Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to compression of the median nerve at the wrist, resulting in weakness, pain and possibly numbness of the hand and wrist. The median nerve controls sensation in the palm of the hand (thumb and fingers, excluding the pinky or little finger).

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is very important, since long-term carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to permanent nerve damage, constant numbness and atrophy of muscles related to the carpal tunnel.

Causes Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Often times the specific cause of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is undetermined. However, it is known that CTS is associated with the following:

• An abnormally small carpal tunnel
• Repetitive, work related stress
• A wrist injury that results in swelling (e.g. wrist sprain or fracture)
• An overactive pituitary gland
• Arthritis (rheumatoid)
• Fluid retention during pregnancy
• Menopause
• Cysts/tumors that form in the tunnel

Symptoms Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms of CTS usually start gradually, and become more severe as the problem worsens.

The following symptoms are listed from initial to later stages:

• Tingling, itching and even a burning sensation in the thumb and fingers
• Numbness in the palm of the hand
• A feeling of tightness or swelling
• Pain in the hand or wrist
• Loss of strength when gripping some object
• Inability to distinguish between cold and hot objects
• As the condition worsens atrophy of the thenar muscles may occur

Please note that it is common for these symptoms to first occur at night only, since many people sleep with their wrists in a flexed position. As the condition progresses some or all of the symptoms will occur throughout the day as well.

Treatment Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are two types of treatments for CTS: surgical and non-surgical. It is very important to diagnose CTS as early as possible in order to avoid surgical treatment.

Non-surgical treatment consists of:

• Resting and immobilizing the affected hand via splints or braces
• Avoiding activity that stresses the hand and wrist
• Physiotherapy
• Massage therapy
• Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs to ease pain and swelling
• Injection of corticosteroids into the wrist (can also be taken orally) to relieve pressure on the
  median nerve

Surgery is often recommended if symptoms have been present for 6 months.

There are two types of surgery used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome:

1. Traditional "open release" surgery, which involves an incision in the wrist followed by severing
   of the carpal ligament (this increases the size of the carpal tunnel)
2. Endoscopic surgery, which involves inserting a tiny camera into the wrist/palm and results in a
   faster recovery time, less post-operative discomfort and a smaller degree of scarring.

It is very important to catch carpal tunnel syndrome early on. Unfortunately CTS can be difficult to diagnose, and symptoms can also be caused by things other than carpal tunnel syndrome.

Chiro-Med Rehab Centre located in Richmond Hill has the necessary expertise and knowledge to help you recover from carpal tunnel syndrome. As professionals we can recommend the type of treatment needed and effectively implement that treatment, getting you on the road to recovery as quick as possible!

Chiropractic manipulation is sometimes also referred to as chiropractic adjustment. This is a specialized procedure that applies manipulation to the vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or are not functioning as it should.
The College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO) assists members of the CCO in maintaining standards of care that must be adhered to before a chiropractor performs a chiropractic manipulation.

The College ensures that any chiropractor who wants to perform a manipulation (or adjustment) must be thoroughly trained and have practice in order to provide this health care service with competence and skill. Here is a brief overview of what this specialized training includes:

• Learning the principles of chiropractic manipulation, biomechanics, radiology, neuro-physiology and applied anatomy
• Patient examination and diagnosis
• Various treatment techniques

The CCO states, “Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is an authorized Act requiring a high degree of skill.” The College has outlined specific elements to maintain a high level of skill among their members. This includes:

• Knowing indications and contraindications to application of a chiropractic adjustment or manipulation.
• Patient's health, proper assessment of the patient, the treatment goal and prognosis.
• Ongoing education in order to be current with knowledge and skills to enable safe and effective treatment.

Chiropractic manipulation is a procedure that must be thoroughly discussed with a patient; and the patient must provide written consent.

The Cracking Sound

When a patient receives chiropractic manipulation as part of their treatment he or she can expect to hear the cracking sounds. Many people think the sound is intriguing, others find it odd.

Between each joint in the spine there is fluid. When cavitation occurs the patient hears cracking sounds. This is gas being released from the fluid. This is the same sound that can be heard when opening a can of pop or popping the cork off a bottle of champagne. The same thing is happening to the pop or the champagne - gas is being released from within the fluid.

Not all chiropractic manipulations create this sound, so judging the effectiveness of this treatment cannot be based on sound. The goal is to restore mobility to the restricted joint, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing the underlying tissues and nervous system to heal.

