Massage Therapy Training With Bamboo

Bamboo-fusion massage therapy is the latest and greatest spa treatment to hit the industry in years! It is easy to implement and the massage therapy training can easily be provided at your location to minimize travel for your staff, thus keeping expenses to a minimum.

Massage therapy training classes are readily available across the country specializing in warm bamboo massage. Bamboo-fusion has been featured in top spa magazines and trade publications making massage training for bamboo massage in high demand.

Nathalie Cecilia, originally from Nimes, South France is the original source in the United States for a brand new spa treatment she calls Bamboo-fusion. This trademarked treatment is in high demand by luxury spas and is gaining in popularity. Ms. Cecilia uses bamboo pieces cut into different shapes and sizes as extensions of her fingers during a massage treatment. She also "warms" the bamboo to allow the bamboo pieces to penetrate and relax the muscles quicker.

She originally discovered this form of massage during a massage treatment where the client kept requesting "deeper pressure" on his upper trapezius (shoulders). At a little over 5' and only 100 lbs, Nathalie began to experience pain in her hands within only 2 months of doing traditional massage. As a Thai therapist, Nathalie sometimes did back walking while using bamboo poles that are 6 feet in length for balance. "As I was working on this gentleman who was in a sitting position, my eyes caught the two bamboo poles that I used for balance when back walking. I had the idea to use one of the poles for tapotement on his upper trapezius. So I stood about six feet from him, tapping on his shoulders with this very long stick, and he told me it felt really great!"

Small repetitive movements performed by the massage therapist when doing traditional massage can result in repetitive use injuries such as carpel tunnel. With the Bamboo-fusion massage, the bamboo tools allow the massage therapist to easily address deep pressure requests. Ms. Cecilia explains that she has noticed that after a few bamboo massage treatments, the client's skin can actually become more supple.

In 2004, shortly after becoming a massage therapist, Ms Cecilia first started using bamboo and rattan tools to perform a flowing Swedish type massage. Imagine a skilled therapist using warmed bamboo to dissolve knots and tension throughout your body. These hand crafted tools are custom designed so that even the smallest therapist can give an effective deep tissue massage that is easy on their body, hands and wrists. This ecologically sound and sustainable product is currently made by skilled woodworkers, however when Ms. Cecilia first began bamboo massage, she actually made the pieces herself by hand.

Her bamboo tool sets have evolved over the past few years and are now made with 100% solid bamboo which is pressed into different shapes and sizes to match her Bamboo-fusion massage routine. The new bamboo tool sets, designed for full body massage, hold heat well and are very comfortable for the therapist to use. In addition to making bamboo sets that are commercially available, she also offers massage therapy training to other massage therapists. Her massage training offering for top quality professional massage training is well received by high end spas that need to offer unique treatments to their discriminating client base.

"There is a beautiful quality to the material; both you and the client feel very energized and revitalized, but also more relaxed." Her technique uses massage oil or cream when performing a full body massage on a client. Shorter pieces of bamboo work well for smaller areas such as around the scapula. A 16" bamboo stick is also used to knead the muscles and do a "criss-cross" technique that stretches the fascia in all directions.

Unlike warm stone massage, the bamboo is easy to heat without the use of a roaster or crock pot. In the heating device she uses, the bamboo stays warm (which of course the clients love), and there is little clean up between sessions. During the Bamboo-fusion massage training classes, we also offer suggestions to incorporate the use of a few hot stones into the treatment for those that desire to mix bamboo and stones.

As therapists and clients continually search for new approaches to massage therapy, bamboo is at the forefront of the industry, offering the most basic solution. The use of a renewable and sustainable resource that connects us to ancient times allows our modern need for deep tissue massage to be addressed. Nathalie is the pioneer of bamboo massage and is a leader in the massage and bodywork industry. Massage therapy training in bamboo massage is great for seasoned massage therapists or for those in school or new to the industry. Massage therapy training classes in bamboo massage can be held just about anywhere. The bamboo sets are very lightweight and easy to carry making the massage training classes portable.

Many Asian countries treat bamboo with great reverence since it has played a significant role in feeding and housing them. It is very common for bamboo to be used in making musical and surgical instruments, furniture, eating utensils and storage baskets in addition to hundreds of other uses.

Bamboo is a highly renewable (sustainable) resource and boasts more than 1500 different species that grow naturally throughout most Asian countries in addition to South and Central America. The Chinese and Japanese have used bamboo since ancient times; however is just now becoming main-stream in the American culture.

In the United States, bamboo is primarily symbolic and is gaining in popularity due to the fact that it is a highly renewable resource. It is also beautiful and considered "lucky" by many people that possess bamboo stalks commonly arranged in a small vase. Many high end resorts and spas are now decorating with bamboo in the form of flooring, furniture, and artwork. Clothing and linens made of bamboo fibers are also very popular. Top resorts and spas take this a step further and incorporate bamboo into their spa menus as part of a new exotic treatment that feels luxurious. The massage therapy training class covers all aspects of implementation, ranging from the initial massage training to writing a description for your spa menu.

Nathalie and her team of instructors are in high demand by individual therapists and spas/resorts seeking massage training in this new effective treatment using bamboo. To address this demand, Bamboo-fusion massage therapy training classes are offered in various locations in the United States and are approved by the state of Florida and the NCBTMB for Continuing Education (CE's) for license renewal. Classes are offered at several training facilities on a regular basis in Sarasota, Florida where Nathalie resides, as well as taught in Everett, Durham, and Cincinnati. She also offers onsite massage therapy training at spas and resorts across the country.

In addition to massage therapy workshops, Cecilia also offers DVD's and specialized bamboo sets for each of her techniques which are for use on the table for full body massage and on the chair through clothing. In addition, Ms Cecilia just created a new French facial massage called Bamboo-Visage which utilizes a delicate tool set hand crafted from bamboo and rattan. This treatment was introduced at a recent spa show in Las Vegas and intrigued massage therapists as well as estheticians and spa directors.

Understanding the Benefits of Massage

There are many benefits to getting regular weekly or monthly massage. Massage Therapy is being used to work with many pain conditions and to help reduce the effects of stress. Research is providing many insights into how massage works and what it can do to help people in pain.

Massage Therapy is being used to help reduce all sorts of back pain. Muscle spasms are the biggest cause of back pain and can lead to more serious issues like herniated discs and arthritis. Knots (also known as triggerpoints) can also be a source of pain and discomfort. Knots occur in muscles when they are over stressed or over used. They can also refer pain to other areas in the body.

There are many other conditions that massage can help with:

• Neck Pain - from sitting at the computer all day or sleeping wrong or even whiplash or other injuries to the neck


• Headaches- Migraines as well as tension headaches


• Shoulder Pain


• Low Back Pain


• Sciatica


• Carpal Tunnel syndrome to relieve the pressure on the nerves from the muscles in the forearm and hand.


• Plantar Fasciaitis


• Tendonitis such as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow and IT Band issues


• Knee Pain


• Depression and Anxiety


• Cancer - can help relieve the stress and pain of recovering from surgery and chemo/radiation


• Fibromyalgia


• Insomnia - Jet Lag and other sleep related issues.

Massage can also be used to ease the pain and discomfort of Pregnancy. It can also enhance the performance of athletes of all ages and all levels - from the weekend athlete to Pro Football players. Infants can benefit from massage to help them grow and thrive.

So the many benefits of massage are being discovered everyday.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Over the years, many studies have demonstrated a link between sensory integration therapy and improving the quality of life for autistic people.

Sensory integration therapy is a valuable tool to teach autistic children how to interact with their environment. One of the main difficulties autistic children face is how they perceive the environment. Oftentimes, their sensory impulses are contradictory to what is expected by society.

Autistic children often have severe difficulty managing their sensory perceptions and a host of seemingly self-destructive behaviors or actions that are perceived to be senseless is the result. Autistic people sometimes cannot perceive their own physicality and must resort to these behaviors to "feel" something. For instance, some autistic children may bang their head against a wall or spin around in circles. Others have been known to self harm or crash into objects. These behaviors are the direct result of sensory integration impairment.

The process of sensory integration therapy seeks to mitigate these behaviors by teaching how to incorporate information gathered through the senses: smell, taste, touch, hearing, and vision, and combine these stimuli with what is already know to produce proper responses.

As with levels of severity of autism, there are also different levels in which autistic children experience sensory integration dysfunction (SID). These levels range from mild to severe and can either manifest in a lack of sensitivity to the environment or a constant state of over-sensitivity.

Sensory integration therapy seeks to teach the nervous system how to process stimuli in a normalized fashion. A. Jean Ayers, Ph.D., was the first to research the process known as sensory integration therapy. She built the foundation of the therapy that has been instrumental in helping autistic children all over the world. Using a variety of sensory and motor exercises for the central nervous system it is actually possible to teach the brain how to accomplish this.

Typically, an occupational therapist or physical therapist is the professional that practices sensory integration therapy. Using various techniques it is possible to improve concentration, listening skills, physical balance, motor functioning, and impulse control in autistic children.

While it is not successful in 100% of cases, sensory integration therapy has been shown to be a valuable tool for helping those with autism cope with their environment and lead a better, more adjusted life. Each autistic child has different symptoms and it is necessary to devise a plan for each individual when initiating sensory integration therapy.

