TMJ? Try Massage!

Do you suffer from TMJ pain? If you experience pain while chewing, lock jaw, headaches, limited range of motion in the jaw, sore neck and shoulders, ringing in the ears and swallowing difficulties, you could be suffering from TMJ syndrome.

A common cause of TMJ include grinding of the teeth or clenching the jaw, usually at night while you sleep but can also happen during the day in response to stress. Another cause of TMJ is impact to the jaw, such as a fall or getting hit in the chin. In other instances it could be arthritis in the joint.

Some key symptoms of TMJ can be ear aches, pain in the face, headaches, or sinus pain. Oftentimes people do not link these issues together but they often go hand in hand. TMJ pain can be felt in the joint, behind the ear, around the sinuses, in the skull face, neck and shoulders. (Learn more about TMJ and Chiropractic)

Massage therapy can be a very effective tool in reducing the pain and irritation that comes along with TMJ syndrome. Your massage therapist will evaluate the muscles of the head, neck, shoulders, and jaw. The jaw is compromised of muscles around the cheek and jaw joint, as well as muscles on the inside of the mouth. The massage therapist will work on the affected muscles to relieve trigger points to help reduce pain and improve motion in the jaw

Make sure to let your massage therapist knows all of your symptoms in order for them to better treat the problem. By creating a detailed picture of your pain, the massage therapist can focus on the muscles that are causing the discomfort.

Massage therapy is a good resource for getting rid of TMJ pain. If you have questions about how massage can better your pain or about TMJ, let us know!

6 Things you Didn’t Know about Massage Therapists

As a clinic that offers massage therapy, we know a thing or two about massage therapists and the work that goes behind the scenes.

1. Certified Massage Therapists go through a lot of training- A certified massage therapist typically goes through 2 years of training and schooling. They need over 200 credits in school and 500-600 hours of hands on practice. The training includes different massage techniques, anatomy of the human body, physiology, and various types of massage. They also learn how to take thorough treatment notes and documentation.
2. Massage Therapists use more than their hands- No they aren’t typically using their feet to do massage (that is called Ashiatsu Massage!) but they are using different parts of the body to give you that deep pressure. To reduce injuries and soreness of their hands, massage therapists use muscles from their arms, shoulders, and legs to apply pressure. They also take advantage of gravity and use their body weight to apply deeper pressure.
3. To avoid injuries, they have to build up muscle in their hands and wrists. Conditions like carpal tunnel and tendinitis are common in massage therapists if they do not have the muscle build up in places like hands and wrists.
4. They have the opportunity to take continuing education courses! Though it is not required for their certification, massage therapists have plenty of opportunity to learn more types of massage and stay up to date on current massage techniques.
5. Massage Therapists can work in other places than a spa. Massage therapy is well known for being relaxing which fits in with the spa atmosphere but that’s not the only place they can work! Massage therapists can work in clinics, hospitals, cruise ships, at events, for sports teams, or they can set up their own private practice.
6. Massage Therapists at Minser Chiropractic Clinic have gone through extra training that enables them to do Tui Na on children, hot bamboo, hot stone, herbal ball, and many other types of massage!

If you’d like to schedule a massage or have more questions about it give us a call! 320-253-5650

Massage-No Pain, No Gain?

Some people believe that a massage must be painful to be effective. Clenching your teeth while the massage therapist is digging deep will help for the future right?

In fact, painful bodywork can be less effective.  If you cannot breathe comfortably or you want to curl your toes then the technique is too intense for you.

A high level of pain will cause your body to go into protective mode. It can actually block any positive change that the massage would normally give you.  You should never be in a high pain range to get the results you want.

We understand that applying pressure on tight muscles and knots in your back isn’t very comfortable, but it shouldn’t be to the point of wincing with every massage stroke.

If your massage does feel too painful, be sure to let your massage therapist know.  The therapist can ease the pressure without losing any therapeutic value.
Massage therapists are trained to modify the pressure based on patient preference. By giving your therapist appropriate feedback, you will have a great experience throughout your session and feel much better afterward!

 

Deep Tissue Massage

There are hundreds if not, thousands of different types and techniques of massage!  Which one do you choose when scheduling a massage? We are going to cover of the most common type of massage, deep tissue massage!

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles. It helps with chronic aches and pain such as stiff neck, upper back pain, lower back pain, tight leg muscles, sore shoulders, the list goes on. In a deep tissue massage the strokes a massage therapists uses are slow and the pressure is deep.

In any massage, you can control the amount of pressure being applied by letting the massage therapist know how the pressure is feeling on your body. It is not unusual to be a little sore in certain areas of the body after a deep tissue massage, but it is always important to communicate with the massage therapist during the massage to make sure the pressure is never painful.

The pressure applied in a deep tissue massage is more concentrated on areas that have tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscle and fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue surrounding the muscle.

There are so many benefits of a deep tissue massage, so we have listed a few here:

• Helps with Chronic Back Pain
• Reduces Muscle Spasms and Cramping.
• Improves Range of Motion.
• Relieves Fatigue.
• Increases Joint Flexibility.
• Helps Lower High Blood Pressure.
• Increases Energy.
• Encourages Healing.
• Reduces Stress, Anxiety and Muscle Tension.
• Improves Athletic Recovery and Performance..
• Reduces Arthritis Symptoms.

Deep tissue massage is a great massage technique for all ages and body types. It’s a great way to help yourself become healthier and give back to your body in a healthy way!