Orthopedic Massage Associates, LLC

Our Philosophy

2006-07-21T12:55:00.001-05:00

There is more to you than just your physical body ...
everything is connected.

Each bodywork session we conduct is custom-designed for your total individual needs to support your mind, body and spirit connection using integrated massage, bodywork, breathwork, energy and spiritual techniques. We take the time to listen and connect with you on a deep, significant level so that we can build a strong relationship together.

Try us and increase your mobility, reduce your chronic pain
and find the balance and range of motion you seek.

At Orthopedic Massage Associates, we firmly believe that our work with you is an essential part of your regular health maintenance program.

We offer you a comprehensive, integrated approach to massage therapy as an adjunct to your regular medical care, working closely with your physician, physical therapist, and chiropractor. We are absolutely committed to providing you with the highest-quality massage therapy services available in the greater Huntsville area.

Call for an appointment today!
564-2958

or click here to make appointments with Jeffrey on-line

In Partnership with
Crestwood Medical Center
Therapy Services

Piedmont Professional Center
610 Airport Rd, Suite 100
Huntsville, AL 35802
~ See our listing on MerchantCircle ~

Massage Education & Development Guild

2005-10-02T21:27:00.000-05:00

Members of Orthopedic Massage Associates and colleagues have come together to create Huntsville's premier non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the state of therapeutic massage, and providing tools for the professional development of licensed massage therapists.

The Guild, created by Jeffrey Rich, Judy Castrichini, Steven Miner, Paige Martin and Martha Holt

is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to educate the general public and medical communities about the documented benefits of Massage Therapy, and to facilitate education, continuing education, and professional development opportunities for the community of professional Licensed Massage Therapists.

The Guild Statement of Purpose
The purposes for which this organization is formed are as follows:

This corporation is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

… to publish materials including course curricula to achieve these objectives.

… to train teachers and leaders in order to further these objectives.

… to assemble and maintain a library of materials related to massage therapy.

… to act as an educational and nonprofit society.

… to facilitate and create continuing education opportunities for massage therapists within The Guild’s operating location.

… to enhance and enrich the profession of massage therapy within The Guild’s operating location.

… to do all or any such things as may be conducive or incidental to the promotion of the above purposes.

The Guild's first official event will be to sponsor Gayle MacDonald in her continuing education class for massage therapists and other health professionals: "Massage for People Living with Cancer" in January of 2007.

We look forward to serving our colleagues and the local community!

About Us

2005-09-25T23:32:00.000-05:00

Formed in August, 2001, Orthopedic Massage Associates
is a collaboration between Judy Castrichini, and Jeffrey Rich.

Judy and Jeffrey each received their core massage therapy training from the prestigious Healing Arts School of Massage, completing the school's rigorous 650-hour state licensure program and receiving their Alabama Massage Therapy licenses in the Summer of 1999.

After becoming licensed and before forming Orthopedic Massage Associates, Judy and Jeffrey each left their full-time careers in marketing and software development to open private massage therapy practices. Between the Fall of 1999 and the Spring of 2001, they were student instructors at the Healing Arts School of Massage, assisting in the teaching of Anatomy and Kinesiology (the study of movement in the body), as well as the Theory and Practice of Massage. They also conceived and directed the school's aggressive massage therapy Continuing Education program, hosting several successful, well-attended massage therapy continuing education seminars.

Every therapist at OMA is well versed in the discipline and principles of Orthopedic Massage, the assessment and treatment of soft-tissue injury and dysfunction. Massage therapy training for all OMA massage therapists includes

Swedish Massage
Deep Tissue Massage
Massage for the Medically Frail
Massage for People Living with Cancer
Neuromuscular Therapy
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Hydrotherapy
Muscle Energy Techniques
SOAP Charting
Myofascial Release
and Strain/Counterstrain techniques.

Judy and Jeffrey are also founding members of the Massage Education & Development Guild, a non-profit group in Huntsville whose mission is to provide resources to the medical community and the general public about the benefits of massage, and to provide educational and development opportunities to the massage therapy community.

About Judy

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Judy Castrichini, LMT #724
phone: 527-1462
email: jcastrichini@aol.com and judy@oma-hsv.com

Judy grew up in Southern California where she attended Long Beach State University, majoring in business administration. Judy currently has a private massage therapy practice at Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, AL.

Judy enjoys an eclectic mix of clientele, including those coming for stress management. Judy enjoys working with patients experiencing Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinsons Disease, Cancer and other auto-immune diseases. She also enjoys performing in-home visits for Hospice patients.

Judy's advanced massage therapy training includes

Upledger Cranial-Sacral Therapy
Myofascial Release
Jin Shin Do^®-style Acupressure for the Shoulders, Head, and Neck
Jin Shin Do^®-style Acupressure for Strange Flow releases
Reflexology
Massage for People with Cancer
Massage for the Medically Frail Patient
Esalen Massage
Indian Head Massage
Maternity and Pregnancy Massage

About Jeffrey

2005-09-23T22:18:00.002-05:00

Jeffrey Rich, LMT #656
phone: 256.337.1699
email: jeffrey@vallnet.com and jeffrey@oma-hsv.com
web site: jeffreyrich.blogspot.com
on-line appointment scheduling

Jeffrey received his B.S. in Computer Science from Duke University in 1984 and worked as a software developer from 1984 until 1999. Also a licensed Massage Therapy Instructor, he is currently in private massage therapy practice at Crestwood Medical Center's Therapy Services.

