I realize I’m taking the risk that every person reading this will think I’m talking specifically about them. Well, I’m not. I’m simply taking this opportunity to dispel the myth of what to wear under those sheets.

All of my clients get the same schpeel on their first visit. “Undress to your comfort level whatever that may be….”. I’ve had everything from pants to nothing. In all seriousness, it truly does not matter to me. The comfort and security of my clients overrules anything and everything. If I have a client on the table that is not able to relax completely because they are a nervous wreck about being naked then our session will be interfered with and full effectiveness will not be reached. So the rule will always be to make sure that you, the client, are comfortable with every piece of your experience whether that means you wear nothing or something.

In the end, it’s the client’s decision but I’ve had so many questions about this I thought I would address it from my point of view. And that is, I’m a massage therapist, I work with the soft tissue of the body and my work is best when applied directly to the skin. I have am trained to be meticulous with draping so that the client who does decide for the full monty will still feel safe and respected throughout their session.

Article from active.com – click here for original article.

Dr. Michael Adolph
HealthNewsDigest.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio — When it comes to relieving the nausea, pain and fatigue often associated with cancer treatments, some patients look beyond conventional remedies to alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage and yoga.”And that’s just fine, as long as the patients let their oncologists know what they’re doing, before proceeding,” said Dr. Michael Adolph, a palliative medicine physician at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

“It’s always in the patient’s best interest to let their physicians know what they’re doing, so as to have the best treatment possible,” Adolph said. Complementary and alternative therapies are tools that patients may choose to promote wellness, help control symptoms and take control of what’s happening to them during their cancer experience. But not all complementary therapies can be endorsed for all patients.

Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, while alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine combines mainstream medical therapies with complementary and alternative therapies that have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective.

“The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, such as vitamin and herbal supplements, along with mind-body therapies, and others, has been gaining mainstream popularity in recent years,” Adolph said.

For example, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, established by Congress in 1999 as part of the National Institutes of Health, supports clinical and basic science research projects in CAM, with more than $120 million in funding in 2006. Congress began funding the study and validation of CAM therapies in 1991.

“Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of cancer patients acknowledge practicing some form of CAM at their homes, including meditation, guided imagery, prayer, dietary changes and exercise in an effort to improve their quality of life,” Adolph said.

“Patients report substantial relief, and we support patients in their endeavors to cope and conquer in cancer survivorship,” said Adolph, who specializes in alleviating cancer patients’ pain and other symptoms during and after the entire course of cancer treatment. “We’re here to assist oncologists with any suffering the patients have incurred with the cancer process and treatment.”

“Many patients often are hesitant to discuss alternative methods they’re trying on their own,” Adolph said. Yet good communication between doctor and patient is key to incorporating CAM safely and successfully as part of treatment, he said.

Some herbal supplements can cause unwanted drug interactions, provoke bleeding during procedures or alter the efficacy of certain cancer-fighting drugs such as chemotherapy, Adolph said.

My trip to Mexico on the study abroad program was life changing in several small ways. As a young student at BCMT I hadn’t traveled much. As a massage therapy career can be very mobile, I was eager to watch and learn and begin my journey while I was in school.

Not only was my first travel experience with massage safe, but it was also educational. As a student who loves to teach I volunteered to show the demo of neuromuscular massage to the Mayan massage therapist. Their interest, curiosity, and enthusiasm showed me how much we take for granted in the United States. I felt the same while watching their demos of Mayan Abdominal Massage. As specific and factual as my demo was, theirs was as rich with culture, trust, and experience. It was the first time I realized that we can learn so much about the body from different cultures as they all have different points of view and experiences.

As an individual I grew with every encounter, every massage, and every activity we embarked upon during this adventure. My most educational self moment was the traditional Mayan Sweat Lodge. I have never experienced something so profound and awe-inspiring as that night. It not only enhances who I am but it enhanced my class when I returned to school to undertake in my last quarter in Integrative Massage.

This trip was a crucial part of my time and educational at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, and I thank everyone for their support of international study at a technical college.

—Jessica Shada, 2009 BCMT Graduate

Meet Mr. Forward Head Posture (FHP) Guy. I’m thinking you already know him; he (can also be a she) is not hard to find. Look around your office, the next time you’re in a restaurant, stuck in traffic or shopping in the mall. Just notice, the postural relationship of the head and the shoulder. Over the years, cultural and environmental influences have forced our heads forward. Among these influences are video games, television, computers, driving and backpacks.

In the ideal body, the head sits directly on the neck and shoulders, just as a golf ball balances on a tee. For every inch forward the head sits in front of the shoulders an additional 10 lbs of weight is put on the cervical spine. This extra weight causes the body to compensate. The result is rounding of the shoulders, closing in the chest and tightening of the pectoralis muscles. As the body pulls forward there is a weakening and overstretching of the posterior neck and upper back musculature. FHP puts compressive loads upon the upper thoracic vertebra, and is associated with the development of the Upper Thoracic Hump. This hump can evolve into a Dowager Hump when the vertebra develop compression fractures. FHP has shown to easily influence head/neck/spine pain, functioning of the GI tract, mood, blood pressure and lung capacity (reducing vital capacity by 30%).

FHP is not going to correct itself; it will only evolve and develop further. There are corrective exercises that can do on your own; make sure to ask your massage therapist for recommendations. If you combine self-care with regular bodywork and a commitment to change your body will forgive and move towards increased health.