Returning to Work

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Hello Everyone! 

   I am planning to return to work the week of May 6th! I will have random availability these first couple of weeks, so just message me with a date and time that you would like to come in and we will figure something out! 

My daughter Jaclyn is doing great and it is really hard for me to believe she is already almost 3 months old!! We have had a great few months together and I am looking forward to continuing watching her grow while getting back to work! 

Thanks for all of your patience!! See you soon :)



Last Week for Gift Cards!

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I can hardly believe Christmas Eve is a week away!!

Just a reminder that this is the last week for Christmas gift cards, 10% off any regularly priced massage! If you are still looking for the perfect gift, look no further! Give the gift of relaxation with a massage gift card! Please call or email the office to schedule a time to come in and pick up your gift cards. We are also able to email gift cards if that is more convenient for you! 919-322-8382

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!


Announcement!

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Hey Everyone, I hope you are all getting into the holiday spirit, but also taking time to relax this season! 

Many of you already know, but I wanted to officially share that my husband and I are expecting our second child! We are so excited to be adding to our family and are so looking forward to meeting our new baby girl at the end of January! 

I am hoping to work until delivery, unfortunately it’s just an estimate so we’ll see when that actually happens. As of right now I am stopping scheduling the week of January 22nd and may pick up some same day appointments that week if I’m still not delivered and feeling well. If anything happens before that time all of my scheduled clients have contact info easily accessible and myself, Amanda or Alanna will reach out to you and help you get rescheduled. I will be returning to work sometime in late spring.

We are so excited and look forward to this next chapter of our lives. Thank you for all your support and congratulations!




Now Selling Christmas Gift Cards!

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 Having trouble deciding what to get someone for Christmas? What about the gift of relaxation? All Christmas Gift Cards will be 10% off! There is no limit and you can buy a gift card(s) for yourself. Christmas gift cards can not be used before Christmas. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

You may purchase a gift card over the phone and have it emailed. You may also schedule a time to come into the office and pick up a physical gift card. 

Email or call today to get your Christmas Gift Cards! 919.322.8382



Product Spotlight: Feel Better Fast

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Another product spotlight! Today I am going to talk about a tincture that has truly seemed to work for my family and I. It’s called Feel Better Fast. This safe and effective remedy for common illnesses has been a great addition to our medicine cabinet! With a young child at home it’s terrible to see her sick and not feeling well. There are also limited options as to what you can give children at such young ages. I also try to avoid over the counter medicines that can have potential side effects to the liver and stomach. 

My daughter has recently started kindergarten so it wouldn’t be unusual for her to have gotten sick at least once these past couple of months. At the very first signs of a runny nose or cough I have been giving her Feel Better Fast  and she has not had a fever or any type of illness that has led to her staying home from school. Any runny nose/cough she has gotten has been extremely mild and short lived. We also try to keep her on a good diet and make sure she is getting enough sleep, though I do feel like the Feel Better Fast definitely has something to do with her lack of serious illness. 

With no side effects and for a child the dosage is just 5 drops every couple of hours, there is really not much risk in trying Feel Better Fast. Check it out at your next appointment or head on over to Earthley to order some. Don’t forget Black Friday sales are coming up soon so you can also wait to pick some up then!




Product Spotlight: Nourish Her Naturally

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I just wanted to do a “spotlight” on one of the products we recently started selling at Oak City Massage. It’s a liquid vitamin called Nourish Her Naturally. It is a great option for females ages 1 and up! Nourish her naturally is an herbal tincture that provides nutrients in a more natural and gentle way than a typical multivitamin that has megadoses of nutrients in it.  I have been taking it for the past few months and I have been feeling really good. I have been using it in addition to a few other recommended supplements(Cod Liver Oil, Good Night Lotion, electrolyte powder and Immune-Aid Vitamin C powder)  as a prenatal regimen. The biggest difference I have noticed is that the liquid vitamins seem to be gentler on my stomach. I have also found that this regimen has decreased the amount of leg cramps I was getting at night. I have been feeling really good throughout my pregnancy and I feel this blend of supplements has been a contributor to that! 



You can pick up a bottle of Nourish Her Naturally at your next appointment! Earthley also has so many other great supplements and wellness products listed on their website, make sure to check those out as well!! 

Have a great week!



Thai Table Massage

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Hey everyone! 

Recently our therapist Alanna took a certification for table Thai massage. This will be a new service we will be offering at our office so check out this blog if you are interested!! 

