Archive for March, 2010

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Complimentary Medicine

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Complimentary medicinal practices are recognized as healthy activities used along side traditional medical treatment and are carried out in a wide array of different methods such as acupuncture; massage therapy, aromatherapy, and meditation. Complimentary medicine is used to promote general wellness, quality of life, range of motion, and flexibility and can be used to treat a wide range of problems from hot flashes to high blood pressure.

While not as scrutinized and heavily regulated as standard medicinal practices, complimentary medicine is enjoying resurgence in popularity in Western society. Most of the complimentary methods are hundreds, or in some cases thousands of years old but are difficult to measure effectiveness because of their very nature. However, several bodies are working to provide those seeking out complimentary medicinal practices with safe and proper alternatives through research.

The risks involved with complimentary or alternative medicine can vary greatly. If one is seeking out a back massage to relieve stress or loosen tight and strained muscles and they utilize the services of a masseur that is not properly educated or licensed, it can be more harm than good and their time may have been better spent in a massage chair. If one is looking to alternative medicine to treat a major illness or disease then a consultation with a doctor is highly recommended.

Link: http://health.yahoo.com/alternativemed-overview/complementary-medicine/healthwise–aa63785.html;_ylt=Aq_aCE.Hq4xzHx6sCFkMhAdLvs8F

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Bodywork

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

 Bodywork, often called manual therapy, refers to the use of non-medicinal techniques for the relief of pain, relaxation and maintenance of proper body alignment. When the body learns, through poor health habits or injury, unnatural motions or behaviors, it will not automatically correct them and thus, corrective action has to be taken lest the body live with misaligned muscles and physical discomfort. Bodywork, when used properly can correct physical faults and permit the body to move as it was intended and ease pain to affected areas.

Many forms of bodywork are available ranging from dance/movement therapy, several different methods of correctly performing repetitive exercises to promote muscle memory as a good habit, and many different methods of massage.

The preferred massage methods are deep tissue and Rolfing deep tissue. Deep tissue massage, administered by a licensed practitioner or massage chair, is intended to sooth tension in muscles deep within the body to increase flexibility and ease pain. Rolfing is also deep tissue massage but has the additional benefit of aligning tissues and bodily organs for similar benefits but is also used to increase energy.

The safe use of bodywork can also be beneficial to those suffering from arthritis and fibromyalgia and not just those in need of relaxation and realignment.

Link: http://health.yahoo.com/stress-treatment/bodywork-and-manual-therapy/healthwise–aa104339spec.html

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Soldiers and Back Pain

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Back pain is often experienced by soldiers, especially while on deployment, many times to foreign countries.  Studies have shown that more times than not, once a soldier leaves his/her unit due to low back pain, he/she will not return to the unit.

Back pain has been shown to be the leading cause of disability in both the civilian and military populations.  Back pain may seem like a trivial ailment when compared to the injuries more commonly associated with a deployed soldier such as traumatic brain injury.  However, back pain, when left untreated can and will send a soldier home for a sometimes lengthy recovery.

Our armed forces endure some of the most stressful conditions both on the mind and on the body.  They are also very active, at times lifting or carrying significant amounts of weight.  Massage chairs could help to serve as a preventative measure for troops both at home and while on deployment.  Because massage can relax both the body and the mind, it helps to treat mental as well as physical stress.  An increased flexibility of the muscles that is provided by massage will help to prevent future or further injury, thus, decreasing the number of soldiers that have to leave their unit due to back injury.

Link:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/BackPain/16889

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Depression and Anorexia

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Massage, many times, is commonly associated with expensive spas and health clubs.  But with more and more research being done about massage the benefits of regular massage have created an industry focused on making massage much more accessible and affordable to the general public.  Products such as massage chairs and hand-held massage equipment are available and affordable to everyone.

