Colorado Injury Care News

Why Does My Massage Therapist Ask For My Prescription Medications?

2011-12-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

The better question might be, why don't they?

When I was in massage school, we were taught absolutely nothing about prescription medications. We were told this was out of our scope of practice, and it was the exclusive domain of Physicians, Nurses, and Pharmacists to deal with.

While that is true in terms of prescribing them, that has turned out not to be true in terms of how it can effect your massage experience, and your overall health.

A recent experience with a client who was experiencing severe muscle spasms in the neck reminded me of just how important this can be. We tried several different approaches with no success, and, long story short, it was eventually discovered to be the result of a medication he was taking. Even though it seemed muscular in nature, it was actually connected to the effect of the medication on his central nervous system (CNS), and massage was not going to make the problem go away.

Many common prescription medications can cause muscle pain, soreness, and spasms. These include many of the meds prescribed for depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues. The most common cholesterol inhibitors can cause muscle pain, and many even come with warnings regarding long lasting or severe muscle pain.

Another thing we look for is cardiac and high blood pressure medications. These can indicate a high risk for blood clots, but they also affect the CNS, and a deeply relaxing massage can make a client taking them sluggish, fatigued, or dizzy.

Many medications directly effect the CNS, either by stimulating it or depressing it, and the strokes or style of massage can either contradict or exacerbate those effects. While this isn't necessarily dangerous, in can change your experience of the massage from a good one to a bad one. Meds that stimulate can make it more difficult to relax during a session, and Meds that depress can leave you feeling sluggish and fatigued afterwards.

Many medications require injection under the skin. These can be pushed into the blood stream during a massage, increasing their effects too quickly, which could be potentially dangerous depending on it's intended purpose. This may also change when the next dose is needed.

Many medications, even aspirin, cause blood thinning, which can cause you to bruise easily during a massage. And the list could go on for hours...

While we as massage therapists are starting to realize how important this knowledge can be, most of us have not received an kind of formal training training on the subject. Even now there are very few massage schools teaching pharmacology to their students.

At CIC, we ask you these questions to help us improve our service to you, and to help us learn more about the subject. Each time we look something up we learn, or reinforce, our knowledge on the subject, and that improves our ability to help you; to adapt our massage, identify when massage alone won't help solve the problem, or when we shouldn't do a massage at all.

Ultimately, just like anything else that affects your health, it is up to you to ask questions. If you have been getting massage for a specific problem, and it isn't clearing up, or seems to be continually coming back, it might be time to review your medications. Look at what the medication actually does, and the list of side effects, and ask your therapist or your doctor if any of them might be contributing to the problem.

Blessings,
Sherry Larkin, LMT #577
www.ColoradoInjuryCare.com

Kids and Massage Therapy

2011-12-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

       With Back-to-School just around the corner (or already here for some of us), I thought an article about the benefits of massage therapy for kids might be in order. We have seen a steady increase in recent months, in clients interested in bringing their children (primarily teenagers) in for massage.
      Some caution needs to be used with younger children, in regards to some of the deeper modalities, as they have many areas that are still cartilage instead of bone. That said, the younger a person is, the more readily they respond to natural treatments like massage and chiropractic. The muscle memory and neural patterns are not as “set-in” as they are in adults, and thus respond more quickly to intervention.
      Most of the kids we see come in because of stresses and injuries they received in a sport or other extracurricular activity, such as dancing or cheer. Massage works well with the sprain/strain injuries that are so common in these activities. It is important to note that regular massage can also help prevent or lessen the severity of these injuries. By keeping the body relaxed and flexible, you allow it to respond more quickly and with full mobility in stressful situations.
      Massage and Chiropractic can both be useful in situations where an athlete is striving to meet a particular goal, such as a speed mark in swimming or running. By maximizing mobility with massage, and improving the neural pathways with chiropractic, and athlete can often move past a barrier or plateau to move up to the next level of competition.
      We have seen an increasing number of children with severe posture issues at increasingly younger ages, as well. Most of us have, or have seen, kids with severely overloaded backpacks, or side bags. They compensate in dozens of different ways, all of which impact their overall posture, causing them to slump or slouch, or over straighten their spine, or walk with their knees or toes out or in. No matter what the compensation, the long term effects on their health can be dramatic and lasting. Early intervention now could save them a lifetime of spine and neurological issues in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.
      Last, but not least, we all know that the simple act of touch is an incredibly important part of life. It is nurturing, life-affirming, and confidence building.

