Does anyone else have a massage muse? A person of whom inspires you to want to develop ideas. I found my second muse today, and I’m feeling super excited to get back to the lab and brainstorm, allowing my pure massage creativity to blossom forth
I employ my muse to have extended sessions of staying in the flow, letting pure magination synthesize new information into tangible reality, acquired during the intervening time during my patient-client sessions. I probably read too much for my own good! But I digress.
That isn’t to disparage intuition at all, on the contrary, I love using intuition during my work sessions, just a recognition that for me, I need these kind of brainstorming sessions to delve ideas and hypotheses without wasting time optimizing and refining the protocol on the fly on a paying client. Sometimes you have to try different means of developing your technique informed by the intuition.
What do you think of this? I’m interested in hearing others thoughts about this idea, and curious if anyone else does this, please – thank in advance!
In a nutshell: fascia holds us together. Myofascial Release Therapy can help you: You Don’t Have to Hurt
Myofascial Release Therapy (MRT) is a type of massage that focuses on releasing tension in the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and organs. Myofascia is myo- = muscle, and fascia = connective tissue, specifically the connective tissue involving your muscles and tendons. MRT is a specific technique used in massage therapy to apply gentle pressure to the fascia to help it decrease tension and improve range of motion.
What is the fascia?
The fascia is a thin, elastic, web-like tissue that surrounds your muscles, organs, and bones. It is literally the glue that holds our body together. It forms our system of connective tissue, the tendons, ligaments, aponeurosises and fascial sheets. Without it, we would just be a blob of tissue on the ground with a bunch of bones sticking out! It also helps to transmit force throughout your body through its property of elasticity. As you can imagine, fascia is an important component of our bodies.
Composition of Fascia
Fascia is made up of two main components:
Collagen – this protein makes up the majority of material in fascia. It provides the basic structure of fascia. Collagen forms into thin sheets which surround and penetrate all other tissues in our bodies.
hyaluronic acid, which acts as a lubricant between the sheets of fascia, and it resists compression. This fluid can become glue-like and cause the facial sheets to adhere to each other, limiting range of motion and increasing pain.
When the fascia becomes tight or restricted, it can cause pain and limit your range of motion.
What is Myofascial Release Therapy
MRT is a hands-on treatment that uses a variety of techniques to release tension in the fascia. These techniques can include:
Longitudinal Release
Deep Transverse Friction
Passive and Active Stretching
Trigger point therapy
Client-active Pulse Therapy
Joint Mobilization
Sustained Cross-handed Holds
MRT can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
Typically, MFT is performed on a massage table that has been lowered more than it would normally be for a Swedish Massage. This is to ensure that the MT’s legs and hips can really provide more power to the hands.
How does Myofascial Release work
Myofascial release is a specific technique used in myofascial therapy to apply gentle pressure to the fascia to help it release tension. The therapist will use their hands to apply pressure to the fascia in a slow, sustained manner. This pressure helps to break up the adhesions and scar tissue that can cause the fascia to become tight.
Warm Up
Before performing the MFR strokes, it is necessary to warm up the tissues to be worked. This can be done with a couple of strokes: friction circles, tissue compression, or the dreaded skin rolling. I’m just joking about it being dreaded; some people actually enjoy it! (I’m not one of those people.) But after several minutes of warm-up strokes, the main action can take place.
Sustained Holds
A typical example of this technique is the sustained hold. There are a few ways of doing this: trigger point therapy, where direct perpendicular pressure is applied to the tender nodules until the soften and release; cross-handed hold, the therapist places each hand at the insertion points of a muscle and applies oblique, sustained pressure, which encourages the fascia to “unwind;” and eccentric holds, allowing muscles that mostly perform eccentric contractions to release into their shortened, relaxed state.
Longitudinal Release
As its name suggests, longitudinal release (LR) works with the direction of the muscle fibers, that is to say, lengthwise, or parallel to the muscle fibers. Hands are vaulted and stacked for stability and support, and a “slack-sink-stroke” technique is employed. Strokes are short but powerful, pressure should be at the perfect amount for client comfort. LR will bring about a lengthening of the affected muscle to help improve range of motion.
Deep Transverse Friction
The purpose of deep transverse friction is to reduce pain and adhesions through two strokes: slack-sink-stroke and sawing. These strokes are performed with increased pressure, but still at the client’s comfort level, perpendicular to the direction of muscle fibers.
Myofascial release can be a very effective treatment for a variety of conditions. It is often used in conjunction with other treatments, such as physical therapy, to help improve range of motion and reduce pain.
