Leafy Massage – How even kale benefits from a little caress

March 20th, 2012 .

Food massage, really? Yes, really. Looks like people aren’t the only benefactors from a little rubdown. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times,The California Cook: Kale in a salad?,” highlights the benefits of massaging kale before serving raw.

Flavor wise; massaging these greens cuts down on the bitterness. It also breaks down the cellulose structure, leaving the leaves slightly wilted and silky. Taste and texture surely make a difference in eating enjoyment, and while the nutritional value doesn’t change it is certainly maintained. Cooking will always deplete a vegetable of some of its nutritional value. By kneading the greens instead of cooking kale’s superfood qualities aren’t lost. Read the rest of this entry »

Massage Therapy Profession Steady and on the Rise

February 29th, 2012 .

According to US Money News Best Jobs 2012, it’s a good year to be a massage therapist. Here’s a breakdown of the many reasons massage therapy is a becoming a go-to field.

Massage therapists can specialize in a range of treatment – from deep tissue to acupressure and even rolfing. This makes each therapist unique to his or her specialty. Not to mention most therapists practice multiple techniques, widening their target markets even more.

Client bases are also endless, the elderly, moms-to-be or athletes. Every facet of society needs a massage now and again.  Leaving little to no lulls in business. What can beat that? Read the rest of this entry »

Massage Therapy Shown To Be the Best Choice of Treatment for Lower Back Pain

August 10th, 2011 .

Massage therapists often gush about the therapeutic properties of massage therapy, saying it can lower levels of anxiety and stress, improve wellness, and even reduce pain. And for the most part, they’re right.

Indeed, many academic studies have demonstrated the therapeutic properties of massage therapy, but these studies are usually small in their number of participants, and often massage therapy is indicated as a complementary treatment, for example, as a non-invasive pain reliever for cancer patients. A study in the July 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine is therefore a breakthrough for massage therapists as it concludes that massage therapy isn’t just a good complementary therapy, rather, it is the best choice for treating lower back pain. Read the rest of this entry »

Exploring Massage Therapy: Myofascial Release (Part II)

May 31st, 2011 .

In our previous entry we described myofascial release, how it compares to structural integration, and the need to be highly trained in the modality in order to know how to manipulate fascia in the correct way so it creates an optimal pattern, allowing for natural, effortless movement. This week we’ll look at some of the unique properties of myofascial release. Read the rest of this entry »

Exploring Massage Therapy: Myofascial Release (Part I)

May 18th, 2011 .

On the more therapeutic side of massage therapy, many modalities exist that focus on specific health benefits. We have written before, for example, about acupressure, structural integration, and the effectiveness of massage therapy as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatment. The modality we’re looking at this week, myofascial release, is another massage therapy technique designed for a specific health benefit. In this way it is much more a therapeutic modality than one designed for relaxation. Read the rest of this entry »

Massage Therapy Shown To Be Effective in Relieving Back and Neck Pain

May 4th, 2011 .

Another week, yet another really great article and conclusion to reference from the Massage Therapy Journal. From page 97 of its Winter, 2010 edition, there is an excellent article demonstrating massage therapy’s proven effectiveness in relieving chronic neck and lower back pain, and its possible effectiveness in relieving a slew of other ailments as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Massage Therapy for Pain Relief from Scars

April 25th, 2011 .

Last week we wrote generally about how sports massage therapy can help football players, stating that regular massage can help keep players fresh during long periods of training, as well as help players avoid or manage their injuries. Yet another way massage therapy can help all athletes – and especially football players – is in its ability to treat pain associated with scars. Read the rest of this entry »

Sports Massage Therapy and Football

April 21st, 2011 .

The large, hulking physique of a professional football player usually doesn’t illicit images of a massage therapist, but to the writers of this Blog it most certainly does. Why? Read the rest of this entry »

Compiling Data from the AMTA’s and ABMP’s 2010 Massage Therapy Fact Sheets: Money and Massage Therapists

April 11th, 2011 .

Last week we looked at the ABMP’s and the AMTA’s fact sheets for 2010 (click here and here) and found that the industry is a multi-billion-dollar one that is growing quickly in the amount of money it generates per year. We also looked at data suggesting that a sizable number of businesses and individuals receive massage therapy on an annual basis.

This data and its portrayal of the massage therapy industry make it easy to understand why massage therapy is an increasingly popular career choice. But, as we’ll see, a closer look at the data shows an industry that is hardly a slam-dunk financial windfall for its practitioners. Read the rest of this entry »

Compiling Data from the AMTA’s and ABMP’s 2010 Massage Therapy Fact Sheets: Money

April 6th, 2011 .

Forgive me again for being late in exploring this (we’re way into 2011 already!), but I wanted take a look at the industry fact sheets for massage therapy of 2010 from two major professional organizations, the AMTA and the ABMP. Both organizations provide really great statistics and data each year in their fact sheets, presenting an industry that is both widely used by Americans and, as a result, highly lucrative. Read the rest of this entry »