• Pumping – The stroking movements in massage draw fluid through blood vessels and lymph vessels. This is especially helpful if you have tight or damaged muscles. Damaged or tight muscles self-destruct by squeezing blood out of the damaged tissue, this means that your damaged muscles will be lacking in the nutrients that they need to heal properly. Massage can counteract this effect by manually pumping nutrients and blood into the deprived and damaged muscles.
• Increased tissue permeability – Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients, which help the muscle, recover quicker.
• Stretching – Massage can stretch tissues that could not be stretched using traditional methods. Bundles of muscle fibers are stretched vertically as well as horizontally. Massage can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle; this allows the tension to release and relieves the muscles of pressure build up.
• Break down scar tissue – Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can affect muscle, tendons and ligaments. Untreated scar tissue can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain.
• Improve tissue elasticity – Hard training can make tissues hard and inelastic. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements. Massage helps reverse the hardening of tissue through stretching.
• Opens microcirculation – Massage does increase blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise. Massage adds the additional benefit of opening or dilating the blood vessels and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily.

Here at Structura Body Therapies we are concerned with the overall performance of the body and understand the importance of all areas of health and massage therapy. We treat patients with all types of needs from automobile accident related injuries to sports performance work.

Please contact us today for any information needed related to massage or structural integration.call us at 801-897-8711

• Medical school students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School who were massaged before an exam showed a significant decrease in anxiety and respiratory rates, as well as a significant increase in white blood cells and natural killer cell activity, suggesting a benefit to the immune system.
• Preliminary results suggested cancer patients had less pain and anxiety after receiving therapeutic massage at the James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio.
• Women who had experienced the recent death of a child were less depressed after receiving therapeutic massage, according to preliminary results of a study at the University of South Carolina.

Studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found massage beneficial in:

• Improving weight gain in HIV-exposed infants.
• Facilitating recovery in patients who underwent abdominal surgery.

At the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Touch Research Institute, researchers have found that massage is helpful in:

• Decreasing blood pressure in people with hypertension.
• Alleviating pain in migraine sufferers.
• Improving alertness and performance in office workers

An increasing number of research studies show massage can:

• Reduces heart rate
• Lowers blood pressure
• Increases blood circulation and lymph flow
• Relaxes muscles
• Improves range of motion
• Increases endorphins (enhancing medical treatment).

Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from exercise or injury.

As stated above we could go on and on… I think you get the point. If you or anyone you know needs a massage please consider stoping in and speaking with us about the benefits for you individually.

Here at Structura Body Therapies we are concerned with the overall performance of the body and understand the importance of all areas of health and massage therapy. We are trained in Myofascial Release and look forward to introducing this type of treatment to you if it is the best form needed.  We treat patients with all types of needs from automobile accident related injuries to sports performance work.

Please contact us today for any information needed related to massage or structural integration. call us at 801-897-8711

What It Is, What It Does, What Goes Wrong

The IT band begins in the hip as the tensor fascia latae muscle and has attachments at the origin from three different muscles: the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and vastus lateralis. The muscle becomes a fibrous band of tissue as it progresses down the thigh, then crosses the knee joint, and inserts along the lateral (outside) portion of the patella (knee cap) and into the tibia (shin) bone on a bump known as Gerdy’s Tubercle.

The classic symptoms of ITBS are pain along the lateral (outside) aspect of the knee joint, sometimes accompanied by a clicking sensation. The click is a result of the ITB tightening and snapping across the joint during running. The symptoms are often worse when running up or down hills.

ITBS is typically progressive, starting with tightness and often advancing to the point where the pain is debilitating. The traditional view on the cause of this injury has focused on the tightness of the structure and overtraining. There is no doubt that the ITB will become tighter when it is injured. The tightness, however, is more than likely a result of the injury and not the actual cause. The cause of this injury actually lies in the function of the ITB.

Treatment Options

Traditional treatment of ITBS has focused mainly on stretching. While stretching plays an important role in the treatment of this injury, there are several other forms of therapy that should be incorporated.

Deep tissue massage along the full length of the ITB can be started. Sometime referred to as mobilization of the tissues. Massage is a necessary step before moving on to the all-important third phase of strengthening the hip and thigh muscles.  Here at Strutura we recommend very frequent massage: up to every day for elites, and 2 or 3 times per week for recreational runners. If you cannot afford the expense or time a foam roller can work very well for self-massage.

Here at Structura Body Therapies we are concerned with the overall performance of the body and understand the importance of all areas of health and massage therapy. We are trained in Myofascial Release and look forward to introducing this type of treatment to you if it is the best form needed.  We treat patients with all types of needs from automobile accident related injuries to sports performance work.