If you wish to find a sensory integration specialist for your child, there are a number of ways you can go about it.

First, you can ask the guidance department at your local public or private school. If you know someone else who has an autistic child in sensory integration therapy, it is always recommended to get a word of mouth referral.

In addition, there is contact information for leading organizations that deal with sensory integration therapy and autism.

Sensory Integration International, located at 1602 Cabrillo Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501, is an excellent place to begin. Their phone number is (310) 533-8338. If you are looking for an actual practitioner, try the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD, 20824. You can contact them by phone at this number: (301) 652-2682.

It is important to keep a positive frame of mind when dealing with autism. There is constant research and valuable studies that are shedding light onto this disorder and finding new and innovative ways to treat it.

Sensory integration therapy should not be used as a standalone treatment. Diet, nutrition, and fun methods of learning can all help autistic children interact with the social world in a more productive fashion.

Aromatherapy Massage - Its Importance and Health Benefits

Aromatherapy is the science that uses the healing powers of essential oils. Aromatic essential oils are distilled from organic plant sources. These plants produce many natural phyto chemicals. Thus, essential oils have diverse therapeutic effects on the mind, body and spirit.

Massage and Aromatherapy go hand in hand. In ancient Egypt, aromatic baths were a daily ritual. This was followed by a massage using aromatic oils made from cinnamon, rose, cedar wood, lilies, myrrh and so on. The last Egyptian queen Cleopatra was famous for exotic massages, aromatic baths and perfumes. She lavishly used perfumes to seduce both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. In those days, aromatherapy massage was meant for relaxation, pleasant bodily scents, skin conditioning and overall healing. They did not have a clear distinction between perfumery and healing. We now know that an aromatic essential oil massage heals through the sense of touch and smell.

Importance of Aromatherapy Massage

The true significance of an aromatherapy massage is to completely harmonize the mind and the body. Pure and natural essential oils both heal and beautify the body, emotions, and the psyche for a truly powerful and unique sensory experience. An aromatherapy massage is effective due to the ability of the essential oil to penetrate the skin layers and tissues. This permits the oil to enter into the blood quickly and spread the therapeutic benefit throughout the body. The quality of the essential oil will directly affect the extent to which the positive health effects the oil can be derived.

Aromatherapy massage has been accepted today to play a role in relaxation, rehabilitation, and preventive health care in western medicine as well. These massages are offered as part of the health package in spas, beauty clinics resorts and wellness centers.

Essential oils need to be selected and used with care and caution before delivering an aromatherapy massage. Essential oils can either sedate or stimulate the recipient. Most oils are antibacterial and many anti-spasmodic. There are many aromatherapy products available in the market today which contain synthetic substances. These do not give any therapeutic health benefits and can in fact cause adverse reactions.

Health Benefits for Specific Ailments with Aromatherapy Massage

• PMS (premenstrual syndrome)


• Menopausal symptoms


• Digestive problems,


• Stress


• Hypertension,


• Insomnia,


• Muscle and joint stiffness


• Lethargy and low energy levels

These are some health conditions that respond very well to massage with essential oils.

Massage Therapy - A Brief History

Have you enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of a professional massage lately? Are you considering regular massage as part of maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle? Let's take a look at the history of massage to better appreciate the valuable resource that a certified professional massage therapist can bring to your team of healthcare providers.

Word Origin

In our current vocabulary, massage is the manual manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, performed using the hands of the therapist, in order to achieve therapeutic benefits. The Greek root of the word is masso or massein, meaning to touch, to handle, to knead, or to squeeze. The Latin root massa has the same meaning as the Greek. The Arabic mass'h and the sanskrit makeh mean to press softly.

Ancient Times

Massage is one of the earliest and most natural means of relieving pain and discomfort. When a person has any injury or pain, the first instinctive impulse is to gently touch or rub the affected area. There are many artifacts throughout ancient civilizations that indicate that prehistoric men and women used massage as well as herbs and oils in the regular care of their bodies. Massage, as taught anciently by healers or physicians, was one of the most prominent forms of healthcare in the ancient world.

The Chinese and Egyptians both practiced massage as early as 3,000 B.C. The Chinese focused on treating points of energy with acupuntcure (with the use of needles) and acupressure (finger pressure instead of needles). The Egyptians are thought to have created reflexology around 2500 B.C.

The practice of massage spread from China to Japan and India, and later on to the Greeks of Europe. The Greek physician Asclepius, who was later worshipped as the god of medicine, combined exercise and massage to form the art of gymnastics. Hippocrates, a descendant of Asclepius, wrote about the benefits of massage in medical practices. His famous code of ethics, the Hippocratic Oath, is still in use by physicians today. Hippocrates taught that all physicians should be trained in the use of massage as a method of healing.

The Romans learned of the benefits of massage from the Greeks and, combined with their public bath houses, made massage available to the rich and poor alike. Roman general Julius Caesar is believed to have had a daily massage to treat neuralgia and epileptic attacks.

There is not much recorded of massage during the Dark Ages. With the invention of the printing press in the Renaissance, there was a resurgence of interest in massage as people once again placed importance on physical health and appearance. Medical professionals could now share their techniques and stories of success with professionals around the world.

Modern Times

Modern Massage is the continuation of ancient techniques and theories combined with modern day knowledge of the complete body systems. There is a large body of Western research that now supports the Ancient practices of the Eastern civilizations. The most common form of massage is the Swedish massage, which is a massage designed to boost the circulatory and immune system. It is very effective in increasing the flow of fluids throughout the body and removing toxic cellular waste while delivering fresh oxygenated blood to the muscles.

The documented benefits of massage are widespread and enjoyed across the globe. With the modern emphasis that is now being placed on preventative and alternative therapies, the future use of massage to increase health and maintain a vigorous lifestyle will only grow in popularity.

Risks of Bamboo Massage Therapy

Bamboo massage is a new addition to the many different types of massage therapy methods used and practiced all over the world. This type of massage therapy is inspired by the ancient Chinese medical care which takes advantage of the silica found on the outer cover of a bamboo stick. This new alternative and complementary treatment uses various lengths and diameters of bamboo stalks for the purpose of addressing problems on the deep tissue of the body.

Bamboo symbolizes peace, strength, power, flexibility, fertility, long life, and sexuality in the Orients. It has a special place in every home of Asian people. It is believed by many to be a sacred plant that is mysterious and miraculous in many ways that is why most of the sacred places in the Asian countries are mostly built by using bamboo sticks as the majority of the materials used.

As a standard practice on most massage therapies, massage oils, hypoallergenic creams and lotions are used on the skin of the patient to provide a smooth working surface for the convenience of the massage therapist. Additional lubricant can be freely used anytime the masseuse feels the lacking of smoothness as he or she manipulates the key areas of the body. The massage therapist kneads and reaches the deep tissue of the patient's body with the use of various bamboo sticks depending on the muscle groups he or she is working. Some therapists use blends of essential oils to further enhance the pleasure of the massage and to improve the health of the patient with the benefits of these oils.

Like any kind of regular care, consulting with a doctor or someone who is knowledgeable in this field is the best thing to do. In fact, it should be the first thing to do in case you happened to plan on having a bamboo massage therapy on your regular medical care.

Skin allergies are the most common minor risk and problems during a massage therapy session due to many reasons. First of all, some of the massage oils, special oils, creams, lotions, and essential oils can cause reaction on sensitive skin. That is why a health record is required every time you schedule for a massage therapy session. This health record states the medical history of the patient for the massage therapist to know what should be used and what should be avoided during the massage therapy session. The hygiene of the massage therapist also plays a vital role on whether skin allergies will arise during and after the session. The massage therapist should always be clean and should disinfect after he or she works with a patient.

Muscle bruising and swelling is also a common mild effect of bamboo massage therapy. This is due to the mishandling of the bamboo sticks and the lack of adequate lubricant during the massage therapy session. Individuals with sensitive skin should be treated with gentle and light pressure as to not to break down their skin or leave bruises and swelling afterward.

Frozen Shoulder Manipulation - Snap, Crackle, Pop

Of all the treatment options available for a stiff arm, a frozen shoulder manipulation is the one that is feared the most by patients with this condition. As a clinician I'm often asked if this will cure the symptoms, to which I quickly reply "It depends". The consensus among most medical professionals is that aside from surgery, a manipulation should be one of the last courses of action.

To begin with, even though it is a closed procedure (non-surgical), a manipulation under anesthesia is traumatic to the shoulder's joint capsule and soft tissue structures in and around the shoulder complex. In theory the clinician is trying to break loose adhesions that have formed around the capsule, thereby freeing up motion in the shoulder. What happens in some cases though is actual tearing of the capsule itself. Motion is restored, but as the body begins to repair the area it lays down more scar tissue which can potentially cause more loss of motion and pain. This means the patient must undergo additional physical therapy to prevent further loss of motion.

When considering to undergo this type of treatment the patient must also account for other factors which prevent a manipulation from the the best course of action. For instance, if the patient has a history of osteoporosis, there is an increased risk of sustaining a fracture as the arm is carried through various ranges of motion. Also, because of the sudden high velocity stretching, there is a small risk of developing a brachial plexus injury, which is basically an injury to the nerves that pass through the shoulder. Even rotator cuff tears have been documented after a procedure such as this. A skilled orthopedic physician specializing in disorders of the upper extremity can determine a patient's risk for the above.