For those who receive this treatment in the neck area, the cracking sound will seem much louder as it is because it is closer to the ears.

Health Benefits Of Chiropractic Manipulation

Chiropractic manipulation improves the nutrient supply throughout the body. Cartilage and other structures have no blood supply and manipulation reduces pressure on the nerves.

The nervous system is the control centre of the human body. Nerves and nerve bundles are soft tissue and when under physical pressure they do not function well. It has been shown that a bulging disc, inflammation, or a fragment of disc floating around can negatively interfere with nerve conduction. Chiropractic manipulation can create relief of this pressure though gentle movement of the joint.

Joint Fixation

The joints in our body are meant to move without effort.  The friction of our joints is believed to be eight times more slippery than ice sliding on ice.  If an injury occurs, or as we age the surfaces of the joints tend to become rough which increases the friction and the effort needed to move them.  Some joints may become so damaged that they get to the point that they lose mobility. Joints need free movement to transport nutrients and fluids in and out of the area around the joints in order to stay healthy.  This does not happen in a fixated joint.  The lack of joint movement can cause degeneration of the joints and the discs leaving an individual in a lot of pain.

Members of The College of Chiropractors of Ontario are fully trained to perform chiropractic manipulations. Their skill and expertise have helped countless patients regain independence from pain.

Dr. Sanjari is the Clinic Director of Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has a walk-in clinic conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. For more information on chiropractic manipulations, or any other chiropractic concern, please call 905-918-0419.

Daniel David Palmer in Davenport, Iowa, founded chiropractic in 1895; in fact, the “Memorial” in the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) was done so in his honour. Since Palmer’s first chiropractic adjustment, this profession has developed and grown to become one of the largest primary contact health care professions in North America.

CMCC welcomed many veterans returning from WWII when it officially opened on September 18, 1945. The founders of the CMCC envisioned their institution establishing a high standard of chiropractic education and they wanted to become a catalyst for the development of chiropractic in Canada. For 50 years the CMCC served all of Canada as the sole provider of chiropractic education. As a result, the majority of today’s practicing chiropractors in Canada are graduates are CMCC graduates. This chiropractic college is evidence-based and they have a patient-centred approach which attracts students from all around the world.

Daniel Palmer

Daniel Palmer educated himself in all the current science of that day, pseudo-science, as well as fads and built up a very successful practice.

In 1895 the janitor in Palmer`s building told Palmer how he had been deaf in one ear for 17 years after he had felt something “let go” at the top of his back. Palmer took that opportunity and examined him only to discover a bone out of place at that spot. After some convincing, the janitor allowed Palmer to “put the bone back in place” through a carefully analyzed manipulation. After two such manipulations the janitor could hear again and his hearing was normal for the remainder of his life.

After this success, Palmer went into seclusion for six months to carefully study the effects of manipulations on a wide variety of his patients. He truly felt he was on the edge of an amazing discovery so he was very secretive about what he was up to.

By 1900 Palmer proclaimed chiropractic as a profession and began to teach others his system of adjustments. Soon new chiropractors were spreading and before long they were in Canada.

While all this was going on, the field of health care was rapidly evolving. In the late 1800’s there were three main schools of health care; the physicians who worked with medicines and surgery, eclectics who worked with natural botanicals, and the manipulators, (mainly in the form of osteopaths but soon joined by the chiropractors).

Opposition Began

By 1912 physicians were the predominant field in health care that was supported by the US government. In fact, there was a rapid movement away from natural health care. Osteopathic health care was assimilated into mainstream medicine and to practice this field, one had to become an MD first then do further study to become an osteopath. This type of health care was not favoured therefore osteopathy became a dying profession in the US, though they are still present in Canada today. Only the persevering chiropractors remained, led by its discoverer and his entrepreneurial son, BJ Palmer.

The US government, in an effort to eliminate the weaker, profit-based medical schools, commissioned the Flexner Report (1912), describing the state of the schools in the US and making sweeping recommendations for reform. Meanwhile in 1915, the Ontario government issued a similar report, the Hodgins Commission, an investigation into the state of medical education in Ontario. This report noted “new avenues of healing which had not previously been dreamed of,” including “bone setting”, “manipulation” and “mechanotherapy”. Three chiropractors gave deputations to the commission, including BJ Palmer. Palmer was rather flamboyant and he, with the other two, espoused the fundamentalist philosophy that chiropractors “have no use for diagnosis”, “do not believe in bacteria” and believe “the analysis of blood and urine … has no value”. Naturally this commission reacted as expected and recommended that Ontario’s three chiropractic colleges be shut down.

