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Massage Therapy and The “Common Cold”
It is that time of year again. It seems like no matter where you go someone is sneezing, coughing or sniffling. It’s cold season. And if you live with or work around school age children it could be worse since children are estimated to have between 6 and 10 colds each year.
The common cold is a viral infection that mainly effects the respiratory system. It can come from any of 200+ different types of viruses. Symptoms can last from 2 days to 2 weeks.
The leading risk factors for catching a cold are being under psychological stress and having allergies that make mucous membranes vulnerable to infection. Since the virus can live in the body for up to 3 days before symptoms begin it can be hard to protect yourself from contamination.
Antibiotics are ineffective since colds are caused by viral infections. Many over-the-counter drugs may actually INCREASE the amount of time you have a cold by hindering the natural way our body fights infection (reducing fever, drying sinuses and suppressing coughs).
Vitamin C, Echinacea, lysine, zinc lozenges and even licorice root are all natural options that may help reduce recovery time and possibly even help prevent colds from occurring.
Massage is appropriate for those suffering with a cold only in the subacute phase. Massage is circulatory bodywork and it can help speed recovery by hastening the healing process.
Massage also promotes relaxation. Since stress is a leading risk factor in catching a cold you may also be helping your body be less vulnerable to infection. Massage has also been shown to strengthen your immune system and its function by increasing your white blood cell count thereby decreasing your likelihood of catching a cold and increasing your ability to fight it when you do get one.
FMI: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/colds/ or http://www.sanatansociety.org/ayurveda_home_remedies/ayurveda_home_remedies_common_cold.htm |
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Erica Bickford, LMT 35 Bay Street Wolfeboro, NH (603) 651-8320 Erica@EricaBickfordLMT.com |
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Notice the new look? How about the new email address? The whipping winter wind has been bringing some changes! Keep your eye out for my new website expected to be up and running on March 1st ! |
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Volume Five, February 2007 |
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Muscle of the Month: Rhomboids
The rhomboids are two muscles (rhomboid major and minor) that run from your spine to the border of your scapula (shoulder blade). These muscles are also known as the Christmas Tree muscles because the muscle fiber direction is arranged like a Christmas Tree.
The rhomboids are responsible for retracting the scapula and rotating it downwards. They are major players in everyday shoulder movement therefore nearly everyone suffers with pain due to these muscles on occasion.
People who spend many hours at a computer or desk seem to have the most problems with the rhomboid muscles. Working in a hunched-over position allows the pectoralis major muscle to become overly contracted putting too much strain on the rhomboids causing trigger points.
When trigger points are present in the rhomboid muscles it is felt mostly between the shoulder blades. This pain is usually felt when the muscles are in use but can also be present during periods of rest. Oftentimes, snapping or crunching sounds when the shoulder is in movement can be traced to trigger points in the rhomboids.
Watching your posture, keeping your shoulders down and back (especially when spending long hours hunched over) can make a vast difference. Stretching your pectoralis muscle regularly (rather then the rhomboids which are already overstretched) will also help with the pain pattern. Neuromuscular massage techniques are extremely helpful in relieving trigger points in the rhomboids.
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Stretch for pectoralis major |
