Burrard Health Center

Post running massage treatment (post excersie massage)

Andre — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:15:43 +0000

BMO Vancouver Marathon is tomorrow Sunday May6/2012. (Good luck)

Benefits of Sports Massage

Increased vitality and an adrenaline rush that contributes to a ‘feel good’ factor.
It regulates and controls blood pressure.
Regulates blood circulation.
Improves the lymphatic system.
Muscles become flexible and endure less of fatigue.
Relieves tense and painful muscles.
Ask your massage therapist to stretch your legs.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:50:39 +0000

Deep tissue massage is used by different therapist. It has many streams like cross fiber friction, cupping, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, etc.

As the name suggests, the techniques are based on affecting the deep layers of the muscles. The technique here too is deep and slow, but the pressure is much deeper, that aims at certain areas of the tendons and muscles. This pressure can be painful too.

The primary focus is on three muscular regions. The fascia, which we know of as connective tissues, neck region and the muscle along the spine that is the back. The technique sounds painful, where the body may feel a little sore, but the massage actually leaves you feeling relaxed and free from pain. This technique is most effective for Relieving muscle pain and tension. Especially for sports athletes and people suffering from pain due to rigorous activities. It is primarily meant for healing any injuries and problems in the muscles.

Swedish Massage

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:54:31 +0000

Swedish massage includes techniques like kneading (petrissage), longer circular strokes, friction, effleurage (gliding like strokes with palms and thumbs) bending and stretching movements.

The techniques are deep and may be gentle and soft, but with deep pressure. However, the tempo and pressure can be fast or slow. This massage technique generates even pressure on the body, throughout the therapy.

Benefit of Swedish Massage:It relaxes the entire body and mind. Relieves stress, balances your mood and leaves you feeling rejuvenated from inside. It takes care of sleep disorders and gives you good sleep.

Feel Kneaded

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:53:07 +0000

I am a big believer in massage . It feels great, of course, but you are also keeping you muscles supple. Plus, a good massage therapist can feel where your muscles might be chronically tight and setting you up for potential injuries down the road. at least try to get two massages a month if you have an active life style,and if you are a desk junky make sure get those neck and shoulder looked after.

Benefits of Chair Massage for Corporate Employees

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:31:40 +0000

Massage therapy is one of the new secret to a great successful pain free environment in corporate offices with many employees. Think of everyday sitting on the chair and steering at the computer monitor or holding a phone between your and neck and shoulder for many hours what it could do to your upper neck and shoulder. when there is pain and tension in a human body it automatically changes the ability to concentration and over all performance. Having a massage therapist to come to your work place and giving the employees 15-30 minutes Massage on the back, neck and shoulders would increase the blood flow to the treated area and that could reduce tension and increase concentration. here are some more detail about the benefit of therapeutic massage at work place.

Improved Health
There are numerous benefits of a massage; it is very effective in improving the overall health of employees. To begin with, like any other massage, it reduces stiffness and muscle tension, especially in areas like the back, neck and shoulder. Due to continuous typing many employees experience pain and numbness in the hands; massage helps reduce carpal tunnel syndrome. It is also known to help deal with tension related headaches and eye-strain. Research shows that over a long period massage can improve posture, reduce blood pressure and also relieve arthritis. With increased energy, employees are in a better position to concentrate on work.

Enhanced Well-Being
Job stress and other related issues, cost the company a lot of money. In a high pressure environment, employees get stressed. This has many negative effects on the employee’s health and companies have to deal with high absenteeism. Moreover, stress causes people to become irritated and short-tempered. It has been seen that a chair massage is very useful in soothing people; when employees are relaxed, they are more willing to cooperate with each other. Also employees do not mind putting in a few extra hours when they are happy. It also increases the morale of employees as they feel that the company cares about their mental and physical health.

Increased Productivity
Even a brief massage session can improve the problem solving ability of employees, as it relives fatigue and increases awareness. Relaxed employees are in a better position to come up with creative ideas. Most importantly, by reducing stress and other health issues, companies are lowering the rate of absenteeism among their employees. The direct result of this is more productivity among employees.

Burrard Health Centre Massage Therapy offers on site massage treatment with professional registered massage therapist.

Please contact for rates and availability. 604-569-3483

Reduce your neck and shoulder pain

admin — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:25:21 +0000

There are three strengthening exercise which can be done at home or at the gym . these three exercise seem to help with strengthen and build muscles around your upper shoulder, rotators cuff and posterior of the neck. for each exercise make sure to keep your knees slightly bent and use a can soup or light weight under 5 pound to start and get use to the posture and movements. repeat 6-12 reputation and 2-3 sets for exercises 2-3 times a week.

