Does Massaging Your Head Help Hair Growth
When it comes to creating a healthy scalp, most people will recommend using all-natural products. These include shampoos and conditioners that are free of harmful chemicals and fragrances. But like any other part of the body, the scalp also needs some attention.
Massaging your head is one way to give your scalp a little TLC. While we know that massaging increases blood flow and circulation which is good for hair growth, we cant say for certain if massaging your head will help with hair growth.
Ultimately, the answer might depend on how you go about massaging your head and what type of hair you have. Heres is a list of different ways to massage your head so you can find out for yourself.
Breaks Up Scar Tissue & Makes Movement Easier
In areas where people have scar tissue, they often report chronic pain and stiffness.
Getting regular deep tissue massages can help break up this scar tissue by improving lymphatic circulation and drainage to improve flexibility and range of motion in the area of the scar tissue.
Many people who are recovering from surgery are often encouraged to get deep tissue massages to minimize scar tissue.
Does A Deep Tissue Massage Hurt The Next Day
It’s natural after a treatment to “feel the burn”. The procedure transfers nutrients and blood to your organs, which helps remove toxins. You might encounter some gradual onset of muscle soreness after stimulating muscle groups that haven’t been used in a while. It is a very normal reaction to experience inflammation as the body is healing.
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What Is Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is a specific type of massage that works on the deep layers of muscle and fascia in the body, says Sonya S. Bykofsky, BCTMB, of A Touching Experience Integrative Bodywork Services in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Using fried chicken as an example to help others better understand the interplay between muscles and fascia, Bykofsky explains that the fried outer layer is the skin, the meat is the muscle, and the shiny stuff you see covering the meat is the fascia.
Sometimes this technique involves the therapist using firmer pressure to reach these key areas and get them to release, which is why this particular massage is often recommended for people who are comfortable with a slightly more intense touch.
However, deep tissue massage can also refer to gentle yet sustained pressure targeting the myofascial layer.
David Everhart, PTA, LMT, practices massage therapy at Structural Elements in Hagerstown, Maryland, and he adds that deep tissue massage creates positive changes for positive health effects.
Deep tissue work creates physiological changes in the tissue that then create systemic changes, Everhart explains. By allowing layers to move independently and slide or glide upon each other, we can improve big-picture posture, lengthen the spine, and improve the quality of the soft tissue.
Injuries: It All Depends On The Severity Location And Time Of Injury
At Ballaura Wellness Spa, our massage therapists see a lot of injury-related massages. Massage is great for the healing process of soft tissue injuries in that it aids with circulation, reduction of scar tissue formation, and improvement in range of motion. After seeing your therapists for the initial massage session, the frequency in which you should be getting massaged will be evaluated based on the findings of the therapist and the instructions on the insurance referral. It is not uncommon for injury-related massage clients to come in once a week to help with the healing process.
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When I Have An Active Lifestyle
For the more casual athlete, gym-goer and workout warrior, sports massage session frequency can range from once a week to once a month. It is largely dependent on how often you are working out and playing sports. And the intensity at which you do these activities. For the average person trying to stay active and in good shape and health, once a month is usually a solid rule of thumb. If you compete in an activity or have periods of higher intensity training, increasing sessions to twice a month is always an option. On the more extreme end of the spectrum, professional athletes may require massage therapy multiple times a week. This helps to maintain their performance and to reduce their risk of injury.
Keep your training schedule in mind when you come in for a session. If you have a big event or intense training session within 24 hours, getting a focused deep tissue massage might not be the best option. Great massage therapists will instead craft a lighter session to complement your training and get you ready and primed for your big event.
How Often To Get A Deep Tissue Massage
A great number of people can benefit from this massage technic, be that as it may, a patients booking frequency will depend greatly on the situation and/or the symptoms they might experience. For instance, if a patient is suffering from a severe or critical injury or if they are affected bt chronic pain or a condition that is much more complex. Below some of these examples are presented:
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Help With Chronic Health Issues
Massage therapy has been known to alleviate or reduce symptoms from chronic conditions. These include inflammation, back pain, stress-related issues, and more. The amount of time you should wait between massages for health conditions depends on the issue itself and its severity. Work with your doctor and therapist to decide how long to wait between sessions.
If You’re A Workout Warrior: Weekly
Carey says that those who get sweaty on the reg can reap major recovery rewards from sports massage, deep stretching, and deep tissue options that will loosen tight muscle bundles that have formed after hours on the treadmill. And with weekly sessions, you can target specific muscle groups. “If someone is doing a lot of leg work, we can to assist in recovery after a rigorous workout,” she explains.
