By: Erin Ziprick, RMT

At Platinum Health & Wellnes we offer pre-natal as well as post-natal massage. Erin is trained in pregnancy massage and understands the needs for a pregnant body, what techniques to use and how to safely massage to alleviate any discomfort. When looking for a massage treatment during pregnancy, the massage therapist must be aware of the normal and potentially abnormal changes during pregnancy, with a view to preventative treatment, referrals to other health practitioners when necessary and maintenance of the patient’s wellness. It is the utmost importance that you do your research when looking for a massage to make sure you and your baby are safe.

During pregnancy, the women’s body goes through many changes. As the uterus expands with the weight of the growing baby, there is added stress on the women’s neck, shoulders, lower back, and abdominal muscles. An aching lower back is the most common complaint for most pregnant women, while some other symptoms are swollen legs, sore hips, swelling and/or insomnia.

The following are many benefits of receiving massage during the pregnancy:

* Relieves muscle cramps, spasms, and tension in the lower back, neck, hips, and legs
* Decrease the release of stress hormones
* Improves blood and lymph circulation, which helps decrease swelling (lymph)
* Improves sleep
* Soothes tired and tense muscles
* Decreases heart rate and blood pressure
* Can improve labor outcome and ease pain

During a massage the primary treatment goal is to promote a healthy pregnancy by including relaxation techniques and providing a supportive environment. During the first couple of trimesters we offer pregnancy pillows so that the women is laying on her stomach. In the later months, the most common position is on her side with pillows supporting her for extra support.

For more information regarding pregnancy massage, you can contact your doctor or midwife.

Check out our new welcome video for our clinic! We are excited to be entering our third year of practice and continue to look forward to optimizing your health and wellness goals. We believe in the importance of living an active lifestyle that involves healthy eating, daily exercise, and regular body work. Find relaxation, improve your well-being,  and enhance your mind-body connection with our therapeutic treatments. 

Health Services offered at Platinum Health & Wellness include, Chiropractic Care, Registered Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Physiotherapy, Holistic Nutrition, and Custom Orthotics. 

By: Erin Ziprick, RMT

Is your Resolution in the New Year to take better care of yourself? Instead of focusing on the outcomes, why not set your sights on the process in 2015 and making short term goals throughout the year to ensure you are successful.

Massage is a proactive approach to preventative medicine as much as exercise and eating healthy. You are making yourself a priority and caring for your body, mind and spirit.

By adding massage into your routine it will help increase health and overall wellness. Here are 5 ways massage helps:

1) Stress reduction:
“Experts estimate upwards of 90% of disease is stress related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress.”

This can translate into
      * Decreased anxiety
          * Enhanced sleep quality
              * Increased energy
                 * Improved concentration
                     *Increased circulation
                         * Reduced fatigue

The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as valuable as the physical benefits.

2) Back Pain:
Back pain is an important health problem that affects the majority of the public and is the most common medical condition for which people use complementary and alternative medicine practices. Massage as been shown to be an effective treatment for back pain.

3) Strengthens your Immune System:
Massage therapy can strengthen your immune system by stimulating the lymph system, the body’s natural defense. And by using “long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration, and tapping” will improve the body’s hormonal response and immune function. An increase in white blood cells and naturally killer-cell activity better prepares the body to fight off invading cells.

4) Injury prevention
Regular massage treatments can help you get back to your activity sooner and help prevent any new injuries from occurring. Massage increases circulation to the muscles and tissues. With increased blood circulation, the nutrients are distributed throughout the body. An increase in circulation will then help repair tissues and quicken the healing process. Therefore, the muscles begin to relax and soften, increase joint mobility and range of motion, and decrease spasms and cramping.

5) Migraines and Headaches
“A 2008 pilot study involving 16 participants suggested that massage may be beneficial in reducing the frequency of tension type headaches as well as the intensity and duration of pain.” Massage treatments which are performed on a regular basis, can help keep the body at it’s optimal level of relaxation and stress relief. By focusing on the head, neck and shoulders, massage can decrease the pain and discomfort brought on by a migraine and headache. For more information about Headaches and migraines, please go to the following link. 