SHRUGS
Hold arms at sides, palms facing in. Keeping arms straight, pull shoulders up to ears, pause for a second, and lower. Make sure perform the movement slow.

2. REVERSE FLIES
Bend forward so chest faces floor, arms hanging down, palms in. With elbows slightly bent, squeeze shoulder blades and raise arms to sides, parallel to floor; pause, then lower.( be careful not to hyper extend your neck) keep it in the neutral position.

3. UPRIGHT ROW
Start with palms in front of thighs and facing legs. Bend elbows out to sides, and pull weights up to about collarbone level. Pause, then lower. perform this exercise slow and make sure you pause when you have the weigh up close to your chest.

Hip Raise

admin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:06:42 +0000

Hip raise is one the better effective exercise that I usually recommend to my client that they have lower back pain or muscle imbalance in their pelvic. this work out will target your glutes muscle group, lower back erector group, core muscle like hip flexors and hamstring group. Hip raise can also help with pelvic instability by using the stability muscle that will get activated while you are raising your hip.

How to do it: Lie on your back on the floor, bent your knee and have them slightly a part. Make sure your feet are in complete contact on the floor. Breath out when you raise your hip and pause for a few seconds, then lower you hip back to neutral position. repeat 6-8 time and 2-3 sets. if you are having a lower back issue this work out should become as your daily activity routine so you can have a result in time.

Benefits of Relaxation Massage

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:21:38 +0000

Yes, a Relaxation Massage is still therapeutic, and here’s why!

In our bodies we have 2 sets of nervous systems. The first one is called our “Sympathetic Nervous System” or SNS. This is our “fight or flight” system, and is responsible for keeping us moving throughout the day. The second one is called our “Parasympathetic Nervous System” or PNS. This is our “rest and digest” system, and is important for proper digestion and sleep.

Now more than ever, we are seeing an increase in what’s called “Sympathetic Overdrive”, where our bodies are, more or less, unable to relax, thus causing lowered immune function, poor digestion and sleep patterns, lack of concentration/focus, muscle fatigue, and tension related headaches; sound familiar?

We can not directly increase PNS firing, but by adding relaxation into your regular massage treatments, we can help decrease SNS firing, which in turn, allows your PNS to become more active. There are 4 things we look for when determining whether a massage has had an effect on our nervous systems, (1) stomach sounds, as if you are digesting or getting hungry, (2) a cooling down of the body, compared to when we started, (3) thirst, and (4) sleepiness. If you experience any of these symptoms during or after a massage, then we know we’ve achieved some sort of relaxation.

So remember, even if you enjoy light, medium, or deep pressure when you get a massage, there should still be an element of relaxation!

Kristin Annett-Kofsky, RMT

Forwarded head posture

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:01:50 +0000

Forward head posture: this common postural defect increases the gravitational forces of the head and may leads to hyperextension of the head on the neck, flexion of the neck over the thorax, and posterior migration of the jaw. Myofascially, there is lengthening and weakening of the anterior cervical soft tissue and hyoid muscles and hypertrophy of the masticatory muscles, shortening of the muscles of up neck region (suboccipital muscles). This could also cause derangement of the cervical vertebrae beneath the cranium (C1-C0). There would be tightening of the myofascial of anterior chest wall as well. Head forward posture can effect the shoulder and rotator cuff muscles, that can also compromise range of motion in shoulder which can lead to shoulder injuries.

Massage therapy can help by muscular therapy to the neck muscles and myofascial to create a balance between front and back of the upper body portion. Therapist can also give exercises and postural education to improve the ones posture. See your RMT today!

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:09:38 +0000

Aging adults are the common victims who undergo the suffering shoulder impingement syndrome. The bones in the shoulder joint have a narrow space between them. Certain factors results in lack in this space and cause the tendons to become compressed and this gives rise to the condition of shoulder impingement syndrome ( repetitive movement which can cause tendonitis). If this rotator cuff near the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, then due to not having enough space, it may get squeezed and create what is known as the shoulder impingement syndrome. Factors such as acute trauma to the shoulders, repeated overhead work, repeated weightlifting or throwing, prolonged static arm positions and lying on the same arm, each night while sleeping. Following is about the different symptoms of this medical condition.

Massage therapy also helps to reduce tension in the effected rotator cuff due to guarding and lack of range of motion. By using techniques like friction, joint mobilization, active and passive range of motion, massage therapist can break down scar tissue and prevent musculotendon atrophy that can lead to reduced range of motion of the effected rotator cuff.

Massage therapist can also give you a correct home care and hydrotherapy and proper activities so it can help to speed up healing and getting a client back to their active life style.