This week we are talking about menopause, and how women experiencing this change can benefit from regular massage or Myotherapy treatments!

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a term for the cessation of regular menstrual periods in women. In most women, it is accompanied by a host of other physiological and emotional changes. 

Most women go through menopause between the age of 45 and 55, with symptoms starting anywhere from around age 35. Throughout this time, your body is starting to change physically, emotionally and hormonally. Additionally, at this stage in a woman’s life she is often under a lot of stress, usually dealing with kids, work, finances and other responsibilities.  On top of that, a slow decrease in oestrogen can contribute to emotional, physical and psychological changes. For example, BMI (Body Mass Index) increases, bone density decreases, and metabolism slows down.  Other symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, joint pain, sore muscles, hair loss and brittle nails. These changes and stresses can leave women feeling tired, low in energy, foggy headed, and can also cause insomnia and a lack of libido. 

​But don't worry! It's not all grim. We have some suggestions for riding out this change with pleasure, self-love and grace.

How can massage help?

For many years people have been using massage as a way of relaxing the mind and body.  Massage is a great way to focus on your body and become aware of any imbalances that may be occurring in the muscles. With so many changes occurring in the body during menopause and perimenopause (premenopausal stage), the body can easily become misaligned, tight, sore and achy.  Massage or Myotherapy can relieve muscle tension and help to realign the body.

Your massage/Myotherapist will assess your posture and look at any alignment problems you may have. From this they will be able to determine what type of treatment you need.  While remedial treatment is usually aimed at correcting alignment and aiding recovery from any physical ailments you may have, other benefits my include:

• Improved circulation
• Enhanced quality of sleep
• Reduced fatigue
• Heightened mental alertness
• Increased joint mobility and flexibility
• Promotes healing of soft tissue injuries
• Stimulation of the lymphatic system

 
Massage can also lower blood pressure and body temperature which may help with reducing symptoms such as hot flushes and foggy head.
 
Thinking about booking a massage or Myotherapy session?  Book online or call us on 03 9440 9453 for more information. Our receptionists will be more than happy to answer your questions and help you discover what type of massage treatment will be best for you.
 
For a list of the types of massage treatments we have available click here.

At Inner Outer Health, many of our clients come in for massage and myotherapy seeking treatment for upper back and neck pain. The pain can result in headaches and migraines, and even referral pain or numbness down the arms.

A good percentage of these clients are working in environments that require them to have their arms forward and/or down - sitting at a computer, for example.  This can cause the back to slump and the shoulders to round forward, resulting in tight/shortened pectoral muscles, particularly the pectoralis minor.

This underappreciated muscle is the cause of so much of that pack and neck pain - but luckily, it's easy to stretch, and doing so regularly can help relieve stiffness and soreness everywhere!

Dr Jacob Harden from the USA has posted a fantastic pec stretch on Instagram that is guaranteed to help open up the chest area and alleviate sore shoulders, upper back and neck.

The key to success with this stretch is to make sure you do it every day.  We spend hours in the same position at work every day, so we need to reverse it with multiple stretch sessions throughout the day. Watch the video below!

Here’s how to do it:

• Find a broomstick or long pipe.
• Lay down on your back on an elevated surface such as a bed, table, massage table or weight lifting bench.
• Keep the spine in neutral alignment by ensuring that the ribs don’t rise up and the back doesn’t arch too much.
• First take a wide grip on the stick with boths hands, with the palms facing up.
• Whilst keeping your arms straight, slowly move the stick down towards the floor (above your head)
• If this doesn’t give a strong enough stretch bring the hands in closer to each other slightly and try again. Repeat this until you feel a good stretch.
• Once you have found the right position repeat the movement going up and down with your arms making sure you keep your neutral spine position.  
• Approximately 10 - 15 repetitions is recommended.

Watch the video and read the comments on the side of the video for more information.


For more information about pec stiffness and soreness, or if your pain is persistent, book in for a session with our amazing myotherapists today!

Check out the infograph below for some insight on common bicep issues.