A professional singer as well, Jeffrey performs Baroque vocal literature and 20^th century classical and jazz choral works with the Zefiro Series, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational corporation he helped to form, which is located in Huntsville. He continues to perform and record with Apollo's Fire, the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jeffrey has had extensive advanced training in the field of bodywork and massage. Alabama state law currently requires 16 hours of professional continuing education for each two year period prior to relicensure. Additionally, his professional society, AMTA, requires 48 hours of continuing education during any four year period.

Jeffrey specializes in orthopedic massage and massage for people living with and recovering from injury and surgery. Click this link to make an appointment on-line with Jeffrey.

Jeffrey's advanced massage therapy training includes

Massage for People Living with Cancer
Myofascial Release
Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure - Basic: Strange Flows
Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure - Intermediate: 12 Organ Meridians
Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure - Advanced: 5-Element Theory
Jin Shin Do®-style Acupressure for the Chest and Shoulders
Jin Shin Do®-style Acupressure for the Head and Neck
Jin Shin Do®-style Acupressure for Hips and Legs
a 70-hour certification in Orthopedic Massage and Assessment from OMERI, the Orthopedic Massage Education and Research Institute
Breath and Bodywork
Healing Touch I
Reiki Level I
Reiki Level II
Reiki Level III, Master Level

Jeffrey's advanced non-massage therapy training includes

Shamanic Extraction Healing
Energy work from a shamanic perspective

Therapist Statement
I believe that we are all part of one human family, and that everything is connected. Nothing exists that is not in connection to the whole, to Source, Great Spirit, the Tao. Touching one thing touches all others; touching the body also touches one's spirit. I hope that my healing philosophy is one that indeed grows corn.

About Nancy

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Nancy Harden, MPT has been involved in Feldenkrais® work since 1991 and is a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. A licensed physical therapist since 1987, she has explored many forms of holistic healing since 1980.

FELDENKRAIS®, THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD®, FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION®, AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT®,and CERTIFIED FELDENKRAIS PRACTITIONER® are registered service marks of the FELDENKRAIS GUILD®.

Our Rates and Specials

2005-09-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

30 minute massage (half-body) $40
60 minute massage (full-body) $70
90 minute massage (deluxe full-body) $100
120 minute massage (luxury full-body) $120

longer sessions are also available. Please ask us!

We offer Gift Certificates!
Massage makes the perfect gift!

Holiday Special: Buy 5 one-hour Gift Certificates at full price and get one free!

Call us at 564-2958 to order yours today!

Discounts
We give discounts for physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and all health care workers.

For regular clients, we always offer a $10 per hour 'Frequent Flyer Client Appreciation Discount' when you

have massage with us once a month or more and
book your appointments in advance.

Package rates are also available. Please ask us!

Additional Services

2005-09-21T15:04:00.000-05:00

In addition to our treatment-oriented massage services, we offer relaxing Swedish massage for stress reduction in our private, serene therapy rooms.

Our Other Services

Reiki energy work for relaxation
Reiki energy work for patients with cancer
Corporate Chair Massage
Reflexology
Acupressure
Public Speaking on a variety of topics
Stress Management classes
Private Couples Massage classes and instruction for couples to learn to work on each other
Reiki Classes for levels I, II, and III Master

Click here to see our Rates and Specials

About Massage

2005-09-20T15:00:00.000-05:00

Massage as part of primary health care is centuries old, first being written about in China in about 5,000 B.C. It has many health benefits, and it is relaxing and feels very good to receive. Swedish Massage as we know it was codified by Pehr Henrik Ling (1776 - 1839), a Swedish physiologist and gymnastics instructor. He took the long-existing system of massage strokes and gave them concrete definitions and French names, such as effleurage (gliding along the skin), petrissage (rolling, kneading, squeezing of the tissues), and tapotement (tapping, slapping, rhythmic thumping - this is what you see in the James Bond movies). In addition, he codified a system of Swedish Gynmastics (range of motion exercises) that are still in use and are taught as part of the standard curriculum in massage and physical therapy schools. Pehr Henrik Ling is considered to be the father of both the disciplines of Massage Therapy, and also of Physical Therapy.

When is it helpful to receive a massage?

When is massage not recommended?

I've never had a massage! What is it like?

How will I feel after a relaxation massage?

How will I feel after a Deep Tissue massage?

What is "Orthopedic Massage"?

For more detailed information, here is a description of many of the massage modalities and therapies that we use.

What is Orthopedic Massage

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We think that these are important questions for the person seeking massage services:

How are we special?

Why should you choose us instead of another massage therapy service?

We are unique because we use the discipline of Orthopedic Massage. Orthopedic Massage is an approach to pain-management and injury assessment and treatment rather than a single massage technique. Simply put, it is "... the clinical assessment of soft-tissue injury and dysfunction, and the skillful use of a wide variety of manual therapeutic techniques aimed at alleviating those dysfunctions."

The goal of Orthopedic Massage is to dissolve adhesions; normalize the position of the soft tissue and release its torsion; lengthen the connective tissue; hydrate the joints; facilitate normal neurological function by muscle energy techniques; and release entrapment of the peripheral nerves. Orthopedic Massage is an extremely efficient and effective method of therapy.

We spend time with you

We take the time to look at your overall health, first with a health intake, and then with a trained eye to your body, how you stand, sit, walk, and how you do your work. We listen. We observe, and we connect with you.

We assess you

Assessing your body, its motion (and lack thereof) is our first step in helping you back to wellness. We see where your motions are constricted, which motions cause you pain or stiffness, and we take a look at any postural distortions you may be living with on a regular basis which are contributing to your pain.