After the procedure is performed physical therapy must be initiated immediately, as soon as day one after the manipulation in order to maintain any motion that was restored. Ideally the patient should attend PT daily for the first week to control swelling and prevent further loss of motion.

As one can see, a frozen shoulder manipulation is a serious consideration and should be done only after conservative measures fail. Adhesive capsulitis treatment requires persistence, patience, and dedication to achieve full and productive range of motion and function.

How Lucrative is a Massage Therapy Career?

Massage therapy is definitely a strong career opportunity to look into. Unlike many other job options, massaging offers you a great deal of flexibility. While you can generate a sizable income working at a spa or hotel, many people are able to make good money simply by working from home with a select list of clients. Another thing to consider is that the scope of this job is far-reaching. Today many different kinds of institutions use massage therapy, meaning there is a variety of jobs available in a range of different sectors.

How Does It Work?

These kinds of therapists are generally paid according to their experience. That is, the longer you have worked in the business, the better salary you can expect. It is true that self-employed therapists generally make more money than those who work for someone else. However, it is difficult to start massage therapy on a freelance basis. The key is to work with reputed facilities for a good amount of time. This helps build an impressive resume as well as gives you the skill sets needed to start a business on your own. Perhaps most important of all, it will help you build a client list which you can rely on during your self employment.

A factor that will affect your salary rate is where you are employed. Today, therapists are employed by places as varied as hotels, gyms, nursing homes and hospitals. A therapist will be paid either on an hourly basis or on a per-session basis. In general, the hourly basis method is more popular. Most therapists will work a 40-hour week, since the job is physically taxing on the arms and shoulders. Another thing to consider is that most massages also include other kinds of treatments and preparations.

Don't Be Put Off By The Hourly Rate

When considering massage therapy careers, some people get put off by the starting hourly rates. It is true that the rates do vary slightly between those therapists who are licensed and those who are certified. The starting hourly wage at a private company can be a little over ten dollars an hour. But a self-employed therapist can charge thirty dollars an hour or even double that amount. It's important to remember that while the starting rate may seem small, the pay rapidly increases. Studies have shown that after just a single year of work experience, the starting hourly rate can jump by as much as 39%. Because it is such a lucrative career option which often doesn't take up much time, many people like to do it on a part time basis while pursuing other courses, like nursing.

The bottom line is that massage therapy gives you the ability to earn a full-time salary even if you only work on a part time basis. However, in order to draw a good salary, you need to start by gathering an ample amount of work experience. Other factors that will affect the salary you draw or the amount you can charge are the location of your facility and what kind of massages or extra treatment you offer in a session.

Only Choose Accredited Physical Therapy Assistant Schools

Choosing a career can always be both a challenging and stressful position for anyone to be in. If there are no clear cut winners that stand out as the most desirable career for an individual they will then have to look at the pro's and con's of any given career. In the case of a physical therapy assistant the pro's will be that this is a strongly in demand career, that has an average salary of over $49 000 per year across the United States. To top this off the education required to become a physical therapist assistant is only 2 years full time.

2 years of education, make this a career that is easily accessible for many individuals. The career also happens to be experiencing a tremendous period of growth, with an ever increasing number of jobs available. Overall it is an excellent topic to study if you are looking for a solid paying in demand job. The con's for this job may be the difficulty it has on an individuals body, as there can be lots of lifting, bending, and stooping. Also working with sick people can be mentally difficult for some, and this career is not for everyone. Please note however that physical therapy as a profession ranks as 1 of the top 10 careers for job satisfaction in the United States.

In this article we will examine why you should only choose accredited physical therapy assistant schools. Any health care career that is not a long 6-7 year university venture will obviously be a competitive business. Schools pop up and disappear at quick rates on occasion. As a to become a physical therapist assistant is only 2 year program, there are numerous schools offering this program. The simple way to determine what schools will offer the most future opportunities and flexibility is to choose programs that meet the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) requirements, and have received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This ensures that your program meets national standards, and will be acceptable for working in any desired state.

A physical therapist assistant is a registered health practitioner, and therefor requires a state license to work. Eligibility for a state license will often come down to education. And while some private schools may be able to offer a program that can receive state exam eligibility in 1 state, a CAPTE accreditation will leave you eligible in all states across the nation. This gives one tremendous flexibility with where their career can go, and also can have a dramatic effect on their overall earning potential.

CAPTE programs offer a standard of education that ensures all students learn required curriculum that is approved by the American Physical Therapy Association, as well all students of CAPTE programs will complete at least 16 weeks of hands on clinical placement. There are currently over 270 physical therapy assistant schools that are CAPTE accredited in the United States. for a break down of Physical therapy assistant schools by State please visit either physicaltherapy-assistant.com, or capteonline.org for a complete list.

Whether it is for career flexibility, or the overall potential to earn a better salary, when it comes to physical therapist assistant education, your best option is to only choose accredited physical therapy assistant schools.

Physiotherapy Jobs To Rehabilitate The Weak

Physiotherapists are commonly known as PTs or physical therapists. They are responsible for patients with injuries and body ailments. Their skills are mostly needed in hospitals, sports club, rehabilitation centers and nursing care home which mostly caters to geriatric patients. Before a person can be a certified as a PT, he must first graduate from a known and certified school that has an accredited program for physical therapy. Most colleges and universities have this as one of their course. The subjects that are tackled are pharmacology or the study of medicines, biology, anatomy and physiology and some classes in psychology. Once the student finishes the course, he has the option to further his study by enrolling for a master's degree which will take two years and after that another three years for a doctoral degree. His license and some of his requirements are managed by the regulatory board of the state. There are some states that will require a continuing education to maintain their license and their physiotherapy jobs.

A physiotherapist's job is to evaluate the physical condition of their patients and determine the cause of pain, type of injuries and the limited movement of their muscles. The condition of their patients can be assessed when they do a number of movements with their client's body to be able to know the problems that cause them discomfort and pain. Some problems that they may experience are caused by vehicular accidents, injury from sports and neurological and physiological conditions.

Physiotherapists are not only for rehabilitative care but should also learn to be attentive to their clients' needs by listening to them. This is a good way to practice good interpersonal skills when dealing with them and their family. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are also required when taking down notes on what you had observed from them and the care plan that you will apply. For a PT to do quality care, there are techniques and programs for treatment that he must review so he could apply it more accurately.

MASSAGE

Massage therapy is done to relax the joints, muscles and tissues. This is usually performed either before or after an exercise to enhance the circulation of blood and oxygen in the body. In a typical setting, the massage will only be done on the affected body part.

EXERCISE PROGRAMS

Every exercise for a client is designed specifically for them. This is based on their condition and the tests that are done to them. The aim for this is to lessen the pain and improve their mobility. The training that they will have to do is light cardio workout, some running and walking, bicycling and swimming. The exercises will be based on the asperity of their condition. If the patient will show improvement, their exercise routine will be modified to be more laborious.

PLAN

The treatment plan should last for a long time to ensure that no pain will be felt again and also to regain full body mobility. This will not only include cardio trainings and exercises that will be planned by a physiotherapist but also nutritional plans to ensure that the patient will remain to live healthy.

Physical Therapy Business Part 1

Physical therapy owners are primarily therapists who have a passion to help others and don't really think of their practice as a business. As in any business, you need to establish a plan and have a way to monitor the progress of your plan.

The key component to a physical therapy business is the strategy or guideline by which the physical therapy center can evolve. This plan is a way to keep on track with the goals and destination you want to take your business. Because physical therapy is such a dynamic field, the business plan also needs to be dynamic and adapt to different changes and flexible enough to be re-evaluated and changed to accommodate the changing times.

The business plan should be like a step-by-step plan that can be followed like a story. It should outline specific goals, achievements, growth plans and the direction you want to take your business. One unique way to plan your business is to imagine what you envision your practice to be, then work your way backwards to make a step by step outline that will build up to your dream physical therapy business.

Physical therapy clinic owners need to begin with a focused plan and purpose for operating their physical therapy business. They need to be grounded and clear about the reasons why they set up their own business. That is why a mission statement is a valuable method to write down how and why you are running your business and at the same time it is a reminder of your goals for your business.

Owners need to know what direction their clinic will go and how to make a plan to get there. Also, how it affects the community, as well as have a set of core beliefs that will be the backbone of the clinical practice.

A good, well thought out plan will enable the owner to distinguish good opportunities from bad ones and be able to guide the business towards the future. It will allow for easy evaluation and be adaptable to the changing trends in the field of healthcare.

The plan needs to detail the systems, operations, the structure, the treatments, the overhead, the funding, projected growth and earnings. There also needs to be contingency plans in case the practice needs to make immediate changes.

A physical therapy business needs a plan that is written down. Make that first step in planning and recording everything that is needed in a thriving physical therapy center. Every detail of the practice should be outlined so the plan can be easily implemented and flaws or errors can be corrected in the early stages of the business development.