Overall, making short term goals and having a plan to incorporate massage treatments into your schedule will help you in feeling your best self throughout the upcoming year. Communicate with your massage therapist to customize a treatment plan that works the best in your schedule and stick with it. Consider it a necessary piece to your health and wellness in 2015!

References:
http://www.massagetherapy.com/learnmore/benefits.php 12/19/14 http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/070411.htm 12/19/14 http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/090110.htm 12/19/14 http://www.massagetherapy.com/learnmore/benefits.php 12/29/14

By: Erin Ziprick, RMT

As the snow starts to fall and the temperature falls below zero, it is important to remind ourselves to keep active and continue to live a healthy lifestyle throughout the cold winter months. It seems easy enough to head inside, curl up on the couch with a warm cup of hot chocolate and a blanket and hibernate for the rest of winter. Let’s embrace the cold and head outside to enjoy those special activities only the winter can bring. This alone brings a unique list of challenges and obstacles to staying injury free especially when you are introducing winter specific activities that you haven’t performed for over six months. Before the cold winter months, you can take steps towards loosening up your muscles and keeping healthy so that once you hit the slopes or strap on your rusty ice skates with your family, you minimize the after-activity soreness and to decrease muscle fatigue.

It is very important to keep a regular stretching routine as well as regular massage therapy sessions to have an active and injury free winter season. The key to having an injury free season is to focus on the body’s flexibility and lengthening of your muscles. You can be successful with this prior to the winter’s months.

Some popular winter season activities are snowboarding, skiing, and ice-skating and these activities physically impact your lower body. Therefore focusing on strengthening and lengthening your hamstrings, hips, lower back and core will increase your overall flexibility and prevent injury.

According to American College of Sports Medicine, Whether you choose to perform static stretches (by holding each position for 10-30 seconds) or perform dynamic stretches (by moving the body through a functional range of motion) flexibility prepares the muscles, tendons and joints for work by allowing them to move freely through a full active range of motion. The more prepared the body is, the less likely it is to get injured. Before you perform the activity, a warm up is beneficial to your body as it helps increase circulation and to reduce muscle tightness letting you to perform at you is best.

To kick off the winter season it is important to combines consistent stretching with regular therapeutic massage sessions. Regular massage therapy sessions allow your body to release toxins found in tight muscles, improve flexibility, increase joint mobility, and improve circulation. Your massage therapist can help you in achieving your goals with additional stretches and exercises that will help improve your flexibility and keep you injury free.

Whether you are preparing your body for family fun winter activities or recovering from a wither sport injury or accident, therapeutic massage treatments combined with regular stretching regimens should be your go-to strategy for minimizing aches and pains this winter season.

References
http://www.acsm.org/access-public-information/articles/2012/01/10/basic-injury-prevention-concepts
http://www.rmtao.com/Massage_Therapy/the_benefits_of_mt/massage_therapy_helps.htm

By: Erin Ziprick, RMT

Have you ever wondered why most massage therapist recommend using Epsom Salts after an intense workout or after a massage treatment? How can salts be related to decreasing muscle tension and removing toxins from body? They are just salts, it’s no big deal, right?

Epsom salts are actually not a salt but a compound of magnesium and sulfate. They are found originally at a spring in Surrey, England and have been commonly used as a natural remedy in households all over the world for hundreds of years. Not only do the salts have health benefits but as well as beauty, gardening and house hold uses.

The salts are primarily comprised of magnesium and sulfate and they both play a major role in the way our bodies function. “Magnesium is important in that it helps keep enzyme activity regular in your body and helps your bodily functions run smoothly.” It regulates over 325 enzymes in the body but as well as reduces inflammation, improves muscle and nerve function, and prevents hardening of arteries and blood clots.

“Sulfate also plays an important role in the way in which your body works. It has a role in formation of brain tissue and joint proteins, and it can strengthen the walls of the digestive tract.” Sulfate also helps improve absorption of nutrients, flush out toxins, and help eases migraines.

The health benefits of using Epsom Salts is to:
* Relax the nervous system, relieve stress
* Cure skin problems
* Sooth back pain and aching limbs
* Ease muscle strain
* Heal cuts
* Treat any cold and congestion
* Draw toxins out from the body.