Fortunately the commission did recognize the value in these methods and recommended they be added to the medical curriculum. It wasn't until 55 years later (1970) that the Ontario government saw that no action was taken by the medical schools and they chastised the medical profession for failing to incorporate manipulation into its curriculum. As further evidence of the mainstream medical opposition for any form of physical therapy, physiotherapists were not registered to practice in Ontario until 1933, (18 years after Hodgin’s recommendations).

Public support for chiropractic remained strong in Ontario (and in Canada) because it provided the most effective treatment for back pain. In 1925 the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons in an effort to limit the chiropractors’ role in health care, requested the government enact legislation to regulate the health practitioners out of their jurisdiction. As a result the “Drugless Practitioners Act” of 1925 was enacted to regulate chiropractors, optometrists and other new professions. Chiropractic was now legal but strictly limited.

During the next 30 years many chiropractic techniques were developed that are still used today. The success they had with their approach created countless loyal patients all across Canada and the US, in spite of medicine’s animosity.

Battle Heats Up In The Us

Unfortunately, over these 30 years the medical associations across the US started a program of having chiropractic practitioners arrested for “practicing medicine” without a license. For those in the field, it became an honour for a chiropractor to get arrested at least once in his career. The legal argument that no practice of medicine was going on, only the practice of chiropractic, stood up quite well in the courts but for 30 years there were countless chiropractors arrested and charged.

Advances In Ontario

It was during this era that a new chiropractic college, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in Toronto, was founded in 1945, catering to men returning from the war with government subsidies for education in their pockets. It was instantly successful and has over its first 60 years out-grown two new campuses.

In 1959 the Ontario the College of Physicians and Surgeons published a report on “Osteopathy and Chiropractic” outlining a powerful offensive policy to give chiropractic in Ontario a knock back. This triggered several Royal Commissions throughout the 1960’s looking at the state of health care in Canada and chiropractic care in particular. Chiropractic was determined to be “a valid health service” by the Quebec Commission, which was accepted by the federal government’s Hall Royal Commission on Health Services in 1961. It wasn't until 1970 that chiropractic services were added to OHIP in Ontario with the government picking up 80 percent of the treatment fees. This OHIP legislation stated, “the potential therapeutic benefits of manipulation have been neglected by the medical profession.” This was a long overdue reprimand for the medical associations.

Since 1989 the chiropractic profession has made great strides towards widespread support within society and within the mainstream health science community. Nowadays there are chiropractic research positions at universities all across Canada getting government grants to support their work. It was an uphill battle but great advances have been made in getting mainstream medicine to accept chiropractic care. Interestingly, Worker’s Compensation Boards became incredible supporters of chiropractic care. They conducted their own research into the cost effectiveness of the chiropractic approach to the treatment of back and neck injuries.

The final piece of legislation affecting the chiropractic profession was passed in Ontario in 1991 as the “Regulated Health Professions Act”. This act replaced the Drugless Practitioners Act of 1925 in regulating chiropractors. This new statute authorized the use of the title “doctor” and granted the right to diagnose, which only four other professions had: optometry, dentistry, medicine and psychology (podiatry was later added). The College of Chiropractors of Ontario was established giving the profession the right of self-regulation under the same legal parameters as the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Even though the chiropractic care field has fought and won many battles in order to survive, there was one loss here in Ontario. OHIP revamped the schedule of allowable treatments and chiropractic was removed.  No matter, given the powerful forces at play behind the scenes, we can all be grateful that chiropractic care has survived the many battles it has had to fight.

For a more in depth look at what was truly going on behind the scenes there is the highly-acclaimed documentary “Doctored”. Doctored is thoroughly-researched and we at Chiro Med Rehab recommend that everyone watch this incredible documentary.

Chiro Med Rehab Centre is located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. Visit Chiro Med online or call 905-918-0419.

Migraines are not just a different type of headache; they are a severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation that is generally felt on one side of the head. More often than not nausea, vomiting, as well as extreme sensitivity to light and sound accompanies this pain. These attacks can last for hours or for days and they can be so severe a person is not able to function. In fact, a migraine headache ranks in the top 20 of the world's most disabling conditions affecting people of all ages. Migraines are a neurological disease that can be managed using massage therapy.