Massage can help to calm a child before bed.  In fact, massage has been proven to contribute to a longer night’s sleep in school age children.  If you had a massage chair in your home, you could make it a part of your children’s nightly routine, and help them to get a better night’s sleep.  Because it relaxes the body, and aids in sleep, it improves performance in all other areas.  Adults should also use a massage chair to help them relax at the end of a long workday. 

Massage has also been proven to lover the stress and anxiety levels of depressed individuals.  In a study, the test group saw an improvement in less than a week of receiving massages.  This type of treatment could be easily facilitated by the use of a massage chair.  It could easily be done at home, and at any time of the day or night that anxiety or stress is experienced.

Link: http://lets-talk-about-health.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-of-recent-research-touting.html

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Benefits of a Deep Tissue Massage

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Massage is a well-known, and effective means of stress relief.  There are several kinds of massages available, each having different benefits.  Deep tissue massage is an option that many people have heard of.  It involves manipulation of the muscles in a way that can increase the range of motion of muscles.  It also provides a natural and safe means of stress relief and relaxation and can be complimented by the use of a massage chair or other massage equipment in between deep tissue massages.

Stresses of everyday life can lead to tension headaches and neck aches, because when we are stressed, our muscles become tight and uncomfortable.  Deep tissue massages relieve this tension, and can not only relieve the headache, but can prevent them from returning frequently.

Deep tissue massage is a great option for people who experience pain.  This type of massage uses a different technique which is slower than most others, and  uses a stronger massage pressure, which gets much deeper into muscles than other types of massage. Deep tissue massage is particularly good for athletes, but athletes aren’t the only ones who can benefit from it.  Anyone who experiences sore, tight muscles will benefit from a good deep tissue massage. 

Link: http://www.massagebenefits.net/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-deep-tissue-massage.html

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Chairs vs. Drugs

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

 When dealing with pain, there are many treatment options available.  One option involves the use of pharmaceuticals and another involves the use of massage, and natural relaxation techniques to treat and relieve the pain.  They can either be used alone, or in conjunction with each other.

Pharmaceuticals can help to dull and lessen the pain of muscle strain and after muscular injury.  They can deliver immediate results, but those results typically last, at the most, eight hours.  However, medication used to treat pain can have side effects such as drowsiness, which makes it inappropriate to take during work as it could affect your ability to perform.  Long term use of these strong painkillers can also cause the body to build up a tolerance to them, and can cause symptoms of withdrawal when they are not taken any longer.

Natural methods, such as massage can be more beneficial in the long term, because it not only relieves pain, but it prevents the pain from returning.  Massage works directly on the source of the problem, unlike medication that affects the nervous system.  Massage provides the increased blood flow, and flexibility that our muscles need to heal and to function properly.  Massage chairs provide the treatment that is needed to maintain long term relief from back pain.  It doesn’t have any of the side effects that pain killers have, and can be used as long and as often as needed or wanted.

Link: http://ezinearticles.com/?Pain-Relief—Massage-Chairs-Or-Drugs?&id=2095860

 Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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The Benefits of Self-Massage

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Massage has long been engrained into far Eastern culture as a means of promoting health, circulation, flexibility and a host of other positive benefits to the body. Utilizing self-massage first thing in the morning can facilitate a firm bridge to cross from slumber to consciousness over time. Beginning with stimulation of the senses and working one’s way to deep breathing exercises can soften the blow of starting a day off immediately after waking.

Between those steps  is what amounts to an abbreviated version of a full body massage to urge the blood into flowing through dormant muscles. Some people may not have the ability to reach these parts of their bodies or may just flat out forget to stimulate areas because of morning haze. For the entire back area, a massage chair would be ideal to thoroughly cover areas that prove difficult for people to reach of their own volition and reach it in such a manner that the pressure is sufficient to ensure it’s not an exercise in futility. Additionally, there is no reaching into awkward positions or the need for assistance from a second person.

During the massage it’s important to breathe as to push toxins from the body. Deep breathing after the massage is also important to spread oxygen throughout the body. With these several steps of self-massage and breathing, the health benefits can set a healthy long-lasting morning routine.