      As parents, we are happy to work with your children. As Registered Massage Therapists, we have all passed police background checks. As business people, we have made a simple decision, that anybody under 18 will have a parent in the room during any massage. We feel this is the best way to earn your trust, and that of your child.

(Originally Written August 2011)

Blessings,
Sherry Larkin, LMT#577
www.ColoradoInjuryCare.com

An Introduction to our New Massage Therapists!

2010-11-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

We have several new MT's in the office that we would like to introduce to you. They have varying degrees of training and experience, but they are all caring, talented professionals. You can book with them online at www.ColoradoInjuryCare.com or call them directly at the number listed with their name.

Kevin Emery (303)547-7347--Kevin is a Chicago native who recently moved to Denver. He graduated from National University of Health Sciences on December 16, 2006 with a Certification in Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Assisting. He became Licensed in Massage Therapy in June 2007 and is a member of The American Massage Therapy Association.

Kevin is also certified in Cosmetology, and is a consultant for Party Lite Candles and Princess House. License #9248

************

Danielle McNally (720)315-6438-- Danielle is a trained sports massage therapist, whose studies emphasized injury evaluation and treatment, strength training, flexibility, rehabilitation, and working with clients in chronic pain. She is also experienced in deep tissue, neuromuscular therapy and trigger-point release. Danielle comes to us from Florida, and has been a massage therapist for 6 years. License #9861

************

Lisa Spano (720) 229-2057-- Lisa is a 2008 graduate from the Denver School of Massage Therapy and is trained in Swedish, structural integration, sports massage, Russian massage, Acupressure, Reflexology, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. Her favorite modalities are Reflexology and Cranial Sacral.

"My favorite thing about being a massage therapist is that I get the opportunity not only to make people feel better physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Each massage that I give is not only intended to relax and revive sore, tired muscles, but to help in healing whatever needs healed by deeply relaxing you, and putting you in touch with your bodies innate ability to
naturally heal itself from the emotional and physical stresses that are placed on it every day." License #9414

************

Linda Aaron (720) 404-9015-- Linda began her massage training in 1991 with traditional western and Swedish techniques. Later, she pursued further training in deep tissue, sports, pre and postnatal, reflexology, hot stone and ayuervedic massage. She combines her years of experience and skill with a positive attitude and a passion for helping her clients feel their best. Every session with Linda is individually tailored to meet the needs of the client and utilizes a combination of techniques and modalities. Her work can range from quiet and relaxing to deep and vigorous. No matter what type of bodywork you receive, you can take comfort in knowing that you're in caring and competent hands, and will leave refreshed and ready to face the world again. Linda works under the principle that intense or prolonged pain during a session is counterproductive to a therapeutic massage. Her intuitive and patient approach enables her to provide a deep and profoundly relaxing therapeutic massage experience. License #3940

************

All therapists in the State of Colorado are required to be licensed with the Department of Regulatory Agencies. You can check for a therapists license here.

One Hour Vacation Membership Club

2010-04-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

We firmly believe that regular, consistent massage therapy is part of a healthy lifestyle that promotes lower stress levels, better flexibility, and a healthier immune system. We are offering our Membership option as a way to encourage our clients to take full advantage of all the health benefits massage has to offer.

The concept is simple. In exchange for a small monthly membership fee, and a minimum three month commitment, you will receive all of your massage sessions at a savings of $31 per session. This includes hour, hour & a half, and two hour sessions. Come in once a month, or six times a month, the rate stays the same. You also get a discount on any Gift Certificates you buy.