What is table Thai massage, what is the difference between this and floor Thai massage? 

Thai massage on the floor was the original way it was done & was offered to the farmer men back in the olden days. Thai massage was looked at as a way not of relaxation but more as medicinal-they didn’t feel they absolutely needed it unless you needed it-like seeing the doctor. Thai massage on the floor often has stretching involved & the therapist can sometimes use their feet to provide a deep stretch on the clients back while pulling their arms. Thai massage can be hard on the body, especially on the floor.  Some people may feel like they are in a pretzel like position during some stretching with their bodies turning & it can be aggressive. On the table it's a more gentle approach and easier on the body. The thing that is similar is that there are lots of compressions along the meridian of the body with some stretching. Stretching can still be delivered on the table without the therapist having to climb on top of them.  Robert Wooten taught me how to do table Thai massage. He said he developed it on his own for 30 years in Thailand. He says it’s helped him come up with a gentle approach for his body & his clients. He feels that Thai massage does not have to hurt. Wooten said that if done right by the massage therapist- it should feel like a type of dance & with ultimate presence can put us in another dimension, so to speak. 




What are the benefits of table Thai massage? 

The benefit for me as a therapist is it’s easier on my body & for my client it is more comfortable. It can be done laying on the back & in side-lying position. 



How often could/should you get a table Thai massage? 

Table thai massage feels somewhat like a myofascial release type of modality.  If it’s a really deep pressure & deep stretching Thai massage you may not want to do that before an athletic event -maybe a couple days before or after.  Once a month may suffice- it depends on how you’re feeling & what’s being worked with. If you’re on the  stiff side maybe twice a month, at least. 

What should you expect at your table Thai massage session? 

Thai massage does not require oil & can be done with clothes on. There’s some stretching, rhythmic movement & compressions along the meridians (energy lines) of the body. The therapist might use her feet on the clients legs & back.




How and when to schedule?

You can email or call to schedule 919-322-8382. We will be offering Thai table massages on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. We look forward to working with you soon!!





Additional New Products

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Now selling new Earthley Products!

Earthley is an all-natural company that focuses on using whole herbs and ingredients to provide folks with a different option for supplements, alternatives to mainstream medication and hair, body and skin products. We are starting out with just a few of our favorite products they sell.

The two new items we are selling are Cough-B-Gone and Arnica Salve.

Cough-B-Gone Herbal Extract(kids):

Cough-B-Gone is an herbal tincture created to help relieve colds, coughs, and congestion. Rather than use synthetic, chemical-tasting cough syrups, nourish your body and support the respiratory system with the natural power of herbs. Our kids (safe for ages 6 months+) is alcohol-free and tastes great with no added sugar or sweeteners!

Key Herbs:

Mullein — Supports lung health, anti-inflammatory

Fenugreek — Clears mucus from the body, anti-inflammatory

Dandelion root — Supports liver health, has mucilage, anti-inflammatory, rich in nutrients

Cough-B-Gone is great for supporting lung health, no matter your need!

A 1 oz bottle is $12.49!

Arnica Salve Stick:

Arnica is one of the most important herbs for families to have on hand. It’s the best option for bumps, bruises, stubbed toes, sore muscles, and more. We’ve infused organic arnica blossoms into organic olive oil to create a simple salve that’s completely clean and 100% beneficial (and safe) for your whole family.

This salve is fragrance-free (no scent at all), absorbs quickly, and nourishes your skin while it works. Comes in an easy-to-use, non-messy stick. Feel the pain of a bump fade away in minutes…and watch it heal fast with arnica!

0.5 oz. stick is $5.99!


New Offerings at Oak City!

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We will now be offering some amazing natural products for sale. We are teaming up with a company called Earthley, out of Columbus, Ohio. They make all of their products in house and have made it their mission to use natural, quality and effective ingredients. Check out their website here to learn more about their company and all the products they offer! I’ve been recommending these products to clients for a while and I am very excited to be able to offer them at Oak City!  Here is a list and brief description of the items we will be selling along with their prices. All products sold in NC will have a sales tax added. 



Good Night Lotion , Sensitive and Blue Bliss

The one product I have the most experience with is Good Night Lotion. This is a magnesium lotion that is used to help with sleep, muscle cramping and constipation. We’ve been using this with my daughter since she was about 18 months old. I also use it on myself and notice a much better night's sleep. I have also used it to help with tension headaches that come from my shoulders and it works SO well!! 

