Chronic pain can be both physically debilitating and harmful towards your mental health. When chronic pain goes untreated or unmanageable on your own, it can affect your day-to-day life. Activities that you used to enjoy may no longer be enjoyable, errands and household duties may seem like mountains to be climbed. In addition, chronic pain can leave you irritable, short-tempered, and even depressed. Chronic pain can affect your sleep and sleep quality, appetite and social habits.

Research shows that pathways in the brain may change in sufferers of chronic pain. These changes in brain function can cause depression, disturbances in sleep and even trouble with decision making. In a study published in Neuroscience Letters, the research revealed that chronic pain alters anatomical brain connectivity and activity in the resting state networks of the brain. This impacts introspection and decision making. Research also supports links between chronic pain and depression, as stated in a study published in the Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain journal. 

So how can massage be beneficial in relieving these ailments of chronic pain? Research demonstrates that consistent massage therapy can both decrease pain and increase daily activity levels in chronic pain sufferers. Massage therapy can promote beneficial changes in the central nervous system, in addition to the soft tissue that is treated. Massage therapy releases tension in the body and increases blood flow, which in turn leads to greater mobility and pain reduction.

In addition, massage therapy can affect the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. Massage therapy can stimulate serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep. Boosts of serotonin can also aid in feelings of happiness and contentment, which decreases feelings of sadness and depression. Multiple research studies also demonstrate massage therapy effective in lowering cortisol levels, the stress hormone. Increased levels of cortisol can negatively affect the immune system, your memory and metabolism.

Massage can be an effective method of treating chronic pain, as well as feelings of depression and stress that may be associated with chronic pain. Don’t allow chronic pain to take ahold of your life. If you are in pain and looking for relief, consider massage therapy as mode of treatment. Contact us by phone or visit our website to make an appointment. Call us at 904-874-8413 or www.holisticbodyworksmassage.com. We are conveniently located in the Baymeadows area at 9220 Cypress Green Drive Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Ok, so it’s been awhile since you last treated yourself to a massage. If one or more of these signs relate to you, it may be time to schedule your next appointment. We’ve created a list of some warning signs that you may be overdue for a massage.

1. You’re Experiencing Frequent Headaches
Tension headaches, the most common form of headaches, occur mostly due to muscle tension in the muscles surrounding your head, shoulders and neck. Anxiety, lack of sleep, stress, and poor posture are also contributing factors of tension headaches. These headaches can range from mild to moderate in level of pain, but chronic headaches are sometimes associated with an increase in severity. Massage therapy can be an effective form of treatment for tension headaches, as the massage therapist focuses on releasing tension in these muscle groups.

2. You’re Stressed, Irritable, or Both
Irritability is often linked to stress, in addition to being influenced by other factors, both physical (such as pain) or environmental (such as a tense work environment). When not addressed properly, stress can have an affect on your relationships, work performance, physical health and overall quality of life. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) states massage therapy can be effective for stress relief. This supports findings in various research studies that state that massage therapy can decrease heart rate, blood pressure and the stress hormone called cortisol.

3. You’re Having Trouble Sleeping
Sleep is extremely important in maintaining both your physical and mental health. Chronic lack of restful sleep can lead to an inability to concentrate or use critical thinking. Lack of sleep can also weaken your immune system, increase weight gain and increase your risk of serious health problems. Research demonstrates that massage therapy can help people experiencing sleep difficulty by providing pain relief, reducing stress and aiding in relaxation.

4. You’re Experiencing Muscle or Joint Pain
Pain and chronic pain can have a serious effect on your overall quality of life. Massage and deep tissue massage can bring relief to people with pain, which could be due to injury, long-term muscle tension, and poor posture, all of which can cause scar tissue over time. Deep tissue massage therapy releases this tension and increases blood flow, which in turn leads to greater mobility and pain reduction. Research has shown that massage can be effective in treating ailments such as low back pain, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis and more.

5. It Has Been a Long Time Since Your Last Massage
Massage therapy is most effective when received on a regular basis. If you have chronic pain, or a specific concern you want to address, massage therapy on a weekly basis would be most effective. For overall wellness and maintenance, massage therapy once or twice per month would be beneficial. You don’t need to receive weekly massages forever, discuss with your massage therapist when you feel like your condition has improved. If it has been 6 months since your last month, you are probably way overdue.

If you live in the Jacksonville, FL area and believe you are overdue for a massage. Visit our website www.holisticbodyworksmassage.com or call us at 904-874-8413 to schedule an appointment.

Many people associate deep tissue massage with pain, but is that really what it is all about? 

Deep tissue massage is a type of therapeutic massage that uses specific techniques to target deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue or fascia. Deep tissue massage is not meant to be a painful massage and people should not be afraid of this type of massage. In order to prepare the body for deep tissue work, a properly trained massage therapist will warm up the muscles using Swedish massage techniques. This allows the muscles to relax, in turn allowing for deep muscles and tissue to be manipulated.

