Research released in July 2011 expanded on previous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of massage therapy for chronic low back pain. Researchers found that “patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function”. The study was conducted over 10 weeks through Group Health Research Institute.

•Participants had a 60-minute massage once a week for 10 weeks.
•Massage patients also said they reduced the amount of over the counter anti-inflammatory medications they took.

To learn more about how our massage therapists can help with your back pain, please review our page on Massage Therapy for Back Pain.

About the Study:

Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, Wellman R, Cook AJ, Johnson E, Erro J, Delaney K, Deyo RA. A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial.
Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jul 5;155(1):1-9.

In December 2012, our Sports/Injury Specialist, David, was interviewed by DaySpa Magazine to help them understand the needs of male athletes. Their article, “SPA TREATMENTS: Catering to Male Athletes,” likely stems from the trend that women typically take “better care” of themselves and seek professional support & care more frequently…especially in the spa setting.

We were honored that the magazine chose us as industry experts and support their efforts to find ways to encourage male athletes to utilize a massage therapy program. And while massage therapists working in a spa often lack the advanced training in Sports Massage and Injury Rehab techniques, it is refreshing to hear that spas are looking for better ways to support athletes.

Some Quotes from the Article:

“Common complaints for athletes include IT band syndrome, lower back pain, plantar fasciitis, and foot and ankle pain,” notes David Abookire, a sports and injury specialist, and director and owner of Boulder Therapeutics in Boulder, Colorado. “Treatments such as sports massage, which emphasizes the lower back, legs and glutes, can be part of a good maintenance routine.”

When treating athletes, Abookire calls on techniques such as myofascial release, and neuromuscular massage, works on posture and anomalies in the movement path, and addresses imbalance of muscles/range of motion. To attract and retain these clients, he recommends offering treatment packages and aligning with sports centers, physical therapy clinics, yoga studios and chiropractors. “Men aren’t used to getting care—they might seek help reluctantly, and only when something’s wrong,” says Abookire. “But with athletes and their frequent injuries, there’s a real need….”

After a hard workout, nothing feels better than a good sports massage. We call it a “flush,” and technically speaking it’s a post-event massage designed to help athletes recover faster so they can train harder.

For years, we have know that massage relieves pain in injured muscles after exercise. Now, research through the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario indicates that massage therapy reduces inflammation of skeletal muscle acutely damaged through exercise.

The study provides evidence for the benefits of massage therapy for those with musculoskeletal injuries and potentially for those with inflammatory disease, according to the lead author of the research.

•The study found evidence at the cellular level that massage therapy may affect inflammation in a way similar to anti-inflammatory medications.

•The researchers “found that massage activated the mechanotransduction signaling pathways focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), potentiated mitochondrial biogenesis signaling [nuclear peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α)], and mitigated the rise in nuclear factor κB (NFκB) (p65) nuclear accumulation caused by exercise-induced muscle trauma.”

J. D. Crane, D. I. Ogborn, C. Cupido, S. Melov, A. Hubbard, J. M. Bourgeois, M. A. Tarnopolsky, Massage Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Signaling After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage. Sci. Transl. Med. 4, 119ra13 (2012).

Have your Knees been Achy with Cold Weather?

Do you have Increased Knee Pain from Skiing, Hiking or Snowshoeing?

Study Determines Optimal Dose of Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Research supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) showed that 60-minute sessions of Swedish massage therapy delivered once a week for pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee significantly reduced pain and was both optimal and practical, establishing a standard for use in future research. Each massage therapy session followed a specific protocol, including the nature of massage strokes. This is the latest published research study indicating the benefits of massage therapy for those with osteoarthritis of the knee.
•The study involved a total group of 125 subjects, with 25 receiving the 60-minute massage over 8 weeks, while others received less massage or usual care without massage.
•Previous studies on massage for the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee showed similar results, but were on a more limited number of subjects.

Perlman A, Ali A, Njike VY, et al. Massage therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized dose-finding trial. PLoS One. 2012; 7(2):e30248.

To learn more about how we can help with your knee pain, please review our page on Massage Therapy for Knee Pain.

We recently watched this amazing video (see clip above) from Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau, MD called “Interior Architectures.” The video explores the fascial connections and connective tissue within our bodies using an HD camera and clearly demonstrates just how integrated our tissues really are.

