Massage Therapy and Sleep

      One of the best things you can do for your health is get enough sleep. Most people are well aware of this fact, though many Americans today struggle with getting enough sleep. In some cases it’s due to a lack of time for sleep, but in most cases a lack of sleep has nothing to do with time.  Many people go to bed at a reasonable hour only to toss and turn until it’s time to get up again. This can be frustrating as well as draining. Without proper sleep, your entire life gets affected. A lack of sleep can cause you to be less alert during work and less attentive to your family and friends this can be a big factor in anxiety and stress.  Without enough sleep, your body will be much slower to heal itself from exercise and daily repetitive motions. A body in pain only makes the other issues compounded.

       It is unclear what exactly causes sleep disorders, in most cases many factors seem to play a roll. However some things you can do that wouldn’t hurt your sleep is turning off all electronic devices at least one hour before bed, getting into a routine so your body is ready to sleep at the same time every night, another thing you can do is practice shutting your mind down so your thoughts are not keeping you up. Whether by writing down all the things you need to do, or meditating before bed.

   There have been quite a few studies to show the effects of massage on people that have trouble sleeping. Getting a regular massage can be beneficial for your sleep in many ways. First of all, massage is a time where you can really shut your brain down, for at least an hour. Taking time to relax and quiet yourself is truly a skill. In this fast paced society we live in, productivity is the measure of everyone. Between juggling jobs, family, social life, pets, working out, and possibly a hobby or two it is hard to find time to relax let alone finding time to be good at it. Getting a massage helps to calm your mind with relaxing music and relaxing aromatherapy. Add in the fact that your tired muscles are also being relaxed and you will truly feel yourself letting go. Experiencing this time of relaxation can help you to begin to train your brain in body in what it is supposed to feel like to relax.

       Besides the busyness of life, pain in general as well as pain caused by sleeping positions can also be a hinderance to restful  night. Whether it is chronic pain from everyday overuse or an old injury, pain can wake you up at night and keep you up. Choosing medical massage can make a huge difference here. As you work with your therapist to relieve old injuries and recover full range of motion, laying down to sleep will no longer be an obstacle. Relief of chronic pain can also lead to less stress. Feeling pain all day can really wear on a person. It is always on your mind and can crowd your thoughts. Reducing or eliminating pain will help to reduce stress which in turn will help your brain to shut down a little easier as you are trying to fall asleep.                             

 Beyond chronic pain from overuse and injury, there are a variety of disorders and diseases that can hinder your sleep. An example of one of these disorders is Fibromyalgia, and it is very common among people today. With fibromyalgia being so prevalent these days, a  lot of sleep studies have been focused specifically with patients that have it, and they have shown that patients suffering from this disorder who receive massage have more hours of restful sleep.

    Massage therapy focuses on the whole body and it is important to keep everything in check, especially sleep. Massage helps with general well being specifically by reducing mental and physical stress. Stress can negatively affect our bodies and it is important to bring those levels down as often as possible. If you or a loved one are struggling with sleep issues, consider giving massage a try!

Call today to schedule your appointment! 919.322.8382

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

Oak City Massage Therapy

Medical Massage

     A relatively new term in the world of health care is Orthopedic or Medical massage. It sounds impressive, but what is the real difference between medical, deep, and therapeutic massage? In a lot of cases, medical massage includes deep tissue as well as therapeutic work with in it. Medical massage is a more focused work on specific areas of pain and discomfort. It is especially useful for acute injuries, chronic pain, and pre and post surgery. Medical massage looks at the body as a whole. It focuses on where the muscles should be and how they should be functioning. Medical massage uses therapeutic and deep tissue techniques to bring the body back into balance, and in doing so reducing pain along with the initial cause of pain.

          With a typical medical massage session, you can expect to begin with a postural assessment and a set of muscle tests. This is to see where muscles may have pain and if they are moving together in the most efficient order. It is important for your therapist to figure out which muscles are too tight and which are being over stretched. This is key to the session, as it will determine where to begin and how to work each specific group of muscles. Though your muscles and body will be relaxed, medical massage is not always the most relaxing mentally. Your therapist will need  your feedback throughout the session, and there may be more movement and stretching than a typical deep tissue massage. This allows your treatment to be very specific to your own needs.  The session will generally end with some suggestions for home care to continue your progress. This is truly essential. If you leave your treatment and go back to your normal routine, your pain will undoubtedly return. Massage therapists can not fix you, they can assist you on your journey into a pain free life, though without making the changes yourself, a massage can only go so far.