Membership Benefits include:

Low monthly membership fee
Save $$ on every session
Clear and open agreement
No fine print
Full 60 minute hour
Your time starts when you get on the table.
Qualified therapists
All therapists are state registered and fully tested
Pay the therapist directly
Ample time before and after the session

Memberships are available for singles, couples, and families. We also have a special Senior Citizens rate!

If you have been looking for an opportunity to make a commitment to yourself, and your health, this is it! Contact us directly for details, or ask us about it at your next massage**.

Corporate Memberships rates can also be arranged, if you would like to offer massage therapy as a company benefit. Contact John at 720 331-8446 to discuss details.

**There is paperwork involved, so please allow an extra 30 minutes for reading, writing, and discussion. Thanks! :)

Sherry Larkin
www.OHVmassage.com

What people have said about us….

2009-11-18T11:50:00.000-08:00

     Below is a collection of comments and reviews we have received from clients over the years. For patient privacy, I have removed names, even if it was included in the original comment. A special Thank You to our clients for their wonderful reviews!
      If you would like to provide a review of your own, you can leave one here, as a comment. We would obviously welcome Rave reviews, but we also welcome the not so great ones. If we didn't do well, or didn't live up to expectations, we welcome the opportunity to learn from our mistakes.
     We would welcome some reviews on any of the following sites as well:
Yelp DTC             Yelp Oneida              Merchant Circle    Local.com
YellowpagesDTC   YellowpagesOneida    Yahoo! DTC        Yahoo! Oneida
Google DTC         Google Oneida          Insider Pages

**While you are there, consider writing reviews for any of your other favorite local businesses. Reviews really help smaller businesses survive on the internet!

~~*********************~~

     Sherry and John are amazing! They really know their business, as expressed not only thru their hands and healing, but also thru their concern and caring. Keep up the great work!

     Sherry's training really shines through when she does a massage. She's helped me both with injuries from a car accident and just the accumulated stress of working and living, and her training shines through, no matter what! I tell her about an ache or a pain, and she uses her knowledge of anatomy to find the source and use a variety of techniques to solve them. She really gets to the bottom of the problem! She's worth every penny I've spent, and much more!

     I had the pleasure of meeting both John and Sherry at this mom-n-pop massage place. This is definitely not a spa or anything, but they do provide great massages. Sherry listened to my musculoskeletal concerns and focused only on those areas. I used to have a chronically sore back, but after a session with Sherry, my back feels great and my posture is better too. The best way to make an appointment with them is via their website, where you can see their individual schedules. Calling them is hit-or-miss as they don't pick up when they are with clients (I'm glad!). Now I just have to wait 'til my work screws up all my muscles again so I can indulge in another massage.

     I don't write testimonials but this has been a blessing for me! After ten years of pain in my right knee, hip, lower back, and right shoulder, and seeing more than a dozen chiropractors who didn't seem to care if I got better or not. I had also seen many massage therapists. A rubdown just didn't get it. I needed a different approach to getting myself healed. I was on the floor doing a back exercise early one morning and couldn't get up. What a scary feeling! I lay there thinking I was going to find somebody that could get me healed or I was going to end up being paralyzed for life. I was finally able to get to the phone to call Sherry, whose number was given to me the day before. After the second appointment I started getting better! I am now walking and bending over with ease, and pain free. My posture has improved 100%. This was not a quick fix, but after more than ten years of nagging pain I was getting to wonder if I could even be cured. SHERRY CARES!!

     Much more targeted massage than your average "relaxation" massage. These people know what they're doing! I highly recommend them!

     Sherry is the best --- always professional, always caring. I feel absolutely great after every session. She really understands the human body and knows which techniques are best for the situation. I've been a client for several years and highly recommend Colorado Injury Care!

     I have received massage most of my adult life (over 40 years now) and the massages I receive from Colorado Injury Care are the best in the lot!

     I found that at Colorado Injury Care they concentrate on the entire person and what factors in your life would precipitate the need and benefits of a massage. I always felt welcomed and comfortable and left after the massage feeling blissful.

