Massage Warsaw- Massage Therapy – Warsaw Acupuncture

Author: Admin

  • PC Tim Hudak’s Fraudulent Advertising

    A few examples that might surprise you. Tim Hudak’s team apparently doesn’t know how to draw to scale.  This conveniently allows them to make values seem much larger or smaller than they really are.

    How stupid does he think we are?

    The y-axis is fudged to visually exaggerate the portion of the area under the curve corresponding to the increase under McGuinty. Notice how the distance between $0 and $150 billion is the same as the distance between $150 billion and $200 billion. The x-axis is rescaled such that all of McGuinty’s portion looks far bigger (apparently he’s been in power half of Ontario’s history). http://www.ontariopc.com/pdf/Changebook_en.pdf

     

    A 77% increase should correspond to about 3 and a half little men. Instead there are 20 more. Nevermind no adjustment being done for revenue/population increases or inflation. http://www.ontariopc.com/pdf/Changebook_en.pdf

     

    The proposed $6.1 billion increase in healthcare spending is a modest, 12% increase, probably mostly in line with the spending necessary to keep up with a growing population. But look at that, in the illustration it goes from 16 ambulances to 40! That’s a 150% increase! http://www.ontariopc.com/pdf/Changebook_en.pdf

     

  • Massage Case Studies

    The following treatments and observations took place at Mother Theresa’s Mission in Calcutta, India during 3 days in March 2011.

    Please note that there may be some inaccuracies in this article for the following reasons:

    • Most of the information I have on the patients came from a volunteer with no medical training and only a basic understanding of the Indian language. (But he had the largest heart <3).
    • Many patients could not communicate well due to physical trauma or mental illness.

    Stroke Victim

    Patient’s Condition:

    • This patient had previously suffered a severe stroke.
    • He sat most of the day and could not walk under his own power.
    • His arm and shoulder were “stuck” in a typical post stroke position: glenohumeral joint was internally rotated, bicep was in spasm with the elbow permanently flexed, wrist and fingers stuck in flexion.  He had no  mobility of this arm as it was permanently in this position.

    Treatment:

    • With the goal of giving him some mobility of his arm, the following was done:
    • Rolfing of the infraspinatus and supraspinatus
    • Rolfing of the pectoralis major and minor
    • Myofascial release technique (MRT) and golgi tendon technique (GTO) of the bicep brachii
    • Rolfing of the intrinsic finger flexors
    • Active assisted squats

    Results:

    • After 3 days of treatments, the patient had more mobility of his shoulder, elbow and hand.  In particular, his hands were more supple and flexible due to the decreased spasm of his finger flexors.
    • The assisted squats that we did perhaps had the biggest effect.  The simple act of training him to use his legs again awoke something in him.  He started to believe that his legs were still useful.  He gained confidence and where he would be content to spend the entire day sitting or lying on the ground, he would now initiate standing and doing half squats on his own.

     

    Rickshaw Puller

    • This gentleman supported his entire family by pulling his rickshaw for fares.  In an accident, he received a severe blow to the top of his skull.  This compression injury left him in severe pain and unable to walk without the aid of a walker.  He had tremendous spirit though and it was remarked that out of all the patients, he tried the hardest to get better.  He still had hopes of being well enough to pull his rickshaw again.

    Condition:

    • He had chronic pain in his groin, low back and legs and great difficulty walking.  His hip flexors were in spasm.

    Treatment:

    • Relief of nerve compression with cervical traction and lumbar traction
    • Stretch hip flexors, active fascial release of the sacrum

    Results:

    • The patient reported a decrease in pain.
    • The patient felt stronger and was able to walk short distances without the walker

     

     

    Broken Femur:

    • The patient’s femur was previously broken and was not properly set.  As a result, the femur bone was not perfectly straight, but rather at a 160 degree angle.  The leg was severely swollen.

    Treatment and Results:

    • Nodal pumping at the groin lymph nodes and manual lymphatic drainage of the femur resulted in an immediate noticeable decrease in swelling of the femur.

     

    Liver Damage:

    • This patient was suffering from swelling in his right hand and both legs due to liver damage.

    Treatment and Results:

    • Nodal pumping of the chest, arm pit, and groin, combined with manual lymphatic drainage resulted in an immediate noticeable decrease in swelling in all the affected areas.

     

    Badly Set Tibia:

    • This patient’s tibia had been previously broken and was not properly set straight.  Both legs were swollen, the skin over the swollen area was peeling and flaking off.  The patient’s leg muscles were very hypertonic and seemed hard as a rock.  It seems that the dry skin and hypertonic muscles were due to a decrease in mobility and circulation as walking was too painful for the patient.

    Treatment and Results:

    • My goals were to improve the mobility he still had, decrease the swelling, and improve circulation.
    • I performed rhythmic mobilizations of the toes and ankles
    • Effleurage of the legs combined with nodal pumping of the groin and popliteal area
    • By the end of the treament, the swelling had reduced, the muscles were supple and the patient had greater mobility.

     

     

     

  • Studies Show Platelet Rich Plasma Injections are Ineffective

    There has been a recent fad in treating athletic injuries with Platelet Rich Plasma  Injections.  The popularity of the procedure was greatly helped by celebrity athletes achieving great results from the procedure. Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy Polamalu also of the NFL and Tiger Woods were all treated with Platelet Rich Plasma Injections.