Benefits of myofascial therapy and release
This type of therapy can offer a number of benefits, including:
Reduced pain
Improved range of motion
Increased flexibility
Reduced inflammation
Improved* circulation
Reduced stress
Improved sleep
improved mood
Why choose me as your Myofascial Therapist?
You’ve come to the right place, as I’ve been a Myofascial Release Therapist since 2003. In fact, I’m a walking anatomy encyclopedia, in the best way. Given that, I use this knowledge to guide you through the process of MRT, by explaining what and why, and coaching your breath work. My unique approach to this style of massage is unmatched in this region and will achieve the results you seek. Come and see. You. Don’t. Have. To. Hurt.
What to expect during a myofascial therapy session
First things first: follow these massage prep suggestions – they will make your session a much more comfortable, relaxing and productive experience.
A typical myofascial therapy session will last for 30-90 minutes. During the session, I will assess your pain and range of motion. I will then use a variety of techniques to release tension in the fascia. We will work together in a collaborative manner to achieve your goals. You may feel some discomfort during the session, but it should not be severe.
Aftercare
After a myofascial therapy session, you shouldn’t feel soreness. But if you do, gentle stretching and movement like a 20 minute walk will help. An over the counter pain reliever like aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen can help the next day, but is usually unnecessary.
Drink plenty of water, as this will help your body as it adjusts and rebalances itself to accommodate the changes in your body.
Make sure you get enough sleep, as this is the time your body needs to reset and repair.
Is myofascial therapy safe?
Myofascial therapy is generally safe for most people. However, it is important to talk to your doctor before starting treatment if you have any health conditions, such as:
The dreaded words no one wants to hear, “you’ve got a rotator cuff tear,” but what is that and what can be done about it? You don’t have to hurt.
What is the Rotator Cuff?
Rotator cuff muscles. Image by O. Chaigasame
The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles that help the shoulder turn on various axises as well stabilize the ball and socket that is the glenohumeral joint. the four muscles are:
These densely textured muscles provide the majority of the torque for starting medial and lateral rotation, abduction, as well as continuing to provide a lesser amount of torque as the larger muscles that are the synergists take over the majority of the action. Additionally, they hold the head of humerus (the ball) in the glenoid fossa (the socket) to keep the joint stable. Without them, other muscles not as evolved for the job must be recruited to help. So you can see why they are so important, and the kinds of problems that emerge when they are injured.
Even when they are not performing their skeletal action, they are still eccentrically contracting for stability, so even when they aren’t acting, they’re acting! Such divas!
What is a rotator cuff tear?
A tear in the rotator cuff is an injury of the tendons that attaches the muscles to the head of the humerus. It can be a partial or complete tear. The most common injury is the supraspinatus tendon near to where it attaches to the humerus, then an infraspinatus tendon, then a dual supra- and infra- spinatus tear. Less common are tears of the teres minor and subscapularis.
Signs of a rotator cuff tear
Shoulder pain is the first sign, especially in the front of the shoulder; difficulty raising the arm and reaching behind are also signs. The pain will most likely be worsened during those actions. For me as a massage therapist, the torn tendon can, with careful touch, be palpated. And while MTs cannot diagnose, we can and should strongly advise seeking medical care.
Treatment of rotator cuff injuries
Depending on the severity of the tear, treatment can range from NSAIDS all the way up to surgery to repair the tendon, with physical therapy to retrain the shoulder.
How can massage help?
Massage can be a helpful and effective adjunct in the treatment of shoulder injuries. During the immediate post-operative period, light soothing massage can help reduce pain and anxiety, and some gentle full body joint mobilization will also deepen the relaxation process, which can help in making the perception of pain decrease. A calmer and more present-centered mind will help make the healing process more manageable, and massage can help make that happen. While the shoulder is early parts off the healing process, massage on that shoulder is contraindicated.
Massage is an important adjunct to physical therapy. Being in consultation with the patient’s PT is the best way to tailor your treatment strategy for them . The primary post-surgical massage treatment for rotator cuff tears is Myofasci al Release. Getting the fascia to release while physical therapy is happening will increase the effectiveness of the PT, and will help the tendons affected heal faster.
I really like listening to my clients, it feels important to let the space be about listening: to their breath, but also to the fascia. Very gentle effleurage, like a whisper, while listening to the superficial fascia: they are the herald of their brethren. If you listen really carefully with your twelve ears the superficial fascia will conspiratorially share their secrets.
They key is to work at the level of the strategic herald, while evaluating what that level is, and matching via therapeutic present-centeredness. I meet the client/patient where ever they are, don’t try to impose any particular therapeutic strategy, as their needs change from session to session.
