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Month: February 2020

MASSAGE THERAPY & HEART HEALTH: MASSAGE MIGHT REDUCE RISKS & BENEFIT RECOVERY

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. Given these grim statistics, what can be done — and can massage therapy help heart health in any way?

February is American Heart Month, a month-long awareness campaign created in 1963 and today promoted by organizations including the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

This article written for MASSAGE Magazine on behalf of the Massage Therapy Foundation provides an overview of heart disease in the US and research conducted on the benefits of massage for disease prevention and recovery of cardiovascular patients.

Heart Disease in the U.S.

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women — and someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.

Drawing information from a study titled Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2017 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association, the fact sheet cites that “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial/ethnic groups in the [U.S], including African Americans, Hispanics, and whites. For Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders and American Indians or Alaska Natives, heart disease is second only to cancer.”

Risk factors of heart disease include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and limited exercise. Sleep disturbances may also increase cardiovascular risk factors per the American Heart Association.

While the above statistics are for the U.S., the research reviewed for this article reveals that heart disease is prevalent worldwide.

And Now, the Good News

The good news is that a number of studies indicate that massage may be beneficial, both for some of the risk factors of heart disease as well as a treatment for those who have undergone some cardiac procedures.

When we look at massage therapy and the heart, there are a variety of studies to review, including ones involving cardiac patients and those related to how massage helps with stress relief.

While this review of the literature is fairly short, the hope is that it will stimulate interest in others to further investigate the risks, symptoms, treatments, and benefits of massage for heart disease.

Given the prevalence of the disease, there is a very good chance that individuals with heart disease have been on the majority of massage tables.

Massage & High Blood Pressure

In looking at the risk factors of heart disease, we have to ask several questions: What does the research report about massage and high blood pressure (HBP)?; as one of the leading causes of heart disease, if massage is proven to help lower blood pressure, would it be beneficial to promote that to the public?; and what constitutes a diagnosis of HBP?

According to the CDC, normal blood pressure is less than 120/80, prehypertension is 120-139/80-89, and HBP is 140/90 or higher.

In a 2013 issue of the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, a study on the durability effect on massage on HBP was published. This was a single-blind study with the intervention group receiving Swedish massage three times a week and each session lasting 10-15 minutes for a total of 10 sessions over a three-and-a-half-week period of time. The areas massaged were the face, neck, shoulders and upper chest. The client’s blood pressure was taken before and after each massage session.

 

The individuals in the control group reclined in bed and also had their blood pressures measured in the same manner as the massage group. All participants also had their blood pressures taken 72 hours after the study period ended.

Results showed a significant lowering of blood pressure for the massage therapy group and little or no change in the control group. While this is a six-year-old study and some of the references listed in it are over 20 years old, all indicate that massage may have a positive impact on reducing blood pressure.

Massage & Heart Rate Variability

Another study measured heart rate variability (HRV) of those receiving massage with or without aromatic oil or sham massage. In this study, the authors cited a number of references that “have shown that massage can reduce stress, improve immunological and inflammatory parameters and has a positive influence on blood pressure and HRV”

This study found that massage without the aromatic oil caused the most relevant effect in the long term of the autonomic nervous system.

Massage & Sleep

More recent studies have looked at the effect of massage therapy on sleep disturbances. In June of 2013, a case report on narcolepsy was published that indicated an overall improvement in the client’s ability to get to sleep and the quality of sleep.

As this was a study with only one subject, further studies would be beneficial. Some studies cited in the references are over 10 years old and indicate a positive impact on sleep disturbances for those who received massage.

Massage & PTSD

For individuals with PTSD and sleep issues, a series of case reports published in 2019 found that massage did not significantly improve the quality of sleep for the three individuals in the study. This differed from results in other studies8.

Anecdotally, many massage therapists will report that they often have clients who fall asleep during the massage, so it’s not hard to imagine that it may benefit those with sleep disturbances, but perhaps not all. Is this an area of study that might be of interest to you?

Massage & Treatment Recovery

For people with heart disease who have undergone one or more treatment interventions, massage may be beneficial in their recovery.

One of the newest studies is currently taking place thanks to a grant from the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF). James Hunter Groninger, director of the Section of Palliative Care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University, is conducting a pilot study using massage to improve self-efficacy for those patients who have a left-ventricular device implanted.

 

Previous research has studied the effect of massage for post-op cardiac patients, mostly evaluating its impact on anxiety, stress, and pain. In 2016, the journal Clinical Trials and Regulatory Science in Cardiology published a meta-analysis review of studies evaluating the effect of massage therapy on post-cardiac surgery patients related to anxiety and pain.