Size 4 oz

Cost: $8.99

Feel Better Fast

Feel Better Fast helps with:

Upset stomachs (gas, bloating, nausea, indigestion)

Fever (balancing, not lowering)

Pain (headaches, achy muscles, and more)

Respiratory symptoms (runny nose, sore throat)

General “blah” feeling

Feel Better Fast is the “go-to” remedy for just about anything!

Size 1 oz.

Cost: $11.99

Vitamin D Cream

Vitamin D Cream is rich in vitamins A, D, and some K2. Studies show that vitamin D is absorbed nearly eight times better topically than orally! This is a perfectly natural way to get the nourishment you need without the taste you don’t want.

Size: 4 oz. 

Cost: $11.99


Pest Aside {Natural Bug Repellent}

Worried about ticks, mosquitoes, flies, and other pests that might bother you when you’re trying to enjoy the great outdoors?  We’ve got a solution for you!  Pest Aside is an all-natural, five-ingredient blend that’s very effective against all these insects (and more). 

Earthley uses coconut oil, neem oil, citronella essential oil, patchouli essential oil, and candelilla wax to create a salve that’s applied from a convenient, non-messy tube.  All four oils are known for their bug repellent properties — and neem, in particular, makes it work better than most essential oil-based options!

Size: 0.5 oz

Cost: $5.49

Size: 2 oz

Cost: $14.99

Nourish Her Naturally

Formulated specifically for women, Nourish Her Naturally is an herbal multivitamin made to fortify, improve, and nurture the female body. This tincture includes herbs that are packed with vitamins and minerals to help balance hormones, boost energy levels, and promote overall wellness. Herbal multivitamins use the power of nature rather than isolated mega-doses (which can create imbalances in the body).  It is safe for ages 1+ and can also be used as a prenatal.

Size: 4 oz

Cost: $25.99

Size: 8 oz

Cost: $41.99

Ease the Ache {Women’s Cramp Formula}

Alcohol-Free

Do you hate “that time of the month?”  Unbalanced hormones can lead to pain, bloating, heavy bleeding, mood swings, cravings, night sweats, trouble sleeping, and more — which can make you miserable!

Common remedies cover up the pain, but they don’t help balance hormones or solve the underlying issues.  Ease the Ache to the rescue! 

Earthley’s formula contains cramp bark, red raspberry leaf, motherwort, and nettle in a base of cane alcohol or vegetable glycerin as a highly bioavailable liquid extract.  It helps to reduce pain and bloating, slow bleeding, even out mood, and more.  You may just forget you’re on your period!  

Expecting a baby?  Ease the Ache is also great for postpartum afterpains!  Include it in your postpartum kit (along with Postpartum Balance) for a smooth postpartum experience.

Size: 1 oz.

Cost: $11.99


Breast Balm Herbal Salve

Breast Balm is an all-natural, herbal salve created to help soothe sore nipples to relieve pain associated with breastfeeding. It also contains anti-fungal properties to help fight thrush. Since it’s edible and safe for baby, there’s no need to wipe off before nursing.

Size: 0.5 oz.

Cost: $5.49


Anxiety Relief Herbal Extract

Imagine feeling calm and happy, without drowsiness or other unpleasant side effects. It can be achieved with Anxiety Relief! This herbal extract is full of adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogens help the body deal with stress, remain calmer, and gently balance stress hormones. They’re beneficial for adrenal function, and healthy adrenals equal a healthier stress response. Combine those with gently relaxing and calming herbs and you have a recipe for a good day! Anxiety Relief can relieve anxious feelings, improve mental clarity, decrease mild insomnia, and more!

Size: 1 oz.

Cost: $11.99

Temporary change in hours

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Hi Everyone!

For those of you that don’t know, our therapist Alanna will be out of the office until August. This will be impacting our schedule for the time being.

Our new hours will be Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm.

We will begin scheduling clients on Alanna’s schedule starting the last week of July. If you are a regular client of Alanna’s and would like to schedule something with Amanda or Alicia, please email(oakcitymassagetherapy@gmail.com) or call the office 919-322-8382.

Thank you and we look forward to working with you soon!

Price Change

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Happy Spring!!

Starting in May, we will be increasing our 90 minute massage price to $130(previously $120). Our therapists work very hard to give you a great massage and we want to compensate them in a way that reflects their hard work. This is the only change to our pricing we will be making at this time.

