CE INSTITUTE LLC BLOG

A massage stone heater is also known as a stone bath unit. Hot stone massage therapists are known to use turkey roasters, crock pots, kitchen griddles, hot towel cabins, kettles, heating pads and other types of heating devices, in addition to professional stone massage bath units, to heat their stones. For best practices during hot stone massage, all stones must be fully immersed in water within a heating unit prior to use. This is known as the "bath". Most stone bath units that have a built-in temperature gauge within a hot stone bath operating range are preferred. 

Heating sources such as a hot towel cabi or kitchen griddle that do not include a total water immersion can create uneven stone surface temperatures. Unevenly heated stones are not reliable or safe to use, especially when working near maximum operating temperatures for hot stone massage.

Stone bath units must also have an adjustable temperature control. Practitioners must continually adjust the bath temperature as needed, especially if cooler stones are returned to the bath, to maintain a proper operating temperature.

For complete hot stone massage training, please register for class at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/hot-stone

In this short instructional video, we'll explain what should be used for heating massage stones, and more importantly, what should not be used:

 #hotstone #hotstonemassage #bodywork #massage #massagetherapist #lmt #massagetherapy #stonemassage #bodywork #bodyworker #thermaltherapy #thermotherapy #thermotherapies #HEAT #MASSAGEtherapy #MASSAGEtherapists #SKINcare #BURNS #scalds #PATIENT-centeredcare  #PATIENTsafety #hotstonebath #stoneheater #stonemassgeheater #hotstoneheater #health

Deep Tissue Massage can release soft tissue restrictions, increase circulation, promote body homeostasis, break-down scar tissue, etc.  In such bodywork, the amount of pressure applied throughout the session is important.   This applied pressure creates an “intensity” feeling for the client.  Therapists need a way to gauge the amount of pressure applied for each client, and each client needs a way to provide feedback about how that pressure (or “intensity”) feels to them.  This gauge of intensity (or pressure) not only varies from client to client, but can also vary in different areas of one client’s body.

To provide communication about how much pressure should be used between therapist and client, we will use an “Intensity Scale”.  This is a verbal numeric scale between 1 to 10:

If the client rates the intensity of the massage as a “1”, this would mean that the client can barely feel the pressure.  There is no discomfort.  If the client rates the intensity of the massage as a “10”, this would mean that the client cannot tolerate this pressure, it is too much provoking an uncomfortable response beyond measure.

A customary goal in Deep Tissue Massage is to apply enough pressure where the client would reach a “7” on our Intensity Scale.  Some clients will wish to work with a lower number or less pressure/less intensity.  This is okay.  Remember, our work may only be provided with client request/consent.  We must never do anything that feels uncomfortable or unwanted by our client. 

Some clients will want to work with greater intensity than a “7”.  This is not recommended.  Potential negative repercussions could occur with work that is too deep:  inflammatory response, soreness, sensory overload, etc.  If the client demands greater pressure/intensity than a therapist is comfortable applying, then the session should be terminated.  Therapists must never do anything that makes them uncomfortable, or could cause harm to their client.

Suggested communication to teach how to use an Intensity Scale is as follows:

In your Massage Session today, I want to apply enough pressure for our work to be therapeutic, but not overwhelming.  Throughout the session, I am going to use an Intensity Scale of 1 to 10 to check-in to see how my pressure feels to you.  If the pressure is intolerable, then your number would be a 10.  If you can barely feel the pressure, your number would be a 1.  When I ask you what your number is, please let me know based upon this Intensity Scale what your number feels like to you.  Any questions?

“Hedonic” Work.  Many clients enjoy work that “hurts good”.  This is okay by many (but not all) standards.  Pressure and intensity must be individually determined by therapists and clients. Many therapists and clients will achieve a positive common goal; and, some therapists and clients will not be a good fit/match.  Either outcome is okay.  Just make sure to “Do No Harm”.