Link: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/225/a-healthier-morning-ritual/

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Against Meds

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Often, back pain is treated with medication, but this isn’t the only solution or necessarily the best solution.  Medications used to treat pain mainly affect the central nervous system, essentially “turning off’ pain, and therefore do not treat the underlying issues creating the pain.  They are used often because back pain sufferers need something to manage their pain while they are receiving other treatments such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage.  Medications can help relax the body, and make other forms of treatment more successful.  However, as with all medications, there are side effects that may make you unable to take them during daytime hours, or while at work.

Chiropractic care works well for cases of severe back pain.  It focuses on spinal manipulation in order to ease strain on the muscles of the back and to prevent damage to the bones and nerves of the back.  Chiropractic care can be expensive, as many sessions cost around $65. 

Acupuncture, which involves the insertion of tiny needles into a specific area of the body, is most effective when done regularly and can be a big financial investment similar to chiropractic care.  Acupuncture can prove to be a good treatment for all kinds of back pain, from the occasional mild pain to severe, more chronic pain.

Massage is mainly effective on mild to moderate back pain.  Massage is a great when used alone, or coupled with any of the treatment methods listed above.  Massage relaxes the whole body as well as the mind, which can actually decrease the body’s response to pain signals.  Like the other treatments, massage must be done regularly to be effective.  It can also be expensive when done by a massage professional or at a health spa, but there are much more affordable, at-home treatments available!  Massage chairs can be substituted for all those trips to a professional’s office, and can be used at any time of the day or night.

Link: http://www.backpaindetails.com/pain/backpain-overview/available-treatments/relieve-back-pain-with-body-work.htm

Dr. Alan Weidner
http://www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Massage and Aging

Friday, March 19th, 2010

The quest for the fountain of youth is a long sought after principal that has spawned myriad methods of self-treatment as well as an entire industry of therapeutic creams used to tighten skin and mask the appearance cellulite. The confidence that comes with a youthful appearance cannot be understated because wrinkles and other signs of aging tend to make people more self-conscious than they would normally be.

Popular methods to prevent signs of aging are topical firming creams containing caffeine or theophylline. The way that these creams promote a youthful appearance is not the healthiest of manners. Simply put, caffeine and theophylline are diuretics and do nothing more for a youthful appearance than dehydrate fat cells for a short period of time, usually less than a full day.

A more healthy and lasting alternative is the use of therapeutic massage. Massage, besides having numerous other health benefits, stimulates the lymphatic system in turn draining lymph fluid from your cells, which does more in the way of attaining a more youthful appearance than do any topical product ever could. Time spent getting a massage from a licensed practitioner or a massage chair not only does good things for tight muscles, but also helps maintain a youthful appearance.

Link:  http://health.yahoo.com/experts/skintype/12025/spa-treatments-dos-and-donts/

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Lower Back Pain Relief

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

When you experience lower back pain, the main goal is to relieve the pain as quickly as possible.  There are many ways to find fairly immediate relief from lower back pain.  Many times, back pain is caused by simply the way we sit, stand, or hold our body.  Because you may not have perfect posture, sometimes, just lying down to rest can make the pain go away before the muscles of the body can become sorer.  By stretching out, the muscles can elongate, and this helps to relieve any tension that could be building.

You can also use many types of medications to help relieve low back pain. Some anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers that are available over the counter can be effective, but if they are not, you may need to consult your doctor to see if they would recommend a stronger, prescription pain killer or muscle relaxer, depending on the severity of your pain.  Medications can have many side effects and before starting any kind of this type of treatment, you should consult with your doctor.

Massage is an extremely effective means of relieving lower back pain.  Massage doesn’t necessarily have to be performed by a massage professional.  A massage chair can help to relieve lower back pain.  Massage chairs can deliver a safe and consistent massage. You can also do self-massage or ask a family member or friend to assist you by massaging areas you cannot reach.

Link:  http://www.lowerbackpainrelief.biz/get-instant-lower-back-pain-relief

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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