We alleviate your soft-tissue dysfunctions

Once we have an idea of the patterns that are at work in your body due to your work, liesure, and sleep habits, we then address the underlying causes of pain and discomfort that you are experiencing.

We do this by:

increasing the range of motion and fluidity in the joints

returning the contractile tissues to their normal working resting lengths
through stretching and muscle energy techniques

resolving Myofascial Trigger Points which can cause chronic pain and restrictions of motion

We apply the proper modality, matching it's physiological effect with the physiology of your soft-tissue process: we do the right thing at the right time.

We create a personalized wellness plan for you

Let us work with you to create your plan for wellness. Based on our experience, your needs, and your budget, we can come provide you with a wellness massage program that fits all of your needs.

We don't try to sell you anything but good health

We are not in the business of selling you anything; we are in the business of being good massage therapists. Occasionally we may recommend reading materials or video tapes, but we are not affiliated with any outside organization, nor do we make money from anything we recommend. We simply want you healthy, and we recommend tools to get you there.

Description of Therapies

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The scope of practice for massgae therapy includes the application of any form of manual treatment of bodily soft tissues for the purpose of general relaxation, of improving the health of the client, and of maintaining or restoring the client to proper health. "Soft Tissue" denotes the various layers of the integument (skin), the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia ("connective tissue"), catilage, nerves, blood vessels, viscera, and membranes of the body. "Manual Treatment" includes all forms of therapy whereby the soft tissues of the client's body are treated with direct or indirect contact of teh massage therapist's hands, feet, elbows, knees, and forearms. Specific manual treatments are listed and described here:
Scope of practice for massage therapy also includes the general assessment of the client's condition by interview, palpation, and consultation with the client's other health care providers with the client's permission. Scope of practice does NOT include diagnosis of illness or injury, prescribing or advising the use of medications, rendering a prognosis, or spinal or joint manipulations. Instead of a prognosis, massage therapists can give an estimated duration of treatment or opinion regarding the client's progress.

Swedish Massage - the discipline of Swedish Massage and its strokes as codified by Pehr Henrik Ling forms the basis for all our work. Within this system we regularly use
effleurage - gliding strokes
petrissage - kneading and squeezing strokes
tapotement - tapping strokes (this is the James Bond one)
vibration - fine and coarse shaking motions
compression - pressing on tissues to allow them to relax
friction - deep back and forth motions which access deep tendinous and ligamentous structures to assist in healing and proper scar tissue formation
Deep Tissue Massage - Deep Tissue Massage is a variant of Swedish Massage in which the practitioner uses deeper pressure and slower gliding to access and affect deeper structures, or to access superficial structures at a more profound level than is possible with pure Swedish Massage.

Effective Deep Tissue massage requires great skill, precise anatomical knowledge and much experience to avoid damaging tissues and causing pain.

While many equate Deep Tissue massage with pain and discomfort, this doesn't have to be the case. Skillfully applied Deep Tissue massage requires much softening of tissues and requires longer time periods for the body to become accustomed to the practitioner's pressure.

Neuromuscular Therapy - massage therapists relieve myofascial trigger points by palpation and sustained digital compression as described in Janet Travell, M.D.'s book, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction; a Trigger Point Manual. Frequently, trigger points are addressed using a combination of myofascial release, digital compression, muscle energy techniques, stretching, and hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy - the therapeutic application of heat and cold via thermophores (like heating pads, only stronger), hydrocollator packs, heated gel packs, ice massage, and cold packs.

Myofascial Release - manipulation of the myofascia in order to reduce or eliminate painful and motion-restricting adhesions by static holds, skin rolling, fascial stretching, as well as with pin-and-stretch methods involving movement. Massage therapists regularly eliminate fascial adhesions in regions of fibrotic tissues and around surgical scars.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy - the therapeutic manipulation of the cranial-sacral rhythm via gentle holds and manipulations. This therapy is generally non-threatening and non-intrusive, and generates a positive therapeutic response by indirect means.

Muscle Energy Technique - using post-contraction refractory periods in muscle tissue, we use both direct and indirect muscle energy techniques, relying on the post-isometric relaxation phenomenon to help normalize muscle tone and increase the working and resting length of contractile muscle tissues.

Strain/Counterstrain - we have found that, especially in the cervical and thoracic regions, tender points in the deep paraspinals may be relieved by the osteopathic method of strain/counterstrain. We palpate for tender points in the affected muscles, then while keeping digital contact with the point, place the muscle in its position of greatest ease for 90 seconds or more to reset the proprioceptors and return the tissue to normal functionality and lwoered neurological activity.

Stretching - active and passive stretching methods are used to return contractile tissues to full working lengths, reset the proprioceptors, and to help normalize neurological activity in the affected, facilitated spinal cord segments.

Joint Mobilization - to a massage therapist, "joint mobilization" is equivalent to Per Henrik Ling's Swedish Gymnastics, the artful and fluid presentation of active, passive, and resistive range of motion of the body's joints. We palpate for joint restrictions and attempt to alleviate them using the soft-tissue methods described here within the limits of our training and scope of practice.