Different Types of Migraines

Common Migraine: This is the most prevalent type of migraine; technically this is referred to as a migraine without aura. Almost 11 percent of general population worldwide suffer from this. According to some doctors, this type of migraine will worsen with overuse of over-the-counter headache pills. A common migraine can last for anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. If the headache continues for over 72 hours then it is known as status migrainosus, which requires immediate medical attention.

Classic Migraine: Another term for this migraine is a migraine with aura. People suffering from aura experience dazzling flash of light, hazy spots or zigzag lines in their vision few minutes prior to the onset of the migraine. It is estimated that 15 to 20 percent of those who regularly get migraines have aura symptoms.

Menstrual Migraine: Migraine is a condition that is twice as common in women as men. There is a strong connection between the menstrual cycle and the onset of a migraine. Fluctuating hormones are the antecedent.

Chronic Migraine: This is a severe form of migraine. Defined, this headache occurs for more than 15 days in a one month period for three consecutive months. Over the course of time the headache continues throughout the day with occasional migraine symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Chronic migraine is one of the most disabling forms of migraine.

Abdominal Migraine: With this type of migraine, the person experiences light to severe abdominal pain along with nausea and vomiting during the attack. This is commonly seen in children who have a history of migraine in their family.

There are other types of migraines but this gives you an idea that not all migraines are the same.

Massage Can Help

The science community has done very little research about massage therapy and migraines; however, there have been many independent studies conducted that conclude there is relief for most massage therapy patients. It is encouraging that there is a positive connection between massage and migraine relief. For example, a 2014 published paper in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine shows positive effects of Thai traditional massage. This massage uses stretching, compression, and pulling and rocking motion. This has proven to provide relief in many migraine sufferers.

Depending on the severity and type of migraine the patient is suffering with, a massage therapist may use a variety of different techniques such as:

• Craniosacral therapy: This is a gentle massage focused on the skull and scalp.‍
• Reflexology: Uses pressure and massage on the soles of the feet.‍
• Relaxation massage: This is for stress relief.‍
• Deep Tissue Massage: This massage works well on a tense neck and shoulders providing great results in relieving migraine symptoms.

Massage therapy is not a cure for migraine, but countless migraine patients state it is an indispensable complementary therapy. Some research has even shown that those who receive massage therapy experience a reduction in migraines. This has proven to bring relief to many who seek a reduction or elimination in pharmacological treatment.

Many benefits of massage therapy include an increase in serotonin levels which can help decrease senility to pain, reduce stress levels, and it can help improve sleep. At Chiro-Med Rehab Centre you can be sure you are in the hands of not only a qualified massage therapist, but a therapist who puts your best interests first.

Established in 2007 by Dr. Behfar Sanjari, Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has been committed to providing quality health care services to the Greater Toronto Area for over a decade. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has qualified professionals who can help you seek relief from migraine pain. We have clinics located in Richmond Hill and Newmarket, call 905-918-0419 or 905-235-2620 for more information.

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Resource:

Chatchawan U, Eungpinichpong W, Sooktho S, Tiamkao S, Yamauchi J. (2014). "Effects of Thai traditional massage on pressure pain threshold and headache intensity in patients with chronic tension-type and migraine headaches." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years by Chinese healers, but today it is being used throughout the world for many more purposes than the ancient Chinese ever imagined.  Today, acupuncture is commonly used for the relief of pain and illness, but has also become a common treatment for all types of addictions.  A Richmond Hill acupuncture specialist can treat you for any type of addiction, whether it is alcoholism, smoking or even heroin addiction.  Overeating is sometimes considered to be a type of addiction that results in obesity, and acupuncture can successfully treat this problem too.

Addictions respond remarkably well to acupuncture treatments, although you should keep in mind that it will usually take more than one treatment to produce results.  The number of treatments you need and the frequency of treatments can vary depending on the type of addiction you are battling.  For chronic substance abuse, a schedule of ongoing treatment is usually recommended.  In the beginning, it is usually necessary to have acupuncture treatments on a daily basis until the withdrawal period is over.  A Richmond Hill acupuncture professional can assess your condition and determine how many treatments will be needed.

One particular type of acupuncture that is particularly effective in treating addictions is auricular, or ear acupuncture.  With this type of acupuncture, tiny needles are inserted into various points in the ears, particularly in the lobes, to target the meridians that influence cravings.  Auricular acupuncture is usually used in conjunction with body acupuncture to ease stress and control cravings.