You Don’t Have To Hurt
The best defense against a rotator cuff tear is self-care: rest, nutrition, stretching, strength training, and bodywork. And while I can’t ensure you get those first four items, I can provide the fifth: the best massage therapy in Sacramento. Because like I always say, “You don’t have to hurt”
Lower back pain: millions of people experience it every single day, and there are many potential causes, but one that is sometimes overlooked is the gluteus medius muscle, a broad swath of muscle on the lateral aspect of the hip.
What does the gluteus medius do?
The gluteus medius muscle is the most important muscle for hip abduction (opening the hip to the side), and less important in flexion, medial rotation, and lateral rotation. It is similar in function to the deltoid in the shoulder.
Signs of gluteus medius pain
A person might experience pain in the upper buttock and lower back when walking, laying on one’s back or affected side, or when slouching in a chair. “Lumbago,” as it used to be called, but now referred to as Lower Back Pain, is some of the most debilitating myofascial pains that we have, and can effect one’s mental health, especially in men, where depression is often an underlying cause of low back pain. LBP causes a drag on the US Economy, in the millions of dollars.
Gluteus Medius Massage
Massage can release tight gluteus medius muscles, with especially tight spots responding well to both ischemic compression and deep transverse friction. Get a massage!
Gluteus Medius Self-care
There are a number of good stretches that target the gluteus medius muscle:
Take Careof your Gluteus Medius…
and your Gluteus Medius Will Take Care of You!
So, you can see that there are many ways you can do stretch the gluteus medius muscle. But another effective method is my personal favorite: get a massage! When a muscle has been loosened up from the mechanical action of professionally applied therapeutic massage, it will be much more able to stretch and be pain-free!
When I got the email from the building owner saying they were opening up the west wing of the third-floor to existing tenants, I was very excited. The entire west wing had been empty for many years after they tried and failed several times to find a large tenant to move into it. Because of that failure, they decided to open the individual offices up as suites for existing tenants, and then new tenants to lease.
I saw Suite 325 and immediately fell in love with it: the 11 foot ceilings, the large bay window that looks over the former Saint Rose of Lima Park, now Ali Youssefi Plaza, the wonderful natural light, green tree canopy, and all that delightful floor space combined to seduce me away from my cramped, low-ceiling office I’d been in for a few years.
I knew that I wanted to paint the walls a soft relaxing color, and I sought permission from the building owner, and they agreed that I could choose this beautiful rose pink color that I have chosen. Pink is a profoundly powerful and relaxing color, and as soon as you walk into the space it just loosens the tension in your shoulders right away. It’s very easy to breathe in this room, and I find myself staying in the room sometimes for hours after my last client is gone for the day just because I enjoy the space so much!
I feel fortunate to have been able to move into this beautiful room, and want to share this relaxing space with all of my clients and potential clients. I know once you experience the room, you’ll enjoy it too!
Ive been to alot of massage therapists and Paul is the absolute best its hard to find someone who does this with the same amount of attention and expertise.Whiterose Fortuna
The husband and I took Paul’s couples massage workshop for our date night! It was amazing! It was a completely new experience that was connective, interesting and fun. We learned techniques and got to apply those skillsets that made us realize just how much fun date night can be. Paul has a true passion for massage and appreciated his demonstrated genuine care throughout the session. He was not only excited to share his knowledge with us but incorporated his mastered knowledge of the body to help us understand how to give a professional massage to people we love the most. So glad we got to take this workshop. Enjoyed every moment.Cassandra Harris
Paul is wicked smart and is very knowledgeable about the body. And he totally geeks out over it! This makes his massages very effective! I’ve been getting massage for many years. Some really good. Some meh. I really enjoy deep tissue work. Paul is very effective!Nancy Johnston
Paul is a fantastic and knowledgeable massage therapist! He helped me by working out several areas of tension in my back and hips. I truly felt rejuvenated and considerably less tense after working with him.Caroline Basile
Paul knows how to work muscles I didn't know needed working.Timothy Koch
Thanks Paul very much for your superb service!! It hurt so good lol. I hope that we will get together soon. Great job and many more thanks!!Perry Trowbridge
Exceptionally knowledgeable when it came to addressing my long standing back issues and providing me the tools to help myself feel and stay better, besides being a great massage therapist.Bryan Sperrazza
A consummate professional. He loves and continually educates himself in the study of anatomy and massage therapy, and you'll feel it in all the best ways. Body, mind, and spirit. You won't be disappointed. I highly recommend.Steve Scott