Acupressure - we have found that, especially in the shoulder and neck, acupressure in the Jin Shin Do tradition can be especially helpful for chronic or somewhat intractable pain and guarding patterns.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage -

Reflexology -

Massage Aftercare

2005-09-18T15:18:00.000-05:00

After a massage, especially a Deep Tissue massage, you may experience muscle soreness for a day or two. Post-treatment soreness is a result of manual manipulation and release of the spasm and Myofascial Trigger Points in your muscles and is also associated with the mobilization and release of accumulated metabolic waste products from your tissues into your system. The sensation of soreness is similar to what many people experience after a strenuous or sustained physical activity and is a natural byproduct of Neuromuscular Therapy and Deep Tissue Massage.

To help minimize any discomfort, drink plenty of water to help flush newly-mobilized waste products from your body. You might also soak in a warm bath with Epsom Salt, Sea Salts, or other mineral salts. If you have any questions or concerns about your response to our treatment together, please call us and speak with us immediately. Soreness that lasts for more than three days after Neuromuscular Therapy or Deep Tissue Massage is not normal.

As you experience reduction and eventual cessation of your pain following your treatments, you may be tempted to return to your normal work and exercise routines. Please know that when rehabilitating contracted and/or injured tissues, the following steps must be followed in the proper order to ensure your fast recovery without re-injury:

eliminate the spasm and contraction via Neuromuscular Therapy (massage session)

it is vital to restore flexibility to the muscles using slow and gentle stretching techniques to enhance the progress of your Neuromuscular Therapy, and to maintain a pain-free body. One excellent resource is the book Stretching by Bob Anderson. Gentle Yoga is also an excellent way to maintain your gains.

now and only now should you build strength to help prevent a future recurrence of injury and pain.

If rehabilitation is attempted without following this order, it is our experience that re-injury and disheartening setbacks occur. Tissues will tend to go back into spasm unless all contractions have been released and they have been fully restored to normal resting and working lengths.

Though you may not be experiencing pain now, a spasm may still be present since spasms do not necessarily cause pain. If you ask too much of your muscles too quickly, it is likely that you will re-enter the pain-spasm-pain cycle. Please be gentle with yourself and begin a sensible program of gentle stretching and exercise when normal muscle tone and range of motion has been restored.

The more that you become aware of habitual postures or actions that cause you pain, discomfort, and short-term relief but long-term pain between treatments, the closer you will be to leading a pain-free life on a daily basis!

Here's to Your Good Health!
Our Practice continues to grow due to your enthusiastic recommendations! We Thank You!

What to Expect After a Massage

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Afterwards, you will be profoundly relaxed, yet most likely invigorated as well. You may find that some chronic pain has left you. After the initial relaxation, many people feel renewed and have more energy and more mental clarity than they did before. You will probably also feel more flexible and able to move with more freedom than before!

Massage work is cumulative, and the benefits build on themselves over time.

Congratulations on taking care of yourself by experiencing your first massage! In doing so you have immediately enhanced your circulatory and lymphatic systems, stimulated your immune system, and reduced the levels of damaging stress hormones in your bloodstream. In addition, you have mobilized metabolic waste products for more efficient elimination, increased the efficiency of oxygen absorption in your tissues, lowered your blood pressure, and generally improved the functioning of every one of your body's physiological processes and systems. And it was pleasant and relaxing, too!

We here at Orthopedic Massage Associates believe deeply in the documented benefits of massage as an essential part of everyday health maintenance. Thank you for entrusting your well-being to us. We look forward to our future association as your partners in good health!

What is it Like?

2005-09-18T15:14:00.000-05:00

So you've never had a massage?
You're really in for a treat!

Before we begin, you will fill out a confidential health questionnaire to find out about your current state of health, and to discover which medications, if any, you are currently taking. We do this because there are certain conditions and/or medications for which massage is not appropriate, or for which we will need to first obtain permission from your primary health care provider(s).

Depending on the type of therapy we are using, you may or may not need to undress. For Swedish Massage, most clients undress completely, but some choose to keep their underwear on. You will always undress alone in the complete privacy of the massage therapy room, and during the massage, you will be covered with a sheet except for the part of your body that we are working on at the time.

The massage room is inviting and relaxing, with soft music and low lighting. These physical cues tell your body and mind to relax and unwind, that you're in a safe place and can leave your worries behind. The actual massage takes place on a special massage therapy table that is comfortably padded and made up with clean, fresh linens.

For most of our Swedish techniques, we will use some sort of lubricant, such as a special massage oil, or massage cream that nourishes the skin and provides us with the ability to glide across muscles and tissues to do our work. In some types of massage, such as chair massage and acupressure, no oil or cream is used.

The sessions begins with gentle contact to your body to accustom you to our touch. We may rock you gently at first - this is for a deeper relaxation response, and also for us to palpate how your spine moves, and how pliable your tissues are. The massage always begins light and gradually becomes deeper as you become accustomed to our touch and your tissues relax to allow us in. We never work deeper than your comfort level.

Your job during the massage is only to relax. Ask for anything that will make you more comfortable - the massage is entirely for you, not for us. We love it when our clients fall asleep! It makes us certain that we are doing a good job. Sometimes we may move one of your limbs to get to a certain spot more easily, or we may ask you to turn. If you ever have questions about anything at all during a massage, please ask; we will be delighted to answer and to share our knowledge with you.

Massage feels great! You might be surprised to find out that it doesn't tickle, and that it feels different than you had expected. Most of us live and work in very mental worlds and are not used to tuning in to our bodies. The massage is all about the body, and as you tune in to the new sensations you are experiencing on the massage table, you might be mildly surprised to find out how much tension you hold in your body in what might seem unlikely places. We are always surprised, and we get massaged regularly. Massage is a marvelous inward journey that brings you back together again, uniting your mind and your body into the perfect whole it was meant to be.

