http://altmedicine.about.com/od/massage/a/value_of_massage.htmhttp://altmedicine.about.com/od/massage/a/value_of_massage.htm

watch the idea behind the mai sauki massage services
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAzin41FM5tYm0wEpisGMQ/feed

Posterior Trigger Points (62 Minutes)

ROYALE NIGERIAN PRODUCT LINE

royale

https://youtu.be/qR7aQIRmta0

Effects of Stroke

The effects of stroke can be devastating but most can be improved with rehabilitation. Below is a list of common side effects of stroke. Click the name of the effect to get more detailed information and ideas for treatment.

Loss of Balance - Balance problems can be due to muscle weakness and paralysis, damage to the areas of the brain that help control balance (i.e. the cerebellum), loss of sensation in the limbs, damage to the vestibular system, high tone (spasticity) or low tone (flaccidity) of limbs which cause muscular imbalances, impaired vision, medications, hypotension (drop in blood pressure), ataxia (lack of coordination while performing movement), and poor proprioception (lack of awareness of body position). Since there are a variety of reasons that can contribute to poor balance after stroke, it is important to determine which factors are causing a loss of balance in order to establish an exercise program.
Aphasia - Some patients will demonstrate decreased ability to speak or comprehend words. This speech impairment is known as aphasia. Expressive aphasia occurs when the patient knows what they want to say but cannot get the words out correctly. Patients with expressive aphasia usually understand when someone speaks to them. Patients with receptive aphasia, on the other hand, show impaired ability to comprehend spoken language. Written language is effected by aphasia as well.
Hemiplegia - Paralysis or severe weakness on one side of the body occurs. Hemiparesis is weakness associated with one side of the body as well but is much less severe. Hemiplegia and hemiparesis are both common side effects of stroke.
Slurred Speech - Mouth musculature can become weak or paralyzed during stroke causing slurred speech.
Vision Problems -Hemianopsia sometimes occurs with stroke and causes one side of the visual field to be impaired. This means that one side of each eye has a visual field impairment. This visual deficit can be profound with patients not even seeing things that are on the affected side. Diplopia and visual field neglect can also occur.



Cognitive Impairment - This varies widely from person to person and often depends on the site of the infarct. Different areas of the brain control different cognitive functions. Some stroke victims will present without cognitive deficits and others will be severely impaired.
Unilateral Neglect - Stroke patients often have decreased awareness of their weaker side. This can manifest in different ways such as not turning the head toward the weaker side, forgetting to put the weaker arm or leg in clothing, and not noticing objects or people approaching the weak side. Left side neglect tends to be more severe than right side neglect.
Personality Changes – Some common changes in personality that occur following stroke include lability (mood swings for no apparent reason), depression, apathy (lack of interest or concern), anxiety, aggression, and impulsiveness. Change in personality is one of the most difficult side effects of stroke for caregivers to accept.
Dysphagia – It is very important for stroke patients to be evaluated for dysphagia which is difficulty or trouble with swallowing. Some patients will need to have thickened liquids and/or pureed food in order to keep from aspirating food or drink into their lungs. Other patients will have to have feeding tubes put in place because they will not be able to swallow safely at all. It is very important to follow the feeding precautions put in place by your physician and speech pathologist. If swallowing is impaired, eating regular food and drinks could be fatal.
Loss of Coordination – Impairment or loss of motor skills is common with stroke. Gross motor skills such as sitting, standing, walking, and lifting objects become difficult. Fine motor skills such as writing, typing, and picking up small objects can be impaired or completely lost. Click here for hand exercises to improve fine motor coordination.
Spasticity – According to the National Stroke Association, spasticity is tight, stiff muscles that make movement, especially of the arms or legs, difficult or uncontrollable. Spasticity is common after stroke and can present itself in various muscle groups. For more in depth information, please see the page on spasticity.
Hypotonia or Flaccidity – The opposite of spasticity, hypotonia is when there is decreased or no tone in a muscle. This condition is often present immediately after a person has experienced a stroke. The leg or arm will appear limp as if just hanging on the body. Some stroke victims will have permanent hypotonia, but most will acquire improved muscle tone as time progresses.
Foot Drop (or Drop Foot) – This condition is characterized by the inability to lift the front part of the foot due to muscle weakness or paralysis. A person with foot drop is at an increased risk for falling because the foot will drag increasing the likelihood of tripping or stumbling. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are common braces given to stroke patients to help support the ankle and foot and keep the foot from dragging.
Shoulder Subluxation – This occurs when the upper arm bone drops out of the shoulder socket due to weak shoulder musculature or spasticity. It is important to properly support the arm to prevent further subluxation. One must be careful when doing shoulder range of motion if the shoulder is subluxed. It is best to have your therapist show you the correct way to perform shoulder range of motion if you have this condition.
Decreased Range of Motion – Many stroke patients lose range of motion in their joints due to spasticity or disuse. It is important to perform a daily range of motion exercise program to prevent loss of joint range. Caregivers can help the patient perform passive range of motion exercises if the patient is unable to do range of motion on their own.
Pain – It is not uncommon to have pain after stroke due to spasticity, decreased range of motion, muscle tightness, and problems like shoulder subluxation. Pain will often improve with therapy. It is important not to succumb to disuse. Limbs can become contracted if they are not moved and pain will worsen. Some patients will experience a more severe type of pain called Central Pain Syndrome. Click here for more info.
Incontinence – Loss of bowel and bladder function can also be side effects of stroke. If problems with this persist, patients and caregivers can start a toileting schedule to help prevent accidents. A catheter may be ordered by a physician in the early days following stroke until a patient becomes more mobile.
Fatigue - Fatigue is a common occurrence after stroke. Even patients who experience only a mild stroke can have persistent fatigue. Studies have shown an increase in mortality rate for post stroke patients that have fatigue especially those who are single, have little family support, are institutionalized, or have a significant decrease in daily function.
Decreased sensation - One may experience varying degrees of sensory loss.
These are just some of the effects of stroke. To learn more detailed info about the effects of stroke, click on the highlighted name of a deficit above.

