KINESIOLOGY TAPING: HOW IT WORKS

While Kinesiology Taping has become a new "fad" for a majority of people, athletes or those in physical therapy will have a good understanding of how it works and what it does. 
















Originally created over 30 years ago in Japan by Dr. Kenzo Kase, DC, Kinesiology Tape was theorized to work in unison with the body's own healing methods to actually speed the healing process while providing support and pain relief. By allowing the body to maintain mobility while providing assistance to the lymphatic system through the tape's "lift" effect, the healing process could take place quicker where it would have been slowed by pain or inflammation. 

Let's talk about that "lift" effect!

Kinesiology Tape is made from either 100% cotton or a cotton/rayon fiber blend and is incredibly lightweight and flexible. This type of tape is meant to mimic the epidermis, or outer layer of skin, and is waterproof, allowing the user to wear it for several days at a time while going about their daily lives. The elasticity and flexibility of Kinesiology Tape play an important role; when used correctly on the body, it will actually lift the skin and allow the lymphatic system to work properly. 

Why is the lifting important?

When the body is injured, this really cool process takes place that will make blood and other bodily fluids rush to the injured area. This is what causes swelling in, let's say, your ankle when you've just sprained it. While the rushing of fluids is important to help your injured body heal, too much can make it difficult for your lymphatic system to work efficiently and may even slow down your recovery. When Kinesiology Tape is applied to the injured area (in this case, your sprained ankle) it lifts the skin and allows the fluids to drain and your lymphatic system to work efficiently, which in turn speeds up your recovery time and reduces pain and swelling. 

The Kinesiology Tape also provides support to your ankle, making it easier to move and walk to prevent stiffness in the joint.

These are just a few other benefits of Kinesiology Taping, on top of inflammation reduction and quicker recovery. 

Testimonial

The ankle example is just one of many to tell you how amazing Kinesiology Tape really is, but it's also my personal favorite because I can speak from experience. As a kid I injured my ankles quite a few times, and while none of them were ever severe, each time they got injured it hurt worse than before due to the extra strain it put on the area. In high school I went on to play lacrosse, and while women's lacrosse is not quite as physical as the men's, it required me to be able to move smoothly and make quick decisions on my feet without falling or injuring myself. 

After a game early on in the season, I realized my ankles were hurting really badly so I decided to give Kinesiology Tape a try in order to prevent a worse injury from forming and to provide my ankles with more support. I quickly realized during practice and future games I felt sturdier, experienced less pain in my ankles, and had much fewer injuries than before which allowed me to play better and not worry about how bad I would be hurting after an intense game. 

While Kinesiology Tape provides the support athletes need to perform efficiently, it does not cause stiffness or reduce mobility like ACE wraps or braces would. This is why it's such a favorite among athletes, those in physical therapy, or even people who take their fitness seriously. 

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Are you interested in trying out Kinesiology Taping for yourself? Contact us for more info!

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Questions? Comments? Concerns? Comment below or email us at: massagelamesa@gmail.com!

Read more about Kinesiology Taping and the services we offer here.

Contact us at: 

(619) 917-4675

or

massagelamesa@gmail.com 

Book now by clicking HERE.

NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY: HOW IT WORKS

Neuromuscular Therapy is a technique used to treat the underlying causes of chronic pain through soft tissue manipulation, according to Web MD. It allows the recipient to experience pain relief from repetitive stress injuries by addressing trigger points, postural issues, nerve compression or biomechanical issues. While it can feel somewhat painful, neuromuscular therapy is proven to work and has been recognized as an alternative therapy for chronic back pain. So, how exactly does it work? Read more below to find out!

Let's talk about Trigger Points

Let's keep this simple: trigger points are areas of muscles that are in a hard "knot" and in a state of constant contraction, which can send referred pain to other areas of the body. One of our favorite examples would be of a trigger point in the scalene area sending referred pain down into the arm. So while the arm may be where you're feeling pain, it's really caused by the knot in the scalene area. 

By pressing down on the trigger point using consistent pressure, it eventually releases, allowing the muscles to relax causing pain to recede from the area. This can often feel awkward and uncomfortable, so communication between client and therapist is vital during the session. Although the process can be painful, it's necessary in order for the client to actually benefit from this type of therapy. This is often referred to as "good pain" since once the muscles release they are able to relax and pain decreases. 

What are the benefits of Neuromuscular Therapy?

Aside from pain relief, one of the benefits of neuromuscular therapy is an increased range of motion. Since releasing trigger points (or hard "knots" of muscle) actually relaxes the muscle, it can help you gain more mobility and allow for freer movement. This in turn can lead to better sleep, taking less pain medication, and actually enjoying the activities you love to do but may not have been able to before due to pain or movement constriction. Remember, taking part in the activities you enjoy releases endorphins, making you feel happier and leading to an improved outlook on life!

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Testimonial

As someone who has had neuromuscular therapy done before, I can tell you that it works and I immediately felt improvement following my session. I have lots of problems with my shoulders and neck due to sitting in a desk chair for 6 hours a day, followed by an evening holding my young children. Being able to experience relief was by far one of the best things for me and I felt a vast improvement in my range of motion and my sleep. 

Keep in mind that some soreness may occur after your session, just like with regular massage therapy, due to the increased pressure used on the body. This can easily be resolved using hot and cold compresses or taking a warm bath with Epsom Salts. 

