Winter Falls and Fractures

With winter suddenly upon us, Academy Massage cautions people to be careful when traveling along our slippery sidewalks and streets. 

Falls resulting in fractures are common and injuries are not necessarily exclusive to the elderly or those struggling with impaired or limited mobility. A bone fracture can encompass anything from a hairline crack (stress fracture) to a complete break (compound fracture). 

Of course, extra care must be exercised by older people as their bones are more brittle, but an incorrect fall can create the same problem for someone of younger years. While traditional medical treatment should be sought following a fall to mend the fracture, massage therapy is a natural and non-invasive treatment that can be administered to reduce pain and discomfort in the soft tissue surrounding a fracture injury. As well, massage can assist in reducing edema and muscle tension not only in the affected area but the framework that compensates the injury, along with restoring circulation and muscle tone.  

At Academy Massage, our trained therapists are skilled in working with the aftermath healing of fractures. We work out a treatment plan specifically geared to your injury that will help you regain full function more quickly as the mobility and stability of the compensating muscles has been addressed. Initially, our therapist will only work above the cast so not to disturb the healing bone. Once the cast has been removed properly applied techniques to restore tissue health.

If you have suffered a fracture and choose to take an alternative approach to recovery, please call our office to schedule an appointment and get yourself on the mend.

Your Year-end Unused Benefits

As we find ourselves nearing the end of another year, one can reflect on how quickly 2015 passed and perhaps look back on all that had been accomplished during the preceding months. As we prepare for winter our bodies may enter a slowdown period following warm seasons where we participated in a variety of physical activities, ranging from chores to pleasures. With the long-awaited arrival of spring came the post-winter tidying and readying the yard and garden for the planting flowers and vegetables. Summer brought with it all the fun activities to enjoy, from participating in competitive outdoor sports to individual preferences such as running, hiking or swimming. With autumn comes another return to yard care, with raking and bagging leaves at the top of the list. And with another winter soon to be on the horizon, that means bringing out the snow shovel and cleaning off the sidewalk and/or driveway.

The activities of the past year have left many of us with strained and exhausted muscles, exertion that has ranged from mild to moderate to strenuous. While the weather is warm and we keep our bodies active we don't always experience the stress we put on our muscles and joints. But as most activities slow during the winter months, as the cold descends upon the province, it is likely we may start to experience pain and stiffness that we either had stubbornly ignored or maybe just hadn't paid much attention to.

In short, now may be the perfect time for a winter tune-up - and not just for your car.
While massage therapy is included in most employee benefits packages or insurance plans, many people leave a significant portion unused. Academy Massage would again like to remind our valued clients that with 2015 winding down, you may still have unused insurance benefits that will expire at the end of the year, as most insurance companies do not allow these unused benefits to be carried forward to the following year. Now is the ideal time to take advantage of those existing benefits by treating yourself to any of our customized massage treatments or other specialized therapies, including laser therapy, shockwave therapy and kinesiotaping. Whether intended for an existing physical condition or to stimulate your muscles to be ready and in shape for the long, uncertain winter ahead; the relieving of stress or tension - or maybe just to pamper yourself to the deep-rooted relaxation professional massage can provide, we encourage you to close out the year with a visit to our office.

At Academy Massage we also recommend that you do not hesitate to schedule your appointment for a massage session. As the days get nearer to Christmas, our therapists are busy with clients who are looking for last minute massage treatments and bookings may become difficult to reserve.
If you still have an active insurance benefit: Use it, don't lose it.

Massage Treatment for Workplace or Automobile Related Injuries

Unless one works in a potentially dangerous profession such as police officer, fireman or skyscraper window washer, injuries in the workplace are generally not considered a common concern. The truth, however, is that such hazards are more frequent than most people think - and are not restricted to high-risk occupations.

People employed in sedentary occupations are just as prone to physical ailments related to their jobs. In particular, technology-driven workplace environments such as long hours before computers have shown an increase in musculoskeletal injuries. Prolonged sitting, poor body posture are the most common causes. Problems may not occur immediately, but gradually become noticeable over time. What is imperative is that these symptoms not be ignored as they can result in debilitating or even permanent damage if not properly attended to. An untreated workplace injury affects your ability to do your job, and thus may also threaten your capability to earn a living. The most common injuries include trauma to the back and neck, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a variety of headaches. Oftentimes conventional medical treatment alone might not be the answer. While medications alleviate the pain, they do not address the underlying cause of the problem or help with the oftentimes emotional aspects.

This is where massage can play an effective and positive role. Massage not only helps with the relief of physical suffering and may prevent future injuries, but also aids in dealing with anxiety, depression and even sleep disturbances that may relate to one's injury.