Most sessions last about an hour, although sometimes we will work slightly longer than our appointment times in order to give proper attention to a problem area if needed, and if agreed upon by you. Half-hour appointments are a good way to get introduced to massage; we can usually do excellent work on your back, neck, and face during that time, or on your legs and feet.

First-time sessions may last longer than a clock hour because we take time during the interview process with you before we begin. If you have time concerns, please do let us know as we can accommodate you whatever your schedule restrictions.

Contraindications: When to Avoid a Massage

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Although generally very helpful and healthful, there are certain times and under certain conditions where massage is not recommended, or contraindicated. Here is a fairly comprehensive list of times and conditions under which we do not recommend for you to receive a massage:

Vascular Conditions

thrombosis

embolus

severe varicosities

aneurysm

Raynaud's phenomenon

severe, uncontrolled hypertension

anticoagulant therapies (Coumadin, Heparin, etc.)

bruising

Severe Heart Condition

infectious viral, fungal, or bacterial conditions

rashes

poison ivy, poison oak, sumac

athlete's foot

ringworm

blisters

Inflammation

Abrasions, Cuts, Hematomas

Cancer - please consult your physician

Recent Surgery

Infectious Diseases

Diabetes with Vascular Dysfunction

Fractures

When Should I Receive a Massage?

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At the hands of a skillful practitioner, massage can be helpful for a wide range of conditions:

Most Headaches (Note: massage may worsen migraine headache if administered at onset)
Insomnia
Stress and Anxiety
Fatigue and Muscular Soreness
Mental Fatigue
Pain Associated with Musculoskeletal Conditions
Poor Circulation
Stiffness due to Fascial Restrictions, Muscle Tension, or Muscle Soreness
Digestive and Eliminative Problems
Non-Traumatic Swelling and Lymphedema
TemporoMandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ Dysfunction)
Overuse Injuries
Sprains
Postural Distortions and Deviations
Nerve Entrapments
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Sciatica

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

What is Stress

2005-09-18T15:07:00.000-05:00

What is stress?

Coined and studied extensively by researcher Hans Selye, stress is much more than just a word. So impressive have his findings and theories been that some authorities refer to him as "the Einstein of medicine." We hear about stress all the time, and so we tend to ignore its importance to us and to our physical bodies.

What does it do to your body?
Stress suppresses the parasympathetic portion of our nervous systems which is responsible for

resting respiratory rate
resting (lowered) blood pressure
digestion - increased salivation and pancreatic secretions and gastrointestinal motility
dilates coronary arteries
stimulates tear production

Stress stimulates the sympathetic portion of our nervous system, the part responsible for

the fight-or-flight syndrome
increased heart rate
increased respiratory rate
increased blood pressure
restricts our blood vessels (vasoconstriction)
shunts blood from "non-critical" functions
inhibits digestion through decreased gastrointestinal motility and decreased salivation and pancreatic secretions
inhibits elimination
stimulates the adrenal glands to release stress-related hormones

Even low levels of stress and job anxiety have been shown to push the body into this fight/flight pattern. The stress response of the body is somewhat like an airplane readying for take-off. Virtually all systems (eg, the heart and blood vessels, the immune system, the lungs, the digestive system, the sensory organs, and brain) are modified to meet the perceived danger.

Long-term stress to the body from any source, or stressor, raises levels of the natural hormone cortisol in your bloodstream. Cortisol is a steroid produced by the adrenals glands, and elevated levels of it in your body will eventually produce permanent changes in your tissues.

Click here for a longer article on stress and to learn more about its short- and long-term effects.

Common physical symptoms of too much job stress include

headaches
stomach ailments
back pain
insomnia and
fatigue.

Stress can also aggravate high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes. In addition, stress can cause feelings of exhaustion, anger and anxiety, and it can lead to increased use of alcohol, tobacco and over-the-counter drugs.

Overcoming job-related stress involves recognizing the sources of stress on your job and learning how to gain control over them. You can start with the following suggestions:

Look for ways to make your work more interesting or challenging
Change the structure of your day, rotate tasks, and even alternate between sitting and standing
Be aware of the time of day when you are most productive
Take a break whenever your energy is about to diminish
Also see our suggestions on the Self-Help Tips and Health Tips pages

If those suggestions are not practical for you because of the job that you have, maybe these additional suggestions will be helpful:

When you take a break, get some fresh air or close your eyes and breathe deeply to allow your body to relax
Relieve physical tension by taking your shoes off and massaging your feet with a golf ball, or squeezing a tennis ball in your hands
Have regular massage to manage your stress levels; massage is like medication in this respect; it only works when you take it
Set aside time for daily recreation. Meditation and creative pursuits are also excellent activities for reducing stress.