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Helps With Labor And Delivery
Deep tissue massage can help women control their pain during labor. Even prior to labor, prenatal massages are a great way for women to relax and ease tight muscles due to pregnancy. The increases in cortisol also help women minimize depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain.
Some research has even suggested that women who received regular massages prior to and during labor had less pain than those who did not receive regular massages and found that their labors were shorter than women who did not regularly receive massages.
Why Is Deep Tissue Massage So Painful
So, for many DTM therapists, the answer to the question, why do deep tissue massages hurt? is fairly simple and straightforward: it is due to the amount of pressure applied to the muscles of the affected body part in order to break away the scar tissues that some people may experience pain and soreness afterward.
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Moms: Once Every Three Weeks
Lets face it- being a mom is a job itself and can be very tough on the body both physically and mentally. Stress and tension often accumulate in the shoulders and backs from carrying younger children, and it is often difficult to get that time alone to relax and de-stress. A monthly massage is a great time to paper yourself and take that time to relax for moms. Its also a great time to work through tension build up in the muscles from the physically demanding labors of being a mom.
Getting Massage Therapy To Help Recover From Surgery
Depending on the severity of your surgery, we recommend massage therapy once every few weeks. This assumes that you are also working with a physical therapist 1-3 times a week. Massage therapy sessions for these cases will help to reduce pain and hopefully reduce the need for pain medication. It will also speed up recovery, improve overall circulation, minimize the effects of scar tissue and promote lymph drainage if there is swelling.
Asking your doctor about whether massage therapy is a good treatment option for your particular surgery recovery is recommended. While massage can help with recovery from many types of surgeries, it can be contraindicated for certain ones. Or particular massage modalities may be better suited for your specific case. Having all health professionals involved and on-board will result in a more effective, comprehensive and seamless transition back to normal activity. Once you are able to return to your favorite and daily activities, massage session frequency can be reduced to a maintenance cycle.
However, sometimes insurance will stop covering physical therapy sessions despite the fact that you are still experiencing pain. If this happens, we recommend continuing massage therapy sessions once a week or at most every other week until you are pain free.
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Should You Have A Sports Massage
Sports massages are not meant to diagnose a problem. For pain and injury, sports massage is usually not considered. If you have pain, a Physiotherapy appointment is recommended to find the reason for your pain. Below we describe a few reasons for athletes to have a sports massage.
- To relieve stress and to relax
- For general well-being and fitness
- To reduce muscle tension
- For recovery and maximize athletic performance
- To get both physically and mentally prepared for an athletic activity
- To supplement a good training program
For Chronic Pain Or Stress Due To Autoimmune Disorders
Chronic autoimmune symptoms can range from disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, migraines, depression and insomniaâ¦and many, many more. These conditions often cause debilitating effects that can disrupt your lifestyle. To manage these and work through them, it is recommended to work with a massage therapist every 2-4 weeks. Some conditions that are more serious or are still new for the client may even benefit from weekly or twice weekly massage sessions.
Massage therapy can help support you and keep your chronic symptoms under control. In conjunction with eating an anti-inflammatory diet, regular light exercise, it may also help lower dosages of any medications you are taking.
Have you been experiencing one or more of these conditions, or have been diagnosed with one? It is important to keep an open and ongoing dialogue with your therapist as well as all other involved health care professionals. Figuring out what works and what does not is critical to getting you to a point with fewer episodes and/or flare-ups.
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When My Job Has Me Sitting At A Desk For Long Hours
With a desk job over time your body starts accepting your sitting postures as your “go to” posture. Your body adjusts your muscles, nervous system, and fascia to make sitting easier to hold. This can be problematic when you go to do something more active. Like a run or yoga class. Or even something simple such as carrying groceries home. Or getting a heavy object down from a shelf. The long term build up of desk tension in the sitting position often leads to injuries.
Combatting the postural habits caused by sitting at a desk can be effectively managed with a series of weekly or biweekly massage therapy sessions.
A series of 3-8 massages with less than 2 weeks between them is usually enough. It will make a huge difference in your posture. And get you out of the chronic pain cycle. After you are pain free look at the general guidelines above for how often to get a maintenance massage.
A good massage therapist near you should also be able to provide you with corrective cues, exercises, other self-care practices. By practicing these you can lower the number of massage sessions youâll need overall in the series. And youâll be able to maintain your pain free life with fewer maintenance massage sessions too!