One of the most common ways to absorb all the amazing benefits of Epsom Salts is through a bath. The skin is the biggest organ in the body and is very porous which easily allows absorption into the body. Try drawing an epsom salt bath after your next massage to relax your muscles further!

Steps on an Epsom Salt bath:
1. Fill your bath tub up with warm water
2. Put in 1-2 cups of Epsom Salts in the water and mix together. Make sure that the salt is dissolved before getting in.
3. Soak in the water for 15-20 minutes.
4. After the bath, take a quick shower to wash off any access salt on your skin.

ITS VERY IMPORTANT!! To keep hydrated before, during, and after the bath. Remember that this bath is detoxifying to your system and to get ample results, you must drink lots of water. Enjoy!

References
http://www.saltworks.us/salt_info/epsom-uses-benefits.asp
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/treating/epsom-salt-baths.htm

By: Erin Ziprick, RMT

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to travel down to Mexico to participate in a massage course. Not only did I get to enjoy the sandy beaches and beautiful oceans for two weeks, I was also in the presence of amazing Massage Therapists who inspire me with new treatment techniques.
The instructor truly has a unique approach to massage therapy as it was he who introduced me to Visceral Manipulation. For those of you who aren't familiar with Visceral Manipulation,  I will do my best to explain more about it.

Visceral Manipulation (VM) is a manual therapy that focuses on internal organs (visceral), their environment and potential influences on structural dysfunctions. It evaluates and treats motions in relation to organs, membranes, fascia, and ligaments. With applying a gentle manipulation and specific hand placement of manual forces, it helps to encourage normal movement of the connective tissue and viscera. (Barral, J)

Visceral Manipulation was developed from a French osteopath and Physical Therapist named Jean-Pierre Barral in 1971. VM was introduced to the United States back in 1985 and since then he has trained a team of International Teachers who continue to teach around the world. Jean-Pierre is continuing research and development in this area as well as maintaining a full-time practice. (Barral, J)

Areas of the body affected from dysfunction of the viscera:

* Musculoskeletal System
* Vascular System
* Nervous System
* Urogential System
* Respiratory System
* Digestive System
* Lymphatic System

How can Visceral Manipulation help you?

If you are unsure if Visceral Manipulation is right for you, feel free to contact the clinic for more information regarding the treatment. The following are common scenarios where VM can help you;* Motor Vehicle Accident related injuries (ie. Whiplash, seat belt injuries)

* Digestive Disorders (ie. Bloating, constipation, nausea, GERD)
* Women and Men’s Health Issues
* Musculoskeletal Disorders (ie. Headaches/Migraines, chronic spinal dysfunction)
* Pain related to post-operative scar tissue
* Poor posture
* Sport Injuries

Using the technique correctly can help relieve pain, decrease dysfunction and improve functioning of the entire body.

What to expect with treatment:

A VM treatment would be incorporated into your regular massage treatment. Depending on the area of concern, there would be undraping of the abdomen with a towel to cover your chest. Usually the treatments are over skin or sheets but the comfort of the client comes first and can always be adapted to client’s comfort level. Communication is key between the therapist and client. The movements are gentle and subtle so having that open communication and trust is important.

Who can practice VM in your community?

A wide variety of health care practitioners can perform VM including osteopathic, chiropractics, physicians, naturopathic doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists and other licensed body workers.

In the 4 years that I have been practicing Visceral Manipulation, I have seen changes in people who would normally not see any differences. For example, a few years back, a middle aged women with chronic lower back pain came into my office. She was frustrated with the constant pain of moving around and everyday life. During the massage she revealed to me that she had a medical history of 3 C-sections. I then left 15-20 minutes before the end of her massage to do some direct treatment to her surgical scars and abdomen. Believe it or not, but she felt immediate change and releases that all referred into her lower back. It was a humbling experience that I was able to give her that relief. Depending on the situation and medical history, everyone may experience different side effects and benefits. The results do vary but this was one women’s perspective and I was happy to be able to help her the best I could.

If you were still unsure that this form of therapy or you or had more questions, please feel free to book an appointment and we can do an assessment or send me an email.

References
http://www.barralinstitute.com/about/vm.php
Barral, Jean-Pierre, Pierre Mercier. Visceral Manipulation. Eastland Press, 2005. Print