When used as part of a substance abuse rehabilitation program, acupuncture can be a very effective tool.  People with severe addictions are advised not to undergo withdrawal without some assistance and counseling from an addiction specialist.  Whether you are battling a substance abuse problem or simply quitting smoking, Richmond Hill acupuncture treatments can help free you from your addictions once and for all!

Plantar fasciitis can be quite painful and is one of the most common causes of heel pain. This foot ailment is inflammation of the thick tissue (plantar fascia) located on the bottom of the foot. This tissue is what connects the heel bone to the toes and it creates the arch of the foot; this can be quite painful and make walking more difficult.

Those who have plantar fasciitis feel dull or sharp pain and stiffness at the bottom of the heel. Some people report feeling an ache or burn at the bottom of the foot. This pain is felt worse in the morning when taking the first steps of the day. It is also noticeable after standing or sitting for a period of time. Plantar fasciitis pain may develop slowly over time, or suddenly after intense activity.

Causes Of Plantar Fasciitis

When the thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot is overused or overstretched this is when plantar fasciitis can occur. Another possible cause of pain and dysfunction is now thought to be degeneration of the collagen fibres close to the attachment to the heel bone.

Risk factors for plantar fasciitis include:

• High arches or flat feet
• Poor arch support
• Sudden weight gain or obesity
• Tight Achilles tendon
• Long distance running or running on uneven surfaces

Plantar fasciitis is the most common orthopedic complaints related to the foot and seems to affect mostly men aged between 40 and 70.

If you think you have plantar fasciitis you should see a health professional as soon as possible. An examination will be conducted to determine the tenderness of the foot, arches will be checked, and the tightness or stiffness of the arch will be examined.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has helped countless people who have suffered with plantar fasciitis. The severity of this condition will determine the treatment. The good news is that almost always, nonsurgical treatment improves the pain. Patients who have severe plantar fasciitis may require several months of therapy  in order to feel totally better, and in some rare cases, surgery may be needed to relieve pain.

Immediate steps to relieve pain are to apply ice to the painful area, minimum twice a day for about 15-20 minutes.  Wearing shoes with good support are a must and resting as much as possible as well.

You may need to do some heel stretching exercises to help relieve the stiffness. In addition, using night splints to help stretch out the plantar fascia may aid in the healing process.

Orthotics from Chiro-Med Rehab Centre are medical inserts that fit comfortably into normal footwear, and are custom designed to support and improve your ability to walk pain-free. Orthotics should be worn at all times, at work, at home, and during recreational activities. Orthotic insoles work like prescription eye-glasses, they work when they are being worn, providing support to all the areas that need support.
During the first couple of weeks while wearing custom orthotics, there may be a slight discomfort felt in the arches, feet, and legs. This is normal, and is actually an indication that your custom orthotics are doing their job.

Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill has a convenient location and highly qualified health professionals to help you get back to activities you once enjoyed – pain free! Call 905-918-0419 for more information.

Orthotics are shoe inserts that fit inside shoes and other footwear and are designed to support the feet as well as recreational activity such as walking, running, jogging, and much more. Custom orthotics are personalized to fit a specific person, and should always be worn once someone starts using them. They provide constant support to a foot's heel, muscles, arch, tendons and ligaments. Walking can be very enjoyable when the proper support is there.

It is common to experience mild discomfort for the first couple of weeks when starting to wear orthotics. Rest assured that this is normal, and this is caused due to the body readjusting to a new and healthier gait (walking pattern). In fact, mild discomfort is a positive indicator that your orthotics are doing their job!

Who Can Use Custom Orthotics?

Anyone from children to the elderly can wear custom orthotics. The use of orthotics is not age dependent and can benefit people of all ages. Custom orthotics help alleviate foot pain, joint pain, arthritis and various injuries. They are also used in a corrective capacity (orthopedic correction), correcting uneven leg lengths.

Some people worry that custom orthotics may reduce their muscle tone. This is not the case. Custom orthotics will actually help position your foot properly so you will be using the right muscles at the right time. This in turn will help to minimize fatigue and will allow your muscles to be used more efficiently.

How Custom Orthotics Are Made

The first step in making custom orthotics is to analyze a person's gait and feet. A person's gait is analyzed using the Footmax Metascan system. The Footmax System is a cutting-edge patient assessment tool, whereby patient data is recorded and then analyzed by proprietary diagnostic software called Metascan. This diagnostic software then generates a detailed gait report.

Once this is done our professionals analyze the data and determine the type of custom orthotics needed by the patient.

