To complement the Research Reports in the October 2014 issue of MASSAGE Magazine. Summary: After exertion-induced muscle injury exercises, it showed sedentary adults who received 30 minutes of Swedish massage therapy improves endothelial function. Sedentary participants exhibit improved endothelial function after receiving interventions incorporating massage therapy for exertion-induced muscle injury exercises. The study, “Massage Therapy Restores Peripheral Vascular Function Following Exertion,” involved 36 sedentary adults, ages 18 to 40. The study’s authors explained, “exertion-induced muscle injury (EMI) is associated with muscle pain, soreness, swelling, decreased range of motion (ROM) and reduced muscle strength” and “can lead to systemic inflammation and altered endothelial function.” There is no predominant treatment for EMI, but massage therapy has been recommended for reducing symptoms and post-injury inflammation. Researchers aimed to determine if EMI reduces vascular endothelial function, and if massage therapy helps improve peripheral vascular function after EMI. Prior to the study, participants spent less than 150...

It's official: day spas are not just for women any more. In fact, according to Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, 35 percent of spa goers are male. Perhaps men are feeling more relaxed in their own skin these days, or they are realizing the benefits of seeing an esthetician. Regardless of the reason, it's great that men are attracted to getting spa treatments such as facials. The owner of Le Jolie Medi Spa, Sharona Rafaeloff--considered by many clients to be the best esthetician in Los Angeles--is enjoying the change of atmosphere. For men visiting a spa for the first time, Ms. Rafaeloff offers these top 3 things for men to remember when heading to the spa. 1. Relax! Many men feel great when they are in charge and in control--but not at a day spa. This is a place to let your guard down and allow yourself to be pampered. Today's man seems...

Both Thai exercise combined with Thai massage and strengthening exercise combined with Swedish massage brought benefits to people with knee osteoarthritis, but the Thai program yielded more significant and longer-lasting results, according to recent research. The study, “The effectiveness of Thai exercise with traditional massage on the pain, walking ability and QOL of older people with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial in the community,” involved 31 people with knee osteoarthritis. The study participants ranged in age from 50 to 85 and were randomly assigned to either a Thai physical therapy (TPT) group or a standard physical therapy (SPT) group. Both the TPT and SPT programs consisted of two phases. Phase one was supervised class-based TPT and SPT, which took place three days a week for eight weeks. During this same phase, participants were instructed to follow the program at home at least two days per week as well. The second phase...

You could say the foot is the foundation upon which we stand — literally. When your feet hurt, the rest of the body can be out of sorts. It’s important to take good care of the feet, particularly during pregnancy. The foot has 7,200 nerve endings. During pregnancy every one of those nerve endings are affected by elevated hormone levels and extra weight. As your client approaches her third trimester, swelling from fluid retention is common due to relaxin, a hormone that prepares the pelvic ligaments for childbirth. Foot massage not only helps to reduce edema, but can also increase flexibility and muscle tone and enhance your pregnant client’s sense of well being. Moreover, like many other types of massage, working on the feet can induce relaxation, stress relief and result in more restful sleep. Studies of the Many Benefits of a Foot Massage During Pregnancy International Journal of Nursing PracticeA 2010 study,...

Some lucky women breeze through pregnancy with hardly any physical discomfort. But for others, unexpected aches and pains become a constant part of the nine-month journey. One of the most common complaints massage therapists hear relates to sciatica pain. Fortunately, you can subdue sciatica pain with massage therapy. The sciatic nerve runs from the neck through the midsection of the back of the body and into the leg. As a woman’s pregnancy advances, this nerve bears the brunt of the growing fetus and expanding uterus. Additionally, swelling from water retention can increase pressure on this nerve, contributing to inflammation. Pregnant women who drive long distances or have jobs that require sitting for long periods of time may have a higher risk of developing sciatica. And, of course, the position of the fetus significantly affects sciatic-related pain. Sciatic pain typically affects only one side of the lower body and may extend from...