Do You Have Experience Working With My Health Condition
You should always discuss any chronic health conditions you have with your therapist before the massage begins. If you have any alignment issues or spinal injuries or conditions such as scoliosis for example, then you definitely want to work with a massage therapist who has experience working with these conditions in their past clients.
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Massage And Acupuncture Complement Each Other
Massage and acupuncture share many of the same goals and results, but they engage the body on fundamentally different levels. For common complaints, such as back pain, neck pain and sore muscles, both approaches are often recommended.
A part of the long history of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture treatment uses varying numbers of fine needles, inserted in different acupuncture points to rebalance the flow of life energy throughout the bodys meridians and allow the bodys natural healing mechanisms to work their best.
Massage therapy, in contrast, stays outside of the body. Massage therapists help patients achieve relaxation and recovery through the physical manipulation of the bodys soft tissues. Where we find a commonality is the way that both techniques encourage blood flow to certain areas, part of the bodys natural healing mechanism.
Acupuncture Vs Massage: Who Wins
Two of the most famous treatments for pain in the modern era have been acupuncture and massage. These ancient, but updated treatments have an important place in history and a bright future, as well. However, when some people experience pain, they consider each of these treatments and dont know which is better for foot pain relief and other conditions that might be affecting them that could be treated by either of these methods.
If you are wondering which of these methods is the better treatment for foot pain relief, top of foot pain, sore feet relief, or other types of pain elsewhere in the body, you are in the right place. Were going to take a deep dive on each of these pain treatment methods and what they are best used for.
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Benefits Of The Massage
Deep tissue massage has several physical and psychological benefits. It provides relaxation for the body and mind and eradicates pain and stiffness in the muscles or joints. Due to its effectiveness, scientists have compared it to having the same effects as the popular Ibuprofen pain medication.
Below are some specific benefits of the massage:
Ø Helps lower blood pressure: Deep tissue massage helps to calm the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for increasing blood pressure during stressful situations. It also helps to increase the production of serotonin, which causes good feelings and happiness.
Ø Heals injured muscles: Athletic activities, illnesses or manual labour can lead to muscle injury. Deep tissue massage can help to heal twisted, sore or tight muscles.
Ø Reduces arthritis pain: Stiffness, limited joint movement, pain and muscle tension can all be reduced with a deep tissue massage.
Ø Expels toxins from the body: Due to the pressure that is applied during the massage, toxins that have accumulated in the muscle fibres are flushed out of the body.
Acupuncture Vs Massage: The Comparison Guide
Are you looking for a new way to relax and thinking that acupuncture or massage might be helpful?
While acupuncture and massage are both therapeutic techniques with various health benefits, they are quite different. Knowing the difference between acupuncture vs. massage will help you figure out which one is right for you.
Read on to learn whether you should see an acupuncturist or massage therapist.
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Why Dont You Do Longer Sessions
Sometimes I do. Usually, if theres a specific need for it. Other than that its a personal preference of mine. A massage takes quite a bit of concentration, digging around trying to find points of tension in individual muscles. Its like fumbling around in your bag for your keys without looking, only for a really really long time. It can be quite draining, and I hate to compromise a treatment by not being at my best.
Acupuncture Vs Massage: Which Is Right For You
So, how do you know if you should see an acupuncturist or massage therapist? While massage and acupuncture can both help relieve bodily pain, one treatment may be better than the other, depending on the type of pain youre experiencing.
Additionally, acupuncture is most often used to treat nerve pain or injury, whereas massage therapy often does a better job of treating muscle injuries and pain. However, many people use the two techniques in conjunction with one another for the best results.
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How Long Have You Been A Massage Therapist
For a lot of massage therapists, they don’t start to develop their personal massage style until they have at least one year of experience. After two years of doing bodywork, they become more confident in their technique and still have lots of enthusiasm for their profession. It’s rare to find a bodyworker with 10 years or more of experience. If you do, then you should expect to pay more for their extra knowledge and ability to give you a very high-quality massage.
How Does It Work
The exact process by which cupping works is not fully understood, but it is thought to occur when pressure is applied to certain body areas, causing blood vessels to constrict and blood flow to increase. When the process occurs, the skin becomes taut and tight, which pulls away from underlying muscle tissue.
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What Is Deep Tissue Massage
In deep tissue massage, long and firm strokes are used to apply constant pressure on the body part being worked on. This is to target the problem areas within the deep layers of muscles and the connective tissue. You will experience a variety of intense pressure as you are being worked on. The pressure used in deep tissue massage is much harder than what you would typically receive with a Swedish massage. The areas of focus are also deeper muscle regions than the usual superficial layers of muscle. This allows for proper recovery after injury or other damage to the area.