For those of you who have heard David, our Injury Specialist, lecture at his Anatomy Trainings, you’ve often heard him discuss how everything is connected thru fascia. How the images we see in most anatomy books are too “clean” and don’t fully acknowledge or represent how integrated and connected our bodies really are. This video and the images below should help give you a better idea of what we, as massage therapists, “see” when working with our clients/patients.

Quotes from Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau:

“The body is one & has the same multifibrilla architecture.”

“Everything is in continuity, everything is connected, everything moves to fit, everything moves and always comes back to its previous position.”

“Water is everywhere & present in all tissues. It is 85% of our body weight. We have a constant volume but variable pressure in different areas.”

Myofascial Release:

These 2 images illustrate our fascial layering and connections. The image on the left (taken from the video above) shows how the skin, adipose and muscle are all connected thru the superficial (surface) fascia. Note how the fascia looks like a spider web wrapping and connecting the layers together.

The image on the right, while “clean” in it’s representation, shows how a tendon from one muscle integrates into the next tendon thru fascial connections. They are physically connected and not as separate as many illustrations incorrectly represent. Also, both tendons would connect at the bony attachment thru the periosteum (the “skin” of the bone) creating a truly integrated body.

When we, as massage therapists, apply myofascial release, we are attempting to manually unwind fascial lines and connective tissue that get stuck together and negatively affect our movement patterns. We see the body as an integrated system of connective tissue and look to unwind improper biomechanical “patterns” in the body.

Fascia & Skin:

Dissection of the skin & superfiscial fascia

The image on the left shows a detailed cross-section of the fascial layering and corresponding criss crossing retinacula cutis fibers. They’re all considered fascia or connective tissue, each with slighly different fiber orientations. Note how the dissection on the right shows many of the retinacula cutis fibers which appear like a spider web connecting the skin to the deeper layers.

The Video

Our thanks goes out to Tom Meyers for bringing this video to our attention. And our sincere gratitude to Dr. Guimbertau for his pioneering work and wonderful video. To purchase this video, click here.

click to read the full article

Cheers to Mother Jones for their insightful article on the sugar industry and their often successful attempts to lull us into thinking that sugar isn’t so bad for us.

“For 40 years, the sugar industry’s priority has been to shed doubt on studies suggesting that its product makes people sick.”

Our client, Dr. Cristin Kearns Couzens, is one of the coauthors. As a dentist, one might think her focus would be on oral hygiene, but her passion for health goes much deeper. In this article, she exposes how the sugar industry has worked tirelessly to make us believe that sugar was NOT a cause for obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

“[T]he fact that no confirmed scientific evidence links sugar to the death-dealing diseases…is the lifeblood” of the Sugar Association.

I encourage you to read the article and review the Internal papers from the Sugar Industry which reveal a strategy to safeguard sugar from “opportunists,” “pseudoscientists,” and “enemies.”

Cristin Kearns Couzens first saw the devastating effects of sugar as dental director of low-income clinics in Denver. She moved into dental administration, and took a position managing operations at Kaiser Permanente Dental Care Program before leaving in 2009 to pursue independent research into the sugar industry’s public-relations claims. Couzens is currently a senior consultant at the University of Colorado Center for Health Administration and an instructor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Check out her Twitter Feed SugarPolitics

Coauthor, Gary Taubes, wrote “Is Sugar Toxic” published April 13, 2011 in the NYT.

by guest blogger Melanie Bowen

Awareness Advocate for Natural Health

Few things in life are more stressful than a diagnosis of cancer and the subsequent treatments that follow. Stress, however, is a known contributor to poor health and diseases, which makes controlling stress for a person going through cancer treatments all the more important.

A gentle soft-tissue massage is clinically proven to lower stress levels, decrease anxiety and depression, as well as have a positive effect on fatigue and pain. All of this in combination may better equip the patient in their battle against cancer, by improving their mindset and increasing their strength.

A major consideration of the administration of many of the more powerful treatments against cancers is the over-all health of the patient. Regular massage therapy can empower the cancer patient to greater heights both mentally and physically, enabling them to withstand chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy and even clinical trials with greater success.

Massage therapy is also shown to aid in hormone balance, which will further benefit a cancer patient. The soothing and relaxing massage will stimulate serotonin and dopamine production, while controlling cortisol levels. The hormonal harmony achieved through massage therapy, even in short doses, can strengthen the immune system as well as improve the mental disposition of the recipient.

