As more and more Americans incorporate alternative therapies into their program of health care, people with diabetes, too, are looking to the usefulness of different therapies to complement their lifestyle measures and medical care. One such alternative therapy is massage.
The therapeutic use of touch might be seen as a new development in health care, but there are traditions of touch therapies that date back through the centuries in cultures around the world. The Chinese have written records of therapeutic massage dating to 3000 BC, and there are ancient Egyptian pictographs showing the practice of foot massage.
In recent times, the field of massage has gained prominence in the areas of athletic training, medical massage, and spa and fitness centers. So a person with diabetes seeking to optimize his health care may well wonder whether massage therapy might be useful to him.
Benefits of massage therapy
There are many benefits of massage therapy for people with diabetes. Most of these would be similar to the benefits of massage for the general population, but the following are of particular interest for people with diabetes.
Relaxation. The value of basic relaxation cannot be overemphasized. Living with diabetes is inherently stressful. Fluctuating blood sugar levels put tremendous strain on the body’s systems. The practical demands of balancing intake of insulin or oral medicines, blood glucose monitoring, nutrition, and exercise can seem like a daunting task for many. Worry about diabetic complications or anxiety relating to work or interpersonal relationships can add to the picture of stress.
By sedating the nervous system, massage can bring a much-needed rest and an assuring sense of well-being to the body. Skillfully applied touch can have a profound effect on body chemistry, decreasing the production of stress hormones, with resulting beneficial effects to blood sugar levels. (Stress hormones generally raise blood sugar levels.)
Increased circulation. Massage increases the circulation of blood and lymph, facilitating the transport of oxygen and other nutrients into the body’s tissues. Improved circulation allows for more efficient uptake of insulin by the cells. Circulation is often impaired in people with diabetes due to the damaging effects of elevated blood sugar levels on the cells of the body.
Myofascial effects. Massage works directly with the muscles (myo) and connective tissues (fascia) in the body, helping to facilitate greater mobility in the body. This is especially important for people with diabetes, because elevated blood sugar causes a thickening of connective tissue, which affects the mobility and elasticity of the myofascial system. This may be experienced as stiffness in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments or as a decreased range of motion in the joints.
Stress hormones also contribute to chemical changes in the connective tissue, causing a stickiness between the layers of fascia. Massage therapy can significantly counter this effect. Stretching and regular exercise are also important to help encourage flexibility and health of the myofascial system.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Neuromuscular Massage
Neuromuscular massage is an intense form of bodywork that consists of focused, concentrated massage on one specific area of the body. The pressure may continue for a period of up to thirty seconds at a time, and is designed to alleviate tension that extends from a “trigger point” into an entire muscle.
The theory behind neuromuscular massage is that when a muscle spasms – due to one of any number of stimuli – it is not caused by a spasm in the entire muscle, but by a spasm in a very centralized area of the muscle, which may then reverberate to other areas of the muscle, causing pain.
This small area is called a trigger point because it is the area that “triggers” pain in another area of the muscle, sometimes called referring or transferring.
When a muscle (or trigger point) spasms in the body, blood flow to that area is severely decreased, sometimes ceasing altogether. When the blood flow is diminished, oxygen necessary for the muscle to work properly is also decreased, causing a buildup of lactic acid. This causes a sensation similar to the one felt after a long workout – muscle soreness.
The problem is that this can turn into a vicious cycle of soreness and pain because the buildup of lactic acid combined with the body’s desire to compensate for the pain will inevitably lead to less blood flow, less oxygen, and the continued production of lactic acid. This is why muscle soreness and pain can continue for years unabated.
The theory behind neuromuscular massage is that when a muscle spasms – due to one of any number of stimuli – it is not caused by a spasm in the entire muscle, but by a spasm in a very centralized area of the muscle, which may then reverberate to other areas of the muscle, causing pain.
This small area is called a trigger point because it is the area that “triggers” pain in another area of the muscle, sometimes called referring or transferring.
When a muscle (or trigger point) spasms in the body, blood flow to that area is severely decreased, sometimes ceasing altogether. When the blood flow is diminished, oxygen necessary for the muscle to work properly is also decreased, causing a buildup of lactic acid. This causes a sensation similar to the one felt after a long workout – muscle soreness.