Some discomfort felt during a deep tissue massage is considered normal. It is important to communicate intense pain or discomfort with your massage therapist. At Holistic Bodyworks Massage, we ensure to routinely check in with the client on their level of comfort. The body’s natural response to pain is to become tense, defeating the purpose of the massage. 

Myofascial release, a deep disuse technique, works to stretch and lengthen connective tissue (or fascia) that has become tight. Deep tissue massage also works to release adhesions. This fibrous tissue can restrict movement and increase pain. This scar-like tissue can be caused from injury, surgery, poor posture, among other causes.

Deep tissue massage therapy provides a wide range of benefits. This type of massage therapy has been shown beneficial for headaches, restricted range of motion, low back pain, chronic pain, old injuries, Piriformis Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Runner’s Knee, Osetoarthritis, Sciatica, poor posture, and various muscle tensions. 

If you are in pain and looking for relief, consider deep tissue massage as mode of treatment. Contact us by phone or online our website to make an appointment. Call us at 904-874-8413 or www.holisticbodyworksmassage.com. We are conveniently located in the Baymeadows area at 9220 Cypress Green Drive Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, impacts over 25 million of Americans, and millions more around the world. Osteoarthritis is a slow progressive degenerative process affects the joints, normally caused by aging, injury and/or obesity. Any joint can be affected by osteoarthritis, but most commonly the hands, knees, hips and spine are affected. If you experience chronic swelling, stiffness, and pain in your joints, you could have osteoarthritis, and it may be time to contact your doctor.

Osteoarthritis is normally managed using pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medication. This form of therapy can have a limited effectiveness. Recently, research has proven massage therapy to be effective in reducing pain. In a study titled Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Dose-Finding Trial, the researchers wanted to determine the efficacy and practicality of treating arthritis using massage. The researchers found that the participants who received a weekly 60-minute Swedish Massage, had significant decrease in pain and stiffness, and a significant increase in function and motion, in comparison to the group of participants who continued with their usual care and did not utilize massage. Additionally, in a study titled Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee, the researchers reported that their results support Swedish Massage as being a safe and effect method of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, even more so than acupuncture. This supports a number of other studies seeking to determine the effectiveness of massage for arthritis.

So how does massage therapy benefit those from suffering from osteoarthritis? Massage increases blood flow and oxygen to the area massaged, allowing the body to naturally repair the damaged soft tissue. Massage therapy can also decrease adhesions in the fascia (connective tissue) that inhibits movement in the muscles and surrounding tissue. Additionally, massage therapy increases lymphatic drainage, which aids in removing waste and drain inflamed, swollen tissues. This allows your body to heal and heal effectively. Lastly, massage therapy can be relaxing and improve your overall wellbeing.

If you are suffering from osteoarthritis in the Jacksonville, FL area, visit my website at HolisticBodyworksMassage.com to schedule your massage therapy appointment.

Pregnancy can be very exciting, but it can also be worrisome. In addition to the changes in hormones, your body and your way of life, you may find yourself worrying about the health of your baby and how you will be as a parent. These concerns are normal, but can become stressful in addition to the other ongoing stressors in your life.

As published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, researchers Davis, Glynn, Waffarn and Sandman conducted a study to determine the correlation between maternal stress and cortisol (a stress hormone), during pregnancy and the infant’s response to stress. The researchers found that increased maternal stress during pregnancy affect the infant’s behavioral stress responses. Stress during different stages of pregnancy can affect development of neurons, receptors and various brain regions, which determine the infant’s ability to respond behaviorally and physiologically to stressors in the postnatal environment. Additional research has suggested that maternal stress during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight, pre-term births and increased behavioral concerns in children.

Massage can be a helpful way to reduce maternal stress during pregnancy. Studies have shown massage therapy to be effective in reducing stress, pain and muscle tension. In a study published in the Infant Behavior and Development Journal, conducted by Field, Diego, Hernandez-Reif, Deeds and Figueiredo, the researchers wanted to determine the effect of massage therapy on depressed women. The researches concluded that not only did massage therapy reduce the levels of depression in the pregnant participants, both the mother and infant experienced lower levels of cortisol or stress, both during pregnancy and postpartum. Participants also reported decreased low back pain during pregnancy, and newborns were less likely to be born prematurely or at a low birth weight.

Additionally, the changes that a woman’s body endures during pregnancy can cause sore muscles and lower back pain. Massage therapy may be helpful for pregnant women in reducing low back pain, and increasing blood and lymphatic circulation. Many pregnant women also experience sciatic nerve pain, which may shoot down the leg due the changing in position of the uterus on other muscles in the abdominal, back and pelvic area. Massage therapy can help reduce this pain by releasing the muscle tension surrounding the sciatic nerve.

Prenatal massage is a cost effective way to help reduce stress and pain in mothers and infants, as well as to reduce the risk of low birth weight and pre-term births. If you think you could benefit from prenatal massage, schedule your appointment conveniently on our website; www.holisticbodyworksmassage.com