We are so grateful for all of our clients and appreciate your business. Thank you for choosing Oak City Massage for your bodywork needs!

Massage for Injury Prevention

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As the weather turns warmer people start getting out more to enjoy it, get back to warm weather activities and in some cases to get back into shape. Often this is a time of year when many folks come in for massage because they have injured something trying to get back into an activity they haven’t done in a few months. There are several ways to avoid these injuries. Continuing with an exercise program indoors when the weather prevents outdoor training will help to keep you in shape so you are better prepared to get right back into your activity. Starting back slowly into your activity is another way to help avoid injuries. Some spring sports, like adult soccer leagues don’t have practice and instead only meet for games, make sure to do some running and drills ahead of your first game on your own in order to be able to compete(without getting injured) when you want to at the game.  Similarly, an activity like gardening requires lots of repetitive movements with weeding and planting. Try to pace yourself, start small and take frequent breaks especially at the beginning.  

  Another great way to avoid injury as you are getting back into your outdoor activities is to get regular massages, of course! Massage is beneficial for injury prevention in many ways. First of all, massage is a great way to “keep stock” of your body. Often in a massage, I’ll hear my client say “I didn’t know that was tight”. The massage isn’t causing the tension, only bringing it to the clients’ attention. Our bodies can only process so much pain at a time, so if one area is especially tight you may not notice that another area is tight. This is important because now that client knows which areas in their body need more attention via stretching, foam rolling, heating etc. The less aware of your body you are the more likely you are to injure yourself.  Getting regular massages also helps to reduce overall tension. When you start back at an activity you haven’t done in a while muscles you haven’t used in a while will get tight. Chronic tension that hasn’t been bothering you in the off season can also come back quickly. Having a regular massage will help to reduce chronic tension and keep up with any new tension that may be developing with activity. Lastly, with regular massage any new tension, pain or injuries that come up can be dealt with quickly. The sooner you address an issue, the better. Ignoring pain in your body can lead to chronic injuries. Massage can be relaxing and great for general stress relief, but it can also be a great tool in injury prevention. 

Before you get back to your favorite warm weather activities, consider starting a regular massage routine. At Oak City Massage we offer different package pricing to help make regular massage more affordable. Our packages do not expire, can be used as often as you like and can also be shared with family and/or friends. Email or call today to schedule your next massage! 919.322.8382


Couples Massage Class

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We've been getting a lot more requests lately regarding our couples massage class, so I thought I'd write another blog about it, just to explain what the class is and what happens during the class. 

First of all, the class is private. It's just you, your partner and the massage therapist. You can expect to spend around 2 hours at the office and the cost is $145. We start the session with some brief paperwork and some general notes about massage. We cover how to set up at home if you don't have your own table, recommended oils/lotions, when to avoid massage and techniques.

  Once the paperwork and discussion are out of the way, we get the first partner on the table. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing that is easy to move in. We will be using sheets to drape while you are on the table. The massage will begin on the back, the therapist will work on one side of the back giving a demo, then give an opportunity for the partner to practice on the other side of the back. When the back is finished, we have the client turnover and work on the neck in the same fashion of the therapist first and then the partner will get to practice on the other side. When we finish with the neck we will work on either the scalp, hands or feet(you will choose this before the massage begins). That will conclude our session. We give each couple a copy of the protocol to do during the class.

      It's a very relaxed atmosphere, and we encourage each partner to give good feedback and ask any questions they may have during the session. Most clients comment how they do not feel worn out at the end and feel more confident in giving a longer massage. People also appreciate having a little bit more direction and new techniques for their at home massage. 

   While seeing a professional certainly has its place, being able to help your partner in a pinch or just on a more regular basis can be great. 



Please feel free to call or email us with any questions or to schedule your next appointment! 919.322.8382