Make the plan write it down and stick to it. If things aren't going according to plan, re-evaluate, make changes and implement the plan again. Be dynamic and allow yourself to be flexible to adapt to the business environment. A business plan is your guide to your future dreams.

Physical Therapy Assistant Careers - Requirements, Job Outlook, Salary

If you happen to be interested in pursuing some type of career in the field of physical therapy, but you really are not up for obtaining the minimum educational requirements of a master's degree to become a full blown physical therapist, then you might be interested in exploring physical therapy assistant careers.

A physical therapist assistant is exactly what the title implies: an assistant to a physical therapist. This means that as a PT Assistant or PTA, you will have to perform quite a bit of physical labor. You must be in excellent physical shape because the patients you will be working with are those who are in physical states that require them to be at least somewhat dependent on you.

You will have to support the patients' weight and even lift them at times. A career as a PTA is not for someone who is not able to perform heavy lifting. Ensure that you are up for the job before entering this field.

The Federal Government has wonderful expectations for the growth of physical therapy assistant job opportunities through the year 2016. It is a career that will be needed due to the aging of the current world population.

Therefore, the job outlook is quite encouraging. The average salary for a PTA in the year 2007 was around forty three thousand dollars.

In preparation for a physical therapist assistant career, there are several things you can do. If you are still in high school, you can focus on your science and math classes and do your very best.

You can also volunteer for a job in a hospital or rehab center so that you can gain experience in a physical therapy environment.

You can also keep yourself in great physical shape so that you will be physically prepared. Work out at the gym or at home several times per week so that you can keep yourself in a toned, strong condition.

Physical therapist assistant careers can also be emotionally demanding, in addition to the physical demands. You will need to have a positive and even tempered personality in order to work with the patients in this field. You also need to have excellent communication skills as many times you will be required to explain detailed instructions to patients.

Reasons to Have a Sports Massage

Massage Therapy has long been known to have amazing benefits, most notably the ability to initiate the relaxation response in our bodies. Recently it has become more popular among athletes. Most athletes want to reduce muscle soreness and increase healing. Runners in particular are on the lookout for ways to train more effectively, improve performance, prevent injury and recover quickly.

For the past 19 years massage therapy has been available at one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, the Boston Marathon. A team of over 175 therapists give up to 1,200 massages on race day. They are considered part of the medical volunteer team and deal with foot issues, tight muscles, spasms, and cramps. Most people train for the better part of the year to participate in the Boston Marathon, and the massage therapists job is to play a roll in the success of the participants.

Runners who use massage therapy to help keep their muscles loose and flexible experience fewer injuries. However, when injuries occur, massage can dramatically speed the healing process. Let's talk about some of the more common running related injuries:

Illiotibial Band Syndrome- The IT band is a fibrous band that spans from the hip too shin. ITB Syndrome is caused when the band becomes inflames and tender

Shin Splints- Usually describe a set of symptoms. Can be due to problems with the muscle, bone or attachment of the muscle to the bone.

Plantar Fascitis- A syndrome of heel/foot pain. A tight, inflamed fascia can cause pain when walking or running.

Strains & Sprains- Muscle/tendon strains and ligament sprains are common injuries experienced by runners. Early detection and treatment can help speed recovery.

Most of these injuries can be attributed to overuse, inconsistent training, and lack of stretching or improper stretching. Massage can aid in recovery by relieving muscle tension and soreness by improving circulation. Increased amounts of oxygen and blood flow to injured tissue will bring nutrients and remove waste products. Massage therapy increases and restores range of motion and flexibility.

The field of massage therapy is extremely varied and therapists can specialize in one or more types of massage. Several modalities are particularly suited for athletes:

Swedish Massage - A full body massage that increases venous and lymph flow, promotes realization and improves cell nutrition. The depth of pressure can be adjusted to meet the clients specific needs.

Neuromuscular Therapy - Applies pressure to specific points (Trigger Points) to relieve spasm and pain in the muscles.

Thai Massage - Can help the athlete as it stretches and softens the muscle by passive stretching and compression, and allowing each muscle group to be brought through its full range of motion.

Sports Massage - Not a particular form of massage itself, but rather an integration of techniques and modalities tailored to suit the athlete's needs.

And here's the rub, no pun intended. The effects of massage are cumulative. Just as stretching your hamstrings once before a race not as effective as regular, consistent stretching, one massage prior to a race will not give you the same benefits as a regular, consistent program of massage therapy.

How often should you receive a massage? That can vary greatly. Working with a therapist you can determine the type of modality and frequency to suit your specific needs. A qualified therapist will take note of your training schedule, long runs and races. Scheduling what is best suited for your needs including pre race and post race massage. A competitive athlete might see a therapist 1-2 times per week where a person putting in less than 20 miles a week can do fine with 1-2 times per month.

Integrative therapeutic bodywork can work with all fitness levels, from beginners to professional. Massage is a necessary component of every active person's health and wellness plan.

How to Work With Your Scar Tissue to Get Rid of It!

First off, let me congratulate you that you are trying to do your own healing! So many people go to their MD/DO/physical therapist/chiropractor/massage therapist, etc. and expect that that person is going to be able to heal them completely. I often tell my clients who have chronic conditions (health related issues which last a long time) that even if they come for massage three times a week, they won't see the kinds of improvements they want until they're willing to do their own work to improve (be that stretching, doing their own massage, eating right, ice/heat, etc.). So congratulations on your willingness to do your own healing!

While I have never had multiple surgeries on the same area, I had four surgeries in a 6 year time span (including an ACL replacement in my right knee), and I understand the pain that often accompanies scar tissue.

I was fortunate with my ACL injury in that I had a surgeon who believed it was important to keep the knee moving and stretching. When I came to (from surgery), my knee was already moving in a machine called a CPM unit (Continuous Passive Movement - delivered by Colorado Professional Medical), which allowed me to set the speed and degree of the angle which my knee was moved to. It constantly moved my leg up and down, bending the knee each time. When I got home, I automatically started using the CPM unit again, which had been delivered to my house and which the delivery person had taught me how to use prior to surgery. I increased the speed and angle of degree every day and stopped using the CPM unit one week after surgery, because I had gotten back the full range of movement which the CPM unit allowed for (120 degrees). It was about 6 months after my knee surgery when I learned that some orthopedic knee surgeons believe in keeping the knee immobile for up to a month after ACL surgery. I was surprised and disappointed to hear this because keeping the knee immobile for that long of a time is setting the person up for a longer (and often more difficult) recovery.

Scar tissue develops all the time in muscle. When you pull muscles, some amount of scarring can occur. That scar tissue can be gotten rid of through normal stretching and activity. However, when serious scar tissue develops (as is often the case in whiplash and surgery) it can take a lot more to get that tissue to be reabsorbed into the body. If it is not gotten rid of, it can cause numbness of the nerves in an area, decreased flexibility, and ultimately, pain.

Many people think that scar tissue will simply go away after time, but most often, it does not. It is an injury which needs to be worked with in order to re-heal as effectively as possible.

Healing, depending on whom you talk to, is a complex process. Some people believe that prayer alone will heal, while others believe that only pills and western medicine will heal. Some have great success with acupuncture, others with chiropractic, and others with nutrition. I believe that healing is a combination of all of these things.

What I offer here is advice on how to massage scar tissue, with the hope that you will be able to use it and effectively break up your scar tissue. I hope this works for you, and hope as well that you will let me know your results. I hope you'll incorporate whatever else works for you, as that will help speed up your healing. Also, a point I'll make is that massage is all hands-on, so describing it using a non hands-on medium like email or the Internet is a bit difficult; I'll do my best, but if there's something you don't understand, please email me.

There are two levels of scar tissue which you can address with massage. One is the skin level, and the other is the muscle level. I will first address the skin level, and then address the muscle level.

When scar tissue develops, the brain/nerve connections, which have to happen to detect touch, never develop or develop very weak. This is because scar tissue develops primarily to heal and protect, and only secondarily to feel sensation. In other words, the tissue naturally develops a weak ability to notice sensation while it is being created. Because most people don't use or touch a part of the body which had a kind of trauma to it, (like that which comes from surgery or a car accident,) the tissue doesn't receive any stimulation. This means that in many cases (after surgery or other trauma), the secondary function of scar tissue, sensation, never or barely develops. Over time, this lack of sensation causes an area to be touched less (after all, why would a person touch an area that had no feeling?). It receives less touch, and because of this, it receives less stimulation, which means that the nerve endings and connections develop less, which means that the area has less feeling, so it is touched less; and the process goes on until there is a thick mass of non-sensory tissue, most of it probably scar tissue.

I have larger scars on two of my fingers (from surgery). While sitting in class or somewhere where I only need to listen to what's going on, I will take a sharpened pencil, paper clip, nail file, or even a needle (something with a small point), to see what kind of feeling I have in a specific spot on the scar. I will really pay attention to what kinds of sensations I'm having in the spot that I'm touching. I don't pierce the skin, as that would only cause further injury to a healing area, but I do test to see how much sensation I have. I have done this since having surgery over 8 years ago. Over time, the sensations have become stronger and more definite in the scar tissue itself, and as the sensation has come back, the scar tissue has been reduced (not gone away), and become much less painful. It probably also helps that I am a massage therapist, and while working on a client, I use the sensations coming from my hands to understand when a muscle is tight, or when it has knots, etc. I pay a lot of attention to the sensations coming from my fingers.