When facing the devastating effects of the most serious types and stages of cancer, such as lung cancer, which has metastasized to lymph nodes or mesothelioma, a patient has a long and difficult road ahead of them, filled with great anxiety, pain and uncertainty.

For a few short minutes, this person can escape the overwhelming burden of what they are going through, with a massage that serves as complementary therapy. Physical relief in the form of pain and tension reduction, along with the soothing sensation that only a professional, caring massage can bring.

The American Cancer Society recommends massage in addition to prescribed cancer treatments, and patients receiving massage therapy show considerable reductions in stress hormones and symptoms of anxiety. Facing cancer treatments is a brutal battle that is not fully understood except by those who have gone through them.

Despite all of the achievements of modern medicine, advancements in technology and pharmaceuticals, the healing touch of human hands still plays a very vital role in treating cancer patients. Consult your doctor and find a therapy that will be the most beneficial to you and your cancer recovery and give your mind, body and spirit a vacation from some of life’s everyday stressors!

Melanie Bowen: Awareness Advocate for Natural Health

Melanie Bowen joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2011 as an awareness advocate for natural health and cancer cure initiatives. You will often find her highlighting the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. Melanie also assists in social media outreach in her efforts to spread awareness.

Check out her other great blog post Relax Your Mind, Body, and Spirit: How Massage Therapy Can Be Beneficial in Cancer Care

On October 22nd, Boulder Therapeutics & Pace + West Physical Therapy kicked off our bi-monthly lecture series with a Nutrition Talk given by nutritionist Pam Vagnieres. With over 20 people in attendance, we all learned how to eat a well-balanced diet which focuses on reducing inflammation in the body and the risk of cancer, heart disease, sticky arteries, diabetes, hormonal disorders & mood disorders. These healthy foods can help you detoxify and lose weight!

For those of you that weren’t able to attend the lecture, here are some highlights from the 12 foods or food groups discussed.

1) Brassica (Crusiferous) Vegetables:

Broccoli, broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, caper, kale, watercress, bok chou, wassabi. BrassicaTea.com add pomegranate. Sulforaphane is the best phase 2 liver detox inhancer
Boiling destroys 60-70% of the nutrients. Steam, blanch, saute or eat them raw.

2) Green, Ulong, Black or White Tea:

Citrus increases bioavailability by 5x. L-theanine, anti stressor. Helps balance cortisol.

3) Berries:

High antioxidant. Only eat them organic! Lowest glycemic index of all fruits=lower blood sugar

4) Citrus Fruits:

High in pectin. Lowers cholesterol up to 10% if you eat 2/day.

5) Asian Mushrooms:

Shiitake has beta glucans which turn on the immune system. Reishi tinctures- hard to find raw, Maitake. Only eat if cooked, never raw!

6) Flax, Chia, Sesame and Tahini Seeds:

Grind them. Put in oatmeal, yoghurt, protein shake, bake. Eat 1-2 tblspn/day. Helps blood sugar.

7) Nuts & Seeds:

Helps wound healing. Regulates insulin & blood sugar. Studies show 400-500 calories/day of nuts didn’t increase weight. Try to get them slow roasted at low temp in good oils.

8). Garlic:

Onions, shallots, leeks & scallions. Turmeric for inflammation. Take with antibiotics as they’re less likely to be resistant. Kills pathogens & leaves friendly bacteria alone. Best raw, crush cell walls. Tons of benefits. Store with citrus in it to avoid botulism.

9) Dark Leafy Greens:

Kale, collards, mustard greens, spinach, arugula.

10) Legumes:

Protein food. Lower cholesterol, lower blood glucose. Red kidney beans beat blueberries in antioxidant ORAC scale.

11) Pomegranates:

Ellagic acid. Plant pesticide. Antiviral, anti inflam, etc chelator- binds to metal. Helps with oral health.

12) Dark Chocolate:

70% or higher cacao. Organic. High Magnesium. Flavonoids, argonine, plant sterol, neurotransmitter. PEA. Euphoria

Protein shake ideas

Whey
Berries
Coconut milk and water
Flaxseeds
Green tea powder
Dark leafy green
Cocoa powder
Nuts

For more information, please contact Pam at NutriPhysique.net.

We hope to see you at our next lecture!

This article, written by NursingDegree.net, highlights 77 health benefits of yoga. We’re happy to see this article published by a medical website supporting the numerous benefits of yoga. Read the full article here.

