Dreamclinic massage therapist Michael Jacobus recently took part in a research study to determine the ideal frequency of massage for treating chronic neck pain. The study, designed and conducted by Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, utilized massage as a treatment for nonspecific neck pain (neck pain not related to a specific incident or injury). Jacobus was one of the massage therapists selected to administer the Group Health study.
The research study participants were divided into groups that each received a different frequency and duration of massage treatment over a 4-week span. The researchers measured neck-related pain and dysfunction both before and after the treatment period.
Their conclusion? The optimal dose and frequency for achieving meaningful improvement in chronic neck pain is 60 minutes of massage, 2-3 times per week. The researchers found that “multiple 60-minute massages per week [were] more effective than fewer or shorter sessions for individuals with chronic neck pain.”
Jacobus shared, “I loved working on the [Group Health] research project. My hope is that the results of this study will direct future massage research. The more this data can be replicated, the more relevance it has to further validate massage as an effective treatment for chronic neck pain.”
To read the study abstract, visit http://annfammed.org/content/12/2/112
Michael Jacobus has been practicing massage since 1996. He has instructed in top massage schools in the Pacific Northwest and continues to teach kinesiology and muscle anatomy to massage & yoga students and professionals. You can find Michael at Dreamclinic’s Queen Anne Location located in the MarQueen Hotel in Seattle.
Scientists have recently identified a “second brain” in the body, known as the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is a large collection of neurons located in the walls of the digestive tract, along the alimentary canal spanning from the esophagus to the anus. It is estimated that the “gut brain” contains anywhere from 200-600 million nerve cells1, significantly more than are found in either the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system. The enteric nervous system, part of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system, operates independently of, yet sends signals directly to, the central nervous system to regulate and communicate the status of gastrointestinal functions.
In response to the discovery of the “gut brain”, neuro- gastroenterology has emerged as a new field of scientific research. Leading scientists at Columbia University and UCLA describe the enteric nervous system as complex and responsible for many important bodily functions beyond that of merely digestion.
The enteric nervous system controls local functions of the gastrointestinal tract (fluid exchange, blood flow, digestive processes), regulates levels of neurotransmitters and hormones, and plays an important role in immune function.1 “Cutting-edge research is currently investigating how the second brain mediates the body’s immune response; after all, at least 70 percent of our immune system is aimed at the gut to expel and kill foreign invaders.”2 “The gastrointestinal tract also harbors an extensive endocrine signaling system, and many gastrointestinal functions are under dual neuronal and endocrine control.”1
Dysfunction of the enteric nervous system correlates with digestive as well as neurological disorders.2 Since 95% of the body’s serotonin is produced and stored in the digestive tract, gastrointestinal imbalance is often accompanied by mood disorders such as depression. This gut-brain connection may explain why antidepressants are commonly prescribed to address digestive disorders3. Alternately, some research suggests that antidepressants cause digestive disorders because they elevate serotonin levels2. Currently pharmaceutical companies are providing most of the funding for neurogastroenterology research because they see a large market opportunity in the potential findings.
Neurogastroenterology research has found a direct relationship between the body’s nervous and digestive systems. Therefore it is essential that a treatment plan addresses the nervous system in order to effectively treat digestive issues. Pharmaceuticals prescribed to treat the symptoms of gastrointestinal or mood disorders often have side effects, and are not the only treatment option. Research validates the efficacy of acupuncture5 and therapeutic massage6 as alternate approaches to balancing the nervous system and restoring proper digestive function. The objective of a treatment plan is to reduce or eliminate symptoms, restore the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract, and relieve stress in the nervous system to encourage greater body-mind health.
This is an original article from Dreamclinic, Inc. Dreamclinic is a Health and Wellness company committed to sharing information about commonly experienced health conditions and how they may be impacted through the use of bodywork and other natural approaches. Dreamclinic offers massage, acupuncture, and Reiki sessions at its Greenlake and Queen Anne clinics, as well as onsite massage at workplaces around Puget Sound. Contact us to learn more about how Dreamclinic can help you, your family or your workplace experience greater health.
Many of us know someone whose life has been affected by cancer. A cancer diagnosis can produce feelings of anxiety, doubt, confusion, guilt, fear and depression in the patient.1
A complicated diagnosis paired with an extensive course of treatment can be overwhelming to consider. Cancer treatment encompasses physical, emotional, psychological and social elements. Establishing a supportive care team before, during and after cancer treatment is imperative to achieving a positive outcome.
Massage has been shown to help relieve cancer symptoms and reduce the side effects of treatment. Although massage cannot stop the growth or progression of cancer, a PubMed abstract states, “Therapeutic massage as a cancer pain intervention appears to be safe and effective. Patients who receive massage have less procedural pain, nausea, and anxiety and report improved quality of life… Massage has a positive effect on biochemistry, increasing levels of dopamine, lymphocytes, and natural killer cells.”2
“Some people worry that having a massage when you have cancer may make the cancer cells travel to other parts of the body. No research has proved this to be true.”3
A study done by the National Cancer Institute taught personal caregivers of patients (usually family members) massage techniques for cancer care via DVD instruction. Caregivers then regularly massaged their patients. Results of the study showed reduced symptoms and less side effects from cancer treatment, as well as increased social bonding and improved general comfort of the patient.