To learn more, please register for training at https://ceinstitute.com/

#painrelief #medical #healthcare  #generalmassage #massagetherapy #lmt #mt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #deeptissue #deeptissuemassage #advancedmassage

The following is a Trigger Point Therapy Definition by the American Family of Physicians[i]

We do not agree with this entire definition, but it's a great starting place to learn what a trigger point is:

Trigger points are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They produce pain locally and in a referred pattern and often accompany chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Acute trauma or repetitive microtrauma may lead to the development of stress on muscle fibers and the formation of trigger points. Patients may have regional, persistent pain resulting in a decreased range of motion in the affected muscles. These include muscles used to maintain body posture, such as those in the neck, shoulders, and pelvic girdle. Trigger points may also manifest as tension headache, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint pain, decreased range of motion in the legs, and low back pain. Palpation of a hypersensitive bundle or nodule of muscle fiber of harder than normal consistency is the physical finding typically associated with a trigger point. Palpation of the trigger point will elicit pain directly over the affected area and/or cause radiation of pain toward a zone of reference and a local twitch response. Various modalities, such as the Spray and Stretch technique, ultrasonography, manipulative therapy and injection, are used to inactivate trigger points. Trigger-point injection has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment modalities to inactivate trigger points and provide prompt relief of symptoms.

Sometimes accessing a trigger point can be a little difficult.  When it comes to trigger points mastication, it can be a little more challenging.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/trigger-point-therapy

In this trigger point therapy massage instructor demonstration, we will show you how we teach students to access and treat trigger points intraorally:

#tp #triggerpoint #triggerpointtherapy #masseter #intraoral #bodywork #bodyworker #massage #massagetherapist #mt #LMT

[i] lvarez, David J., and Pamela G. Rockwell. “Trigger Points: Diagnosis and Management.” American Family Physician, 15 Feb. 2002, www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p653.html.

We feel lomi lomi massage is a hands-on cultural healing art. Lomi is NOT a highly technical, anatomical or scientific practice.  Here's an example of a healing art:

Anyone can play (or bang) keys on a piano.  The Lomi Lomi massage that we teach as this school is similar to making music.  We're going to bring Hawaiian principles to a Hawaiian style massage, to perform and create beautiful peaceful healing session.  There is no digging or physical pain applied to this ethereal therapy.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/lomi-lomi

Here's a hands-on instructor demonstration of how we practice lomi massage at CE Institute LLC: 

#lomi #lomilomi #lomilomimassage #hawaii #hawaiian #hawaiianhealing #aloha #massage #lmt #massagetherapist #massagetherapy #bodywork #bodyworker #positivetouch #touchcommunication #positiveenergy #happy #happyplace #energy #energymedicine

We teach orthopedic cupping massage at CE Institute LLC. This newer westernized modality has emerged as a new, distinct form of bodywork. Massage therapists have increasingly purchased and intuitively used cups in their respective practices over the several years. What transpired was a bodywork evolution, with orthopedic cupping massage emerging as a new form of bodywork.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/eastern

It is critical to sanitize your massage cups between every client.  Here is a visual hands-on instructor demonstration of how to sanitize cups used in orthopedic cupping massage, as offered at our school:

#sanitation #cleaning #clean #cupping #cleaningcups #cuppingmassage #lmt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #massagetherapy #tcm #westerncupping #sportscupping

The practice of Ayurvedic massage can be classified with a client into one of three main doshas, or constitutions, also known as: vata, pitta and kapha. Each dosha determines a client’s Ayurvedic treatment, which could include abhyanga, shirodhara, marma massage and more.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/ayurvedic

Some of our students would like to see what ayurvedic massage (also known as abhyanga massage) would look like prior to registering for class.  In this brief instructor demonstration, Desi Collazo will show what one of the abhyanga techniques looks like with hands-on practice:

#vata #pitta #kapha #dosha #Ayurvedic #Ayurvedictreatment #Ayurveda #Ayurvedatreatment #Ayurvedicmassage #Ayurvedicbodywork #abhyanga #massagetherapy #lmt #mt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker

Orthopedic cupping massage stretches and releases soft tissue adhesions and restrictions, which can create a human domino effect of better tissue metabolism and greater range of motion that can lead to better athletic performance and other health-related benefits. This includes superficial and myofascial release as well.

In this hands-on instructor demonstration of orthopedic cupping massage on the upper trapezius, you will view how a curved cup is used from the popular Kangzhu cupping sets. Curved cups allow for greater and longer suction on curved areas of the body, and are a tremendous asset and tool when performing moving cupping massage maneuvers and techniques.

To learn more, please register for training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/eastern

Curved cups are FABULOUS when working on curvy areas of the body such as forearms extensors, shin splint areas, upper trapezius and more, as shown here in the demonstrational video:  

#cupping #cuppingmassage #lmt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #massagetherapy #tcm #westerncupping #sportscupping

Would you like to achieve more pressure in your massage and bodywork applications without much physical effort?  Perhaps you would like to lean a little longer into a massage stretch?  The choice is yours. And when you make that choice to use your elbows, you should be choosing whether you will use a dull or pointy elbow. 