     The best, most caring massage I have ever had -- and on a consistent basis!

     I was injured in a car accident and then fell - limiting my range of motion. After having a series of massages, my range of motion increased and I am able to function normally again. Yeah!

     Sherry is so much more knowledgeable than your average massage therapist, and it certainly shows in her ability to ease chronic pain through her massages. She costs a little more per session than some of the other massage therapists, but she's worth every penny. I think I saved money in the long run because she got the problem under control and I didn't have to keep going back to see her for pain over and over again.

     Sherry is an amazingly talented and knowledgeable massage therapist. She has helped me with my fibromyalgia immensely.

     Best Massage ever

     Fantastic!

     Sherry Larkin is great at customizing your massage to your unique needs!

     I have been using Colorado Injury Care since they began and have never been disappointed. They provide the best massage in town.

Are You Covered?

2009-11-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Some health insurance companies are starting to add Alternative Therapies like Massage Therapy, Chiropractic, and Acupuncture to their policies, mostly in response to customer demand.

Typically, health insurance will not cover Massage for prevention, maintenance, or stress relief. They will sometimes cover Massage Therapy for medical conditions that show some benefit or improvement from it. Your insurance company will usually require a prescription and a letter of medical necessity from your Doctor, and a treatment plan. You will also want to work with the adjustor to get the plan approved prior to starting treatment.

If you have any of the following conditions or injuries, check with your insurer for options:

Depression and Anxiety
Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Asthma and Bronchitis
Circulatory Problems
Insomnia
Sports Injuries
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
PMS
Plantar fasciitis
Shin splints
Calf cramps
Chronic low back pain
Sciatica
Migraine headaches
Tennis elbow
Golfer’s elbow
Knee pain
Patella tracking dysfunction
Tendonitis
Hammer toes
Claw toes
Frozen shoulder
Bulging discs
Pain in joints
Thoracic outlet syndrome

If your medical condition is not listed above, and you think you would benefit from Massage, or another form of alternative therapy, just call your insurer and ask.

With continued questions and inquiries from you and other customers, those insurance companies that do not cover them now will eventually see that the demand for alternative therapies exists.

Blessings,

Sherry Larkin,
http://www.coloradoinjurycare.com/
www.twitter/coinjurycare.com

What you don’t know about auto accidents can hurt you!

2009-11-18T10:35:00.000-08:00

In an auto accident or other similar trauma your body automatically locks up your muscles in an attempt to protect the joints, particularly those of the spine, in a process known as the splinting cycle.

During this process, your body has no built in mechanism for relaxing the muscles after the trauma. This is one of the causes of the soreness and stiffness that you experience in the days & weeks immediately following the accident.

As the muscles begin to relax, they do so at different times, and to different degrees, creating stresses on the joints. This can cause a variety of problems including pain, limited range of movement, and eventual degeneration of the joint capsule or disc.

Stress on the joints can also cause the joints to move out of position (subluxation). This can cause additional degeneration of the joint, arthritis, pain, and nerve impairment. Subluxation is best treated with Chiropractic adjustments.

These additional problems can begin to appear almost immediately, or they can manifest months or even years later.

The quicker you can begin treatment, the quicker the healing process!

******

Massage therapy is an effective treatment for the pain and symptoms of auto accidents. It helps the muscles relax and return to normal more quickly.
Starting treatment quickly helps minimize the long term damage caused by the splinting cycle.
Most Auto Insurance companies recognize the effectiveness of Massage Therapy and Chiropractic in treating auto accident symptoms.

If you would like to find out if you are covered for Massage Therapy, or if you would like more information about your particular symptoms and how massage can help, please give us a call.

Blessings,

Sherry Larkin
www.coloradoinjurycare.com
www.twitter/coinjurycare.com

Hydrocephalus Denver Walk 2009

2009-10-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

We went to the Hydrocephalus walk for the 3rd year in a row,with a massage booth, providing chair and table massage for the participants.

