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Online Exclusives » Conventions and Events » Laws & Legislation » Massage Associations » Schools/Training » Self-Care » Reader Expressions » Research » Link Partners » Donate to Research »Less Sleep, Disrupted Internal 24-Hour Clock Means Higher Risk of Diabetes and Obesity - 5/9/2012
A study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) reinforces the finding that too little sleep or sleep patterns that are inconsistent with our body's internal biological clock may lead to increased risk of diabetes and obesity.
Stress Contributes to Cognitive Declines in Women with Breast Cancer, Researcher Says - 5/9/2012
Women undergoing treatment for breast cancer can experience cognitive declines, such as decreased verbal fluency or loss of memory and attention. Often experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy, the declines have become known as chemo brain. However, a health psychologist at the University of Missouri says chemo brain isn't always to blame.
A Simple, Low-Cost Yoga Program can Enhance Coping and Quality of Life for Caregivers - 3/21/2012
For every individual who's a victim of Alzheimer's—some 5.4 million persons in the U.S. alone—there's a related victim: the caregiver. Spouse, son, daughter, other relative or friend, the loneliness, exhaustion, fear and most of all stress and depression takes a toll.
Social Networking a Shortcut to Finding Health Experts - 3/20/2012
It can be difficult for someone outside of a specialist field to identify subject experts and the ever increasing amount of available data can be bewildering. New research, published in BioMed Central's open access journal, Journal of Biomedical Semantics, describes a method of social network analysis, similar to finding friends on Facebook, able to sift through scientific literature and news articles to identify opinion leaders and media experts.
Poor Sleep Linked to Increased Health and Behavior Problems in Young Diabetics - 2/28/2012
A recent study suggests young diabetics may be struggling to get a good night's sleep, resulting in worse control of their blood sugar, poorer school performance and misbehavior.
Low Levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Cause Memory Problems - 2/28/2012
A diet lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients commonly found in fish, may cause your brain to age faster and lose some of its memory and thinking abilities, according to a study published in the Feb. 28, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Washing Away Disease - 12/21/2011
With holiday gatherings, New Year celebrations and constant travelling, hand washing is one of the most important ways to prevent getting sick and spreading germs. Many illnesses, including the common cold, are spread by not washing hands properly with soap and water. According to statistics from the National Library of Medicine, the common cold accounts for approximately 22 million missed days of school and 20 million absences from work (which includes time away from work to care for sick children).
Tart Cherry Juice Drinkers Gain Sleep Advantage - 12/12/2011
Americans seeking a better night's sleep may need to look no further than tart cherry juice, according to a new study in the European Journal of Nutrition. An international team of researchers found that when adults had two daily glasses of tart cherry juice, they slept 39 minutes longer, on average, and had up to 6 percent increase in overall sleep efficiency (significantly less nonsleep time in bed), compared to when they drank a noncherry, fruit cocktail.
Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents Becoming More Common - 12/12/2011
Children who suffer from persistent or recurring chronic pain may miss school, withdraw from social activities and are at risk of developing internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety, in response to their pain. In the first comprehensive review of chronic pain in children and adolescents in 20 years, a group of researchers found that more children now are suffering from chronic pain and that girls suffer more frequently from chronic pain than boys.
Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget - 11/21/2011
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a realistic low-cost at-home food plan is about $110 per week for a family of two and $187 per week for a family of four who have kids older than 6 years old. Even with their low-cost figures, some families may wonder in this economy how to make that work, while still striving to eat healthy meals. The good news is there are many things families can do to help keep costs down, yet eat healthy at the same time
WebOpenings.com Launches Website for Last-Minute Appointment Bookings for Spas, Salons and Medical Practices - 5/30/2012
WebOpenings.com has announced the launch of its appointment marketplace that assists spas, salons and medical facilities in filling vacant appointments at full or deep discounted prices for easy booking by consumers.
Avoid Confusion between Narcotic "Bath Salts" and Actual Bathing Salts - 5/30/2012
Recent news stories regarding the dangers of Bath Salts should not be a cause of concern for individuals who use legitimate bathing salts to sooth aching muscles, according to The Salt Institute.
Massage Heights Announces Recipient of Inaugural Founders Cup Award, which Recognizes Franchisee for Operational Excellence and Dedication to the Brand's Core Values - 5/30/2012
Massage Heights, an international premium franchise membership massage company that makes regular massage therapy affordable and convenient to the masses announced today that Houston, Texas franchisees Larry and Debbie Weatherford are the recipients of the inaugural Massage Heights Founders Cup Award.
Work of the Entry-Level Analysis Project Begins - 5/30/2012
Members of the Entry-Level Analysis Project (ELAP) released a project description detailing the workings of the group, its planned activities and its goals.
Common Misconceptions about Chinese Herbs - 5/30/2012
Chinese herbs can be a natural and effective way to manage one's health, whether they're used to aid healing or reduce side effects that come with various cancer treatments or ailments. Just because they're natural, though, does not mean that they can be taken on a whim. Dr. Edward Lamadrid dispels common myths about taking Chinese herbs.