Top of Form

Massage Therapy for Arthritis

Although massage therapy cannot cure or stop the progression of arthritis, it can ease the symptoms associated with inflammation and help improve your quality of life. While the cartilage damage of arthritis cannot be reversed, massage is helpful in reducing muscle spasms and decreasing compression associated with the arthritic joint disorder.

How Can Massage Therapy Help Ease Arthritis?

Massage therapy involves working soft body tissues with the hands or with an instrument. When practiced correctly, massage therapy can help improve joint movement, relax tense muscles and stimulate the flow of both blood and nutrients to the skin and tissue underneath. Patients report it feels good and breaks the cycle of stress that often comes with chronic illnesses, such as arthritis.

The benefits of massage include:

·         Increased circulation

·         Increased flexibility and mobility

·         Decreased pain and inflammation

·         Relief of muscle aches and stiffness

·         An overall sense of relaxation and wellness

A variety of massage styles can help decrease arthritis pain. Swedish massage therapy is the most relaxing and is used to stimulate blood flow to the skin and relax the muscles. Deep-tissue massage therapy can decrease pain and improve movement in specific muscles and joints. Reflexology involves applying deep pressure to points on the feet that correspond to specific areas of the body. During an acute flare-up of arthritis, reflexology is often recommended because painful joints are not touched directly, and pain and symptoms can be relieved from this distal treatment.

Can Massage Therapy Help Arthritis?

Recent studies have found that massage therapy seems to be helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, and also effective for chronic hand arthritis.
During a four-week study, patients with chronic hand arthritis who received regular massage therapy experienced less anxiety and pain, along with improved mood and greater grip strength. Overall, the massage therapy group showed greater improvement than did the standard treatment group on all measures.

What Happens During a Massage Therapy Session?

A massage therapy session can last from 15 - 90 minutes and can include a schedule of follow-up visits, depending on the severity of your situation. At your first massage therapy session, the practitioner should ask you about any symptoms you may have (like painful joints) and will also ask questions about your medical history. The practitioner will also discuss your expectations regarding massage therapy.

Swedish Massage Therapy is the most common type of massage therapy in the United States. Swedish massage therapists use long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil. This type of massage can be very gentle and relaxing, which may ease arthritis pain.

Massage should be avoided when joints are especially tender or inflamed, since a treatment can actually worsen the symptoms at such times. Your massage therapist should be informed of your condition and use gentle techniques.

What is Arthritis?

Healthy cartilage on the joints between bones allows the bones to glide smoothly within the joints and helps to cushion the stress of physical movement. In a person with arthritis, bones may not glide as smoothly and joints may be painfully inflamed. Symptoms of arthritis can include pain, stiffness, redness, swelling, heat, and limited range of movement.

There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis. Two of the most common conditions are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common type, is mainly seen in older adults. In OA, joints are damaged as cartilage, the material that surrounds joints, wears down, causing inflammation. The disease can become disabling. Osteoarthritis often affects the knees, making it hard to walk. Other commonly affected areas include the hips, fingers and spine. The wrists, elbows, shoulders, and ankles can also be involved when there is a prior injury or weakness from repetitive strain.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks parts of the body, resulting in inflammation. The most commonly affected areas include the hands and feet, although RA can also affect the elbows, shoulders, neck, jaw, ankles, knees, and hips. As with Osteoarthritis, cartilage is broken down and worn away by Rheumatoid arthritis, causing bones to rub together. Patients with RA also have joint swelling, pain, and stiffness.

Are There any Risks Associated with Massage?

Massage is considered a generally safe procedure. Pain or other negative side effects are usually caused by overly vigorous massage techniques. Diabetics should check blood sugar levels after a massage session because it may be too low afterward.

Tell your therapist to stop if you feel any pain. Massage should not be performed on any joint that is currently swollen or painful.
Massage may influence absorption or activity of both oral and topical medications. Tell your massage therapist about any medications you are taking.

Possible side effects of massage therapy may include:

·         Temporary pain or discomfort

·         Bruising

·         Swelling

·         A sensitivity or allergy to massage oils

 

www.maisaukitherapy.com