For the skin level on a knee, you will want to work on the scar itself. Touch it with an object with a small point in several specific spots on and around the scar. Can you feel the sensation? If not, start by going around the edge of the scar. Can you feel that sensation? Notice what it feels like. Does it make a difference if you press hard or light? What about if you move it around a little?

Set an intention that you want to feel sensation in that specific point you are touching. By doing this, and focusing your attention on it, you are forcing your brain and your body to focus in on the sensory information you should be receiving from those nerves. Just like working to develop more flexibility by stretching the same muscles over an extended amount of time, you are working to develop those nerves on a daily basis by using different kinds of touch. Over time, you will redevelop more feeling in the area than you previously had.

Moving on to the deeper layers, it is important to know that just as scar tissue develops on the outside layers of the skin, it develops in the muscle. Muscle can be divided into two groups with regard to scar tissue; areas which can be worked through direct massage, and those which are much more difficult to work with using massage. Most massage therapists have developed an ability to work at a deep level within the muscle that most non massage therapists have not. For the areas which are difficult to get to when doing massage yourself, I would recommend getting into a regular stretching program and getting regular massage. Most recreation/fitness centers now offer Yoga classes. If yours doesn't offer Yoga or another kind of stretching program, ask them why they don't, and consider joining one that does.

Also, consider getting regular scar tissue massage for a while. If you don't know a good massage therapist, ask a friend who gets regular massage, or even look up a CMT in the phone book. You can find criteria for selecting a massage therapist by clicking here. You may have to take some time researching, but it will be worth it when you find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable, and schedule an appointment. Massage can range from $20 to upwards of $300/hour. The cost doesn't necessarily determine the quality of the massage, so don't think you have to pay an arm and a leg to get a great massage. Let the therapist know your wants with regard to getting your scar tissue broken up, and they should be able to help you.

Another thing to consider (when getting massage for a trauma area) is that the muscles around the area will be tightening up in protection of the injury. In the case of a knee surgery, this would be the quadriceps, hamstrings muscles, calf muscles, and all the muscles on the anterior (front) side of the lower leg. A therapist should know to work these muscles, and you can rub them yourself as well to help keep them loose.

On to the level of scar tissue in the muscle that you can work yourself, cross-fiber technique can be very effective. If your scar tissue is right over the knee cap you'll probably have to lift it up off of the knee and squeeze it between your thumbs and forefingers to get to it. However, if it is in a more substantial set of muscle (lower quads), you will be able to work your fingers across the muscle and use a cross-fiber technique on the muscle (or have someone do this for you).

Cross-Fibering

Start by using a cream, lotion, or oil (I personally recommend Lotus Touch cream, available from http://www.lotustouch.com) and use it on the area you want to work. Skinstore.com also sells a few creams and gels, which have been reported to help considerably to diminish the tightness and the overall thickness of scar tissue. Remember that you are using the massage cream to allow your hands or a tool to more easily move across the skin, so if the skin soaks all of it up, you may need to reapply. You will then want to work across the muscle fibers. In the case of the muscles around the knee: as you are standing, most of the muscle fibers go up and down, so you will want to work across the leg. You can use massage tools and/or implements to get into the muscle deeply and work across the muscle, or you can use your hands. One good hand position is to bend the middle and ring fingers and use the second knuckle (closest knuckle to the hand-but not the knuckle joining the hand) on the middle and ring fingers, to get into the muscle fibers of the quads/calves, while the second and pinky fingers are straight and glide across the leg. Move up and down the muscle, making sure to focus on areas where it feels like there is more binding of the tissues. You can finish by doing a gentle massage on the area to calm it down. This is one possibility for cross-fibering.

Whatever hand position or tool you use with cross-fibering, remember that your goal is to break up the scar tissue by going across the muscle, and remember that this isn't going to happen overnight. By using cross-fibering, you are actually causing minor traumas to an area which promote the healing in that area. You don't want to re-injure the area to the point where more scar tissue develops because of your working on it. A generally good way to know how much pressure is enough is that it should be on the level between uncomfortable and painful. So it should be uncomfortable, but not overly painful. As far as the time it takes for healing, a good general guideline is that you should give the scar tissue as long to break up (if you're working on it daily) as it did for it to be created. In other words, if you had surgery two years ago, and you just started working with the scar tissue yesterday, large improvements could take up to two years from yesterday. Healing doesn't have to take this long, but this should give you an idea of how patient you should be.

In summary:

Work with the scar as often as you think about it.
It is possible to overwork an area, but not likely that you will with the scar tissue.

Use heat to bring blood to an area, cold to take blood away from an area.
Generally speaking, you will want to take the blood away from an area before you work with scar tissue so that it will hurt less to work with it (the cold of ice will also numb the nerves so you can work with the scar tissue). You will then want to work with the tissue that is deeper in the muscle, using cross-fibering, while it is cold. When you are done, you will want to heat the area to bring blood in and carry away the toxins which are released as you break up the scar tissue and open up the area. (Too much time with the heat can cause an abundance of blood in an area, which can cause swelling and a different kind of pain. Generally, 20-30 minutes with the heat is a safe bet.) You will want to use moist heat if possible (i.e. a wet washcloth warmed up in the microwave or something comparable), as it will draw more fluids to the area and encourage the muscle to return to its natural state. (Don't get the heat so hot that it burns you.)

Working with the scar tissue may hurt initially.

Pain should decrease over time, but may not fully go away. Be prepared for this, but don't psyche yourself out. It does get better.

You can do the work yourself

You can have great results just from working on the scar tissue yourself. You will be most successful if you will work on it yourself because you are the only one who is with you 24 hours a day, so you can be there all the time to work on it. However, just like it feels better to get a massage from someone else than it does to give yourself one, you may experience good results from someone else working on you as well. Just make sure that you communicate with them (and that they are willing to listen) when there is too much pain, or not enough pressure, etc. Also, there may be cases where you can not reach the scar tissue (i.e. back surgery. If this is the case, have someone else work with you, and get into a regular stretching program). Caveat: Make sure you say thank you to the person who is helping take care of you. They're much more likely to help again.

Nutrition is important.

Eating well can have a huge impact on how quickly the body will heal. With regard to scar tissue, nutrition plays an important role in how quickly the body will be able to develop feeling in an area and breakdown the scar tissue. It needs the vitamins and minerals to build tissue, create chemical connections, and carry away toxins.

Be patient.

The human organism is amazing in what it can do, if given the time and resources it needs to do so. If you re-injure the area by doing more than it can handle (i.e. bungee-jumping two weeks after surgery), don't expect your body to respond well.

Be patient!

Health Benefits and Principles of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is no doubt an effective natural therapy that has tremendous healing properties. To get maximum benefit from this therapy you should know the principles of massage therapy and do's and don't while doing massage. Touch is both healing and comforting and what's more you can enjoy the pleasure of it - both giving and receiving. Massage improves blood circulation; calms the nervous system; stimulates skin function; improves muscle tone and eases aches and pains in muscles and joints.

The basic principles of massage

Massage is a way of stroking the body, with variations in the length and depth of strokes. However, you should always direct firm strokes towards the heart, as this will be beneficial to the circulation.

Long flowing massage strokes with little pressure on the body are the most soothing and relaxing. This type of movement is called gentle, even pressure and is often used to start and finish a massage.

Patting or tapping the skin with your fingers quickly and slowly is stimulating and helps to increase blood flow. This is called tapotement. It is usually done on small areas such as the forehead, cheeks and neck.

Petrissage involves squeezing and releasing a muscle or part of a muscle group. A good example of this kind of movement is kneading dough. It is mostly done with both hands, particularly on the thighs and buttocks. Petrissage helps strengthen muscle fiber, remove waste products and ease fatigue.

There's another type of massage movement called friction which creates just that. It involves rubbing the hands backwards and forwards across an area and is very warming and stimulating to the tissues.

Do's and don'ts

Massage is a gentle healing art suitable for everyone from babies to the very elderly. Note the below points while doing massage -

Do not massage

o Any infected area

o A person who is feverish or has a raised temperature

o Over an area where varicose veins are present

o Over any unusual swelling or inflammation

o Bruised or broken skin

Before massaging do

o Check with the person about to be massaged whether any of the above apply

o Make sure the room is warm enough

o Warm your hands before massaging

Hope this article will help you to know the basic information about massaging in the right way!

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Physical Therapists and Medical Malpractice

When most of us think of medical malpractice, we think of dramatic surgical errors, birth injuries, or radical, dangerous treatments. In reality, though, medical malpractice extends to every facet of the medical field, including physical therapy. While an error committed by a physical therapist is usually less serious than one committed by a surgeon, they can still have painful and wide-ranging effects on your life. If you've been the victim of physical therapy malpractice, it's your legal right to seek financial compensation. You shouldn't go through the pain alone.

The Numbers

While cases of physical therapy are still quite rare, they do happen. Consider some of the numbers:

• 
  A total of 729 physical therapists and related medical professionals had malpractice reports made against them from 1990-2003.
  
  


• 
  There were a total of 769 reports made against physical therapists during the same time period, accounting for approximately 0.2% of the total number of malpractice cases.
  