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Questions? Comments? Concerns? Comment below or email us at: massagelamesa@gmail.com!

Find more information on our website at https://www.massagelamesa.com/trigger-point-massage.html

Contact us at: 

(619) 917-4675

or

massagelamesa@gmail.com 

Book now by clicking HERE.

2019 SPRING SPECIAL

Due to the popularity of one of our Holiday add-ons, we're bringing it back for the month of April! Starting April 1st and running until April 30th, we will be offering a special package of 5 1-hour massages with 5 CBD add-ons to help you experience the ultimate pain relief. 

In a previous blog post, we had discussed how CBD oil is beneficial for those suffering from chronic pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties while also targeting certain receptors in your brain, allowing the user to feel instant relief. While it does come from the hemp plant, it contains no THC, therefore having no psychoactive effects. 

Those who have used CBD can speak for its effectiveness; I myself have used it for pain and can personally tell you how well it works! The CBD cream we use also contains camphor and menthol, both of which help sustain the effects and allow the CBD to work further into the muscle, providing quick, lasting pain relief. On average, pain relief lasts for 3-4 hours, sometimes longer depending on location and how much pain you're actually in. 

If you enjoyed your Holiday Package, or maybe didn't get a chance to get one, now is the best time to take advantage of this limited time offer! 

If you're interested in purchasing our CBD package, call us at (619) 917-4675 or simply stop by our office!

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Questions? Comments? Concerns? Comment below or email us at: massagelamesa@gmail.com!

Contact us at: 619-917-4675 OR  massagelamesa@gmail.com 

Book now by clicking HERE.

THE BENEFITS OF PRENATAL MASSAGE

Prenatal massage is one of the best things you can do for yourself while going through pregnancy. Although pregnancy only lasts for approximately 40 weeks, it can put your body through a lot of strain which sometimes does not return to its "original state" for upwards of a year, or sometimes at all. For many women, pregnancy is uncomfortable, awkward, and painful, especially in the third (and final) trimester. A lot of this is due to weight gain and the accelerated growth of the baby during those last formative months. 

During this time, many women experience sleep deprivation, back pain, cramps and contractions, swelling, and digestive problems like heartburn. One of the most common problems pregnant women experience is sciatica, a condition where the sciatic nerve is compressed and causing sharp, shooting pains down the leg.  This may make it difficult to stand or even lay down comfortably. This condition can subside after labor, but it is also known to keep affecting the mother long after pregnancy. 

So how does prenatal massage help with all that?

Simply put, prenatal massage is similar to other massage where it's purpose is to help with pain, stress and tension. The only difference is how the client lays on the table, since after the first trimester prenatal massage should be done side-lying. 

We already know from past blog posts that massage helps to release endorphins, causing the body to relax and overall decrease stress and tension. Prenatal massage is no different; it's just more geared towards helping the soon-to-be mom with her stress levels. 

Massage can also help the mom-to-be prep for labor by keeping the muscles relaxed and reduce swelling.

What are the differences between a regular massage & prenatal massage? 

During the first trimester, there aren't that many differences between a regular and prenatal massage. Most women are still comfortable lying on their stomachs, so it's still possible to get massaged in that position, although many choose to do side-lying instead. The therapist would most likely just avoid any pressure-sensitive areas and any pressure points that are thought to induce labor, just to be safe. 

By the second trimester, it's safer to receive massage in a side-lying position while being supported by pillows to ease discomfort. During this time, most women are starting to get back pain or pain in the hips due to weight gain, a shift in the gravitational center and the loosening of ligaments to prepare the body for labor. Most of the focus would most likely be on the hips and low back, with shoulders, legs and feet being the most requested massage areas after that. The therapist would also still be avoiding pressure points thought to induce labor. 

To read our Frequently Asked Questions about prenatal massage, click here

In the third trimester, massages will be received exclusively in a side-lying position while being supported by pillows. While there are special tables with an opening in the middle, designed for pregnant women so they can still lay on their stomachs, they are not recommended since they can put extra strain on the back (you can read more about positioning safety here). During this time is when women report having the most pain and discomfort, so the massage will typically be focused on those areas. When week 40 comes around the therapist can even utilize pressure points that are thought to be associated with labor to help speed things along and allow for an easy delivery. While those pressure points may not work for everyone, massage alone will help ease stress and help with pain and discomfort due to pregnancy, allowing the mom to relax and put her in a better mindset. 

Most pregnant women like to be seen weekly towards the end of their pregnancy since pain and discomfort will have increased. Assisted stretching is also recommended to help with these issues as it can help get the blood flowing and loosen up tight muscles, especially since it's often more difficult to stretch during the later weeks of pregnancy!

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Overall, the benefits of prenatal massage are numerous and we strongly recommend coming in, both during your pregnancy and after. Prenatal massage is a great way to help ease discomfort while also getting some support from your massage therapist. We recommend coming in about once a month in the first two trimesters, then slowly increase your massage frequency to as many as once a week up until labor to improve your experience during those last few weeks of pregnancy.  

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Comment below or email us at: massagelamesa@gmail.com!

Contact us at: 619-917-4675 OR  massagelamesa@gmail.com 

Book now by clicking HERE.