Health Benefits Within

From lowering blood pressure to increasing pain tolerance, these health benefits can all be discovered within the body.

Health Benefits Without

Just as many health benefits occur within the body, there are many benefits that can actually be experienced from without the body. From better sleep to more energy and strength, this list provides several benefits found on the outside of the body.

Emotional Health Benefits

Due to the strong mind-body connection of yoga, there are many emotional benefits to be gained from a consistent yoga practice. Find out how yoga can help improve emotional health with this list.

Body Chemistry

Several aspects of body chemistry such as glucose levels and red blood cells are affected by yoga. Learn how you can improve your body chemistry through yoga.

Exercise Health Benefits

As a form of exercise, yoga offers benefits that are sometimes not easily found among other exercise regimens. Check out these reasons to include yoga in your or your patient’s health program.

Disease Prevention

Doctors and nurses love yoga because studies indicate that it can help prevent many diseases.

Symptom Reduction or Alleviation

Medical professionals have learned that some diseases or disorders can be helped by maintaining a yoga practice.

What is AcroYoga?

AcroYoga blends the wisdom of yoga, the dynamic power of acrobatics, and the loving kindness of healing arts. These three lineages form the foundation of a practice that cultivates trust, playfulness, and community.

What is Therapeutic Flying?

AcroYoga has 3 main elements to the practice, yoga, acrobatics and healing arts. Therapeutic flying is categorized under the healing art practice. Some people might call therapeutic flying “flying Thai massage” or “aerial massage”. Bases (givers) will guide the flyers (receivers) into the inverted flying position on their feet and maneuver the flyers through some passive assisted stretches and massages using gravity. Flyers are most of the time completely passive and they learn to let go of their tension from the whole back, abdomen, shoulders and a neck. For bases, this can also be quite therapeutic once they learn to relax and trust their technique. Their hamstrings will open up and get a good stretch. They also strengthen their whole legs, core, shoulders and arms. They learn to stabilize and balance from the core.

Why Therapeutic Flying?

A lot of the poses and moves focus on spinal elongation and traction. It’s not like the hanging spinal traction equipment that you hang upside down like a bat, but this inverted flying feels more like you are on the very expensive massage chair upside down and your chair is more receptive to your needs, soft and kind. This opportunity of positive and healthy touch/contact helps you cultivate more open and compassionate communication towards each other. You are not only listening with your ears, but also with your hands/feet and your whole body. Your whole body becomes the expression of unconditional love and the symbol of balance, the balance between strength and softness.

Most people come down from the therapeutic flying session relaxed and feeling restored. Some describe that they feel like they are in the water during the flight. There is a pose that I LOVE and it’s called Folded Leaf. The flyer hangs straight down from the hips from the base’s feet. After hanging down in that pose for 3-5 min, my body releases back pain, SI joint pain, neck pain and all the daily stress instantly.

On top of the physical benefits, people practice AcroYoga purely for FUN. People seek quality time to let go and play with their curiosity and the pure joy of getting to know people. AcroYoga expands the awareness from your own body to others in a unique way. You can observe and feel your partner’s breath through body contact. Not only the breath, you can feel your partner’s tension, nervousness or distrust through the physical body. However, once both surrender into each other’s breath and movements, you learn to let go and relax. When that magical moment happens, you truly feel the luxury of this therapeutic flying. Through this work, you can release not only physical tension, but also potentially internal tension and fear.

Where can I practice AcroYoga around Boulder/Denver?

Yuki teaches a weekly class and series in Boulder regularly. She also teaches workshops in Boulder/Denver and in other states. Please check her website: Yogayuki.com for more info. Her next AcroYoga Therapeutics 5-Week Series starts on 10/30/12 Tuesday at Studio Be Yoga in Boulder. Please contact Yuki to sign up or for any questions.

About Yuki

Yuki Tsuji-Hoening has been an educator since 2004 in several different disciplines such as yoga, AcroYoga, Thai massage, skydiving, bodyflight and dance-climb fusion. She’s a licensed Thai massage therapist as well. Her passion for movements leads her into performing arts such as AcroYoga, acrobatics and AscenDance Project. In addition, she likes to be outdoors climbing, hiking and skiing whenever she can. Yuki has been a long-time client at Boulder Therapeutics and our Sports/Injury specialist, David, has taken a number of her workshops…and LOVED them!