Browsed by
Category: Headache

Explain pain for massage therapists
How Massage Therapists Can Better Explain Pain to Clients: Insights from Leading Pain Science Research

How Massage Therapists Can Better Explain Pain to Clients: Insights from Leading Pain Science Research

As massage therapists, one of the most challenging moments in our practice comes when clients ask: “Why do I hurt?” The way we answer this fundamental question can profoundly impact their recovery journey, their relationship with their body, and their ability to engage actively in healing. Recent advances in pain science research offer valuable insights that can transform how we communicate about pain in our practices. Beyond the Biomedical Model For decades, healthcare professionals—including massage therapists—have explained pain primarily through…

Read More Read More

dowagers hump massage and exercise
Dowager’s Hump – Massage and Exercise

Dowager’s Hump – Massage and Exercise

Please note that this page is mainly for my personal reference – based on various YouTube resources. Deep Tissue Massage and Manual Therapy for Relieving Dowager’s Hump – Erik Dalton Massage techniques – standing, assess how tight are the sub-occiptal muscles and then reassess when client is sitting. If tone of sub-occipals are tighter when standing implies that there is an input from the pelvis. Side-lying fist into upper traps. Lean in and get client to gently lift shoulder (restricted…

Read More Read More

female athletes - post partum
Is Your Bra Giving You A Headache?

Is Your Bra Giving You A Headache?

One of the most common conditions that we see as massage therapists is tension in the neck and shoulders caused by poor posture. The shoulders are rounded forward which may cause the head to be further forward than ideal. The muscles of the upper back and neck are forced to work hard to compensate and headaches or stiff neck may result. There are any number of reasons why this may occur but a common cause may be an ill fitting…

Read More Read More

Massage for Neck
Massage for Levator Scapula

Massage for Levator Scapula

Most massage therapists would probably consider that the levator scapula is one of the more significant muscles of the neck and shoulder complex. Massaging and changing the tone of the levator scapula can resolve the pain and discomfort that many clients feel in the neck. According to Ian Harvey, aka Massage Sloth, around 80-90% of stiff neck or crick in the neck then levator scapula is the main culprit. Also forward head posture leads to the lev scap being in…

Read More Read More

posture
How important is good posture

How important is good posture

Had a few clients mention recently that other people have been commenting on their posture and they are concerned to find out that one shoulder is higher than the other. Personally I am in the camp that poor posture and its impact on pain is over diagnosed. There are people with notionally “poor” posture who are pain free and others who have more normal posture who have significant pain issues. The range of asymmetry that someone can normally tolerate is,…

Read More Read More

Benefits of massage
Massage and Cupping

Massage and Cupping

There has been a lot of chatter amongst massage therapists over the past week regarding the appearance of cupping marks on Michael Phelps during the Olympics. Cupping, for those who are not familiar with the technique is a form of alternative therapy where suction is locally applied on the skin using a vacuum generated within a cup. Check out the wiki page on cupping here The supporters of cupping have been quick to jump up and down at the potential…

Read More Read More

Massage for Neck
Massage for the Neck

Massage for the Neck

The vast majority of the clients I see will request that I spend some time working on the neck. Tightness in the neck can lead to headaches or just result in stiffness and limited range of motion. Turning your head to look to the side can become a challenge. With the stresses and strains we put on our bodies through our daily actions, the muscles of the neck often feel tight, sore and compromised. Sitting in front of computers, looking…

Read More Read More

Massage for Neck
TMJ Massage

TMJ Massage

A significant number of people suffer from TMJ issues and massage can reportedly help in some cases.  Whilst I have some experience with relieving jaw pain through (trigger point) massage of the major jaws muscles such as the masseter, I do not claim to be an expert as such. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to email or phone me on 0434 631 987. The information on this page is primarily reviews of online TMJ massage videos…

Read More Read More