Symptoms And Treatment

Custom orthotics can help out with the following conditions and symptoms:

• Achilles Tendonitis (tendonitis of the Achilles tendon)
• Ankle Pain
• Bunions (often mistaken as enlarged bones around the big toe)
• Fallen Arches
• Flat feet (collapse of a foot's arch)
• Hammer Toes (deformity of a toe's joint, causing it to be bent)
• Headaches
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Low Back Pain
• Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (also known as shin splints)
• Metatarsalgia (a painful foot condition that affects the foot's forefoot region)
• Neck Pain
• Painful Feet
• Pes Cavus (a foot with a high arch, the opposite of "flat foot")
• Plantar Fasciitis (a painful inflammation of the connective tissue on a foot's sole)

Where To Get Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics that are specifically made to your particular situation are available from Chiro-Med Rehab Centre. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre has the experience and expertise needed to effectively assess and treat conditions that can be alleviated with the use of custom orthotics. Take the first step and call us today to book your appointment for custom orthotics.

Massage therapy has a history that dates back to many areas of the world including ancient China. Hippocrates defined this form of treatment as “the art of rubbing”.  It became very popular during the Renaissance era in Europe and it never really gained any traction in Canada or the U.S. until the 1970’s. Even then it was viewed more as a method of helping athletes.

So what exactly is massage therapy? This is a modality of treatment that encompasses various techniques. Trained therapists manipulate the muscle and soft tissue areas by rubbing and pressing. Hands and fingers are the most often used but some therapists also use their forearms and elbows.

When massage therapy is done by a properly trained therapist then there are virtually no safety concerns.  There may be some side effects due to the nature of the treatment and this generally includes temporary discomfort, minor pain, some possible bruising and for some, sensitivity to the massage oils used.

Health Benefits

In today’s society there are many people who spend a huge amount of hours sitting because of their jobs and their lifestyle. As a result postural stress can occur and this stress tends to manifest in the neck and in the shoulder area. Interestingly, advanced postural stress will cause a lot of pain or weakness in the gluts and lower back. Massages can counteract the negative effects of having a desk job.

Massage increases and improves blood circulation and this helps to ease muscle pain. In fact, there was a 2011 study that discovered massage therapy is as effective as other treatment methods for back pain.

Another huge benefit is that massages can sooth anxiety and help to alleviate the symptoms of depression. It won’t cure these maladies but massage can help a patient feel better.

A 2010 study found that massages boost white blood cell counts and this helps to boost the immune system.  White blood cells help to defend our body from disease.

Other benefits include:

• Digestive issues
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Myofacial pain syndrome
• Soft tissue strains or injuries
• Sports injuries
• Temporomandibular joint pain

There are four common types of massage techniques used depending on what is required. They are:

• Deep massage: This technique uses slow, forceful strokes to target the deeper muscles and connective tissue.
• Swedish massage: Long, slow strokes, deep circular motions, vibration, kneading and even tapping are techniques that this massage technique uses.
• Sports massage: This is very similar to the Swedish massage except it is used for those involved in sports to help prevent or treat injuries.
• Trigger point massage: After an injury occurs (or overuse) tight muscle fibres can develop. This massage targets these areas.

Can Anyone Have a Massage?

Massage therapy is not for everyone although most people can benefit from massage. It is not recommended for pregnant women; they need to consult their health care provider before having massage therapy.

People with bleeding disorders or low blood platelet counts are not candidates for massage; nor are those taking blood thinning medications.

Massage should not be done on an area of the body in which there may be blood clots, burns, infections, open or healing wounds or on a person who has had surgery recently.

Other conditions that warrant an individual unable to have a massage are those with:

• Deep vein thrombosis
• Fractures
• Severe osteoporosis
• Severe thrombocytopenia

Given the huge benefits that can be gained through massage therapy there are only 35 percent of Canadians who have used massage therapy in their lifetime (according to the 2007 Fraser Institute report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Canada). The reasons they sought massage therapy were for back and neck problems (39%), relaxation (8%) and for muscle problems (6%).

Why wait for a problem to happen or for a problem to get worse? Contact Chiro Med Rehab Centre if you want more information on whether or not you may be suited for massage therapy. Chiro-Med Rehab Centre in Richmond Hill has professionals on staff that can help you with many of your health needs. Our walk-in clinic is conveniently located at 10144 Yonge Street, just north of Major MacKenzie Drive in the heart of Richmond Hill. Visit Chiro-Med online or call 905-918-0419 for more information.