The problem is that this can turn into a vicious cycle of soreness and pain because the buildup of lactic acid combined with the body’s desire to compensate for the pain will inevitably lead to less blood flow, less oxygen, and the continued production of lactic acid. This is why muscle soreness and pain can continue for years unabated.
This effect is exacerbated when a muscle spasm places pressure on a nerve or series of nerves. This causes numbness, tingling and other symptoms, which are all common side effects of muscle soreness and pain. And
because nerves carry sensations throughout the body like a pulse, it is possible to feel these numbing sensations in areas of the body not associated with the original muscle spasm.
A neuromuscular therapist is trained to locate the trigger points associated with muscle pain, and then alleviate the stress using intense, concentrated pressure on that area. Pressure can be applied using the hands, elbows or a small device called a t-bar.
Some patients can be rid of pain in only one session with a neuromuscular massage therapist, while other patients will require several sessions before a noticeable change takes place. Neuromuscular massage therapists usually spend time warming up the tissue with Swedish or traditional massage before progressing into neuromuscular massage therapy. It can also take time to actually locate the trigger point(s) because the patient may be feeling pain in areas unrelated to the source of the problem.
Pain is relieved when the spasm is neutralized by pressure, and blood flow is once again restored to the area. Other benefits can include increased flexibility, wider range of motion, more balanced posture and increased energy. Neuromuscular massage is used primarily to treat the lower back, the neck and arms, repetitive motion injuries, headaches and reported numbness and tingling in the limbs.
because nerves carry sensations throughout the body like a pulse, it is possible to feel these numbing sensations in areas of the body not associated with the original muscle spasm.
A neuromuscular therapist is trained to locate the trigger points associated with muscle pain, and then alleviate the stress using intense, concentrated pressure on that area. Pressure can be applied using the hands, elbows or a small device called a t-bar.
Some patients can be rid of pain in only one session with a neuromuscular massage therapist, while other patients will require several sessions before a noticeable change takes place. Neuromuscular massage therapists usually spend time warming up the tissue with Swedish or traditional massage before progressing into neuromuscular massage therapy. It can also take time to actually locate the trigger point(s) because the patient may be feeling pain in areas unrelated to the source of the problem.
Pain is relieved when the spasm is neutralized by pressure, and blood flow is once again restored to the area. Other benefits can include increased flexibility, wider range of motion, more balanced posture and increased energy. Neuromuscular massage is used primarily to treat the lower back, the neck and arms, repetitive motion injuries, headaches and reported numbness and tingling in the limbs.
My Story
In 2005, I survived a near-death experience with diabetes and a blood glucose level of 675 (more than 570 points above normal) while in the hospital for several days. I credit my recovery to God, my wife (Kathy), my 3 boys, and my belief that there was a better way to live. Thanks to my wife who spent the majority of the time with our 3 boys, I was able to study and research what was going on in my body, and figure out what foods were best for me to fight and reverse my diabetes within 3 months.
I used my experience as a massage therapist and understanding of nutrition to dramatically improve my health, reverse my diabetes, get rid of the gout, lose 100 pounds, get rid of the night sweats, and wean myself off the insulin shots. This was a scary time for my wife and our children, who would watch me inject myself with the insulin. But, this motivated me, because I realized that I needed to defeat my diabetes if I was going to be healthy enough to provide for my family and set a better example for our children.
This may sound strange, but diabetes saved my life! Being in the hospital with a blood sugar over 600 was so scary and the look on my sons' faces motivated me to find a way to get healthy.
This may sound strange, but diabetes saved my life! Being in the hospital with a blood sugar over 600 was so scary and the look on my sons' faces motivated me to find a way to get healthy.
Once I reversed my diabetes, various people noticed the weight loss and asked me how I did it. When I would tell people that I used to be a diabetic, they were surprised because they had always been told that once you're a diabetic, you're always a diabetic. But, I learned that with the right knowledge, with God's help, the support of my family, and self-motivation, I could defeat this disease.
My success with defeating my diabetes led me to share my story of recovery with others, who were also suffering with Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and using too many prescription medications. With the support of my sister-in-law (who owns a health training facility), I began conducting diabetes lectures and sharing my story with people in the community.
My success with defeating my diabetes led me to share my story of recovery with others, who were also suffering with Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and using too many prescription medications. With the support of my sister-in-law (who owns a health training facility), I began conducting diabetes lectures and sharing my story with people in the community.
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