"I have been a recipient of bodywork for more than two decades, and a practitioner for the last ten, and I have personally witnessed the amazing results possible when clients are empowered to take control of their own well being.
My own journey began when a skilled practitioner took away five years of head, neck and shoulder pain in one visit."
~Aaron Allen LMT
Age vs. Time:
Many of us are taught to expect joint and muscle pain as a natural consequence of growing older, but what if pain were not a result of age so much as time? Time spent reinforcing inefficient postural patterns leads to a lack of dynamic movement in the joints. Lack of dynamic movement is the real cause of most joint and muscle pain, not age.
Posture:
In order to most efficiently resist the force of gravity the joints of our body are designed to be stacked, one directly on top of the other, in a vertical line extending down through the arch of the foot. Yet how many times have we attempted to sit, or stand up straight, only to notice soon after that we have slumped back into "our same old posture". What is it that causes our posture to rebel?
Our nervous system, via proprioception is constantly analyzing and adjusting muscle tension, emphasizing our most common patterns of movement, or non-movement. Time spent moving our bodies in specific ways while neglecting to move in others can lead to an "amnesia" for certain muscle movements. The memory most likely exists, our brain just isn't sure where it put it.
So What Can Be Done?
The good news is that muscle memory is likely still there, and if we can restore movement and load bearing balance to the affected joints, much of the pain you are experiencing may be alleviated.
Even more good news is that there are many effective options to choose from when it comes to restoring postural balance and movement. Personal practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi, or Pilates, as well as the old fashioned practice of regular stretching are excellent ways to put movement back into your routine.
Sometimes though, you can't find resolution on your own, in which case there are professionals who may help, such as Chiropractors, Naturopathic Physicians, Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists and Physical Therapists, all specially trained in different aspects of manual therapy, a combination of which may ultimately best serve your needs.
What We've Learned...
Modern studies now support what human culture has known for more than 4000 years; As social creatures we can help each other work the knots out.
Setting goals:
“When we learn through personal experience that our pain can be understood by others, both quantifiably and emotionally, we become powerful to make a change away from pain. We begin to take control of our own recovery." ~Aaron Allen LMT
As a regular part of sessions with any therapist you should be setting and achieving goals. (even when your therapist is you) If you are not setting and achieving clearly defined goals as a regular part of each session, you may want to seek referral to another therapist. (especially if your therapist is you)
Lets face it, we all sometimes need a second opinion, and enthusiastic coaches can guide us through a process that can take a little, or a lot of time.
Experiment with different strategies but be willing to stick with a treatment strategy, especially if your therapist is helping you to set time oriented goals relevant to the symptoms you are experiencing.
And remember, not every therapy is going to be a perfect match for every client, but your therapist can make a great resource for referrals, to help you find the kind of work you really need.
I want you to have the opportunity to experience for yourself just how effective Massage Therapy can be to alleviate your pain. Click the Schedule Now button and Book your appointment today!