that a massage could provide rest, relaxation, and relief from their troubles so they can recharge and be in a better place physically and mentally to face them.

Maybe you or someone you know has been struggling to keep their anxiety in check and is having a hard time remaining calm and free from fear. It truly can be exhausting.

How Massage Can Help with Anxiety

The Mayo Clinic reports a 60-minute massage can lower cortisol, the stress hormone, by up to 30 percent after just one session. Stress is a huge part of anxiety and lowering stress is the key to managing anxiety.

Several different types of massage are effective in relieving stress and anxiety. However, we recommend the following:

massage for cancer patients

Relaxation Massage

A relaxation massage is exactly what is sounds like. The goal is to create an atmosphere of serene relaxation using gentle massage techniques. It can also include low lighting, soft music, and aromatherapy such as lavender to promote calm. Relaxation massage does not include deep tissue muscle work that could be uncomfortable and is used more for rehabilitation on sore or injured areas.

A relaxation massage will leave the client feeling rested, calm, and at peace. It promotes good sleep and can have lasting effects for hours or days.

Reflexology

Reflexology is the practice of using reflex points on the hands, feet, and the head that are linked to every portion of the body. Reflexology relieves tension, treats illnesses, and enhances general well-being. For some patients experiencing anxiety, a full-body massage may not be exactly what they want because they may be unable to fully relax into the treatment. In these cases, reflexology can be just as soothing. The massage therapist concentrates on massing just the hands and feet and sometimes the head. The patient can remain clothed and in a reclined seating position.

Because reflexology concentrates on many points on the hands and feet that correlate to other parts of the body, the patient often feels as though they have had a full body massage and enjoys the same relaxation benefits.

How to Get Started with Massage for Anxiety

It is important to find a massage therapist who is knowledgeable in relaxation techniques and is aware and sensitive to acute anxiety and anxiety disorders. It is also important that the massage studio atmosphere is welcoming, calm, and comfortable. Nothing about the experience should trigger more anxiety.

You can help the massage therapist by explaining your goals for the massage and informing him or her of your anxiety. In addition to the massage, the therapist may offer additional advice on stretches, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and other helpful tips on ways to reduce anxiety.

Bilky, the owner of All Body Kneads, is a skilled massage therapist with experience in working with many patients with anxiety and the symptoms that it produces. Her quiet, calm demeanor and peaceful studio will help you to relax and will provide relief from your worried mind and tense body.

If you would like to talk more about massage and anxiety or would like to book an appointment for yourself or someone you know please call Bilky at 517-898-2899  or you can email at bilky@allbodykneads.com .

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