Middle aged people are more likely to get Tennis Elbow

Anyone can develop tennis elbow – you do not have to play tennis to get it.  The term is named tennis elbow as the repetitive use of the elbow joint resemble the movement used when swinging a tennis racquet.

According to the virtual medical centre, middle-aged adults aged between 40 and 60 are more susceptible to tennis elbow, although it can affect anyone at any age.

Symptoms:

Onset tends to be gradual

• It may take several days for an ache to develop after the tear occurs
• Pain on the outside of the elbow
• Pain is usually localised but can extend through the forearm and wrist
• Weakened grip
• Without treatment, symptoms can take 6 to 24 months to resolve
• Pain can be triggered or exacerbated by
  • Opening the fingers
  • Repeatedly rotating the forearm or extending the wrist backward toward the forearm.
  • Activities such as turning on taps or turning door handles may worsen the pain.

Treatment:

• Application of ice
• Analgesics (pain relievers)
• Resting the injured elbow by avoiding activities that aggravate the pain
• Wearing an elbow brace
• Natural Therapies such as Myotherapy
  • Myotherapists will demonstrate exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the forearm
  • For more severe cases, injections or surgery may be considered

Prevention:

Some tips to prevent elbow injuries before they happen includes:

• Stretch and warm up before playing sport or performing any other activity involving repetitive use of the elbow or forearm
• Cool down when you are finished
• Pay attention to your technique
• Set up your work environment and activities to minimise repetitive activities and pressure
• Take regular rest breaks, particularly at the first sign of discomfort in the elbow
• There are other factors that have been associated with the risk of developing tennis elbow.  These include:
  • Being female
    • Women typically have more join inflammation
  • Getting older
    • Connective tissues do not heal as well as we get older
  • Being overweight
  • Smoking
  • Handling loads repetitively
    • This can be demanding on your joints
  For further explanation about tennis elbow, please clink on the link below to view a video: What is Tennis Elbow?
  
  

Treatments:
If symptoms persist consult your doctor or natural therapist (e.g., myotherapist)

• Exercises prescribed by your health professional to gradually strengthen the tendons
• Soft tissue massage
• Ice massage
• Dry needling
• Taping or bracing your elbow
• Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication can help you cope with the pain, but do not improve long-term outcomes

Golfer’s elbow is most common in adults above the age of 35, although it can affect anyone at any age.

Symptoms

• Symptoms usually develop gradually
  • It may take several days for an ache to develop after the tear occurs
  • Pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow
    • Although this pain is usually localised, it can also extend along the inner side of the forearm
    • Pain may worsen with some activities (e.g., turning a doorknob, shaking hands)
    • Elbow stiffness or weakness
    • Numbness or tingling that can radiate into one or more fingers

Treatment

• Application of ice
• Analgesics (pain relievers)
• Resting the injured elbow for at least a few weeks
• Wearing a splint or strap to prevent pulling of the injured tendon
• Natural Therapies such as Myotherapy
  • Myotherapists will demonstrate exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the forearm
  • For more severe cases, surgery may be considered

Prevention

• Strengthen your forearm muscles
  • This can be achieved by performing simple exercises daily such as using light weights or squeezing a tennis ball
  • Warm up and stretch your muscles before you take part in physical activity
  • Monitor your technique during activities
  • It is important to know when to take a break and rest, especially at the first sign of any elbow pain.
  Check out this youtube video about Golfers Elbow
  
  

Do you suffer from knee pain? Did you know knee pain does not only affect sporting people but the aging population as well.

There can be multiple causes of knee pain. Some of these include:-

• Type of exercise you do (jogging etc)
• Over weight/obesity
• Hereditary reasons
• Referred pain from the back or hip
• Type of work
• Injuries
• Arthritis and
• More

Due to the shock absorbing nature of the knee, everyday wear and tear can take its toll on the joint. Not to mention the functionality of the knee makes it nearly impossible to immobilise and keep still.