  


• 
  While these numbers may seem low, there were approximately 1.05 malpractice reports filed per physical therapist.
  
  


• 
  In 2003, 83 physicians practicing in the field had reports made against them.
  
  

If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of improper physical rehabilitation, it is your legal right to seek financial compensation. Some facts about lawsuits against rehabilitation therapists:

• 
  There were approximately 650 medical malpractice lawsuits filed against physical therapists between 1990 and 2004.
  
  


• 
  These reports extend beyond the therapists themselves. During the same period, there were 54 malpractice reports filed against therapy assistants.
  
  

The Consequences

Unlike surgical or prescription errors, physical therapy errors are unlikely to result in death. However, these errors can extend the amount of time the required in therapy, can undo progress, and can increase the pain the patient feels. When therapists and their assistants commit malpractice, they risk causing their patients lifelong chronic pain.

There is no room for errors in medical treatment. The consequences are too great. If you've been injured as the result of medical treatment, you should discuss your case with an experienced medical malpractice personal injury attorney. They may be able to secure you the compensation you deserve following your injury.

If you're interested in learning more about your legal options following an injury caused by a medical professional, visit the Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today.

The Clinical Benefits of Massage

There can be no doubt that a session of your favorite massage therapy technique can bring you to a state of utmost relaxation. But did you know that massage therapy also has a lot of clinical benefits?

In its formal sense, massage therapy or therapeutic massage is the scientific manipulation of the various tissues found in our body for the purpose improving blood flow an circulation, reducing tensions in the muscles, and enhancing tissue healing. Muscle and tissue manipulation is considered one of the oldest health care services in the history. Up until now, it is one of the methods used to help the body in its ability to heal itself.

Professional massage therapists use different hand techniques to achieve to achieve variations in the amount of pressure exerted on the muscles. Professional massage therapists from Clearwater, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, and Trinity all agree to this fact. There are five basic strokes that massage therapists use when giving a massage. These are effleurage, petrissage, percussion, friction, and vibration. Effleurage is the use of soothing, long, and gliding strokes made with the entire flat surface of the hands. Petrissage is kneading or the firm but gentle stroking of the skin and surface muscles with thumb and fingers. Percussion is the rapid alternate movements using both hands tapping, hacking, cupping, slapping, pounding, and tapotement. Frictionis the combination of long, slow, firm stroking movements in which the hand is kept in contact with the skin. Lastly, vibration is the rapid back and forth shaking or trembling movements performed by the whole hand or the fingers mostly used on the upper back, buttocks and thighs.

The combination of these strokes gives rise to the different types of massage therapy. For instance, deep tissue massage uses the combination of slow strokes, direct pressure, or friction which exerts greater pressure to deeper layers of muscle compared to Swedish massage. Swedish massage uses light pressure from long gliding strokes, kneading, and friction techniques. Sports massage, the most popular form of body massage availed by sports oriented individuals, uses almost the same strokes as deep tissue massage and Swedish massage.

You may prefer one type of bodywork over the other. Swedish massage is the most popular technique. Nevertheless, whatever type of technique it is, recent studies have shown that having regular massage therapy sessions brings a lot of clinical benefits. For example, regular muscle therapy can improve the pulmonary function of young patients with asthma. It is also known to reduce allergies, anxiety, and stress, as well as relieve people from painful arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other repetitive motion injuries. Other conditions helped by body massage is chronic and temporary muscle pains, problems associated with the body's circulatory system, depression, digestive disorders, tension headaches and migraines, insomnia and other forms of sleeplessness, myofascial pain, sports injuries, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

How To Increase Your Physical Therapy Assistant Salary

As a physical therapy assistant, you will have many roles and duties. A physical therapy assistant will attend school for 6 to 7 years and will receive a degree. For many people who are looking to become a physical therapy assistant think that 6-7 years of education is enough and they may not want to pursue any more schooling. On the other hand, some people wish to further their education and become skilled in other areas of physical therapy.

Becoming a physical therapist is great if you enjoy helping and working with people. These types of therapists will work with various types of patients on a daily basis. In this instance, they will work with patients who have been injured in accidents or any other form of damage.

Physical therapy assistants are like companions to disabled or handicapped patients. When injuries to the human body are not treated and left unattended, things can start to take a turn for the worse and recovery will be even harder. In this event, physical therapy assistants come and save the day and help patients cope with their situation on a personal level. In order to be the best at this occupation, you will need to further your education and cover all aspects of the job. In this case, practice makes perfect and you will be able to care for your patients better. A lot of the patients that will be dealt with in this instance may be discouraged, depressed, and have low self-esteem. As a physical therapy assistant, it will be your duty to make them feel better and let them know that everything will be okay. This is a lot like reassurance, and patients need this in order to build their health back up and achieve the goals set by their doctor or physical therapist.

Furthering your education with this career is not mandatory, but it is a good idea to do so. Taking extra courses every 2 to 5 years will help you tremendously while you are practicing. Many people don't realize that this is a medical profession, and perfection is required by many. In any event, no one wants to be bad at what they do, so taking a few refresher courses every few years will help you stay sharp while on the job.

A more popular reason for furthering your education in this field of work is for the money. The more experience you have, the more you will get paid. A lot of people could use the extra money in today's economy, and furthering your education is one way to do this. Money is usually the main reason why people get up out of their beds every morning and leave the comfort of their own homes. Money is needed to live. In order to pay bills and other household expenses, money is needed. A lot of people are surprised at how much a year or two makes a major difference in their pay rate. These differences could be anywhere from $400 to $1000.

Benefits of Joint Mobilization Therapy

If you are experiencing pain while moving your joints, it means that your joints are becoming fixated. Our joints are one of the most essential regions of our bodies that contribute a lot to the mobility of almost all of the other parts of the body. Restriction in the movement of any body part can be pin pointed to problems of the joint. Although problems in this part of the body are mostly due to old age, there are other factors that can affect the joints. These are automobile accidents, sports injuries, work injuries, stress, tension, poor body posture and other circumstances that can cause problems and dysfunctions in that area.

Joint mobilization massage is the type of treatment which is focused on the healing, rejuvenation, strengthening, conditioning, and prevention of fixation in the joints. This type of therapy is also known as a passive movement type of therapy which helps the client move the affected area in order to regain its original mobility and flexibility. The treatment also uses massage techniques which helps in soothing the muscles tissues to release the tensions around the affected area that contributes to the painful condition.

In a joint mobilization therapy, the massage therapists conduct small movement on the affected limbs of the body to encourage and improve mobility. These simple passive motions done during the therapy session are essential for loosening up the tight muscles, stiff ligaments and fixated joints in the affected region of the client's body. The movement though is done in a slow pace with a gentle touch of massage technique to help improve the overall condition.

The patient can expect benefits such as pain relief from the release of muscle tension, stiff and tightening of ligaments and fixated joints. The neck, head, ankles, ribs, wrists, and feet are some of the areas where joint problems are common. The therapy is mostly beneficial to the elderly population due to its pain-relieving effects on the frail body of an old person. Athletes are also one of the types of individuals that can gain a lot of benefits from the therapy due to the nature of their job. The therapy not only treats the body but it also helps in conditioning and strengthening it to prevent further devastation in those areas.

If you are looking for the best benefits from this type of alternative medical treatment, get in touch with a certified massage therapist that has experience in this field of massage therapy. This can prevent accidents and reduce the risks of worsening the current condition of the client. There are many therapists that are not well educated on the human anatomy, especially the skeletal system. That is why it is important to check the background of the massage therapist before setting a scheduled therapy session.

Also, I would add that it would be nice if you made a visit to your doctor or physician prior to any trial and error with any natural treatment as they can be much of a risk. Your doctor can help you pick a specific therapeutic massage that can work perfectly for you and does not have contraindication to your condition.

Rewarding Marketing Ideas For Your Massage Therapy Business

Sports massage therapy, mobile massage services, or a professional massage studio are all successful business strategies that all should include a marketing strategy that can grow your business. Your range of services, professional business practices, and massage knowledge can help to create a rewarding campaign that is sure to bring business.

Online

Massage therapy offers a range of services from shiatsu to sports therapy to Swedish and deep tissue massage techniques. Offer your customers and potential customers a way to research the difference and choose your massage therapy clinic or services as their best choice. An online presence for your massage therapy business is the best way to recruit potential customer and establish new business. Online you will be able to provide knowledge and be a resource for those interested, you are findable through online directories, and can even incorporate customer reviews to build the respect of your business and make the choice easier for your customers. If you want to further establish your presence online, continue to build yourself as a resource by establishing an informative blog, RSS feed, and a running list of information for customers interested in the services of massage therapy.

Print

Print advertising methods are a way to reach out to your targeted customers with promotional offers and branded advertising that both grow your customer base and your brand awareness. Your print advertising should first start with business cards that include your branding and can also service as appointment reminders. To extend your advertising opportunities, use your established customers to help by offering referral cards and a referral program that rewards the help of your already dedicated customers. Flyers and postcard mailers are another great opportunity to reach out to those who may not otherwise know about or have taken the interest in your massage therapy business. Mailers can be sent to your targeted customers with help of purchasable advertising lists and help to build awareness for your business. Although the customer return may not be 100%, it is a great way to establish your name and put the notion of massage service into customer minds.