There were over 300 participants this year, and one of the coolest features was the "walk of fame" lined up along the course. Each poster featured a child with Hydrocephalus, telling their own story in pictures and words. Inspirational!

See the entire album on Facebook.

Sherry

http://www.coloradoinjurycare.com/

Benefits of Massage Therapy

2009-10-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

Original Title: National Massage Therapy Awareness Week--October 25-31st

Why is it important to raise awareness of Massage Therapy? With the debate raging around healthcare reform, viable alternative therapies can provide a less expensive, natural way to manage our health. Unlike drugs and surgeries, natural therapies can provide relief without toxic side effects and scar tissue.

So, what exactly are the benefits of massage therapy? In addition to stress relief, massage can help with all of the following:

Enhanced immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.

Alleviates low-back pain.

Stretches and exercises weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.

Helps athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.

Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces pain and swelling.

Promotes tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.

Increases joint flexibility and improves range of motion.

Lessens depression and anxiety.

Pumps oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.

Reduces post surgery adhesions and swelling.

Improves the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.

Reduces spasms and cramping.

Relaxes and softens injured, tired, and overused muscles.

Alleviates discomfort during pregnancy.

Assists with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shortens maternity hospital stays.

Releases endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller and natural mood enhancers.

Relieves migraine pain.

Improves posture.

The Power of Bodywork
Massage therapy can be a powerful addition to your healthcare arsenal. Experts believe that as much as 90% of today’s diseases are stress related. And there is nothing beautiful to your body about high stress. It ages your body, internally and externally. It adds weight, ravages the skin and the internal organs, and adds wrinkles and frown lines.

By adding massage to your regimen, you can:

Decrease anxiety.

Lower blood pressure.

Enhance sleep quality.

Be more energetic.

Improve your concentration.

Increase your circulation.

Reduce fatigue.

In addition, massage & bodywork fosters a unique sense of emotional balance, perspective, and clarity, fostering calm thinking, creativity, and a sense of well-being. Regular bodywork increases your sense of body awareness, enhancing your ability to know when something isn’t right within.

Recent scientific research also proves that massage therapy increases immune function, decreases stress levels and reduces recovery time in many medical conditions including:

Allergies

Depression and Anxiety

Arthritis

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Asthma and Bronchitis

Circulatory Problems

Insomnia

Sports Injuries

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Musculo-Skeletal Disorders

PMS

New studies are being released almost daily, demonstrating the enormous benefits of touch in disease, ranging from chronic illness, neurological disorders, injuries, to daily stress and tension. Physicians and other health care providers are recommending and referring patients for massage in growing numbers, and the number of hospitals offering massage services has grown by more than 30% since 2004.

Benefits multiply exponentially

One massage can make you feel worlds better. Massage once a month can improve your health, once a week can change your life. Scheduling consistent, regular massage sessions multiplies benefits exponentially. You will continue to feel better, move more freely, and think with clarity for longer periods of time. It may feel like a guilty pleasure, or a pampering treat, but regular sessions can be an important part of your health care regime, a preventative measure that can keep you acting younger, and feeling healthier as you get older.

Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner today to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.

Blessings,
Sherry Larkin
www.ColoradoInjuryCare.com

2009-10-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

Massage Therapy and Menopause

After my last article on Depression, and how massage therapy affects the neurotransmitter serotonin and dopamine, I recieved a question from a subscriber asking how massage therapy affects Menopause symptoms and related hormones.

After a lot of frustrating research, I have been unable to find any studies relating to Menopause, it's symptoms, or the hormones Estrogen or Progesterone. I did find one "study", which was really a survey. Of 886 women surveyed, 76 percent of the women reported using at least one alternative therapy, and 22 percent reported using such therapies specifically for menopausal symptoms. Of the eight or nine categories of alternative therapies, massage placed among the top four as most effective, along with chiropractic, acupuncture, and stress management. Another study done in Korea referenced "aromatherapy massage", which did find significant benefits to the massage group vs. the control group.