       Though it is important to have an injury checked out by a medical doctor first,  Medical massage can be for anyone with pain. Whether you have been in pain for as long as you can remember, recently been injured and your doctor does not recommend surgery, or are preparing for or recovering from surgery, this type of massage can greatly benefit you. Medical massage is helpful for those with pain from sitting at a desk, driving, or standing most of your work day, those struggling with a frozen joint and those who can’t remember what pain free feels like.  It is also for those who have recently injured their rotator cuff, strained a muscle, or sprained their ankle. As long as you have discussed massage with your doctor, it is also extremely helpful for those who are planning to or have recently had an orthopedic surgery.                                                        

  Here at Oak City Massage Therapy, we specialize in medical and orthopedic massage. We would love to discuss your symptoms and work with you to resolve them for good.  Sometimes it is nice to get a relaxing deep tissue massage, but if you are in pain and relaxation massage is not cutting it,  give medical massage a try!

Give us a call today to schedule your medical massage! 919.322.8382

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

Oak City Massage Therapy

Valentine's Day <3

     With parties for the super bowl, celebrating the Chinese New Year and keeping up with your new exercise regimen, it might come as a shock that Valentine’s Day is this weekend! Try something special this year and get your sweet heart the gift of massage. There is still plenty of time to make your valentine’s and buy candy, though so soon after the super bowl and with new year's resolutions still in play, candy may not be the number one on your special someone’s list. With the big push these days to get healthy, and save money the usual candy and jewelry may not make the most sense this year. Why not try a gift that won’t break the bank, and has great health benefits? An hour massage can help to loosen tight muscles, decrease muscle soreness, and reduce mental stress. With a variety of modalities to chose from including prenatal, sports massage, deep tissue massage and swedish massage, there is no worry about if it’s going to be the right type of massage.  

      If your loved one is trying to cut back on sweets, or is not that into jewelry these days, get them a massage. With a special of $64 for a one hour massage, it is a low costing, healthy alternative.

Call today to schedule an appointment 919.322.8382 <3

A More Comfortable Massage

 One of the best things I have added to my practice is the Body Support Systems Cushions.  This is a system of support pillows that allows for a more comfortable massage. The cushions have specific support sections that focus on bony prominences and better spine and joint positioning.

 The body cushion system is for anyone that experiences discomfort while laying face down (prone)  or face up (supine). I have had more than one client get up from the table, in seemingly more pain than they began with especially in the low back, due to the discomfort of lying prone. This is certainly upsetting for any client receiving massage, but it was also very frustrating for me. The body cushions position the client so their vertebrae can open up while prone and it takes all of the pressure off of the spine. There is also more support for the hip bones and clavicles. For women that have discomfort lying face down due to their chest, the cushions have a design that allows more support in this area. The cushions are also perfect for clients that simply cannot lay supine or prone and prefer a side lying massage. This is most popular for pregnant clients, though a side lying massage can be great for anyone. The cushions support your torso and your head so your shoulder is comfortable and not being directly laid on.

        Using the body cushions is great because they can lead to a more relaxing experience allowing the client to truly get comfortable on the table instead of ‘ suffering’ through. They can also open up possibilities for those that wouldn't consider massage because they experience such discomfort with the different positioning  Your muscles still greatly benefit from massage even more if you can truly be comfortable. Most pregnant clients look at the cushions like I must be crazy but, after trying it they can't believe how comfortable it is. Being able to complete the entire massage from side lying involves much less turning which can be extremely taxing on a woman in her 3rd trimester.

        The cushions have support directly under bony prominences, a space for easy breathing as well as cut outs for a larger chest. The cushions allow for a slight bend at the hips which opens up the lower vertebrae. They also have separate leg supports allowing one leg to be stretched and moved around while the other is still comfortably supported. If you are delaying your massage until you give birth, or have completely written it off due to discomfort while lying down, these cushions could be your solution!

Call today to schedule your appointment!  919.322.8382 !!

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

Oak City Massage Therapy

Bamboo Massage

Looking for a way to escape the cold, and loosen those muscles that have been overworked by  shoveling ice? Try a bamboo massage at Oak City Massage Therapy! Here are a few things that make bamboo massage stand out and why it is a good option for all clients.

 In bamboo massage, we use warm bamboo ratan tools. These tools are very firm and come in varying sizes. The bamboo is used similarly to hot stones, the therapist holds the bamboo and uses it to massage the muscles instead of their hands. The therapist can use the leverage from the bamboo tools to offer a much deeper pressure than with hot stones, or their hands/elbows. Bamboo massage originated in south Asia. Though it is unclear who originally started using bamboo for massage, many therapists across the world have adopted this technique.