A pointy elbow is usually applied with your elbow flexed to around 150 degrees, so that your knuckles are facing back towards your head. When you flex your elbow to 150 degrees, you will create a sharp point with your elbow’s olecranon process. We call this a pointy elbow, and sometimes we call it sharpening your tool, because you can use your pointy elbow for massage application. Pointy elbows are also commonly applied in trigger point therapy.

A dull elbow is usually applied with the elbow flexed at around a 90-degree angle. Dull elbows are popular in deeper myofascial techniques. They are also good for general muscle tension relief for for working larger bodily areas, such as the glutes or thoracolumbar fascia, without causing the discomfort a pointy elbow might achieve because it is dull.

To learn more, please register for professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/

To read this article at Massage Magazine, please click HERE

#deeptissue #myofascialrelease #triggerpointtherapy #tp #tptherapy #massage #lmt #mt #massagetherapy #therapeuticmassage #deeppressure #massagetherapist

Plastic surgeons often refers patients for post-surgical manual lymphatic drainage to relieve pain and swelling, or they may prescribe deep tissue massage for new muscular contracture over an implant or filler, or more.

Even with a doctor’s written prescription and direction, shifting or migration of fillers and implants could happen or be blamed on the therapist's manual therapy, and shifting could have already occurred, hence the referral.

It's important for massage therapists to remember that working over fillers or implants is contraindicated.  Shifting and migration could occur with the manual therapy, and it is not worth the risk to try to achieve the benefit, especially given the lack of certainty with both.  Therapists, clients and doctors cannot always control shifting and migration issues within the human body. This is one of many reasons why working over foreign materials implanted in the body is a massage and bodywork contraindication.

Migration and shifting are terms used to describe when a foreign material has moved away from its original placement site. This can also be called displacement.

Migration is the term commonly referenced when a foreign material has migrated to places such as the client’s bloodstream. Shifting is the term commonly referenced when a foreign material has shifted away from its original placement site, such as instances with physical force, capsular contraction or aging.

Migration and shifting issues of foreign materials within the body can cause physical disfigurement, swelling, pain, obstruction of circulation and even death in some cases.

Shifting of foreign materials can also occur over time and for other various reasons. Skin thickness, gravity, muscular contractures and more could all cause undesirable shifting issues.

While temporary fillers such as Juvéderm and Restylane are considered safer than a permanent filler, there is still concern that shifting or migration could occur with any foreign material, regardless if the foreign material is considered temporary, permanent, synthetic, or living tissue including fat.

MTs Cannot Reliably Control Foreign Material Shifting

Sometimes, massage or bodywork will be prescribed by a physician in an attempt to purposely influence foreign material shifting. The problem is, a practitioner cannot always control where the foreign material will shift to with their hands-on work, and sometimes shifting can result in an undesirable placement.

What is important to remember is the client’s wish to change their physical appearance is met by having a foreign material placed at a specific site in their body. That physical appearance can be drastically changed or undesirable when the foreign material shifts away from its intended placement site.

Permanent Silicone Injectables

Silicone injectables are an example of fillers used that are not approved by the FDA because they are permanent and remain within the body. The FDA warns, “It can move throughout the body and cause serious health consequences, including death. In fact, when injected into areas with many blood vessels, such as the buttocks (butt), silicone can travel through those vessels to other parts of the body and block blood vessels in the lungs, heart, or brain. This can cause a stroke or even death.”

The FDA’s warning of foreign material migration is a huge concern for massage practice. Massage should not be applied over foreign materials; it is simply ill-advised.

It should be noted that whole and intact silicone implants used for cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation would not apply to this referenced FDA migration warning. While silicone implants have their own worrisome concerns such as they can shift away from their original placement site with incorrect placement or when they are too large for the area and more, this FDA warning is about silicone injectables.

To learn more, please register for quality affordable professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/

Please click HERE if you would like to read our article on Massage Magazine's website.

#massage #lmt #mt #mld #manuallymphaticdrainage #bbl #brazilianbuttlift #bodywork #contraindicated #serviceprecaution #implant #filler #breastimplant #injection #cosmetic #plasticsurgery #cosmeticprocedure #surgery