There are studies that indicate that stress increases menopausal symptoms. We know that massage therapy reduces the effects of stress, in part because of its effects on serotonin and dopamine. It would follow that massage would have a direct effect on at least some of the symptoms of menopause, and in fact, I have had a number of clients over the years who have noticed an improvement in headaches, moodiness, hot flashes, and insomnia.

Until we have more definitive studies, we can only go by inference and testimonials.

If you are noticing signs and symptoms of Menopause, give Massage Therapy a try. It may be just what you need to get through it naturally.

Sherry Larkin

www.coloradoinjurycare.com

Depression: Can Massage Therapy Really Help?

2009-10-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

"Major depressive disorder (also known as clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression, or unipolar disorder) is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities." Wikipedia

Most of us have been affected by the effects of Depression, either directly or indirectly through family, friends, or co-workers. Some quick facts about depression:

Major depression affects approximately 15 million American adults or about 8% of the U.S. Population 18 and older in any given year.

While Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can develop at any age, the median age is 32.
Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44.
Depressions annual toll on U.S. businesses amounts to about $70 billion in medical expenditures, lost productivity, and other costs.

Depression accounts for close to $12 billion in lost workdays each year, and an additional $11 billion in other costs from decreased productivity due to symptoms that sap energy, affect work habits, cause problems with concentration, memory, and decision-making.

Approximately 80% of people experiencing depression are not currently receiving any treatment.

Depression is also known to weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to other medical illnesses.

How can massage therapy help?

Massage therapy can help in a number of ways.Several studies for a variety of disorders have shown that massage therapy decreases the stress hormone Cortisol (remember those midnight weight loss ads?), by as much as 30%. Studies also show that massage increases the "feel good" neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine by a similar amount. Serotonin is frequently in short supply in people suffering from depression, and most anti-depressants in use today help the body increase the amount it has to work with. Abnormal levels of dopamine are also associated with fibromyalgia, ADHD, restless leg syndrome, and Parkinson 's disease. Massage therapy reduces stress hormones, and increases endorphins and neurotransmitters that help you feel good and sleep better.

The Stress Response System (SRS) is the connection between the central nervous system and the endocrine system that allows humans to respond to short-term and long-term stressors. (The flight or fight response.) People with a healthy SRS will respond & recover quickly from a stressful event. People with an unhealthy SRS will be sluggish to respond to a stressful event, and slow to recover. Over time, they tend to have more stress reactions more often, to smaller events, leading to a "hair trigger" anger response to insignificant problems, often a contributor to a depressive state. Studies in animals show that a lack of tactile stimulation or touch is a contributor to this sluggish response. Under stimulated, isolated animals had slower, longer lasting, and more frequent SRS responses, than animals that were handled consistently. People suffering from depression are frequently alone and isolated from their communities, and ironically, depression often causes them to withdraw and isolate more. The simple act of human touch involved in massage therapy improves the health of the Stress Response System, returning to the healthy defense mechanism it was designed to be.

People suffering from depression also tend to have a weakened immune response making them more susceptible to illness and disease. Massage therapy has been shown to improve & strengthen the immune system.
Last, but not least, depression can have long term, physical effects on the human body. Body posture tends to collapse in on itself, shortening the abdominal muscles, constricting the diaphragm, pulling the back into a rounded position. The shoulders rotate forward and in, and the head pulls forward and down. All of these changes severely limit the ability to breathe, and can cause constriction to vertebral discs, nerves, and internal organs. Therapeutic massage techniques can help to reverse this process, releasing constricted muscles, improving range of motion, and allowing the body to stand up straight and meet the world head on again.

We have known for centuries that human touch can have a profound and healing effect on the body. Now, we are discovering more of the how and the why. While massage cannot replace traditional medical treatment, it can be an integral (and pleasurable!) part of your treatment plan.

Blessings,

Sherry Larkin

http://www.coloradoinjurycare.com/

** **As with any major medical condition, please check with your physician before initiating any treatment plan. Your progress should be monitored during treatment, and please check with your prescribing physician before stopping or decreasing any medications.