Pregnant A Weekly Massage Is Best
If you have a little bun in the oven, you are very possibly dealing with all sorts of unfamiliar aches, pains, and twinges.
To help ease the burden that this special time often brings, you should consider booking a pregnancy massage once a week.
Besides helping you handle the physical side of pregnancy, this type of massage will also calm and soothe your nerves.
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Why Did I Stop Working As A Massage Therapist
Because youre not used to the physical demands, the first five years of practice are the most difficult, and many massage therapists quit due to burnout. Acclimating to the emotional demands is also difficult. Clients come to you with complaints and frustrations, frequently breaking down and crying in the room.
Understanding The Types Of Massages
Not all massages were created equal. Understanding the differences before book your sessions is to important for getting the most out of your visit.
If you have always thought about massages as something exclusively aimed at relaxing and helping you to drift off, then you might need to think again. Of course, one of the most appreciated properties of massage is the relaxing effect. But, its not the whole story.
Some massages are very powerful and even have healing properties. For example, about massages can be specially tailored and performed on pregnant women, or for recovery from illness or sports injury. Specific types of massages are also incredibly useful in alleviating emotional and psychological issues such as stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
Yes, all of these types of massages can also help to unwind and relax, but each has a goal of addressing and treating specific conditions and parts of the body or the mind.
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Type Of Massage Therapy
Depending on the therapists qualifications, there may be a choice of the type of massage therapies available . Sometime the client may well have a preference but dont know which style to choose. Different types of massage modalities include aromatherapy massage, Swedish massage, sports therapy, kahuna massage.
Therapist Empathy And Deep Tissue Massage Technique
This is extremely important. Clients should certainly ascertain the qualifications, years of massage experience and level of insurance of practitioners before allowing them to book a massage. Experience is very important, though this will obviously vary from person to person.
However just because the deep tissue massage therapist has a qualification, this does not necessarily mean that he or she is a good masseur. There are those in the field who simply massage by numbers. By that, I mean that they do exactly the same massage routine, in exactly the same way, every time, regardless of the requirements of the client.
For example, sports massage is a corrective form of massage, the session can be tailored to meet the needs of the client the client can request that a specific part of the body, such as frozen shoulder injury receive specific attention.
The massage therapist should massage with care i.e. they should listen to what the clients want from the massage and how he or she feeling on that particular day and adjust the massage technique accordingly.
The practitioner should try to build a relationship with each client to be able to provide the best massage possible for the individual. This includes obtaining feedback from the client during and after the deep massage . The information can be noted and the next time the clients come for a massage, the practitioner has her information to refer to.
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Hot Stone It Depends On Your Needs
Like we mentioned earlier, a hot stone massage can have one of these two effects: it can either act almost like a sedative, or it can reinvigorate.
So, depending on which of these two states you plan to achieve, youll need to book your sessions accordingly.
If you are looking at a hot stone massage purely to treat yourself and alleviate those minor everyday aches, then you can have sporadic sessions.
On the other hand, if you are aiming at addressing a more specific problem, whether physical or mental, you might want to book bi-weekly appointments.
Consider A Type Of Massage
· Deep tissue massage
This massage variation usually works to heal muscles after injuries. During a procedure, a massage therapist incorporates slow yet powerful strokes to process deep connective tissue and muscle layers. In most cases, the frequency of deep tissue massage depends on the individual requirements. Most patients schedule a massage several times a week or a month, but consulting your massage therapist will never hurt.
· Full-body massage
If you ask how often should you get a body massage, you are in the right place. A full-body massage, also known as Swedish, aims for relaxation, so you might book a session whenever you feel overstressed. Ensure a single massage per several weeks is usually sufficient.
· Lymphatic drainage massage
This kind of massage therapy is designed to promote fluid flow in the lymph. Patients with affected lymphatic nodes due to specific conditions or surgeries usually initially schedule lymphatic drainage massage every day. On the other hand, you can stick to it several times per week later.
· Scalp massage
Scalp massage is great for everyone seeking complete relaxation, even though it has the potential to reduce heart rate and blood pressure in patients. Scheduling this kind of massage twice a week is the way to go.
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Massage Frequency: How Often Should I Be Getting A Massage
A question that our massage therapists at Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia get a lot is How often should I be getting a massage?. It is very important to finding out what your body needs based on your lifestyle, occupation, health, etc. Here, we take a look at groups of people and the frequency in which they should be getting massaged per month.