“‘The magnitude of the impact of family members was unexpected. Our research found significant reductions of pain, anxiety, fatigue, depression and nausea when massage was routinely administered at home by family and caregivers,’ states lead researcher William Collinge, Ph.D.
The study found massage by family members reduced stress/ anxiety (44% reduction), pain (34%), fatigue (32%), depression (31%), and nausea (29%).”4
For cancer patients seeking professional massage services, deep massage is not recommended, due to the potential of bruising and skin sensitivity (from radiation). Physical manipulation of bones is also discouraged, to avoid fractures of bones weakened during treatment of certain types of cancers.5 However, The American Cancer Society recognizes that “gentle massage and bodywork can be adapted to meet the needs of cancer patients.”6 It is recommended that a patient seek approval from their Oncologist before adding massage into their treatment plan.
Massage is increasingly being offered by hospitals and cancer care centers as a supportive therapy for cancer patients.2Massage is a non-invasive, cost effective way for patients to safely and effectively control pain and reduce the need for medications (thus reducing potential side effects). Regular massage can also help patients reduce stress, improve sleep, increase relaxation, boost immune function, and flush out toxins.
Adding massage as part of a comprehensive treatment plan gives cancer patients a greater sense of control over their own care. By decreasing anxiety and improving the ability to cope, massage empowers patients to take charge of their own healing process.
This is an original article from Dreamclinic, Inc. Dreamclinic is a Health and Wellness company committed to sharing information about commonly experienced health conditions and how they may be impacted through the use of bodywork and other natural approaches. Dreamclinic offers massage, acupuncture, and Reiki sessions at its Greenlake and Queen Anne clinics, as well as onsite massage at workplaces around Puget Sound. Contact us to learn more about how Dreamclinic can help you, your family or your workplace experience greater health.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is currently on the rise in the United States. PTSD is a mental health condition that originates from a traumatic event such as a war, natural disaster, terrorist attack, abuse, violence, or assault. Symptoms of PTSD may last for years after the actual event occurred, and can interfere with a person’s relationships and daily functioning.
When a traumatic event occurs, the body moves into fight or flight mode, triggering the stress response. If this stressful state remains for an extended period of time, the initial trauma becomes ‘stored’ in the body and is unable to let go.
PTSD’s effects are experienced on physiological, physical and emotional levels of the body. PTSD symptoms include: flashbacks, nightmares, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, detachment, difficulty with memory and concentration, fatigue and chronic pain. A PTSD sufferer may struggle with fear and hypersensitivity on a daily basis, reacting uncontrollably to seemingly benign triggers. They no longer feel safe or in control of their environment, their body or themselves.
A holistic approach to treating PTSD has been implemented at the Fort Bliss Restoration and Resilience Center in Texas. Army war veterans who wish to return to combat must commit to an intense daily regimen of physical exercise, individual and group therapy, and holistic therapies such as yoga, massage, Reiki, acupuncture, t’ai chi, qigong, biofeedback and meditation.
John Fortunato, the clinical psychologist who spearheaded the program, states, “Many PTSD-afflicted soldiers experience ‘hyper-arousal,’ which the center staff treats with techniques like medical massage and ‘Reiki’… Acupuncture has proven to be ‘extremely effective’ in treating the anxiety, panic, and tension-induced physical pain many [veterans] experience.”1
“Soldiers who have been victims of PTSD after violent wars are being treated with acupuncture [with] successful results. Recently, the Pentagon has been investigating the beneficial effects of acupuncture for PTSD on soldiers affected with this condition. As per findings from recent trials, it has been found that combat veterans were relieved of their symptoms and experienced reduced depression, as well as pain. The improvements due to acupuncture were also found to be very rapid and significant.”2
In addition to this empirical evidence, numerous scientific studies have confirmed the healing benefits of touch. For PTSD sufferers, therapeutic massage offers the benefits of caring touch with clear and safe boundaries. “Massage therapy can help bring clients back into themselves by increasing their ability to feel safety and mastery in the world, to be freely curious without fear, to feel comfortable with their body, and to experience boundaried intimacy with another human being.”3
This is an original article from Dreamclinic, Inc. Dreamclinic is a Health and Wellness company committed to sharing information about commonly experienced health conditions and how thy may be impacted through the use of bodywork and other natural approaches. Dreamclinic offers massage, acupuncture, and Reiki sessions at its Greenlake and Queen Anne clinics, as well as onsite massage at workplaces around Puget Sound. Contact us to learn more about how Dreamclinic can help you, your family or workplace experience greater health.
Other Resources
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/DS00246
http://www.touchpoint.dk/touchpoint/uk/UK_artikler_stress.htm
http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/759-massage-for-treatment-of-post-traumatic-stress-disorder.html#sthash.F1BIMrxI.dpuf
Dreamclinic massage therapist Michael Jacobus recently took part in a research study to determine the ideal frequency of massage for treating chronic neck pain. The study, designed and conducted by Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, utilized massage as a treatment for nonspecific neck pain (neck pain not related to a specific incident or injury). Jacobus was one of the massage therapists selected to administer the Group Health study.