Please contact us today for any information needed related to massage or structural integration. call us at 801-897-8711

Styles used in massage therapy range from long, smooth strokes to short, percussive strokes. Some massage therapists use oils and lotions; others do not. Most massage therapists have clients unclothe for a massage, but some do not. A massage can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours.

Before you can decide which massage style is best for you, you need to ask yourself a question. Do you simply want a massage for relaxation and stress control? Or do you need symptom relief or help with a certain health condition?

Before booking a massage, let the therapist know what you’re looking for and ask which style the therapist uses. Here at Structura Body Therapies uses more than one style. Our therapists can customize your massage, depending on your age, condition, or any special needs or goals you have.

Here at Structura Body Therapies we are concerned with the overall performance of the body and understand the importance of all areas of health and massage therapy. We are trained in Myofascial Release and look forward to introducing this type of treatment to you if it is the best form needed.  We treat patients with all types of needs from automobile accident related injuries to sports performance work.

Please contact us today for any information needed related to massage or structural integration. call us at 801-897-8711

When we engage in exercise there are certain chemical reactions that occur within our body. These are made up of cellular debris and other chemicals known as lactic acid. Lactic acid is excreted from our muscles during exercise. When lactic acid is released, it often makes the muscles very sore.  When you incorporate a massage into your weight loss program, it helps to release lactic acid chemicals that are retained in your body. Therefore, there is less of a chance of your muscles being sore after you exercise. This is especially important because when your muscles are sore, it is less likely that you will exercise the next day. This is not just a theory it has been shown in scientific studies.

With all of these facts, it makes you wonder why you haven’t scheduled an appointment today.

Here at Structura Body Therapies we are concerned with the overall performance of the body and understand the importance of all areas of health and massage therapy. We are trained in Myofascial Release and look forward to introducing this type of treatment to you if it is the best form needed.  We treat patients with all types of needs from automobile accident related injuries to sports performance work.

Please contact us today for any information needed related to massage or structural integration. call us at 801-897-8711

Start slowly, focusing on form; as the exercises get easier, pick up speed. Use small movements for the first few reps, and increase the range of motion as you go. Below you will find a written descriptions of each movement.

LEG LIFTS
Swing one leg out to the side, then swing it back across your body in front of your other leg. Repeat 10 times on each side. Feel wobbly? Hold onto a steady object.

BUTT-KICKS
While standing tall, walk forward with an exaggerated backswing so that your heels come up to your glutes. When this is easy, try it while jogging. Do 10 reps on each side.

PIKE STRETCH
Get in a “pike” position (hips in the air). Put your right foot behind your left ankle. With your legs straight, press the heel of the left foot down. Release. Repeat 10 times on each side.

HACKY-SACK
Standing up straight, lift your left leg up, bending the knee so it points out. Try to tap the inside of your left foot with your right hand without bending forward. Repeat 10 times on each side.

TOY SOLDIER
Keeping your back and knees straight, walk forward, lifting your legs straight out in front and flexing your toes. Advance this by adding a skipping motion. Do 10 reps on each side.

WALKING LUNGES
Step forward using a long stride, keeping the front knee over or just behind your toes. Lower your body by dropping your back knee toward the ground. Maintain an upright posture and keep your abdominal muscles tight.

• Numbness
• Burning or Tingling
• Soreness
• Aching
• Tenderness
• Pain – throbbing or dull
• Swelling
• Tightness or Stiffness
• Weakness or Cold Sensations

If you are like the average person in the US you have a computer and you spend a lot of time sitting in front of it.  The computer is a great resource, however it can zap a great deal of your time. I recommend you get up every half hour, while at the computer, to do something else; for example, stretch, do another task, or simply walk around the office for a moment. For more information (by HP) on setting up your computer work area ergonomically, click here.

Here at Structura we continue to get busier and busier thanks to our great clientele which means our secretary is in her seat all day. Even here at our clinic I have to remind my staff who sit a lot during the day of this same topic.  I have had many clients ask about carpal tunnel pain and much of this pain is caused by repetitive motions sitting at a desk. The way to avoid carpal tunnel pain is prevention and that means change your routine as often as possible, change positions… and last but not least, get a massage!

Here at Structura Body Therapies we are concerned with the overall performance of the body and understand the importance of all areas of health and massage therapy. We are trained in Myofascial Release and look forward to introducing this type of treatment to you if it is the best form needed.  We treat patients with all types of needs from automobile accident related injuries to sports performance work.

Please contact us today for any information needed related to massage or structural integration. call us at 801-897-8711