Manny Maven
Sunny Southern, CA
Male, 60
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."
The medical term for muscle knots is "myofacial trigger points" which are hyperirritable spots in the muscle caused by overuse, misuse, sedentariness, and/or moods such as stress or anxiety.
Trigger points are comprised of taut sections or "strands" of fiber within a muscle that fire into action. Those fibers fail to relax but harden into that knotty mass -- technically they build tone much like when you lift weights to build burley muscles -- that you can feel when you rub them. As such, trigger points are often tender if not painful.
In addition to massage therapy techniques, the application of hot and cold packs, electrical stimulation and ultrasound as well as the use of pain relievers and muscle relaxants are common methods to treat trigger points. These treatments focus on managing the condition rather than eliminating them. So yes, Garrett, the skilled application of massage therapy can help reduce knots.
Share Answer: 
I absolutely love what I do however I'll be honest, I am tapering off from it after 23 years because my hands ache more frequently and take longer to recover from giving treatments.
Because giving a massage is so labor intensive, statistically about 90% of massage therapists burn out and transition into something else after working in the field for three to five years so I've been really blessed to be in it for as long as I have.
The times when I find myself wishing I was doing something else are usually an indication that I'm working too much and I need to take a break. I can't sell wellness if I am not practicing it myself so self-care and receiving regular bodywork is the key -- at least for me.
Share Answer: 
An additional towel is usually placed over the groin for modesty purposes to avoid any "oopsies" when a therapist need to reposition the client's lower extremeties. It's just an insurance policy.
I wouldn't say it's normal to brush and/or touch the nipple during a therapeutic massage at all. While the pectoralis muscles lie beneath the nipples it would be a mistake to confuse breast tissue with muscle tissue. The therapist may be demonstrating a lack of expertise, sloppy technique or worse: inappropriate touch.
Share Answer: 
Putting aside the erroneous notion that massage is a sexual service, let's be clear that it is a therapeutic one.
With that in mind, the combination of a therapist's education of human anatomy, kinesiology and bodywork training, it can be more effective to treat a client who has stripped completely BUT WITH THE CAVEAT that the client is appropriately draped for modesty.
Are you aware that the glutes (i.e. your butt) can contribute a great deal to low back pain? Yes, even buns of steel can cause this! So oftentimes the glutes will need to be assessed and treated along with the low back.
Boxers, briefs, panties, cycling shorts, et.al. do indeed inhibit a therapist's ability to make a complete and effective massage stroke especially when treating the low back. However, I always drape my clients so that their privates are covered therefore linens are arranged and often times tucked to achieve that.
As a client, you should never have your ass hanging out (or anything else for that matter) when receiving a massage even if you are laying buck naked on the table. You should always be covered by a towel or sheet with only the part of the body that's being worked on exposed.
Of course, if you are really uncomfortable stripping completely down prior to your session whatever is easier for the therapist goes out the window. Your needs whether physical or emotional take precedent and must be respected. It is up to you to communicate your discomfort with your therapist as they are trained in massage and not mind reading.
Only after you have completely communicated your discomfort with getting naked for the session can your therapist make appropriate accommodations to respect your feelings and treat your low back.
Share Answer: 
Private Detective
What do you think is the most corrupt industry, city, and State in the country?
Chick-fil-A General Manager
How often do you have to fire someone, and does it ever get ugly?
Certified Nurse Aide
Is it true that STD rates in nursing homes are going through the roof?
I'm really sorry you're in pain, Dan. Facet joint inflammation due to trauma or progressive joint degeneration is tough, I understand that. However, I'm not a doctor therefore I can't diagnose or treat, give advice or offer "tips and tricks" for your issue within the scope of this Q&A but will advise you to talk this over with your primary care giver. I will say that hands-on treatments such as massage, specialized forms of soft-tissue mobilization and sometimes spinal manipulation provide relief from the pain and that is why they are prescribed. I wish I could offer more than that, but I'll defer to your doctor on this one.
Share Answer: 
I'm pretty well trained on skin conditions and know what is contraindicated and what is not. Nothing's really grossed me out, but some things have me concerned about my client's wellbeing. In those cases I ask if they've seen a doctor. Surprisingly, I find a lot of women have issues with body shame due to razor stubble on their legs. It's really no big deal to me. Really.
Share Answer: 
Good question and one that I'm respectfully not going to answer.
First of all, what is the definition of healing?
And what is considered a healing modality?
I don’t mean to be evasive, as I have personally had relief and recovery from a myriad of treatments appropriate to my ailment or injury.
Growing up I was raised on a religion that believes in healing through prayer and eschews any medical intervention whatsoever.
While as an adult I don't practice this religion, I have witnessed incidents where faith has greater healing powers than science. And I have also seen medical miracles based on science happen to those around me.
I am also grateful to have become a massage therapist despite breaking my arm when I was teenager because one parent fought to have me taken to the hospital to have the bone set.
But no amount of prayer or medicine was able to save this parent when they died from lung cancer despite the fact that the never smoked a day in their life.
And for the record, I don’t claim to be a healer. I am a licensed and certified massage therapist. I know that my dying parent and I both found meaning and succor through human touch as I held their hand when they passed.
In this instance, I don't give a damn about a "proven medical study". It has no merit in this life affirming experience. Maybe YOU should conduct your own study on the longterm benefits of human touch instead of passive-agressively trolling these boards. I'd be very interested in YOUR findings.
Share Answer: 
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