Signs

Massage therapy is about professional business practices and expert knowledge. A professional and trustworthy business appearance can be the deciding factor for choosing your business. If you run your business out of a massage clinic or studio, your storefront makes the first impression for your business. Establish a respectable storefront using window signs that include your branding and business slogan. One way vision is a great material that adds privacy to your clinic windows and allows you to design a full-window advertisement that is full-color and impactful. Your massage business windows should emphasize your business name and branding and show the professionalism and relaxing environment your studio provides.

If you offer mobile massage services, mobile advertising is the way to go. Car magnets are a perfect solution or mobile advertising as you travel between appointments. The easy reusable advertising is a way to build recognition for your services while on the road and increase the strength of your other forms of advertising. Adding mobile advertising to your marketing strategy can turn rewards that you'd never expect. Seeing your branding and business name in all forms builds your reputation as a trusted business and in turn will increase your customer base.

American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (Who They Are and What They Do)

The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) is a division of the American Physical Therapy Association (ABPT). This part of the ABPT coordinates and supervises the specialist certification process. They also act as the governing body for certification and recertification of clinical specialists. The APTA, the main professional organization that represents physical therapist members within the United States, established the specialist certification program in 1978.

The ABPTS is comprised of nine different individuals with varying backgrounds. These individuals include five board-certified physical therapists with different specialty areas, a physical therapist representing the APTA Council of Section Presidents, an expert in testing, a physical therapist who is also a member of the APTA Board of Directors, and a person who represents the public and is not a physical therapist. The mission of the ABPTS according to the APTA's website "is to improve public health by advancing clinical excellence in physical therapy practive through credentialing clinical specialists."

The ABTS sets the minimum requirements for certification and recertification of specialists. They approve and recommend to the APTA formation of new specialty areas. They approve and form specialty councils in areas approved by the House of Delegates. They also supervise specialty council activities. The ABTS approves the certification and recertification of candidates for specialist certification. This group develops and revises policies and procedures related to the specialist and recertification process.

Certification in a physical therapy specialty area is the process in which a therapist builds on their basic professional education and experience to develop greater skills and knowledge related to a particular area of practice. The process of certifying specialists was established to provide recognition of physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge and skills in a special area of practice. The designation of a specialist also helps consumers and others in the health care community recognize these therapists. There are seven specialty areas in which physical therapists can pursue board-certification. They include Cardiovascular and Pulmonary (CCS), Geriatric (GCS), Neurologic (NCS), Orthopeaedic (OCS), Pediatric (PCS), Clinical Electrophysiology (CES), and Sports (SCS). The initials representing each specialty area are abbreviations used by physical therapists who have been board-certified as specialists to note this achievement. There are currently 8,408 physical therapists with specialty certifications. The breakdown by specialty areas are 135 Cardiopulmonary, 136 Clinical Electrophysiologic, 927 Geriatric, 669 Neurologic, 4979 Orthopaedic, 854 Pediatic, and 708 Sports.

There are specific requirements outlined by the ABPTS for each specialty before certification can occur. Minimum clinical hours, research participation, and evidence of emergency care competency are some examples of the requirements that must be met before a licensed physical therapist can sit for a specialty certification exam. The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) provides test development and administration of the specialist certification examinations. This organization works in partnership with ABPTS to develop the tests in specialty areas. The computer-based exams are administered at proctoring centers. The passing score for a specialty certification examination is 500.

The fees associated with achieving ABPTS clinical specialization certification are sometimes paid for by employers. A recent survey by the ABPTS indicated that private practice clinics and acute care hospitals are the entities most likely to help with these costs. Incentives for physical therapists to pursue specialty certifications include salary increases, a change in job title, or additional authority or responsibilities at work. Priority is often given during the hiring process to physical therapists who are board-certified specialists.

Physical therapists who have achieved certification in a specialty area are required to recertify every ten years. The purpose of recertification in to verify a therapists up-to-date competence as an advanced practitioner in a specialty area. Physical therapists practicing in an area of specialty are encouraged to pursue continuing education and professional research. A therapist who maintains their certification indicates their commitment to clinical excellence.

Ventosa Massage Cupping Therapy

My wife frequently has tired and sore upper back muscles. Sometimes, she even finds it difficult to move her head and upper body. Ventosa Massage Cupping Therapy has helped her a lot. This technique "sucks" out what we call "lamig" in the Philippines during the treatment. You will observe the lump inside the glass on your back gradually shrink towards the end of the session. To see is to believe!

Ventosa Massage Cupping Therapy is performed by placing glass on specific accupoints on your back. A technique is used to create a vacuum inside the glass placed on your back which lifts the skin. The practitioner then moves the cup toward the outside parts of the body sucking the air away.

At Chris and Chat Spa, we ask our patients to lie on their back for this therapy. We only use cups made of strong glass to ensure our client's safety. To create a vacuum, a flame from a burning cotton ball is placed in an upside-down cup. When the oxygen in the cup burns out, the cup is placed directly on the skin where it is held in place by a strong suction. This draws the skin up inside the cup. Don't worry, this will not burn your skin. The flame is just needed to create vacuum for the suction effect.

The skin inside the cup reddens due to the strong cupping which indicates that circulation has been brought to the surface. There is a deep warmth and tingling sensation after the treatment. Ventosa Cupping is generally a painless procedure. The redness should disappear in a day or two.

It's interesting to note that this technique is known to open the "Meridians" of the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the flow of "qi" travels throughout the body in channels called Meridians. These are the conduits through which energy flows to every part of the body. Illness results when the qi is blocked at certain points or is not flowing properly throughout the body.

Ventosa Cupping opens these Meridians in the body. The stagnated and out of balanced qi can be restored by exerting suction and pressure resulting in invigorating energy flowing throughout the body. Cupping can also be used when qi needs to be drawn to the surface of the body from deep within to nourish muscles and the skin.

To maximize the benefits of a true therapeutic massage, we recommend undergoing Deep Tissue Massage after a Ventosa Cupping Massage.

Do You Hate Valentine's Day? Three Tips to Survive

February is a cold, heartless month.

Surrounded yet another year by cheesy slogans and sappy commercials, my ex might have been right. Valentine's Day just might be a conspiracy between the card companies, the florists and the chocolatiers.

Isn't it kind of dumb to assign love to one month....one day? What... you are supposed to treat someone casually for 364 days and then on that one day.....make up for it?

Valentine's Day is only perfect for certain people at certain times. If you score a date with a great new guy a month before Valentine's day....ka-ching! You can expect gifts, dinner and great wine. I think guys are actually relieved to have a new girlfriend on the big day. We are so easily impressed.

Other wise, singles hate Valentine's Day because they are still single. Married women hate it because it is never like it once was. Men hate it because no matter what they do their woman is never satisfied. And of course kids hate it because one, they didn't get as many valentine's as the popular kid and two, there's a lot of pouting going on around the house. I told you...February is a cold and heartless month!

If Valentine's day sucks for you again this year and a part of you still longs to be with someone or to be really loved by your man. I can help you. Don't give up. Here are three ways to get past this inflated day and feel better:

1. Give funny Valentine's cards to 6 people who wouldn't expect one from you. People like your postman, UPS guy, Starbuck's Barista, school bus driver or bank teller, people who you see everyday who serve you in some way. Sweeten the pot by adding a lottery ticket. Sure to bring a smile.

2. Treat yourself to a spa treatment. Get a massage or mani/pedi in a massage chair. My clients complain that they are not getting enough physical attention, you know what I mean? You don't need a boyfriend to massage your shoulders. You can often get great rates on massage at a massage school in your town. Check it out.

3. Get involved with a charitable outreach of some kind. My hubby and I volunteer at the cat shelter to socialize the kittens and get them ready for adoption. I love it. I get to play with kittens, hold them and love them. I also get to see the looks on the faces of the families who adopt them. There is a lot of love to give and get in any kind of volunteerism. The very best way to bring love closer.

How do I celebrate Valentine's day? My sweetie and I share a lot of romance during the year. We have done the expensive dinners and the champagne by the fireplace. This year we are going to an art show and a concert matinee. We exchange small gifts and celebrate our finding one another. I feel so lucky to have drawn this wonderful man into my life.

Japan Adventure For English Teacher - Sushi, Shiatsu Massage, and Sumo Wrestling - Exotic Japan

Japan is the ideal place in the Orient for your next adventure. Sushi, shiatsu sassage, and sumo wrestling are just a few of the luxuries. The people are fantastic, the culture hospitable, and the food delicious.

As a world traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries, more than 50 islands, and 6 continents I can truly say Japan is a must see indeed.

For those willing to live and work abroad in order to get the full exotic cross-cultural experience, professionals and high achievers with a bachelors degree willing to teach English in the Japanese schools are most welcome. No teaching experience is required, just a willingness to interact happily and cross-culturally with the people in what I call educational entertainment forums wherein you are the star facilitator from a native English speaking country.

I began teaching serendipitously when while living in New York City, I went to Chinatown one weekend. A Chinese Pastor from Taiwan visiting a local church asked me to travel with him and be his English teacher. He smiled and laughingly said with his jaws blown full, "You will eat so good, you will get fat. Ha! Ha!"