A story on my discovery of Sports Massage- Alanna Harley

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A couple of years ago, right before covid, I was Muay Thai training in Thailand (Thailand’s national sport) in the city Bangkok. After training & dinner, I would walk a few blocks away from the place I resided in (& near the gym) to get some body work done with Thai Massage. It wasn’t very relaxing, it was done on the floor on a blanket & there were deep stretches involved & some deep pressure with knees. Afterwards I would feel looser and relaxed. Some parts were relaxing. Especially the hand massage, which was my favorite. With all the muay thai training, twice a day, five days a week, I knew my body would be tight with all the hard repetitive movements. The massages were super affordable in Thailand so I would get one every couple of days. One day, after training, a friend who is an olympic boxer and MMA professional fighter to this day, Jennifer Chang, asked me what I was up to that evening. I told her that I was planning on getting a massage. She has been a fighter for over a decade and she is knowledgeable about recovery as an athlete. Because I was training hard the next day, and or if I were to compete, she advised me not to get deep pressure massages. She explained that athletes like us (I was still a freshly new amateur (amateur who doesn't get paid in the sport) must not confuse our muscles by lengthening them before an event because we need our fast twitch muscles to function properly and no soreness. Then I remembered what my massage therapist teacher discussed in school. At the gym, and right before a fighter goes in the ring to fight, their coaches would get them ready by massaging thai oil on them (warming oil) and vigorously massage their bodies (without deep pressure) just to increase the fighters circulation and warm up their bodies for performance and some active stretches -nothing static. Here are a few useful things to consider if you are an athlete curious or wanting a sports massage. Special concern for sprinters, dancers, gymnasts, fighters, springboard divers, etc. “The closer to a period of physical exertion the less intrusive the massage should be”. Two reasons, inflammation and neurological familiarity.

Inflammation: it is best not to reinflame or further traumatize the tissue with prematurely applied or deep pressure. It's not fun feeling sore and moving a bit slower because of that and it may also increase recovery time, adversely affecting performance. 

Neurological Familiarity: Like Jennifer was telling me, I need my fast twitch muscles to perform accurately. Deep tissue or deep pressure before an event may also cause spasms and muscle cramping. 



Benefits of sports Massage

Increase:

Circulation

Body Awareness

Relaxation

Feeling Good

Performance (Readiness and Focus)

Muscle Balance and Joint Mechanics

Flexibility and Range of Motion

Muscle Function

Training Quality

Decrease:

Hypertonicity

Post Work Soreness

Recovery Time

Cramping and Spasm

Adhesions and Scarring

Pain

Lost Training / Competition TIme

Risk of Injury

Nervousness / Performance Anxiety

Three Modalities

Pre Event

Post Event

Maintenance


-Alanna Harley

Give the gift of massage this year!

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It is always so difficult to decide what gift to give a loved one. More and more folks are more interested in experiences than things. Receiving the gift of massage and relaxation is always appreciated! Any regularly priced Christmas gift card will be 10% off for the month of December. To purchase a gift card, please email or give us a call so we can schedule a time for you to pick it up or have it emailed to you. 919.322.8382 or oakcitymassagetherapy@gmail.com

Happy Thanksgiving

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Happy Thanksgiving, I hope everyone has enjoyed the holiday and hopefully had some time off!

I want to say thank you to all of our wonderful clients, we are grateful that you choose Oak City Massage for your body work!

I am also so grateful for the amazing therapists we have here at Oak City. It is a pleasure to work with such skilled therapists, and it is wonderful to know all the clients at Oak City are getting a great massage no matter who they see! 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend! 

Alicia



Stretching for Pain Management

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Clients often ask their massage therapist how to manage the pain and discomfort they are experiencing whether acute or chronic. One of the best things anyone can do to help with muscle tension and joint pain is to stretch. Really, taking the time to do a full body stretch would give you many of the same benefits as a full body massage. Of course, not everyone has that kind of time these days. Still most folks can find time to stretch a little bit each day. However, I do hear clients tell me that even though they are stretching daily, they are not noticing any long term benefits from this. So, let’s discuss how you can stretch so that it actually helps reduce muscle tension and joint pain. 

The key thing to remember here is that until you stop whatever activity or incorrect movement pattern is causing the discomfort in the first place, it will be extremely difficult to fully get rid of it. Another thing to keep in mind is how long and often you are stretching compared with how long you are involved in the offending activity. Often the culprit of back, shoulder and neck pain is coming from a repetitive movement or non-movement (like at a desk job) for many hours a day. Stretching for 30 seconds once per day can hardly compete with 8+ hours of sitting at a desk or standing up all day or any other repetitive movement. My suggestion is to stretch many times per day while holding each stretch for at least 45 seconds. Taking breaks often when you have to be in the same position all day can make a huge difference. It’s also helpful to be sure you are sitting at an ergonomic station. Not holding the phone between your shoulder and ear and not crossing your legs are also some changes that can make a big difference. 

Seeing a massage therapist can help with muscle and joint pain, but it’s only one piece of the “puzzle”. Taking time to stretch throughout the day to limit offending activities is really what will make the biggest change.  

