Link 10 Secrets Massage Therapists Know About YOU
Massage therapy is a treatment approach which is growing in demand and popularity. In just one hour long session, massage therapists can decode everything from whether you need a new pillow to how badly those childhood accidents affected you. Check out the 10 secrets massage therapists know about you and your health.
If your allergies are flaring
You have pressure points over your eyes, forehead, cheeks, and even around your jaw. When these are tender and inflamed, and the quality of the tissue feels different, therapists know you might be dealing with pesky allergies. Lymph nodes in the chest, around the neck, and under the armpits will also be tender and swollen.
That you cross your legs often
Crossing your legs isn’t good for you. Even if you’re just crossing at the heels, you put a lot of pressure on your hip flexors. In turn, the glute muscles shoot pain up to the lower back or down to the hamstrings and quads. That area is all connected. Crossing legs also causes an unnatural bend in your pelvic girdle and prevents proper circulation.
That you might have skin cancer
Massage therapists are the eyes for the back of your body, and therapists can spot irregularities in places you can’t. Massage therapists have noticed bright red, oddly shaped spots behind the knees or on the back of the hip, and when they do, they will urge you to get it checked out.
When you need a new pillow
There’s a lot of trial and error that goes into finding the perfect pillow. You want to have your spine in as perfect alignment as possible. The pillow should support the shoulder enough to not bunch up around your ears. Over time pillows should be turned around, fluffed, or replaced when their appearance gets a bit deflated or you no longer feel supported in your sleep.
If your head is tilted down or up, it’ll put a strain on your neck. And speaking of strain, therapists beg: Don’t sleep on your stomach. It places incredible pressure on your spine and neck. Sleep on your back or side. You can tuck a pillow between your knees or under your arms to be more comfortable.
If you’re prone to low back pain
Massage therapists will know even if you don’t say so. When you lay on the table, will check to see if one hip is higher than the other. That type of misalignment is caused by tightness in the low back, a result of prolonged sitting or poor posture, and usually results in pain. When you’re on your back, they will also see how much space is between the table and your low back. Sometimes too much belly weight can cause the stressed gap which may also lead to aching.
That you’ve been stressed out
They know you’re uptight if you’re a bit too chatty or can’t focus on relaxing. Plus, your body’s response to the massage will be different. Not all massage therapists believe that toxins are released during massage, but those who do take sweating or bad breath as signs that it’s the first time you’ve let loose in a while.
That you work at a computer
You’ll have a forward roll of the shoulders from looking at that monitor all day, and your back will be strained from remaining still for hours. An easy fix: quick stretches at your desk. Tense your shoulders up around your ears, squeeze for five to ten seconds, then drop and let gravity pull down your shoulders. Or, rotate in your chair like you’re driving a car in reverse, and hold for a count of ten. Believe them, it will make a difference.
That you suffered injuries as a kid
Therapists will notice the injury patterns even you may have forgotten about. They will see the aftermath of that childhood sledding accident, or that you once broke your leg, and then you’ll tell them about an injury a decade ago. A broken leg is often slightly shorter than the healthy leg, but when they examine you with both legs side by side, it’s obvious.
That you’re a textaholic
If therapists rub your shoulders, and you tell them it hurts, or it’s tight, they wonder how much you’ve been texting. It’s easy to forget how long you hold your head in that downward position but be sure to look up and stretch every so often, because that prolonged posture will cost you dysfunction and imbalance in the shoulders.
If you’re dehydrated
Therapists can always tell if you haven’t been keeping up with your daily eight glasses of water. Trigger points in the upper back will be more tender when you’re dehydrated. Drink up, especially on massage day.