Pain Society of Alberta (PSA) will be hosting its first official World Pain Summit next month virtually from Oct. 15 to 17. This event highlights the importance of self-compassion and how psychological and environmental factors affect physical health and chronic pain with psychologist Kristin Neff and Dr. Gabor Maté as
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) describe a group of connective tissue diseases or disorders that affect the body in many ways. It’s often associated with joints that move beyond normal range of motion to the point of potential subluxation or dislocation. EDS has a genetic component that changes the structure and function
Connective tissues disease refers to the pathology of tissues that link your body’s organs, joints, and other structures in place. These connective tissues act like scaffolding, providing stability and allowing some degree of movement. They’re composed of elastin and collagen, which are types of protein that you can find in
Tipping is a customary “social norm” in American culture, but most people still question what the proper amount to tip is. Should it be based on service or should customers pay a flat rate of 20 percent of the total cost? The 20 percent tip is commonly found in the
A group of researchers and physiotherapists recently challenged the current diagnosis and management of sacroiliac joint pain. Led by Dr. Thorvaldur Palsson from the Department of Science and Technology at Aalborg University in Denmark, the team questioned a few common ideas among clinicians about why the sacroiliac joint is painful
Trigger point therapy is a type of massage technique that is supposed to help alleviate the symptoms or even “get rid of” trigger points. These trigger points are traditionally thought to be tiny muscle knots or tissue adhesions that cause the sore spots when you press on certain areas of
Informed consent is an integral part of massage therapy because it represents a contract between you and your patient or client about what is about to happen when the massage begins. Consent is now generally recognized as the basis of the assumption of the risk. It may seem more relevant
Hyperbolic Stretching is a rising star in the world of “next best thing” in fitness programming. The gender-specific program is based on the idea that full-body flexibility can be transformed in four weeks (eight minutes per day!) and that men and women need different stretching techniques to achieve their fitness
In 2015, many physical therapists and massage therapists on social media were excited about a study that concluded disc herniation and other physical “abnormalities” of the spine are “part of normal aging and unassociated with low back pain.” Published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology, the researchers found that “thirty
You may not need to stretch to become more flexible when you hit the gym or before playing a sport. Emerging research in the last two decades found that strength training is just as effective as stretching to improve your flexibility, and stretching may not be as ‘great’ or a
Active stretching is where you take a muscle group you want to stretch and contract its opposite muscle group without using external support. The objective isn’t necessarily to increase your flexibility; rather, it’s a way to prepare for the upcoming activity. For example, if you want to stretch your hamstrings,
Becoming an entrepreneur in massage therapy is somewhat different from other professions where you might see articles that advise you to become your own boss. While there are some overlaps in recommendations among different professions, this guide serves specifically for massage therapists. When starting on your entrepreneurial journey: Ask yourself: