Prenatal Massage

While prenatal massage does share many of the goals of regular massage, such as relaxing tense muscles, easing sore spots and improving circulation and mobility, studies continue to show that being massaged during pregnancy can also reduce stress and anxiety and decrease symptoms of depression. It can also have a positive effect on labour and your baby’s health. Recent studies also reveal that hormone levels improve significantly when massage is used as part of prenatal care, especially those hormones associated with relaxation and stress.

Other benefits of Prenatal Massage are:

·         Reduce any swelling in your hands, feet and ankles

·         Lessen sacroiliac joint pain, the most common lower back/hip pain that usually flares up in the second trimester

·         Ease muscular discomfort in areas such as your lower back, legs and feet

·         Relax tense muscles in your shoulders and neck

·         Relieve cramping in your legs

·         Increase flexibility

·         Ease headaches

·         Relax and de-stress

·         Decrease insomnia

·         Increase oxygen in the blood

Guy Lacoursiere, RMT practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson Drive. Call 403-347-3261 to book an appointment or visit us online.

Massage Therapy & Pain Management

The purpose of massage therapy is to target the source of the body’s pain via eliminating tense muscles, increasing flexibility, and providing relaxation to the affected muscles as well as the body as a whole. Massage also promotes circulation to the affected or injured muscles, which increases nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues. In turn, this increased activity to the affected sites reduces stiffness and edema (swelling) in the muscles and joints, as well as increases flexibility to help reduce pain. 

Moreover, this form of therapy also releases endorphins (pain-killing hormones), which boost the dopamine and serotonin levels in the body. These hormones assist the body in many ways–physically as well as emotionally. Case in point, they promote healing, pain management, and feelings of euphoria, as well as help to calm the nerves.

Guy Lacoursiere, RMT practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson Drive. Call 403-347-3261 to book an appointment or visit us online.

Massage Therapy and Headaches

A remedy that many find effective, but not so many seek out, is massage. Massage Therapy can help relieve muscle spasms, improve blood flow and circulation, and promoting relaxation. It has been shown to be helpful in bringing relief for tension headaches and preventing migraines.

Massage has two roles when it comes to treating migraines and tension related headaches:

1. In a proactive role, massage treatments are performed on a regular basis to help the body maintain an optimal level of relaxation and stress-relief. This approach reduces the chances of migraine attacks and tension headaches significantly by relaxing muscle spasms and trigger points.
2. In a comfort role, massage is done to ease the pressure brought on during a migraine or tension related headache. By focusing on the neck, shoulders, and head, massage can decrease the pain and discomfort brought on by migraine or tension headaches.

A study found that in adults with migraine headaches, massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and distress symptoms. It also increased serotonin levels, believed to play an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep and appetite.

Guy Lacoursiere, RMT practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson Drive. Call 403-347-3261 to book an appointment or visit us online.

Why have CranioSacral therapy

Jeannette Raskin RMT,CST

Why have CranioSacral Therapy?

1. Some people come because they feel as though they aren’t coping and that life is very difficult. CranioSacral Therapy can often be a last resort after many years of struggle.

2.      Some people come because they have long standing health issues which make it very difficult to cope. CranioSacral Therapy can help relieve the emotional and physical side-effects of living with long term illness or pain and can support the body in its natural movement towards health.

3. Some people come because they have experienced traumatic events that they cannot move past. CranioSacral Therapy is a very safe, gentle and effective way of treating trauma and post-traumatic states.
4. Some people come because they are incredibly stressed and anxious and can’t seem to find any relief from a very busy mind. CranioSacral Therapy is especially good at encouraging a very deep sense of stillness allowing the mind slow down and rest. Many people say they sleep very well after a craniosacral treatment.
5. Some people come because they just need to be held and listened to. The most important thing a CranioSacral Therapist does is to simply be present for the client and hold the therapeutic space allowing the client’s process to unfold naturally.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer

call 403-347-3261 to book an appointment today.

www.family1stchiro.ca

What to expect in a CranioSacral therapy

So, what happens during a CranioSacral therapy treatment?By Jeannette Raskin RMT, CST. Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness located at 142, Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta T4R 2C3 403-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

Before the treatment - If this is your first appointment, we will first work through your medical history and your expectations from this CranioSacral Therapy treatment. You will then lie down comfortably - fully-clothed. If it is a child (under 16) or infant, you may be present during the entire treatment.
I will then use a light touch (about the weight of a nickel), beginning at the feet, to assess where restrictions and other related problems are in your body.  Once this is completed, I continue to work through other parts of your body.

During the treatment - Most people feel a general sense of relaxation (in fact most people fall asleep early in the treatment). Some people also feel heat, cold or a stretching of tissues in particular parts of the body.  The treatment generally lasts about an hour for adults and 30 minutes for infants and children.  This can vary depending on the person.

Following the treatment - Some people report that they feel as if somebody had moved things about in their body. You will normally feel tired after the treatment, but after a short rest and a glass of water, you will be well capable of driving home.

The amount of treatment needed depends on the condition, severity and age of the client.  Some people need as few as one treatment to notice changes.

How come I never feel it moving?
This rhythm, the craniosacral rhythm, is very small in amplitude. You can feel it on yourself with practice by placing your hands on your head and simply waiting patiently. Wait and calm your hands. Use very light pressure and you may be able to feel a very small expanding and narrowing movement in your head. This is the craniosacral rhythm! It takes a therapist much training and practice to be able to feel and evaluate this rhythm. A skilled therapist can palpate and feel not only the rhythm, but also determine whether or not it is moving freely or if it is restricted, and where it is restricted.
Call to book you appointment today 403-347-3261

CranioSacral therapy

The CranioSacral System

Jeannette Raskin RMT,CST

Each person has a craniosacral rhythm.  This is caused by the increase and decrease of cerebrospinal fluid produced and reabsorbed at a regular rate within and around the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). 

The subtle rhythm can be felt by a practitioner trained in CranioSacral Therapy.  This rhythm (6-12 cycles per minute) can be felt all over the body.  It is similar to the rhythms of the heart (pulse) and lungs (respiration).

The craniosacral rhythm, when felt in different parts of the body, can be used to detect dysfunctions or disturbances in the body.  These disturbances can develop symptoms:  such as back pain, headaches, etc.  A CranioSacral Therapist can usually help the body re-establish balanced motion with gentle, subtle techniques, thus assisting the body to return itself to normal function.

The Bog brought to you by Jeanneatte Raskin RMT, CST located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer,
403-347-3261 to book an appointment
www.family1stchiro.ca