Benefits of Massage

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A few of the many physiological benefits of massage are:
Circulatory System

enhanced blood circulation
blood pressure is temporarily decreased
number of functional red blood cells and their oxygen carrying capacity are increased

Lymphatic System

reduces lymphedema
strengthens the immune system by increasing presence and activity of natural killer T cells (Field, T. et al., 1992)

Nervous and Endocrine System

inhibits pain by interfering with nociceptive (pain) information entering the spinal cord through stimulation of cutaneous thermo- and mechanoreceptors
reduces pain by resolving myofascial trigger points
stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and improving sleeping patterns

Muscular System

mechanically stretches and broadens tissues
relieves muscular restrictions, tightness, stiffness, and spasms
promotes rapid disposal of waste products
helps maintain muscles in the best possible state of nutrition flexibility, and vitality

Connective Tissue

frees fascial restrictions
increases range of motion and mobility
reduces adhesions
can resolve scar tissue

Respiration

slows the rate of respiration via reduced stimulation to the sympathetic nervous system
by freeing tight respiratory muscles and fascia, massage can increase vital capacity and pulmonary function (Field, et al., 1998)

Digestion and Elimination

promotes excitation of peristaltic activity in the large intestine, relieving colic and intestinal gas (De Domenico and Wood, 1997)
promotes activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which stimulates digestion

Urinary and Excretory

especially abdominal massage; increases urine output by activating dormant capillary beds and recovering lymphatic fluids for filtration
promotes the excretion of nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, and sodium chloride
promotes autonomic nervous system functioning, promoting general homeostasis and increasing urine output

Psychological Effects

reduces stress and anxiety through relaxation of body and mind
enhances well-being and body awareness through relaxation and cutaneous stimulation and improved body image
increases mental alertness

Flexibility for Life - the Feldenkrais® Method

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Flexibility for Life

Movements by Moshe Feldenkrais, D.Sc.

USED TO IMPROVE:

Sensory Awareness
Self Concept
Body Image
Flexibility
Posture
Balance

Increase your Flexibility for Life through Functional Integration® lessons with Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner ® Nancy Harden.

Discover...

Intelligent movement for health and sustainability...
Personal ergonomics for daily function, fitness, & creative activities...
Optimal performance and enhanced personal growth.

I m a g i n e...

... moving with the effortless ease of your early childhood.

... participating in your favorite activities with greater flexibility and more efficient use of your body.

... dancing for the sheer joy of moving freely with grace.

If your imagination likes how it feels to move effortlessly, gracefully, efficiently, give your body the opportunity to experience that movement.

The Feldenkrais Method ® yields results from the first lesson. The Method is not an exercise program. You will, however, notice that you become more efficient in any exercise program you participate in. Yoga and T'ai Chi students are encouraged to explore how The Feldenkrais Method can enhance and improve their practice.

Functional Integration ® and Awareness Through Movement ® lessons are designed to improve flexibility, balance, and posture; enhance sensory awareness and self concept; reduce pain; and support the treatment of neurological, orthopedic, post-operative, and stress-related conditions.

Functional Integration (FI) is an individual lesson using gentle, non-invasive touch to guide learning. Individuals remain comfortably clothed to receive a lesson on a low padded table, or in a chair. Changes occur through information communicated by physically-directed awareness.

In Awareness Through Movement (ATM) ® lessons a group is verbally guided through a series of gentle, slow movements. As change occurs, old patterns of movement become more useful ones. You learn from your own body how to move with minimum effort.

Nancy Harden has been involved in Feldenkrais work since 1991 and became a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner in 2000. A licensed physical therapist since 1987, she has explored many forms of holistic healing since 1980.

Flexibility for Life is located with Orthopedic Massage Associates near Crestwood Hospital in the Piedmont Commons Professional Center at 610 Airport Road, Suite 100, Huntsville, Alabama. Available by appointment.

To schedule private Functional Integration lessons please contact:

Nancy Harden, MPT

(256)603-7360

FELDENKRAIS®, THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD®, FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION®, AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT®,and CERTIFIED FELDENKRAIS PRACTITIONER® are registered service marks of the FELDENKRAIS GUILD®.

Self-Help Tips

2005-09-15T15:20:00.000-05:00

We've seen it all. And, being former desk-jockeys ourselves, we've felt it all, too. We have hurt in all the places that you are hurting in now, with the same frequency and intensity.

Which is why we are now massage therapists who are dedicated to helping you make the most of your work and liesure life, pain-free, and with freedom of motion. It's fun living in a body. Its great fun living in a body that is moving freely and working well.

Here are some simple and very effective tips that we've developed and collected just for you, the desk- and computer-athlete:

Move as much as you can!

Our bodies were designed to move freely and often. We frustrate our physical selves when we coop them up behind a desk, or in front of a computer for long periods of time. Our massage therapy textbooks told us that musculoskeletal motion accounts for at least half of our circulation! I couldn't believe it when I first read that, but now I know it to be true. The gentle pumping motion of our muscles assists blood and lymph flow dramatically, and makes us feel alive and less stagnant.
start by walking - the simple act of walking moves every single joint in our bodies, gently and thoroughly, and keeps them well lubricated and ready for action
move your whole body - when you reach for the telephone, or work the mouse, use your entire arm, including the shoulder. This will gently move your back muscles which tend to get tired and painful after a long session at the computer or simply sitting still. Think of your "arm" as beginning at the tip of your little finger and extending all the way to the bottom point of your shoulder blade. It all works together!
set a timer - if you are stuck at a desk (like we both were) for most of your working day, set an inexpensive kitchen timer to gently remind you to "come up for air" every hour or so. Get up, roll your shoulders, walk to the water fountain, or give yourself a change of scenery for a moment.
try to remember what it felt like to move as a child - when we were kids, we moved without thinking. Now that we're adults, we think too much about the way we move, about what we might look like. Let your body be free! Let it move the way it wants to!

Breathe!