The researchers discovered the following results: “[Ten] randomized clinical trials were included in the systematic review, providing data on 888 individuals. Massage therapy was associated with decreased pain (−1.52 [95% CI,−2.2,−0.84; I2 91%], p < 0.0001) and with lower anxiety in the postoperative period when compared to the control group (−1.48 [95% CI, −1.93, −1.04; I2 0%], p < 0.0001)”. They reached the conclusion that massage may be beneficial to reduce pain and anxiety for this population.

Earlier studies show varied results, including a 2015 systematic review of research studies that were published between 2000 and 2015. The researchers concluded, based on their review of seven studies, that “[T]here is a need for higher methodological qualities of research studies to create a strong evidence base for massage therapy. Additional research studies that validate massage therapy as effective in improving postoperative outcomes and recovery in cardiac surgery ….”

Massage in the Hospital

Further, a randomized clinical study published in 2012 measured pain levels, relaxation, muscular tension and satisfaction in a total of 152 patients who had elective cardiac surgery, either coronary artery bypass (CABG) or valve surgery. The researchers also evaluated the feasibility of providing massage in the hospital setting for these post-operative patients.

The intervention group received a 20-minute massage on post-op days three or four, and five or six. Patients determined the areas of the body to be massaged. The control group received an equivalent rest period devoid of visitors or any interventions of health care providers.

The researchers concluded that “[T]he results from the present randomized study have shown that massage therapy can be safely and effectively delivered on a busy cardiothoracic surgical ward, with no increase in adverse events, significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and muscular tension, and enhancement of patients’ sense of relaxation.”

Massage & Stress Relief

One can imagine that being diagnosed with heart disease can be stressful. Undergoing a heart procedure to treat heart disease can add to that stress. There are numerous research studies that have evaluated the benefit of massage for stress reduction.

A search of “massage and stress research” returns studies done throughout the past 30-plus years, many of them measuring cortisol levels, physiological indicators of stress, or perceived stress with positive results.

 

I was fortunate enough to be able to complete one of those for my master’s thesis thanks to a grant from the Massage Therapy Foundation and the studies done before mine. So many more have been completed since that time and have strengthened the link between massage and stress reduction.

Reference: {https://www.massagemag.com/massage-therapy-heart-health-massage-might-reduce-risks-benefit-recovery-121340/}

Let’s talk! We are here to help. Give us a call for a complimentary consultation. We would love to meet you.

Did you know massage can massively speed up your healing, from training, injury or surgery recovery? Massage has an overarching positive effect on so many aspects of your health. We have excellent memberships that make regular expert massages possible. Call us! (949) 276-5401

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Disclaimer — All the information that you find on our blogs and social media pages is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as your personal professional diagnosis, or treatment. Come and see us for your excellent, personalized care! https://staging.rauschpt.net/

 

Why is Sodium important…?

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Where do I start with a personal hydration strategy?

Sodium plays a vital role in helping your body maintain fluid balance and cognitive function. It is also involved in the absorption of nutrients in the gut, nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction. What does that mean in terms of performance? A 2015 study found that athletes who adequately replaced the sodium in their sweat finished a middle distance triathlon 26 minutes (on average) faster than those who did not.  This is just one study, but it demonstrates the potential impact of getting your sodium intake in training and competition right.  Speaking anecdotally from my own personal experience as an Olympian and World Champion competing and training over 20 years in extreme heat, cold, wet, and dry, I would concur.  When I am able to stay on top of my hydration status, my performance, recovery, and sleeping is positively impacted, so much so that my personal priority after big training and racing is rehydration. (What is big? I recently did ~36 hours of training in 7 days averaging more than 100 miles/day. I also won the World Championship in extreme heat in Doha, Qatar.)

Why is sodium the most important electrolyte?

Sweat comes from extracellular fluid in our bodies and 90% of the electrolytes in that fluid is Sodium.  In an acute situation like exercise, sodium is the most important electrolyte to pay attention to.  It does not mean that the others like magnesium and potassium are not important, but a deficit in these is better addressed in your diet than in over supplementing in your performance hydration solution.

As an athlete, sodium is key to maintaining fluid balance and sustaining performance.  Our blood contains 15-20% of the extracellular fluid in our bodies. (Remember sodium is the main ingredient in our extracellular fluid and sweat comes from this fluid.) Therefore, blood volume is directly impacted by sodium loss.  As our blood volume drops there is a greater strain on our cardiovascular systems. Our hearts must pump faster and harder to deliver oxygen and to dissipate heat to help keep us cool. We see higher heart rate numbers even though our pace does not change. Yikes. We all know this is not fun.

Then there is general fatigue, loss of concentration, and cramping! There is new research on cramping and how important electrolyte threshold is…… but I will save that for the next blog.

For now, what’s important to know is that there is a cost to allowing your sodium losses to mount up and go uncorrected.  Be aware of this.

How do I figure out how much sodium to replace while training or competing?

