Massage - Your First Experience

This week I had quite a few new patients, and as I went over the treatment information, I realized how much of this is brand new to so many people. While massage is much better understood than it was 10 or 20 years ago, there are still a lot of questions around massage. There are many different treatment styles and environments. A massage you receive on vacation at a resort is likely to be very different from the medical massage you'll receive here in the chiropractic office. I'd like to share some information about what to expect during your first massage treatment here at Sound Chiropractic.

While Dr. Early will do a thorough exam and explain the treatment plan to you, many of the same questions will be asked by your massage practitioner. This is done for several reasons. First, we keep seperate charts and like to ensure that all information is complete. Secondly, some of our patients receive massage therapy only and are not seeing Dr. Early. Finally, by asking you for a complete health history and description of your current symptoms, your massage therapist is sure to have the best, most up to date information. This will ensure that your treatment plan is catered specifically to your needs.

Once the intake has been completed, your massage practitioner will advise you of the massage treatment they plan to give. This will be an overview of the areas of the body that will be targeted. They will then instruct you to "dress down" and tell you how to lie on the massage table. "Dressing down" is your choice. I like to tell clients to "dress down" to their level of comfort. For some that means completely disrobing, for others it means keeping a top on, socks on, or whatever makes them feel most comfortable to ensure the deepest relaxation. Remember, no matter what level you "dress down" to, you will always be covered with a sheet and blanket. Only the part of the body being worked on will be exposed.

While you change, your massage practitioner will step out of the room, make chart notes, wash their hands and return to provide your treatment. Most treatments last one hour, though 30 minute and 90 minute treatments are also avaiable. While on the table, your only job is to relax thoroughly and stay in communication with your therapist. By breathing deeply and slowly you will aid your muscles to relax to their fullest potential. Your massage therapist will ask you about your comfort and the pressure level during the massage, but always feel free to speak up if they don't ask first.

Your massage, especially your first massage, is all about you. You are in control of the treatment. If the temperature is too high or too low, ask your therapist to adjust it. If you need more or less pressure, tell them. You won't hurt our feelings by asking for adjustments. In fact, we appreciate requests because it is how we learn to best treat you.

These are some basic questions that come up day to day. If you have further questions, please email me at dianaskidmore@soundchiropractic.com Better yet, give us a call and come in for your massage treatment today! 206 440 7700

Take Charge Of Your Health!

Most health problems can be avoided. Many of the problems we deal with every day didn’t have to be there at all, if we were willing to take a good hard look at ourselves and decide to be healthy.

The first question is, do you think your body wants to be healthy or do you think you have to medicate it into being “healthy?” An easy example is if you get a cut on your skin. You know that the bandage doesn’t heal the cut, your body does. It just knows that it needs to heal that area and it gets to work. If you are a healthy person, the cut will likely heal much faster than if you are unhealthy.

I see this in my practice every day. I’m a chiropractor and we work with aligning the spine to improve the patient’s health. In order for the spine to stay in its proper position, the muscles will need to work with us. The health of the muscles will determine how fast the patient gets results.

Too many people are in pain, come in and get treatment, just to find that the results take much longer than they thought they would. Then I see patients in moderately good health that bounce back much faster than expected. The patient that consistently makes more healthy choices will get better faster than the patient that doesn’t. Period.

So how do you avoid most health problems and stay healthy? There’s not a lot of mystery to it, believe me. I’ve tried, probably just like you, to find any other new possible way to get healthy other than what has been tried and true.

1. Eat right – What does this mean? Fruits and vegetables, you know, all the stuff you don’t want to eat. If you look at your health as just the results of what you’ve been doing so far, this will help in your motivation. Eliminating one bad food at a time and replacing it with something healthy will go a long way. Maybe no more sodas, instead you’ll be drinking water. Replacing green tea for coffee, or reducing your sugar intake.

Continue to make these better choices and eventually you’ll see a big difference in how you feel. Many conditions are the result of long term diet issues. If you eat poorly, you don’t give your body any materials to maintain your health.

2. Exercise – Don’t start your new exercise program by opening up your front door and running 10 miles. Find some ways to build momentum in your exercise program. Take a walk, go play catch with your child (or even your dog), or get a bike and start doing laps around your block. Find a way to get started and go from there.

Exercise will improve the tone of your muscles, make you stronger, and most importantly, will help you deal with stress. Stress is a huge factor in your health.

It all sounds to easy, right? It’s not easy. Staying consistent with these elements of your goal to get healthy will yield plenty of benefits, just figure out your best way of sticking with it. I’ve found that adding in (or taking out) one thing at a time will make all the difference. You won’t lose fifty pounds in six weeks, but whatever you do lose will stay gone. Over the long-term, that’s what will make all the difference in your health. Take charge of your health!