The Massage MonthlyAugust 2018

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WhiplashHealing a Pain in the NeckHope Bentley

Whiplash injuries can lead to headache as well as neck, jaw, and back pain.

Be happy forthis moment.This moment isyour life.-Omar Khayyam

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In this Issue

WhiplashRelief for Computer UsersShea Butter

Getting rear-ended in traffic.Face-planting at the bottom of a skislope. Tumbling over the handlebars onyour bike. Whiplash comes in manyforms and can become a long-termproblem if not treated correctly.Fortunately, massage and bodywork canaddress the ache and discomfort thatcome with whiplash and prevent chronicpain down the road.

UnderstandingWhiplashThe term "whiplash" came into use in1928. Doctors will sometimes use"hyperextension injury," to describe it,but "whiplash" is a more visceral accountof what has happened to the victim's

neck. The neck itself has made awhip-like motion bending first towardsand then away from the point of impact.As the head moves rapidly in onedirection, the muscles in the neckreceive the message to contract. Themomentum of the head can cause strainor sprain to the muscles and ligamentsin the neck as the head reaches the endof its movement.

Car accidents are the most commoncauses of whiplash. The AmericanAcademy of Orthopedic Surgeonsreported that about 20 percent ofpeople who have been in rear-endcollisions later report whiplashsymptoms. Whether front to back or sideto side, whiplash can affect muscles allthe way into the victim's back and arms.The most serious form of whiplashcompresses nerves in the neck and causemultiple sprains of the ligaments.

The good news is, serioushyperextension injuries are in theminority, as whiplash usually comes inthe less serious version of the injury."Fortunately, about 95 percent of thetime whiplash tends to be more

superficial damage, like slight musclestrains and tears," says Ben Benjamin,Ph.D., a massage therapist who holds adoctorate in education and sportsmedicine. But whether the pain isminor soreness or serious discomfort,massage can provide relief and preventchronic problems in the long run.

Bodywork has an arsenal of methods to treat whiplash injuries for a full recovery.

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Whiplash SymptomsThe symptoms of whiplash include neckpain and stiffness, headaches, pain inthe shoulder or between the shoulderblades (sometimes called "coat hangerpain"), low back pain, and pain ornumbness in the arms or extremities.

Often people who suffer whiplash donot feel the effects until two or threedays after the injury-causing incident.Benjamin explains that this delayedonset is because it takes time for scartissue to manifest in the sprained orstrained muscles and ligaments. Andbecause scar tissue is more adhesive thanregular tissue, people experience it asstiffness in the injured areas.

Whiplash affects primarily the neck, butvictims shouldn't ignore the rest of thebody. This injury can pull the longmuscles on either side of the spine,which reach all the way to the tailboneand can cause discomfort along the way.Discomfort or stiffness in the chest andarms can also be due to whiplash. Andheadaches may be the result of slowedcirculation to the head caused by theswelling in the injury.

Massage Can HelpAny massage that causes a generalrelaxation of the client's muscles canhelp relieve muscular pain in commontypes of whiplash injuries. In addition,massage increases the amount of oxygenthat reaches the healing tissues andopens those tissues so they can receiveoxygen and nutrients, thus speeding thehealing process.

In addition to relaxation massage,specific bodywork methods ease acutewhiplash discomfort and help preventchronic fallout. For example, myofascialapproaches restore fluidity to thefascia--normally a slippery tissue thatsurrounds all the moving parts insidethe body--allowing freer movement ofmuscles and ligaments. Friction-basedmassage helps break up scar tissue andrelieve stiffness. Trigger point therapyworks by releasing tension held in tightknots of muscle. And any type ofbodywork that stimulates circulationhelps ease and prevent headaches.

Finally, the incident that caused thewhiplash in the first place, (a car wreck,for instance) can be traumatic. Massage

helps relax a client's psyche as well astheir muscles, helping her or him workthrough the emotional issues induced bythe accident.

Because the neck is such a delicate partof the body, it is important to proceedwith caution. Benjamin advises waiting afew days after the accident to seektreatment. This allows the initial scartissue to knit, which is an important partof the healing process. The initialtreatment should be extremely gentle,and if there is a chance of a fracture, aconcussion, any disc problem or otherserious injury, the client should makesure to see a physician first.

Let the Healing BeginIt used to be that physicians wouldimmobilize whiplash injuries with acervical collar, but now health careprofessionals advise a more temperatecourse for their patients.

"I recommend gentle neck movementwithin your range of motion while lyingon a pillow," says Benjamin. Movementmay help prolong the benefits of themassage by continuing to circulateblood, oxygen, and nutrients throughthe healing tissue. "Heat or cold,whichever feels better, can also help,"says Benjamin. "Soaking in a hot bathcan also be beneficial." Limitingphysical activity for a few days andgetting plenty of rest in the wake of awhiplash injury is also a good idea.

