Massage Warsaw- Massage Therapy – Warsaw Acupuncture

Tag: exercise video

  • Video: Shoulder Exercises for Improving Posture & Decreasing Chronic Pain

    Here is a video for some exercises for improving shoulder posture. It is definitely worth a try for people who haven’t had much luck with the traditional stretching exercises. Traditionally, to correct posture, we focus on increasing the length of shortened muscles or increasing the strength of weak muscles in an attempt to bring the body’s posture back to equilibrium. The technique proposed in this video focuses on awareness and activating. These gentle, almost effortless movements bring the participant’s attention to muscles that are often ignored. In this example, the participant activates her serratus anterior muscle, which is a small postural muscle whose weakness is often overcompensated for by larger muscle groups like the trapezius muscles. Teaching the participant to use her serratus anterior muscle results in a more evenly divided workload for the postural muscles, which in turn lead to better posture and reduced chronic pain. With the shoulder blade sitting better on the torso, the many neck muscles that originate from the torso or shoulder blade experience reduced stress.

    I tried the exercises myself on the weekend after a long bout of cycling (ie. sore neck and shoulders) and found instant relief.

    Enjoy the video.

  • Video: Exercise for Lower Back Pain: The Cat & Dog Stretch

    Here is a video on a great little exercise to help ease lower back pain. It is called the “Cat & Dog Stretch” and it is very useful in helping to mobilize the back vertebrae and take pressure off the spinal joints, discs & nerves. Remember that much pain in the body comes from inactivity, poor circulation and tight muscles. This simple exercise is also an excellent first step in relieving pain from a herniated disc.

    To do the exercise, go slowly. You should not feel any pain with the exercise. If you do feel discomfort, decrease the range of movement. If the pain is aggravated with the exercise, discontinue. Try to do 10 repititions 3 times a day (morning, mid day and night) for the best benefit.

    (ps. I apologize for the excessive use of spandex in the video. Nevertheless, it is a good, simple explanation of the exercise)

    (pss. No, that is not me in the video. It’s some other bald guy on Youtube)

  • How Much Anatomy Does a Massage Therapist Know?

    The lights are dimmed down low, the music is playing softly and you are being slowly lulled off to sleep by the massage until you feel a pain very similar to the pain you were complaining about.  You wonder how the RMT was able to find “the spot” and ask what it is.  The RMT answers back with some Latin words you have never heard of before and you ask yourself why it seems that all RMT’s speak Latin as a second language.  Surely they can’t all be Romanian….

    In Ontario Canada, all RMT’s complete 2 or 3 years of education where we learn a great deal of anatomy and palpations.  To illustrate what some of the classes are like, here is an interesting video about palpations or the art of knowing what muscle, bone, ligament or tendon you are on simply from feeling.  It is made by Functional Anatomic Palpation Systems to advertise some of their seminars on palpations offered to RMT’s. It might help you understand how RMT’s are so fluent in latin. You can find out more about their seminars at http://www.functionalanatomyseminars.com/