Dry Needling Vs Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient system originating in China in which acupuncture needles are placed into specific points on the acupuncture meridians to relieve a variety of health conditions. Dry needling is based on modern western medicine principles, needles are inserted into tight muscles on trigger points to relieve tension and pain.
The acupuncture vs dry needling debate involves many facets which are discussed below.
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Does Cupping Help With Lower Back Pain Pinched Nerves And Knots
Cupping is a popular method thats applied to relax tense muscles. The primary benefit is releasing muscle tension and soreness, which relieves painful areas of the body, such as your legs or hip, affected by specific health issues. It can be used to ease symptoms related to arthritis, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and fibromyalgia.
When Should I Call The Doctor
See a medical professional if you experience burns due to cupping therapy. You might also have a fever or other symptoms indicative of an infection. Contact your healthcare professional to advise them of cupping therapy. You have to notify your doctor if you see any unusual symptoms days after your treatment.
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Find Out More About Which Service Is Right For You
With such a wide variety of services, choosing just one can be difficult. However, all of our massage, osteopathy, and acupuncture services offer multiple benefits, and youll have no problem finding a treatment that suits you perfectly.
If youre curious about what treatment would be best for you, get in touch with us directly for an assessment. Well help you with choosing, booking, and preparing for your treatment.
They Encourage Healthy Energy Flow
Acupuncture often is used to treat conditions such as musculoskeletal problems nausea, migraine headache, anxiety, depression and insomnia, among many others. Acupuncture improves the bodys functions and promotes the natural self-healing process by stimulating specific anatomic sitesreferred to as acupointswhich encourages proper energy flow through the body. By stimulating the bodys various systems, acupuncture helps ease pain, as well as improve sleep and digestive function.Massage also is used to stimulate these points to release pain and tension. Massage is particularly good at increasing circulation, while acupuncture reduces inflammation, accelerates the healing process, decreases pain and works deep muscles that are difficult to access.
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Cupping Vs Massage Which Is Better
Massage and cupping are two different ways of delivering healthcare. Both can help alleviate pain, massage assists in relaxing muscles while cupping assists in stimulating blood flow. Each is a successful treatment, but theyre not interchangeable.
If youre looking for an effective way to relieve tension in your muscles and lessen stress, you should consider regular massages. Massage therapists are experts in relieving tension and release of stored energy.
If youre looking to boost circulation, consider cupping. Cupping increases blood flow and aids in the release of stagnant energy. This is particularly beneficial when youre feeling exhausted or stressed.
Does Deep Tissue Massage Hurt
When the body is experiencing pain, it reacts with tension. During a deep tissue massage, discomfort is normal and will be felt if there are inconsistencies within the tissues. Discomfort is described as a good hurt, the kind that feels good at the same time. On the other hand, pain can be described as being uncomfortable and not tolerated well by the body.
Massage therapists should work within the clients comfort level and pain tolerance at all times. If a person cannot handle a high amount of pressure, it may take several more treatments to achieve the same results as someone with a higher threshold for pain. Results will occur, but at a slower rate.
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What Is Better Massage Or Acupuncture
Both acupuncture and massage therapy have their benefits, but is one more effective than the other? Is one more effective at treating specific conditions? In this article, we look into the benefits of both massage and acupuncture to determine which therapy is most effective, or if one is better than the other for certain conditions.
So, what is better, massage or acupuncture? Neither massage nor acupuncture is inherently better than the other, however one may be more effective than the other for certain conditions. Whats more, studies have shown that combining acupuncture and massage can enhance results, compared to solo interventions.
Read on to learn more about the efficacy of acupuncture vs. massage.
Helpful For Acute Or Chronic Conditions
Acupuncture and massage each have a role to play at different times in the healing process. Acupuncture is often used in response to the onset of acute conditions, such as back spasms, while massage is generally used to address chronic stiffness and pain. In many cases, acute conditions can lead to long-term problems, but combining these therapies can help resolve these kinds of problems before they begin.
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Can You Get A Massage Before Acupuncture
In Canada, acupuncture remains a poorly understood treatment modality. As such, many people arent sure what they should be doing before and after their appointments to get the best results.
Acupuncture, just like massage, is an important element within traditional Chinese medicine, and has applications as a preventative measure. Using acupuncture, practitioners can encourage the flow of energy in order to regulate the bodys functions in a harmonious way, which is helpful for stress relief and improved wellbeing. But it is also an effective treatment for both chronic and acute injuries.
In a similar fashion, massage treatments are widely practiced and offer many health benefits. A massage treatment is a great method for reducing muscle tension, relieving stress, and promoting relaxation, as well as for treating various kinds of injuries.