Bamboo massage is beneficial for many reasons we are going to discuss just a few of them.  The heat from the tools starts to relax your entire body, it will also help to loosen each muscle individually. Once the heat has loosened the body and muscles, the therapist can take full advantage of the leverage from the bamboo. The therapist can use deep pressure now that the muscles are in a more relaxed state, this allows the deep pressure to be comfortable and much more effective. With increased mental relaxation from the heat, and physically with the deep tissue massage, the client can get so much more out of their massage. Most people coming in to get a deep tissue massage are preparing for pain and discomfort, with a no pain no gain attitude. In this treatment,  you get all the benefits of a deep tissue massage without the pain.  

Bamboo massage sounds nice, but why is it the best option for you? It is a deep tissue massage with the added relaxation similar to a Swedish massage. If you are looking for a deep massage that won’t cause more pain then you were already in, this is the treatment for you. Similarly, if you are more interested in the relaxation you get from massage, but don’t always feel it was worth it, bamboo massage is the answer!

Call today and schedule your Bamboo massage! 919.322.8382 !!

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

Oak City Massage Therapy

New Year's Resolution

      Already two weeks into a new year's resolution and the challenges are really beginning. How can you combat those achy muscles which can be so persuasive on a cold evening after work? Massage can help, of course! Massage can help you stay on track with your health and wellness goals by speeding up recovery time, improving your performance, and preventing injury.  By adding massage to your regular routine, your new year’s resolution can become your new lifestyle.

          In my experience,  one of the biggest causes for a failed attempt to add exercise to your lifestyle is injury. Most fitness professionals recommend, to avoid injury, a proper warm-up before exercising as well as a cool down after. Stretching can also be beneficial, especially throughout the day when your body is stuck in repetitive movements like typing, driving, cooking or doing laundry. Take time to give your body a break throughout these tedious tasks. Getting regular massage helps to increase circulation, improve muscular health as well as keep you mentally relaxed. Massage helps to speed your recovery time after workouts, so you can keep up the hard work at the gym. It’s already hard enough to get out of bed on these cold winter mornings, don’t add over sore muscles to the mix.

       When you get a massage, you will notice areas of tension and soreness that you didn't even know existed. This is extremely important, especially when it comes to injury prevention. If you can figure out where you are holding tension,  you can take extra precautions with an extra warm-up in that area or extra stretching after exercise. Prevention is the main goal, however it is not always possible. Massage can also be used in rehabilitating an injury. With a basic muscle strain or joint sprain, massage has proven to be very beneficial. Discussing an injury with your doctor first is recommended to be sure nothing more serious has occurred.

      In some cases, you may be very aware an area is tight, though you are struggling to loosen the muscle on your own. This can negatively impact your workout, whether it affects your running stride, or the number of reps you are able to do with weights. Tight muscles become very apparent during a hard workout. Although, things like stretching and foam rolling can be very helpful in these times, it is not always enough. Your massage therapist can use skills to bring your body back into balance to take stress off of your over worked muscles. Generally, pain in the body is due to an imbalance, so being able to find out what has caused this is key to finally loosening up those muscles.

        Along with bringing your body into balance, as well as working through injuries, being able to mentally relax is also a big factor in a workout . Focusing on your workout is important if you want to get the full benefit from it. If you are thinking about everything else you need to do, or that happened during the day, your workout will suffer.  Getting a regular massage helps to develop skills in relaxation. Learning what it is like to actually let go and relax during your massage will help you get comfortable while relaxing outside of massage.

          As your mental and physical stress dissipate, you will find that you are able to get much more out of your work outs. You will be able to focus more on what you are doing, so you can be efficient during the times you have to work out. This will help to reduce injuries as well as increase your results. Being able to do both of those things will greatly improve your odds of keeping up with your new year's resolution and making it a long lasting change.

We would love to help keep you on track with your goals this year! Call today to schedule your massage 919.322.8382 !!

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

Oak City Massage Therapy

Our Therapist

Alicia studied massage therapy at the Florida College of Natural Health.  She has traveled as far as Costa Rica and Ireland to continue her education with a certification in Medical Massage as well as extensive classes in Orthopedic Massage. Some other modalities she works with are deep tissue, trigger point, massage cupping, swedish and prenatal massage as well as Kinesio taping. After going over client intake forms and listening to clients' wants and needs from their session, she utilizes the modalities that will produce the best results. 

Alicia has been a massage therapist for over six years with a background working on a cruise ship, in a few different massage clinics, and in an office where the main focus was therapeutic massage. Her time in these different setting has given Alicia experience with many different types of clients including athletes training for events, clients recovering from or trying to avoid surgeries,  clients working through chronic pain in all areas of the body, people that carry unmanageable stress tension, women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and clients that just need to relax. 

Alicia encourages her clients to be proactive, and works with them to figure out the causes of their pain and consider possible changes that can be made to truly recover from their symptoms. 

She has truly found her passion in Massage Therapy and is looking forward to meeting and working with you. Please email, or call today to set up your appointment! 919-322-8382

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

Oak City Massage Therapy