I ate well, but never got fat. What I did get however was to see the world as a result of discovering the many job opportunities available to native English speakers overseas. I only had to teach "mushzah" (Chinese for Pastor) an hour a day, if he was cooperative which many times he was not. I therefore looked for work elsewhere in Taipei and taught at a wonderful school.

It was a life changing experience, which I continued doing wherever I went overseas. Finding the more established schools that pay well was a bit harder, but now I even know how to sniff out and sign good contracts with the most reputable schools seeking English teachers.

Japan is a remarkable place I highly recommend.

Tantric Massage Health Benefits

We all know that massage feels good and most of us know that Tantric massage feels even greater, but are there any Tantric massage health benefits?

The short answer is "yes," the Tantric massage comes with many health benefits for men and women and is one of the reasons of its growing popularity. During the Tantric massage sessions there are no "restricted zones," like in the traditional western massage, therefore deriving sexual pleasure is not only expected, but also welcomed. Even though orgasm is not the main goal, the receiver has his or her senses awaken and their sexual energy channeled in the best possible way. A good, and perfectly given Tantric massage improves the blood circulation, helps men and women that suffer from high blood pressure, and results in stress reduction.

This ancient art is also one of the best forms of relaxation, which leads to sound sleep; sex is the nature's best "sleeping pill," but when combined with the intimate touch of a partner or gentle therapist, its powers are multiplied. Studies have proven that people with sleeping disorders benefit greatly from massage sessions and report sounder sleep patterns after only a few of them.

Another group of Tantric massage health benefits relates to life longevity - men that have regular sex can live up to ten years longer and are also far healthier than their peers, who have sex only once a month or less often. The great benefits of sex have been proven beyond doubt and explained by the hormone release, which happens during and after an orgasm. These hormones not only make us feel happy, but their release plays a vital role for our health and contributes to muscle, bone, and hair growth.

Other direct Tantra massage health benefits are lowering the cholesterol and improving the good/bad cholesterol ratio, which greatly reduces the risk of heart attack. Men, who receive tantra massage regularly also derive an enormous benefit since they are far less likely to suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia and this is one health condition that affects approximately half of all men that are 60 years of age or older and can severely impact their quality of life. Having regular sex and regular ejaculation has proven to keep the prostate from enlarging and causing all the signs and symptoms that BPH comes with.

The mental health of the Tantric followers also strengthens with time and they are less likely to experience anxiety attacks or have higher stress levels. This, in turn, leads to greater quality of life, improved work performance, healthier relationships, and greater fulfillment. This is direct benefit from the sensual massage sessions and the intimacy between the giver and the receiver.

This is only a small list of the possible Tantric massage health benefits and there is little surprise that thousands of men and women want to learn more about this wonderful and ancient art!

Therapy Documentation Software - Is it Easy to Transition From Paper and Dictation?

With all the negative aspects of keeping paper records, why is it so hard for a rehab clinic to convert to an electronic therapy documentation system? Paper is expensive to store, leaving even small practices with walls of paper files that must be filed, pulled, copied, faxed, stapled, and re-filed. As for a disaster recovery plan . . . there just isn't one!

But the thought of letting go of "something to write on" brings about the fear of the unknown. How will we get the existing paper in the new system? Can I still make copies of insurance cards? What if we need something signed? It's hard to imagine the scenario where you will NEVER need a folder to store paper.   Those challenges are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to outpatient rehabilitation software. Be wary of software systems that claim an easy transition from paper to their "PT software in a box." If you are looking to grow your practice, an out-of-the-box system is not for you. When you expand from one to two clinics . . . everything changes.   Given the specialized needs of physical therapy documentation, the software you choose can make or break the transition from paper to electronic medical record. And once the software is in place, it needs to grow with you . . . and be able to handle more than one location.   Things to consider are . . .  

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  The customer support capacity of the company. Do they have an American support staff that is knowledgeable about the software and your specialty? Are their existing clients satisfied? Are they available both during business hours and after hours (24 X 7). Always ask for references for any Physical Therapy Documentation software that is being used in a clinic similar to your own.


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  The industry focus of the software and integration capabilities. Be sure your physical therapy software company has a clinical knowledge base that is kept up-to-date with the most current regulatory mandates while facilitating the complex payer process. This is an outpatient physical therapy software system used by large clinics in the United States.  Select Physical Therapy, NovaCare Rehabilitation, to name a couple.


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  The ability of the software to pay for itself in a reasonable time. Return on investment can never happen fast enough. However, it is reasonable to expect a complete ROI within 12 months or less.

The medical records kept by a family practitioner are different than those required for a physical therapist. So your PT software documentation system needs to reflect a PT knowledge base that incorporates clinically relevant verbiage that is specific to an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Your physical therapy software must be able to document the necessary clinical data that will facilitate the method of care, while at the same time, satisfy the needs of the referring physician, payer, employer, and the patient. Most important to your bottom line, it should take the documentation through to an accurate claim so payment can be received without delay. 

Sports Massage And The Stages Of Injury

Another form of massage therapy is sports massage, but don't let the name fool you. Sports massage is usually indicated when there has been an injury to the body acquired during sports activity, but can apply to any activity that causes repetitive strain on the body. The most common injuries are strains and sprains, tendonitis, and inflammation. There are different stages to all injuries ranging between acute and chronic, and both have different effects on the body, and different methods of treatment.

The first stage of injury is called acute. This happens when the injury is new and usually will cause pain, inflammation, and decreased movement in the injured area. Massage therapy treatment in this first stage is generally a lot lighter due to the signs and symptoms. The massage therapists goal is to reduce the pain and inflammation by light pressure and possibly ice directly on the injured area. No home care is usually given other than elevate and ice the effected area. Usually the acute stage can last from a few weeks up to a few months depending on the severity.

The second stage of injury is the sub-acute stage. Here the client will find that the injury is not as painful and the inflammation is pretty much gone. Movement may still be restricted. The massage therapists goal in this stage is to decrease the rest of the inflammation and increase movement slowly. Pressure during the treatment increases and alternating hot and cold packs may be used to bring blood flow to the area so that it can heal quicker. If the client is comfortable with it, the therapist may also begin using trigger point therapy. Trigger points are little nodules in tight muscles that can refer pain from one area to another. When released the affected muscle loosens up and is less restricted. Home care may be given at this point in the form of light stretching as long as the client remains pain-free.

The last stage is the chronic stage. The pain and inflammation will be gone but extreme tension in the muscle and decreased movement of the effected area still remains. As long as the client is comfortable, the therapist will begin using deep pressure to help release tight muscles and, and trigger point therapy where it is indicated. Some therapists use stretches within their massage treatments and other prescribe it as home care. The goal in this stage is to increase the movement in the area and hopefully bring it back to its pre-injury health. Home care are usually stretches to help lengthen and increase movement of the affected area. In the chronic stage, heat can also be used to help soften a muscle before it is stretched.

In all massage treatments, all injuries, acute or chronic are treated this same way, most times the cause isn't too much of a concern. Inflammation can occur in a marathon runner, the same as it can in someone working at a computer 8-9 hours a day. If you are not sure what type of treatment best suits you please ask your massage therapist.

I am constantly asked whether ice or heat is appropriate for an injury, and here is my advice. Use ice first. Using ice in moderation will do little harm if there is inflammation, but using heat will increase the inflammation and pain. Don't use the ice pack for longer that 15-20 minutes at a time and continue every couple of hours. When in doubt use the acronym CBAN. COLD, BURNING, ACHING, NUMBNESS. When you feel the area is achy and becoming numb, this is indication that it is time to take off the ice. If you find that using ice is having no effect, then switch to heat.

How Much Money Can I Make As a Physical Therapist Assistant?

The amount of money you can earn as a physical therapy assistant is almost entirely up to you. There are factors that play into the amount you can earn but, you also have control over that factor. Choose a specialty, it helps. In most fields of science or medicine, choosing a specialty helps you earn more. As a physical therapy assistant, the area of specialty will have a great deal to do with your income. When it comes to being an assistant, there are seven common areas of specialty available for you to choose from. With each specialty, your income will vary.

These seven areas of specialty are:

Occupational

Geriatric

Cardiopulmonary

Pediatric

Integumentary

Orthopedic

Neurological

With each of these specialties, you will be required to have different training and slightly different educational needs. Once you understand your journey to becoming a physical therapy assistant begins with selecting your specialty you are well on your way. The next decision you need to make is where exactly you want to work. Different geographical areas can have different salary levels for the same position so it is important to know where it is you want to work. Along with where you will be working and which specialty you will choose, you also need to look at how much experience you have.

You would not expect a physical therapy assistant fresh out of school to make the same salary as one with 15 years experience, would you? The amount of experience you have will greatly change your income. A newly graduate physical therapy assistant can realistically look to earn between 21 and 30 dollars per hour while an assistant with many years of experience and the education to back it up can expect to earn between 30 and 45 dollars an hour. With any line of employment you choose, time at a job, experience, geographic location, and educational level will play a role in the amount of income you are compensated with. The field of physical therapy assistant is no different. The more experienced you are and the more difficult your specialty is, the more money you will make.