bottles of cbd massage oil with cannabis leaf

Best CBD oil for massage therapy

CBD treatments are everywhere, from the local nail salon to high end spas, but why use topical CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many components of the sativa strain of the cannabis plant. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a common psychoactive component, it doesn’t give you the feeling of being “high.”  Some

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woman putting on massage cream

Best massage creams for professionals

Massage cream is a type of moisturizer that is designed to be used during several types of massage. It helps to lubricate the skin and provides a protective barrier between the hands and the body. Massage cream is often used to help with dry skin, reduce the appearance of scar

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CBT and chronic pain: A closer look at the evidence

For 50 million Americans living with chronic pain—whether nagging back pain from desk work or the deep ache of fibromyalgia—this uninvited guest controls thoughts, tightens muscles, robs energy and relationships, and turns simple joys like a park walk into dreaded chores. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers a way to turn

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Ben Cormack upper cross syndrome

Research challenges idea that upper cross syndrome causes pain

Upper cross syndrome refers to the hunched posture of the upper body, particularly in the shoulder girdle, neck and head, and upper spine. Certain upper body muscles are considered “tight” and “weak,” which may cause less flexibility in the shoulders, discomfort, and pain. Former clients whom I used to see

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Young Japanese woman looking at her smartphone in a mall at night.

What science says about forward head posture and neck pain

If you had spent many hours on your phone or computer, you may have heard warnings about forward head posture. Some clinicians and fitness trainers claim on social media that forward head may damage your neck and spine and is the primary cause of migraines.  Does scientific evidence support this

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Despite mixed results, pain education evidence should be taken into context, researchers say

A 2025 systematic review published in the European Journal of Physiotherapy reported that pain neuroscience education may reduce chronic neck pain compared with other therapies. Based on seven randomized-controlled trials with a total of 11 interventions and 422 people, the researchers found pain education groups “showed effectiveness” for kinesiophobia, fear

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Health equity in pain science: Rebuilding how research measures human experience

An international group of researchers has developed a standardized dataset aimed at improving how pain researchers document social and structural factors that influence pain. The initiative, known as Identifying Social factors that Stratify Health Opportunities and Outcomes (ISSHOOs), outlines a core set of sociodemographic variables that pain studies should collect

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Does Medicare cover exercise therapy for cancer?

For decades, the standard advice for patients with cancer was rest: Conserve energy, avoid exertion, and let treatments work. More recently, science has rewritten that script. Emerging evidence from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) underscores that exercise isn’t just safe—it’s a powerful

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