Massage Therapy in San Diego

Massage Therapy

LEARN TO HEAL BEFORE LEARNING TO HARM THE HUMAN BODY; Is a martial art principal that is based upon the Yin & Yang philosophy of equal opposites. Seventh Degree Black Belt and Kenpo Master Herb Patus is an accomplished Massage Therapist (Nationally certified ) as well as martial artist who believes that there are many who suffer needless pain that may easily be corrected through massage therapy.

MUSCLES TELL BONES WHERE TO GO

Several of my massage college professors were chiropractors whom all agreed that the majority of those who come into their office were in need of massage therapy, for the two most common reasons that bones (or vertebrae ) become out of place is stress or traumatic impact. If a vertebrae is pulled out of place by a overly stressed muscle the chiropractor may adjust it back into position, but if the stressed muscle is not corrected the adjustment may not hold for long. ARE YOU OVERLY STRESSED WITH TISSUE ISSUES?

WHERE'S THE PAIN?

• Pain in the knee?     But is it really in the knee??
• Lower back pain?     But is it really in the lower back??
• Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hand or arm?     But is that actually where the problem lays??

TRIGGER POINT OR PHANTOM PAIN?

If you have chronic occupational or sports pains that have lingered for excessively long periods of time....KNOW THIS ; A source of pain is referred to as a trigger point, and trigger points always refer pain. Referred pain is known as a “Phantom Pain”.

A trigger point can be a muscle, tendon, or ligament Muscles are classified as either a “antagonist” (prime mover)' or a “synergist” (helper muscle). It is usually an antagonist rather than a synergist muscle that suffers the strain (but not always).

When a muscle pulls (strains) it has a tendency to evolve into a “pain spasm cycle” The injured muscle tightens to the point that the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) with in chokes vital circulation that provides the muscle with oxygen, nutrients, and the elimination of metabolic waiste.As a result the surrounding muscles will tighten or even lock up in order to protect the afflicted muscle. This is known as the “stirrup effect”. These locked up synergist muscles can evolve into trigger points thus effecting and locking up even more surrounding muscles causing a chain reaction that can multiply and effect the entire body.

A pain spasm cycle can continue for days, weeks, months, or years and even follow one to the grave. In order to break the cycle the muscle(s) must release. The two prominent ways that prompt release is either medication (muscle relaxers), or massage (preferably deep tissue manipulation).

MEDICATION; Can be effective for muscle release but if the cause of the pain spasm cycle is occupation related you may find yourself taking meds more often than than you would like in order to deal with a reoccurring problem. Long term use of pain meds can burden the liver, kidneys, and even the heart.

DEEP TISSUE THERAPY ; Can be extremely effective in promoting muscle release. Although there are many awesome massage techniques used in deep tissue therapy, “Pressing & Rolling” are a must.

Tendons connect muscle to bone at both origin and insertion of the muscle. Tendons contains sensors that send signals to the muscle to lengthen or shorten (loosen or tighten).

It is always best to locate the trigger point (afflicted muscle), first work it's tendons with pressing and rolling techniques, then work the belly of the muscle.

For an example; Let's say that a trigger point (afflicted muscle or tendon) has tensed up with five pounds of pressure (the brain ultimately gave the command). A therapist applies ten lbs of repetitive pressure for short periods then releases. Upon release the brain (gives the command to release) is tricked into releasing not only the five extra lbs that was applied by the therapist but also some of the initial five lbs that was held by the trigger point. Yes,pressing and rolling when properly applied can produce amazing results.

SCIATIC NERVE DISSENSION

One of the more common complaints that come into my practice is lower back – hip pain. Either one can be a trigger point that refers a phantom pain to the other. The more prevalent of the two is the hip referring pain to the lower back.

Whichever is the case it can soon begin to produce shooting pains or numbness down the leg even to the feet and toes. There are several muscles that when overly tight can press on the sciatic nerve (points of impingement ). There are numerous causes for sciatic impingement.

EXCESSIVE SITTING: Can tense up the glutes and lower back. Sit down jobs can take a heavy toll on the body especially if computer work is involved.

EXCESSIVE STANDING; Such as a cashier or store clerk can often in one constantly shifting the body weight from one leg to another ( as we all may do at one time or another while standing in a long line at the bank). This type of action can irritate the hip and produce a trigger point.

FALLEN ARCHES (flat feet) – EXCESSIVE BODY WEIGHT – ONE LEG UN- NOTICEABLY SHORTER THAN THE OTHER – A FOOT OUT OF ALIGNMENT ; are other common issues that may take years to produce ill effects....but ultimately will.

I have on several occasions worked on those who have had repetitively small issues (trigger points)in the feet that refereed pain to the knees, up into the hips, to the lower back, up the spine and into the lower neck, to the base of the skull producing tremendous headaches that caused the pain to be displayed in their face to the wrinkle on the forehead to the curl in their lips. It is astonishing how that pain can transfer through out and effect the entire body.

NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN; Is another complex interrelated set of intrinsic muscles that plague many. Unlike many of the muscle groups in the body neck and shoulders are comprised of a series of small intricate muscles which are not capable of withstanding an abundance of strain.

Neck muscles attach from the base of the skull to the lower shoulder and can evolve into a pain spasm cycle that can not only lock up the neck and shoulder to produce headaches, but refer pain to the arms and hands. It is also capable of referring a descending pain to the lower back and hip thus instigating circumstances that trigger a reaction to the sciatic nerve that may produce another entire set of negative circumstances.

These are just some of the many issues that massage therapy may help to bring back into balance (Homeostasis). Should you feel that your body may have issue(s) that need to be addressed contact:

You can also send me a text-message using the contact form.