There are two things to think about 1) your sweat rate and 2) your concentration of sodium loss per liter of sweat.  Your sweat rate or the volume of sweat you lose is dependent on the conditions and intensity of exercise.  However, the amount of sodium you lose per liter of sweat remains fairly constant throughout life, and it is very unique to each of us.  It can range from as little as 200mg/L up to 2000mg/L!  That is a dramatically different range and requires dramatically different products and hydration strategies.  Using your best buddy’s strategy could be a disaster if you two are on the opposite ranges.  (As a reference most products fit the middle of the bell curve of the range at ~700mg/L.)

Get tested! Find out your unique sodium concentration loss in a simple 15-minute test.

Note: We schedule your appointment for 50 minutes so we have time to talk about your personal situation and goals.

You do not have to exercise or work hard! All that’s required is that you sit in a chair and expose your forearm. Easy! Using patented technology, we will stimulate your sweat glands and collect enough sweat to measure the amount of sodium you are losing.
It’s simple and painless, yet a very powerful piece of information for performance. Along with an individual value, we will provide you with a customized hydration strategy to use in training and competition.

If you find yourself in discomfort or think you could benefit from a personalized exercise plan, talk to a Physical Therapist.

Let’s talk! We are here to help. Give us a call for a complimentary assessment.
Did you know there’s no prescription needed from a doctor to see us?
(949) 443-0713

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Physical Therapy and Pain Management

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Sometimes pain relief can be accomplished through physical therapy. Physical therapy (PT) involves treatments that focus on the prevention and management of injuries or disabilities. PT helps to relieve pain, promote healing, and restore function and movement.

PT is practiced by a professionally trained physical therapist. A physical therapist is a specialist skilled and educated specifically in the evaluation and conservative management, including rehabilitation, of orthopedic, neurologic, and cardiovascular conditions…

How Is Physical Therapy Used to Treat Pain?

A therapist may focus on decreasing pain with either passive or active therapy. Examples of passive physical therapy include:

  • Manual therapies
  • Heat/ice packs
  • Electrical stimulation, including TENS units
  • Ultrasound
  • Dry needling
  • Cupping

Examples of active physical therapy include:

  • Movement-based activities, including stretching and range of motion exercises
  • Specific strengthening exercises
  • Pain relief exercises
  • Low-impact aerobic conditioning

Points to Consider About Physical Therapy and Pain

An important aspect to keep in mind about physical therapy and pain relief is that each individual may respond differently to therapy. People have different types of bodies, different patterns of movement, and different habits. Physical therapists and their trained staff can monitor each individual and attempt to correct improper habits and movement patterns.

 

Reference: {https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327169.php}

If you find yourself in discomfort or think you could benefit from a personalized exercise plan, talk to a Physical Therapist.

Let’s talk! We are here to help. Give us a call for a complimentary assessment.
Did you know there’s no prescription needed from a doctor to see us?
(949) 443-0713

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Do you know what shoulder and neck pain often have in common…?

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The thoracic spine is often overlooked as a link in the origin of shoulder pain and/or neck pain. It shouldn’t be that hard to imagine once you think about the anatomy. The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae stacked on top of each other from the base of the neck to the mid-back. A notable feature of the thoracic spine is that each vertebra is connected to a rib. The “ribcage” is comprised of 12 ribs that attach in the back (posterior) to a vertebra (T1 – T12).

The thoracic spine sits just below the seven cervical vertebrae which make up the neck. However, the cervical vertebrae in conjunction with the top 4 thoracic vertebrae contribute to complete cervical rotation. When you look over your shoulder to check your blind spot, it requires movement starting from the first cervical vertebrae to the fourth thoracic vertebra. This is where the inherent problem lies…

 

If someone has a stiff (hypermobile) thoracic spine, it leads to increased movement of the cervical spine (the neck) to make up the lack of thoracic spine motion. Excessive motion is one of the causes of wear & tear in the body and correlates with development of osteoarthritis.

The shoulder is linked together by the scapula (shoulder blade). The shoulder blade attaches to the humerus and the clavicle, which make up the shoulder girdle. The scapula lies on the back of the ribcage. Therefore the position of the thoracic spine determines the resting position of the scapula. A common problem affecting patients with shoulder pain is thoracic hyper-kyphosis: an abnormally increased amount of thoracic forward movement. This leads to stiffness of the spine, decreasing the spine’s ability to move in the backward (posterior) directions. If the spine has difficulty moving posteriorly, then so does the scapula. This is the inherent problem associated with the development of shoulder impingement and shoulder dysfunctions.

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(949) 276-5401

Disclaimer — All the information that you find on our blogs and social media pages is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as your personal professional diagnosis, or treatment. Come and see us for your excellent, personalized care! https://staging.rauschpt.net/

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