PerformTex Products Partners with WMI Corp. - 5/29/2012
PerformTex has announced the Strategic Partnership as an official medical partner to the WMI Corp Global Network. WMI Corporation along with PerformTex will provide a comprehensive Risk Management and Medical/Rescue program that includes coverage of its world-class amateur and professional events, organizations and development worldwide.
Owie Pillow Makes a Difference for Pregnant Women - 5/29/2012
For Kristine Currier, coping with an uncomfortable seat belt during pregnancy was a struggle she knew she shared with other soon-to-be moms. Rather than persevering through the pain for nine months, she decided to become a mompreneur and create a product that really makes a difference.
Marathon Runner, Hardline Radio Personality Reveals Secret for Staying in Shape - 5/29/2012
It started in the middle of the night -- a blinding pain that woke Corby Davidson up from a sound sleep. His first thought: I'm dying. The pain in the marathon runner's back was excruciating but, luckily for Davidson, not actually life-threatening.
The Berkana Method of 'Mindful Expressionism' Takes Flight in the Mile High City - 5/29/2012
Jill Kristin Berkana's progressive Mindful Expressionism Certification Training has been approved by the NCBTMB for continuing education (#451960-12), and international advanced and adventurous bodyworkers are traveling to the heart of Denver, Colorado, to take part in the 250-hour, six-week-long intensive training.
Performance Health Scientific Advisory Committee Members to Present at the 59th Annual American College of Sports Medicine Meeting - 5/29/2012
Members of the Performance Health Scientific Advisory Committee (TRAC) will be presenting Thera-Band® and Biofreeze® product research at the American College of Sports Medicine 59th Annual Meeting and 3rd World Congress on Exercise is Medicine® in San Francisco, CA, May 29 - June 2, 2012.
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by Lauriann Greene, C.E.A.S., and Richard W. Goggins, C.P.E., L.M.P.
Many massage therapists unconsciously hold their breath or breathe shallowly while they work. The most common cause is tension. It can be emotional tension, due to stress or anxiety, or physical tension due to awkward postures, fatigue or a number of other causes.
Your tissues need oxygen to function properly, so any decrease in breathing is problematic for your musculoskeletal health. It also becomes a vicious circle: you feel stressed or uncomfortable, so you breathe shallowly; the lack of breath causes more tension, which leads to more shallow breathing, and so on. Working with that kind of tension puts you at risk for work-related injury.
Ask a colleague to watch you work and look for signs of reduced breath like raised shoulders and/or stiffness in the way you move. If your colleague points out that you're not breathing deeply, stop and ask yourself: Do I feel stressed? Am I uncomfortable? Take a moment to adjust your position or your work environment (for example, your table height). Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, think of blowing your stress or discomfort out of the room. As you breathe deeply, your client will likely do the same, which will help her to be more receptive to your treatment.
Get in the habit of doing breathing exercises every day. Try breathing in on a count of five, then out on a count of five while expanding your ribs in all directions (we call this "three-dimensional breathing"). Make sure you're breathing from the diaphragm, deep in the abdomen. With practice, you can make breathing deeply a reflex that dispels tension as you work.
Reproduced with permission from Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists, 2nd Edition, by Lauriann Greene, C.E.A.S., and Richard W. Goggins, C.P.E., L.M.P., © 2008 Gilded Age Press, www.saveyourhands.com.
by Earl Wenk
Do you want to make more money and improve your marketing strategy as a massage therapist? If so, then stop accepting tips.
This might sound crazy, but let me explain. We don't tip our physical therapist, doctor or dentist, but people are accustomed to tip their massage therapist. It's not like we are performing a shoe shine, valet parking or some other task the client does not wish to perform themselves. We have specialized education and training to correct muscle imbalances, reduce pain and improve quality of life. Eliminating gratuities can improve the standing of your practice.
Instead, tell your clients, "If you want to tip me, give someone my business card. To tell someone else about me is the best tip I could possibly receive." You will be surprised how well this works. Instead of receiving an extra $5 or $10, you now have a marketing champion, someone who will tell the world about you and your abilities.
Let's look at the math: A monthly client who pays you a $10 tip would add up to $120 per year, whereas a new client returning once per month for $60 per hour would be $720 per year. Not a bad trade-off for giving up $10 cash, is it? Plus, this new client is told the same thing and you are now on your way to a dedicated referral network.
This strategy works great for sports massage, as athletes always talk to one another about training tips and injuries. It has helped me develop a healthy practice while also reducing my overall marketing budget.
Earl Wenk, A.T.C., C.S.C.S., N.C.T.M.B., has more than 17 years of experience in the field of sports medicine, working as a massage therapist, certified athletic trainer, and strength-and-conditioning specialist. He works with athletes of all ages and skill levels, from recreational runners to Olympic and world champions. Visit www.musclewisdom.com to learn about his sports massage workshops.
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