Many people wonder, can these different approaches be used in combination? Or, are they fundamentally at odds with one another? Is it a good idea to get a massage before acupuncture?
Should You Feel Pain Or Any Soreness During A Massage
Some massages such as a deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, Rolfing soft-tissue manipulation, or acupressure can leave you feeling slightly sore afterward. These massages rely on the therapist working deeper into the tissues, which helps release toxins that can lead to minor soreness for one to two days. However, the pain should be minimal and go away within about three days.
If you have prolonged pain for up to a week — especially if the pain increases rather than decreasing over time — then that’s a sign that this therapist may have created a misalignment in your body. You should see a chiropractor to correct any postural damage done. You can file a complaint with them, or you can also report them to the Better Business Bureau for malpractice.
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Difference Between Acupuncture And Dry Needling
Acupuncture uses specific acupuncture points on well-established meridians to regulate endorphins and benefit a wide variety of conditions in the body. Dry needling is a more recent development and is largely used by physical therapists who needle directly into the body of tense muscles to release tension and relieve pain.
There are several other key differences between dry needling and acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an ancient system that dates back thousands of years. It was and is used to treat the body in a holistic manner. It has been more widely researched in modern times and is now commonly used to treat the following amongst other issues
- muscle aches and pains
Dry needling is also known as trigger point dry needling or intramuscular stimulation. It is usually used to treat pain and mobility issues including
- myofascial pain syndrome
- improve flexibility and range of motion
- Deep dry needling may provoke a local twitch response and may work by activating endogenous opioids
This covers the main differences in answer to the question whats the difference between dry needling and acupuncture. Next, we discuss which is better and how does dry needling compare to other therapies like massage and cupping.
What To Do Before And After An Acupuncture Treatment
Before
An acupuncture treatment should be a relaxing experience to help with stress reduction, so let your acupuncturist know how you are feeling prior to your appointment. Depending on your mood and energy levels, an experienced acupuncturist will be able to adjust their techniques to provide the relief you need at that moment.
After
Following an acupuncture treatment, you can safely resume all your normal activities, but remember that your body will be experiencing changes in energy flow for some time afterwards. To help them have their greatest effect, dont do anything too strenuous or intense. And, if you get the opportunity to rest, take it.
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Cupping Is Not Unique To Tcm It Has Been Used Across A Variety Of Cultures And Ages For Different Reasons At Our Clinic We Mostly Use It For Muscle Pain
Cupping usually leaves a round cupping mark for 3-10 days after the treatment. It does not tend to hurt, but can feel quite tight. It also may feel a little tender for a day after the treatment. We advise keeping the area covered for the first 4 hours. Plastic not glass cupping.
We understand the need for athletes and sports people to be free of aches, pains and restrictions so they can train and play with ease.
Tight fascia and sore muscles can lead to a host of subsequent muscle imbalances. We encourage regular treatments to keep athletes at the top of their game.
Our massage therapist, Hernan Rojas Nazar is a martial artist who has competed internationally at championship level in both Latin America and here in NZ. He understands how challenging and rewarding competitive sports can be.
What Are The Benefits Of Massage Therapy
Just like acupuncture, massage therapy offers a host of different benefits. Massage therapy can:
- Lessen pain and muscle tension
- Reduce stress and induce relaxation
- Improve immune function
- Speed up the recovery of soft tissue injuries
- Increase flexibility and joint mobility
- Stimulate the lymphatic system
- Relieve postoperative pain
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What If You Get An Erection During A Massage
To most bodyworkers, a client who gets an erection is not a big deal. They view the client through the eyes of their training, as if seeing a collection of organs and muscles on the table through an X-ray machine. Therefore, a licensed massage therapist or esthetician will ignore an erection and let it go away on its own. Their policy is not to come into any contact with genitals or nipples, and the law requires them not to cater to any clients requesting sexual contact either.
What If You Fall Asleep Or Drool During A Massage
It’s common to go to sleep without even realizing it during a massage, so the therapist won’t mind. In most cases, it can be a good sign that the bodywork is helping you release a lot of pent-up tension. If you tend to fall asleep during a massage, then scheduling a massage closer to the end of your day is often better since it will help you sleep better when you get home.
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Difference Between Dry Needle And Acupuncture Needle
In theory, dry needling can be performed with a variety of different needle types including the filiform needles used in acupuncture and hypodermic needles. In practice, most therapists now use acupuncture needles to perform dry needling as it is more practical and comfortable for their clients.
This appears to work very effectively as does the acupuncture practice of needling ashi points.