If you are looking for relief from chronic or acute muscle or joint pain, email or call today to schedule a massage! 919.322.8382


Four Causes and Solutions to Low Back Pain

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One of the most common complaints I hear about in my office is low back pain. Though a lot of my clients suffer from this, there can be a variety of causes. Today we are going to discuss a few of the causes I see most often (outside of structural differences, specific injury, and disc degeneration) and some solutions for them. **Please note that if you are not sure if you are injured it is important to see a Doctor before trying massage or a new exercise, so that the problem is not made worse**

Tight quads and hip flexors.

Sitting at a desk all day is a huge contributor to low back pain. The hip flexors and quads are flexed all day, making it difficult for them to fully relax when standing. This puts a forward tilt on the pelvis. The quads and hip flexors pulling the hips forward would cause the torso to lean forward, and the righting reflex is to arch the back so the upper body is upright. Arching the spine like that puts a lot of stress on the muscles and pressure on the lower vertebrae which leads to lower back pain.

What can we do about this?

Take breaks from sitting during the day. Some of my clients attempt to drink extra water during the day which causes them to get up and use the restroom more often. Another great thing to start adding to your daily routine is stretching the quads and hip flexors at least twice a day, more if possible. The hip flexors get extremely hypertonic after years of sitting and driving, getting orthopedic massage specifically focused on the hips may be necessary to help undo the tight muscles in this area. No need to cringe at the thought of psoas/iliacus massage. At Oak City Massage, we are trained to slowly work into these muscles, in fact our goal is that you would not experience any pain during this treatment, as that will increase the effectiveness tenfold.

2. Inefficient Glute Muscles

Another side effect of sitting all day is that your glute muscles stop working properly, they forget what to do. When this happens the next muscle in line, the low back starts to work overtime. This obviously leads to overworked muscles in the low back, which leads to pain.

What can we do about this?

It’s not that the glutes are weakened, they have just stopped working, or gone to sleep. We simply need to wake them up. Before going walking or exercising after work, do a few squats, lunges or resistance band side steps. These exercises can activate the glutes so they actually do their job when they are supposed to. Getting a medical massage can help with this as well. Your therapist can test your glutes and see if they are truly the problem, there are techniques to activate the glutes during the massage as well.

3. Leg Crossing

When the legs are crossed, the length of the muscles change. Sitting cross legged for long periods at a time causes one side to become chronically tight, while the other side is chronically overstretched. This type of unbalance can cause a lot of problems. When the low back is unbalanced, it can cause the hips to be cockeyed. This will change the gait pattern and cause a ripple effect all the way to the neck and down to the feet. It will also put unnecessary stress on the hip joints and knees.

What can we do about this?

First of all stop crossing your legs! Sitting with your legs straight out infront of you is ideal, you may also need a lift/stool under your feet if the chair you use is too tall to have your feet flat on the floor. Getting a massage can be very helpful in this situation. In orthopedic massage, your therapist will do a postural analysis as well as feel which side is shorter and which side has been overstretched. This is important because it will determine the work that will be done. If the two sides have different issues, you should not treat them the same.

4. Weak Core

The last big cause of low back pain we’ll go over today is a weak core. Almost all of my clients have heard that this can help their low back pain. The core includes your abdominals, obliques, lower back and goes as far down as the glutes and as high up as the mid back. These muscles hold the body upright and keep you stable while moving. If any of these muscles is weak, it causes the other muscles to overwork to the point of pain.

What can we do about this?

Strengthening the abdominals is generally the first thing people try to do. This is great, but it is also important to do core exercises that include all of the muscles, planks and bridges are two great examples. I would recommend Pilates to anyone that is trying to strengthen their core to help with low back pain, whether from a youtube channel, at home DVD or a class at a gym I have found these classes to be extremely safe and core strength based. However, it is always important to discuss this with your doctor if the pain in your low back is severe. If any exercise causes an increase in pain or doesn’t feel right, stop it immediately and try a modification or skip it all together. Getting a massage will not strengthen your core, though it will help alleviate some of the soreness from the new exercises you may try. Massage can also help by loosening the muscles that have been tight and overworked.

If you are experiencing low back pain, and feel it is caused by one of these issues, call us today to schedule your appointment! New Clients receive %20 off their first hour! 919.322.8382


Convenient to Cary, Morrisville, Apex, and Raleigh for Medical massage, Sports massage, Prenatal massage, and Relaxation massage.


Oak City Massage Therapy