    With such endorsements demand for the procedure grew fetching $500 to $1000 per treatment.  However, new research is showing that the use of platelet rich plasma is no more effective than a placebo saline injection in controlled studies.

    Full details are in this article.

  • Top 5 Regrets Before Dying

    The following is a post by someone who worked in palliative care.  You can find the oringal post here.

     

    Top Five Regrets before Dying By Bronnie Ware

    by The Wellness Clinic on Thursday, 03 February 2011 at 02:30

    For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

    People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal.

    Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

    When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

     

    1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me

    This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

    It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.


    2. I wish I didn’t work so hard

    This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

    By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

     

    3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings

    Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.

    We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

     

    4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends

    Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

    It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

     

    5. I wish that I had let myself be happier

    This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

    When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

     

    Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, and choose honestly. Choose happiness.

    Keep smiling & have a wonderful life.

  • Acupuncture for Scars

    Some surgical operations or injuries can leave unsightly scars.  These scars can be discoloured and made of tough, rubbery, inflexible material that may feel sensitive to the touch years after the surgery is completed.

    Acupuncture can reduce the appearance of the scar.  Acupuncture promotes the local production of cortisol, a natural hormone that acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps to break down scar tissue.  Clients may notice the colour of the scar change from a purplish dark red to their natural skin colour.  The quality of the scar tissue changes from tough and rubbery to soft and supple.  By the end of the series of treatments, the scar will be considerably less noticeable.

    The person may also find themselves in chronic pain for many years after the surgery due to the scar tissue and adhesions that built up on the tissues, muscles and ligaments below the skin surface.  These scar tissues and adhesions can grab and pull at other muscles creating pain with movement.

    Acupuncture can help reduce chronic pain that may result from surgery by helping to break down the scar tissue that was formed on the muscles and ligaments as the body was trying to “knit” itself back together after the surgery.  Combining acupuncture with fascial work like Active Release Technique or Myofascial Release Technique can greatly increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

    Acupuncture has several advantages for the treatment of scars:

    • Acupuncture is relatively pain free.  The client may feel  a slight prick as the needle is inserted, but after that, the client will feel nothing for the rest of the treatment.  It is a more comfortable experience than laser therapy.
    • Acupuncture is the safest form of scar removal.  It is much safer than surgery with none of the possible side effects.
    • Acupuncture is comletely natural.  It works by promoting the body’s natural healing powers.
    • Acupuncture is convenient.  After a half hour acupuncture session, there are no bandages or creams.  You don’t need to avoid sunlight or certain activities.  There is no wound or stitches.  You can shower with freedom.
    • The experience can be far more comfortable than further surgery or laser.

  • 4 Causes of Neck Pain

    Neck pain is a 21st century disease. Just about everyone suffers from neck pain at one time or another. It can be an occasional mild nuisance that can be easily ignored most of the time. But what can we do when neck pain becomes unbearable? First of all, consider why your neck might be sore.

    1. Posture

    With the advent of the digital age, people are spending too much time crouched in front of a computer or craning their necks down to look at their smart phone. This can seriously aggravate, strain and wear out neck muscles. Posture is especially important for maintaining a healthy neck when we consider that the average human head weighs about as much as a bowling ball (and I’m not talking 5 pin). With proper posture, the head is balanced perfectly and the neck muscles can be at rest. However, if we are slouching forward and sticking our chins out, there is a constant strain on the neck muscles to keep the head up, leaving the neck muscles sore. Consider these tips for proper computer posture.

    2. Lack of Movement

    With all the time spent staring at a computer or a tv screen, the neck simply doesn’t get enough exercise.  The human body is made for movement.  Movement helps to produce synovial fluid which lubricates and cushions our joints.  A lack of movement causes this lubrication to stop or dry up leaving our necks as mechanically sound as a car without engine oil.  Try these gentle neck stretching exercises for the office.

    3. Lack of Strength

    Sitting in front of a computer all day can be even harder to do if we are out of shape.  Yes, you need to be in shape to sit.  Keeping our neck muscles constantly contracted in one position for 8 hours is incredibly difficult for our bodies to do.  Strengthening these muscles and increasing their endurance will improve their ability to face that challenge.  Many neck muscles start  in the shoulders and can be strengthened by doing shoulder exercises.  Consider adding the military shoulder press, shoulder shrugs, rowing motions and alternate dumbell shoulder press to your exercise routine.  Also tai chi, swimming, elliptical machines and yoga can be very helpful too.

    4. Lack of Maintenance

    A good way to maintain the health of your neck is to use proper office ergonomics, daily neck stretches and regular shoulder exercises.  A good addition to neck maintenance is a regular massage or acupuncture treatment.  An effective therapeutic massage and acupuncture treatment can help flush out the toxins that are building up in the muscles, break down adhesions or scar tissue that is starting to develop, normalize the nerve pathways to your muscles and take care of potential issues before they become a problem.  If you wake up with a neck so sore that you cannot move it, a good treatment can restore most neck functioning almost immediately.