Author: Phila Massages
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Water: How Much is Too Much
This summer’s record breaking temperatures and seemingly endless heat waves have all of us making sure our reusable water bottles are filled and easily within arm’s reach. Everywhere we look, someone or something is constantly reminding us to stay hydrated and get our recommended daily “eight-glass” intake. All of which is somewhat true, but is…
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Self-Care Tips to use in-between massage sessions
Getting regular massages has many benefits, but those benefits are tremendously increased if self-care techniques are used in between sessions. This “homework”, given by your therapist, usually includes: hot/cold therapy, stretching, self-massage, lifestyle habits and rest. 1) Hot/cold therapy: Hot therapy: heat helps soothe and relax the muscles, and increases blood flow to the area. It…
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Kinesio Tape for Athletes: A Help, or Just Hype?
Edited to add by Phila Massages (2015): Due to the limited scientific evidence supporting its efficacy, Phila Massages no longer offers Kinesiotaping as a service. Phila massages strives to be science-based and always tries to stay on top of current scientific findings for your safety and to maximize the results of our sessions! What does…
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Inflammation Management and the Athlete
Physical activity causes muscle breakdown, energy depletion and loss of fluid. The aches and pains that you experience after physical activity are associated with microscopic muscle damage that occurs after every workout, initiating a mild inflammatory response. What is inflammation? Inflammation is the body’s natural immediate response to tissue damage caused by physical trauma. Its…
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What is a cramp?
Many athletes suffer from cramps on a regular basis. At times, they appear during exercise, at other times, they appear during sleep; most of them affect the calf or the small muscles inside the foot. Muscle cramps are involuntary muscle contractions that can be caused by various factors. Though these very painful occurrences seem irregular…
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Video: knot massage
Melvyn is working on loosening a knot in the right Trapezius superior. -He starts by Effleurage and petrissage to bring blood flow to the area. -Then, to better feel the knot, he uses deeper pressure with the use of his knuckle and isolates the knot. -Once the knot is found, he uses his elbow to…
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Proper posture at the office desk
Many of us spend hours a day seated: at the office desk, in the car, in front of the TV, … More often than not, this seated position is a slumped one that can lead to lower back pains, possible disk degeneration and hernias, as well as neck and shoulder pains [1], symptoms sometimes found…
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What Exactly Is a Rotator Cuff?
The shoulder is the most mobile, and one of the most complex joints in the human body. The glenohumeral joint (where the head of the humerus articulates with the glenoid fossa of the scapula) is the only point at which bones make contact; everything else is a balance of tension in the muscles connecting the…
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An overview of lower back pain
Although we specialize in athletic massage, many people, including athletes, come to our massage practice complaining of lower back pains. Indeed, it is estimated that 80% of people suffer from lower back pain at some point in their life [1]. The majority of these sufferers are between 30 and 59 years old. There are…