An auto accident is another situation that can result in trauma that may surface as a delayed reaction. Injuries most common in a motor vehicle accident include whiplash, and other muscular strains and sprains that affect the shoulder, lower back, mid-back, elbow, hip and knee. Even a minor fender-bender can produce problems that might not be immediately evident. Accidents vary and so does the severity of the injury. It is recommended that treatment be sought immediately following an auto mishap, regardless of whether or not you have not sustained noticeable injuries. Besides preventing the potential for later musculoskeletal disturbances, one of the primary benefits associated with massage therapy is the relaxation that can help reduce or eliminate the effects of shock and trauma on your nervous system. The release of tension throughout the body can reverse damages caused by the jolt of a sudden impact and prevent those injuries from becoming more severe. Massage also promotes the circulation of blood and encourages the healthy function of the lymphatic system which can control the swelling - or edema - that usually comes from an auto injury. Massage helps to maintain and improve range of motion and may even help prevent the formation of scar tissue.

So whether your complaint comes from a workplace injury - or is the result of an automobile collision, your first choice should be to visit one of Academy Massage's trained and qualified massage therapists who will work with you to determine the best course of therapy to put you back on track.

With the Hockey Season Officially Under Way

Excitement builds in the air among the fans and especially the teams, both professional and amateur. As with football, hockey creates its own collisions and as it is a full-body sport, demanding speed, agility and balance, the entire body should be in prime physical condition to withstand the rigors of the sport. Muscles are put into action in multiple movement patterns and the proper training and maintenance of these muscles are essential if the player wants to perform at the top of his game.

The core should be strengthened first as this is where movement begins. The muscles in the lower body most in need of training include the lower back, thighs, inner thighs, hamstrings, the rectus abdominis (the major muscle in the center of the stomach) and hip flexors. These are the muscles responsible for acceleration in skating, stopping and twisting and the change of direction on the ice, and are important because often during the game you perform many of these actions simultaneously.

Since proper warm-up is the key, one of the most effective procedures to prepare the body for the ice is the foam roll. The benefit of the foam roll is that it massages the trigger points - or muscle knots. Working these trigger points helps to improve the blood flow to the muscle tissue and readies the muscles to perform quickly, which is vital with the hard contractions that occur in hockey. In addition, foam rolling addresses muscle imbalances, increases range of motion, increases long-term flexibility, and can help a muscle recover after exercise and aid in recovery.

Osteoarthritis and the Benefit of Massage Therapy

Osteoarthritis is a painful, often debilitating disease that is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide - and with no discrimination when it comes to age. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint in your body, the disease most commonly affects the weight-bearing joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop gradually and include Pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness, loss of flexibility, hearing or feeling a grating sensation when the joint is used.

The joints in the body are connected by a firm, fibrous connective tissue called Articular Cartilage. Articular Cartilage functions as a shock absorber and, if healthy, helps to facilitate smooth joint motion, allowing bones to glide over one another with minimal friction. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage wears down.

Without the protection of Articular Cartilage bone rubs against bone. There are several causes as to why the cartilage may start to break down. It can and commonly does occur with age, but the cartilage may also become damaged as the result of an injury. In addition, a genetic predisposition can cause osteoarthritis.  Being overweight is another contributing factor as it increases the risk of cartilage wearing down in the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Also, fractures may bring about the onset, or long-term overuse from sports or other athletic activities. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease for which there is no cure. As the disease advances in severity, the density of the existing cartilage becomes thinner until it wears out completely. At this point, many sufferers seek surgery as the primary solution to the distress they experience. However, there are alternative treatments to the discomfort and oftentimes lengthy recovery period following surgery that can relieve the symptoms of pain and stiffness.

One such option is massage therapy. Chronic osteoarthritis has been shown to respond well to massage, which aids in decreasing pain, and increasing mobility. Massage is a safe, non-invasive, drug-free, all natural alternative for those suffering from osteoarthritis. Massage not only relieves the pain associated with osteoarthritis but can also improve flexibility and mobility in the affected areas. Massage encourages and increases the flow of blood, promoting oxygen to help heal the afflicted area. Additionally, massage can eliminate the toxins and inflammatory substances that have built up in the area, as well as decrease stress and instill a feeling of wellbeing. There are many forms of massage, each with its own set of benefits. These include Trigger point, Reiki, Shiatsu, Swedish, and Reflexology. At Academy Massage, our therapists are trained to utilize the technique best suited to your specific condition.

Our therapists also encourage a proactive health program that includes a healthy diet, drinking plenty of fluids and following a proper regular exercise schedule, all of which are intended to allow you to manage and overcome the pain and the strain of osteoarthritis and enjoy the full strength and potential of your body.