Author: Phila Massages
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Nerve Entrapment: It Gives Me A Tingling Sensation
Have you ever felt that tingly feeling in your hand or down your arm? That pins and needles feeling or even numbness? How about a pain in your forearms or weakness of grip? I have had first hand experience with all of these and many of my clients have as well. We spend a lot…
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The Elusive Psoas!
Stand up, take a deep breath. On exhalation, draw your belly button to your spine – Do you feel your Psoas contracting? The Psoas is a deep core muscle that works in conjunction with surrounding muscles to stabilize the lumbar spine and flex the hip. Together with the Iliacus, the Iliopsoas is an important low…
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Prenatal massage myths and facts
Even though we specialize in sports massage, and not prenatal massage, we get regular requests for prenatal massage by our members for themselves or their partners/spouses/friends. Various aches can lead a mother to seek prenatal massage, and regular sessions can be very beneficial for the mother and baby. However there is a lot of misinformation…
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Pronation: Understanding How We Roll
With all of the steps we take in a single day, it’s no wonder our feet often become the subject of pain and discomfort. It is the foundation that houses fifty two bones, sixty six joints, two hundred and fourteen ligaments and thirty eight muscles that propel us through our daily lives. Whether walking to…
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Getting a Grip: Hand and forearm self-care
What do rock climbers, pole-vaulters and baseball players have in common? The total dependency of their hands not failing them at the most critical point. All these athletes rely on their hand and forearm health for not only sports but also for everyday life. And no matter the sport or profession, everyone’s hands get much…
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Piriformis Syndrome: What A Pain In The Butt
A bit of anatomy and physiology: The Piriformis muscle is located beneath the Gluteal muscles in the buttocks. In that same region, the Sciatic nerve passes from the lumbar region of the spine, through the pelvis (beneath the Piriformis) and extends down the back of the legs. If the Piriformis muscle is tight, it creates…
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Self-care for the Abdominals and the Diaphragm
When it comes to self-care most people are familiar with the major players. The quads, hamstrings, upper back, lower back, mid back, neck, hands, feet, and arms are all represented. Everyone knows their trouble spots and how to go about smashing, stretching, and grinding them into submission. But, how well do you know your diaphragm? …
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Plantar Fascitiis
Foot facts! Plantar Fasciitis, what is it? Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is a common foot problem that can cause pain in the arch or heel of the foot. The pain is from inflammation of a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. When the tissue becomes…
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Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD)
The temporomandibular joint, or, the jaw, is the most frequently used joint in the body – it assists in chewing, swallowing, speaking, yawning, clenching, breathing, even facial expressions… the list goes on. On any given day, the jaw moves 2000-3000 times! The jaw is a sliding hinge joint, allowing for extreme mobility. It moves forward,…
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Untying The (Stomach) Knots With Self Abdominal Massage
With the holidays in full swing, most of us could admit that, on occasion, we tend not to be too proud of our dietary decisions. Race season is over, New Year’s resolutions don’t start for another few weeks, so why not try and make up for those lost, and truly missed, calories? What better time…