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!
Golden leaves to brown Geese flying in formation Long sleeved shirts and shorts
- Paul Brown On Autumn
Autumn is my favorite season
Temperatures start to cool down and days grow short. Holiday season is just around the corner, and the time is nice to start thinking about your holiday gift giving plans, and o one of the best gifts you can give is an eGift Card fun Paul Brown, CMT!
Perfect fit!
One size doesn’t fit all, so I base each session from what’s going on in your body; you don’t have to hurt.
We all need more great experiences in our lives, and a massage is one of those great experiences you count on to deliver on that promise
Great just the work you want done, and feel taken care of
It just plain feels fantastic!
eGift cards are an easy and convenient way to show you care. Available to purchase 24 hours a day, so no worrying about finding parking and mall crowds.
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”
I have had a number of clients ask me for a return to that two hour session length, and I had held off on saying yes, but then I met The Mountain: a literal giant of a man; at 6’8” and 340 solid pounds, he makes me feel small, and I’m 6’5” and 285! Ninety minutes sessions simply weren’t long enough to meet his bodywork needs, so I figured what the heck, I can offer a limited number of longer sessions each week. Thus, the two hour massage returns!
The main benefit of a two hour massage is simply time: time enough to spend really paying attention to your entire body from back to front, top to bottom. Time seems to slow down when you have enough to thoroughly work through all your tense and tender areas. Your heart rate slows, breathing becomes more deep, free, and at ease. Stress melts away and you’ll feel renewed. A two hour massage can provide you with a truly complete sense of connectedness you yourself. It’s all about you.
With Valentines Day coming up, you might be looking for the perfect gift for your loved one; well, do I have the perfect one for you!
A Couple’s Massage Workshop is a great experience: a private, two-hour class where you and your loved one will learn the basics of giving each other a safe and effective Swedish Massage.
“Don’t your hands hurt?”
People ask me this all the time, telling me that they can only massage for five minutes before their hands start hurting. Well, in your couple’s massage workshop, you’ll learn the correct way to move your body, hold your hands, and perform massage strokes so you can give each other a relaxing and healing massage.
In this class, you’ll each receive 45 minutes of individual instruction in giving a full back of the body massage: legs, hips, back, and shoulders. Then you’ll switch places and we will do it again.
You’ll both feel great and will have learned a fun skill! It’s a great way to bond with your partner…
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