This is one we can't stress enough. Breath is the energy of life. It animates us and keeps our blood oxygenated. Deep, slow breathing triggers relaxation, lowers blood pressure, and makes us more alert. The action of the ribs and diaphragm during breathing massages our internal organs, and is the prime mover of lymph, the substance that caries cell waste away and keeps our tissues clean and healthy. The pressure differentials in our upper and lower chest cavities during breathing also assists in pumping our blood. When sitting at a desk, or behind a steering wheel, we don't get enough deep breathing to keep our systems functioning in top-notch order; its one reason we feel stale, tired, and toxic at the end of a long day at the office.
for relaxation and to melt off stress, do ten cycles of deep, slow inhalations and exhalations - inhaling to a count of 6 or 8, bring air deeply into your lungs. Feel your ribs moving and expanding. Let your stomach pooch out! (Nobody's watching, really!). At the top of your inhalation, let your air escape through your mouth with a "whooshing" sound, and slowly but gently squeeze out all the air. One inhale/exhale is a cycle. Do 10.
for renewed vigor, try "bellows breathing" - this is a yogic breathing exercise that is recommended by yoga practitioners, and also by Andrew Weil, M.D., the modern health guru. This exercise is good for getting you going again quickly when you feel sluggish and sleepy. To do it, breathe through your nose rapidly in and out, about two cycles per second for about 10 seconds to start, working your way up to 1 full minute after you have been doing this exercise for a while. Its harder than you might imagine, but it also provides you with an amazing amount of renewed energy and clarity. Stop immediately if you feel lightheaded.
"When you gasp through your mouth, you're triggering your body's fight-or-flight response," John Douillard explains. "But when you breathe deeply through the nose, you're activating the underused lower portion of the lungs and accessing more oxygen. Now your breathing is telling your mind that this is not an emergency; this is an experience you can do calmly in a state of heightened awareness.
In 1991, Douillard took two groups of training athletes and outfitted them with heartrate monitors and attached electrodes to their scalps. Those in the first group did most of their breathing through their mouths while exercising; the others breathed through their noses. The mouth-breathers produced standard brain waves, and had the rapid lock-step heartbeat of someone experiencing an adrenaline rush. The nose breathers, on the other hand, produced the alpha waves and the more variable heartbeat normally seen during meditation or light sleep.
Douilllard is the author of the current fitness best-seller: Body, Mind, and Sport.

Stretch!

Stretching gently resets the muscles' resting length back to what it should be. It also reminds your proprioceptors (specialized nerve endings that tell your body about its position) that your muscles can get back to a normal resting length. Stretching reduces neurological activity, as well, and contributes to lowered stress levels and increases your feelings of well-being. And it just feels good, too.
try Yoga or T'ai Chi Chuan, or a stretching class! - Our clients who do these simple things improve their resting and working lives many times over. Their tissues are more supple, their stress levels are lower, they are more alert, and they can move and sleep easier at night. You really won't believe what it can do for you until you try it. Trust us!
simply stretch what feels good - trust your body; it knows what it needs.

Exercise!

Do what you can on this one. Every little bit counts.
try a Pilates class - Pilates (Pih-LAH-tees) is a form of rehabilitative exercise created by J oseph Pilates, a German physical therapist.

Try "Constructive Rest"!

There is a very simple thing that Alexander Technique teachers have their students do: constructive rest. It is very simple, and wonderfully effective: lie flat on your back on the floor for about 20 minutes each evening with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. (maybe put a small hand towell underneath your neck for support). This feels wonderful, and very, very gently allows your back muscles to unwind, and for your spine to lengthen and re-hydrate after being compressed by gravity all day. This is the perfect remedy for "computer shoulders" pain, and over time, this simple exercise has tremendous benefits.

Sleep!

Sleep is integrally important to many of the body's functions, and it is our recharge time. From the beginning of the 20th century to today, our average sleep time has reduced from about 10 hours a night to approximately 6.5 hours a night today! We're seriously sleep-deprived as a culture.
If you are having trouble falling asleep or you cannot sleep without waking during the night, changing your sleep habits can be as effective as taking sleeping pills.
The benefits of behavior therapy are not as immediate as those of sleeping pills, but the benefits will last as long as you continue your new sleep practices. In contrast, sleep-inducing medication eventually will have to be discontinued to avoid possible long-term side effects. And once medication is stopped, its benefits decrease.
Physicians recommendations for changing your sleep behavior include the following:
Get up at the same time no matter when you go to sleep. Stick to your regular wake-up time even on the weekends
Go to bed only when you are sleepy. If you do not fall asleep in 20 to 30 minutes, you should get out of bed and go back only when you become sleepy
Develop a bedtime routine, such as reading, taking a warm bath or eating a light snack
Avoid naps
Cut down on alcohol, tobacco and caffeine consumption
Use your bedroom and your bed only for sleep, not for work or for watching television

Relieve Stress
When you're away from us and not able to enjoy yourself in our serene therapy rooms here at Orthopedic Massage Associates, here are some fun and interesting methods of relieving stress at home and at the office:

Tear up a piece of paper. According to Mary Sotile, M.A., author of Beat Stress Together, the rhythmic motions of tearing the paper may release pent-up physical stress, the smooth sounds of the tearing paper are soothing and may help you focus and tune out distractions, and it is a concrete task that gives you a definite feeling of accomplishment.
Recruit your partner to give you a ten-minute head or foot massage every day. What luxury! And how attainable!
Dab peppermint oil on your temples and forehead. Participants in a German study reported significant pain cessation from headaches 15 minutes after peppermint oil had been dabbed on their foreheads and temples.
Try this eye trick: when you feel stressed or overwhelmed, take 5 deep, slow breaths through your nose. Then, rapidly move your eyes from side to side, about 25 times to each side. When you are finished, you will feel a sense of calm, and an amazing new ability to conquer those things which seemed impossible.
Try one of the breathing methods described above. We're certain that you'll find one you like, and one of them is bound to do the trick in any setting you may find yourself in.
Meditate. We can't say enough about this one. "Pray and meditate day and night" is a good saying to live by. Meditation simply means being quiet, and observing, not doing.