Whiplash is traumatic and should beaddressed soon after the injury to avoidany chronic problems. If you orsomeone you love is suffering from therepercussions of whiplash, consider abodywork session to ease the discomfort.Massage can help lessen muscle pain,induce relaxation, and ease the traumaoften associated with whiplash. You'll beback to your old self in no time.

Take frequent breaks to avoid eye strain.

Relief for Computer UsersMary Betts Sinclair

Shea ButterFor Your Complexion and MoreShelley Burns, N.D.

According to the American OptometricAssociation, 46 percent of Americansspend at least five hours a day on acomputer or smartphone. When lookingat a screen, many people hold their headforward of center and slouch, which putsmany upper-body muscles in ashortened position.

Here are some ways to avoid pain andstrain:Computer users tend to blink very littleand stare straight ahead, not using theirperipheral vision. Be sure to keepblinking, which washes your eyes innaturally therapeutic tears and breaks upyour stare.

Take frequent rest breaks using the20-20 Rule: every 20 minutes, spend20 seconds looking at something faraway, preferably gazing out a window.Also, stand up and move as much apossible. This is a great time to doeye-muscle stretches andrange-of-motion exercises for your backand neck. Use your fingertips to gently

massage around your eyes, temples, andforehead. Finally, rub your palmstogether and gently cup your closed eyes.Relax and breathe freely.

Make sure you have good light, andcheck that your monitor is the correctdistance away from your eyes and at theright height. Also, adjust the screensettings to where they are comfortable interms of resolution and flicker.

If you wear eyeglasses, have themchecked. For example, in order forsome people to see clearly with theirheads held in an upright and balancedposition, and without chronic tightnessin the back of the neck, they may need tohave a prescription for a longer focallength or larger bifocal inserts, or havean adjustment of their eyeglass frames ifthey are bent or twisted. Some peoplemay need a stronger or weakerprescription. If your doctor hasprescribed a pair of glasses specificallyfor seeing the computer screen, wearthem.

Mary Betts Sinclair is an Oregon-based educatorand bodyworker. Learn more about her atwww.marybettssinclair.com.

Shea butter comes from the nut of theshea tree (pronounced shay) found inthe tropics of Africa, primarily WestAfrica. It offers many benefits as atopical moisturizer for skin and hair,and improves other skin problems andappearance.

As well as providing relief from minordermatological conditions like eczema,lesser burns, and acne, shea butter canbe used as a natural sunscreen and forstretch-mark prevention duringpregnancy. Other benefits include theevening out of skin tone, reducingblemishes, and restoring skin elasticity.

Shea butter easily penetrates the skin,allowing skin to breathe withoutclogging pores. It contains highconcentrations of linoleic acid, whichprovide skin protection at a cellular

level, as well as vitamins A, E, and F,which protect against prematurewrinkles. Vitamin F in shea butter alsosoothes rough, dry, or chapped skin.

Healing though it may be, shea butterundergoes a rigorous path in its journeyfrom overseas to the faces and bodies ofyour clients. The fruit from the sheatree is cultivated, cracked, grilled,pounded, and boiled. The shea butter isthen scooped out of the nut and left tocool.

Properties of shea butter includeunsaponifiables--substances that cannotdecompose into acids, salts, or alcohol.For that reason, shea butter is extremelyabsorbable, even more so than soybeanand avocado oils.

There are three types of shea butter

extraction and just two of the three endproducts of these extractions should beused. Unrefined shea butter in its pureform is yellow. Refined shea butter isprocessed but still contains many of itsnatural components. Either is fine touse. Highly refined shea butter may wellhave lost its healing properties and caninclude such solvents as hexane, whichmay cause nerve damage. It is pure whiteand should be avoided. Another note ofcaution: shea butter is notrecommended for people with nut andlatex allergies, and some experts alsodiscourage its use by people withchocolate allergies.

Try to be arainbow insomeone's cloud.-Maya Angelou

As readers of our Newsletter, we like to give you the firstpeeks of the happenings at Ohana Therapeutic Massage.Check out below for the latest news!

WeGiveBack August Honorees!This month we are honoring those who take care of us andhelp us get what we want ~ Customer Service Workers!From August 13-24, 2018, Healthcare Workers may qualifyto receive a FREE 30 minute massage at OhanaTherapeutic Massage! For more details or to schedule yourfree 30 minute massage, please call us at 218-263-1501.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTBiofreeze is our #1 selling self care tool for a reason! Thislegendary pain relief formula is clinical research-proven, fastacting and long lasting. It provides temporary relief frommany aches and pains, such as sore muscles and joints,sprains, strains, and bruises.

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