Live!

Think thoughts of love and harmony. If you're stressed, you may as well be stressed and think good, pleasing thoughts instead of disharmonious ones. Try it! You'll be amazed.

Check out FreeWill Astrology ... it's really NOT about astrology at all. Also check the November 2005 issue of The Sun Magazine for a fantastic article entitled "Pronoia: Why the World is Conspiring to SHower you with Blessings"

Life is Good. Live it Well!

Resources for You

2005-09-05T15:25:00.000-05:00

When we find good information, we like to share it with you, our clients. Orthopedic Massage Associates maintains a lending library of books, tapes, and videos which are all available freely to our clients. In addition to that, here are some helpful resources which you may find useful:

Massage, Bodywork, and Holistic Health

*	The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) www.amtamassage.org
*	The Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) www.abmp.com
*	The Touch Research Institute www.miami.edu/touch-research/
*	National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) www.ncbtmb.com
*	Orthopedic Massage Education and Research Institute (OMERI) www.omeri.com
*	www.spring-training.com/html/orthopedic_massage.html This site has a very concise explanation of what orthopedic massage is, and how it is integrated into regular medical care
*	Tennessee Institute of Healing Arts, massage school in Chattanooga, TN www.tiha.com
*	Holistic Online.com www.holistic-online.com, a very comprehensive web site containing much information of interest

Non-massage sites

*	Dr. Bill English, traditional and alternative medical care in Huntsville www.drenglish.com
*	Joseph Hubertus Pilates www.hermit.com/hermit/~mjm.html
*	Pilates classes in Huntsville and Madison
*	Breath Work at the "respire net" www.respire.net
*	All about Stress www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc31.html
*	The Google search engine www.google.com
*	The Daily Wav site for sound files www.dailywav.com
*	Are you a reader? This is the coolest idea I've seen in a long time! www.bookcrossing.com
*	Raybob's BookCrossing bookshelf raybob.bookcrossing.com
*	Mimi Hughes, a Madison teacher who is swimming the entire length of the Tennessee River has a wonderful website devoted to her swim, our environment, the Tennessee River in particular, and taking care of the world we live in. Her website is found at www.riverswim.com.
*	City of Madison, AL, web site www.ci.madison.al.us

Helpful Books, Tapes, and Videos

*	AM Yoga, PM Yoga -- this is an excellent yoga intro containing two video tapes, one for morning practice and one for evening practice. Each routine is 20 minutes long and very well presented.
*	Listen to Your Pain by Ben Benjamin, Ph.D. This excellent little book describes common and uncommon soft-tissue injuries, how to assess them yourself with simple techniques, and what your treatment options are, including massage, physical therapy, surgery, and more. Ben Benjamin has been researching the soft-tissue field for decades, and is an internationally known lecturer and teacher in the field.
*	Body, Mind, and Sport by John Douillard. Auyrvedic background and athletic training. See more information on his web site at: www.lifespa.com
*	Three Season Diet by John Douillard. Auyrvedic background and athletic training.

Good Stuff

2005-09-03T14:38:00.000-05:00

Our world is full of news, and it seems to consist mostly of bad news.

As an antidote, we thought we'd share words and images of Joy, Truth, Beauty and Love that lift our spirits.

The treasure you seek
lives within;
you hold the key,
the door is open,
just decide, then
step in.

Welcome home.
Rebecca Boyd

O' thou art fairer
than the evening air
Clad in the beauty
of a thousand stars.
Christopher Marlowe

I have gazed
at your beauty
from the beginning
of my existence ...
Yet it has not been
long enough
for me.
Rabindranath Tagore

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson

May You Be Blessed!

Calendar of Events

2005-09-02T15:22:00.000-05:00

January 2007: Continuing Education Class: "Massage for People Living with Cancer"
OMA in partnership with the newly-created Massage Education & Development Guild will be sponsoring Gayle MacDonald, author of the books "Medicine Hands" and "Massage for the Hospital Patient and Medically Frail Client" who will be teaching her premier seminar, "Massage for People Living with Cancer" January 19, 20, and 21 in Huntsville, AL. This class offers vital information for the massage therapist working with medically frail and oncology patients. 22 CEU credits, NCBTMB and AMTA approved. For more information or to register, please contact us at (256)564-2958. Thanks!

Coming Soon: Open House
OMA will be sponsoring an Open House celebrate being in our new home at Crestwood Medical Center!

Keep watching this space for dates ...

Contact Us

2005-09-02T00:02:00.000-05:00

Orthopedic Massage Associates, LLC
610 Airport Rd, #100
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256)564-2958

Judy Castrichini, LMT #724
phone: (256)527-1462
email: jcastrichini@aol.com ~ judy@oma-hsv.com

Jeffrey Rich, LMT #656
phone: (256)337-1699
email: jeffrey@vallnet.com ~ jeffrey@oma-hsv.com

In Partnership with

Orthopedic Massage Associates, LLC
610 Airport Rd, #100
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256)564-2958

Site Map - Your Guide to this Site

2005-09-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

About Us

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Self-Help Tips
Good Stuff
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