Your knee is designed to absorb the pressure from gravity and your body to move the leg. Under this enormous pressure, the structures of the knee can be compromised. As you would know, it does not take much to dislocate or injure a knee enough and cause copious amounts of pain.

If this is sounds familiar to you or you know someone that does Myotherapy may be your solution.

As our society advances, so does our understanding of health care and the human body. It is for this reason that many people have now turned to a more holistic and preventative approach to their health, such as Myotherapy. Rather than taking medication that will only help once your health is already compromised. Myotherapy can be used to prevent injuries to the body, and aid the body to recover on its own.

Myotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of disorders including:

• Overuse injury such as tennis elbow or shin splints
• Sports injuries
• Tension headache
• Pain caused by poor posture
• Chronic back pain
• Joint pain, such as shoulder impingement syndrome
• Muscle sprains
• Stress

A lot of the time, people are only aware of a problem with their body once they are already in pain.  Regular myotherapy visits can help reduce the cause of muscle pain, tension and even injuries before they become problematic.

By targeting trigger points in the body your myotherapist can release pain and tension.

Trigger points are generalised as the irritability in muscles and their associated fascia. Trigger points are activated directly by overloading the muscle, overworking, fatigue and direct trauma. Myofascial trigger points can create different types of pain. It could be knife-like or stabbing, dull and achy, burning, numb or even tingly.

Trigger point pain can include headaches that are often diagnosed as tension, sinus or migraine, neck pain that radiates into the arm and forearm and into the lower back, thigh and leg.

Not only can a myotherapist treat you during a consultation, they can also teach you and show you many techniques to promote wellbeing and allow you to help yourself and strengthen your own body against illness and injury.

Click here to book and see for yourself.

Treatment for Lower Back Pain Often pain medication is the first option people think about when treating back pain to get quick relief. This may be fine for short term, however until the cause is addressed and treated, the symptoms will continue to appear.

There are many different options for treating back pain, and depending on the cause, a combination of different therapies may be required. Since everybody is different, what works for one person may not work for the next, so it is important to find what works for you.

Trigger Points in Lower Back

Myotherapy is extremely helpful in reducing pain and tension through the body, as when muscles are tight, they can affect posture, and therefore tension throughout the whole body. Tightness through the psoas, quads, rectus abdominus, gluts and diaphragm tend to be muscles that are neglected in treating lower back pain. Working through these soft tissues with your Myotherapy can bring about great results, even after one session.

Risk factors for developing lower back pain

There are certain factors that can increase your risk of developing back pain, or aggravate it once you have it, including:

• Being stressed or anxious
• Poor posture
• Standing, sitting or bending down for long periods
• Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are too heavy, or going about these tasks in the wrong way
• Having a trip or a fall
• Being overweight
• Weak core muscles
• Wearing incorrect shoes
• Sleeping on a mattress that is not suitable for you body
• See also causes

Self Care for Lower Back Pain  If you are suffering lower back pain, these are some of the things that your myotherapist can recommend to you to help, it if you can’t see a Health Professional straight away.

• Cool or Heat Therapy. Ice is best in the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury because it reduces inflammation. After 48 hours, you can switch to heat which will help to relax the muscles, as well as providing some pain relief. Whether you use heat or ice — take it off after about 20 minutes to give your skin a rest. If pain persists, talk with your myotherapist.

• Natural Pain Relieving Gels. Sombra is a fast acting natural pain relieving gel that brings temporary relief to lower back pain and other forms of pain.

• Keep moving. As much as you may not feel like it, it is important to keep moving – keep doing your daily activities where possible. Moving will stop muscles and joints from stiffening up, which will only make the pain or discomfort worse. Only do what you can, don’t overdo it. Gentle movement such as walking and swimming are great ways to keep mobile. As you get better, increase your activity levels and your myotherapist will recommend exercises to help strengthen the muscles around your spine, pelvis and core muscles, as this will increase your back support.

• Stretch. Gentle stretching can really help your muscles to stay flexible and can help to reduce tightness. If you are sitting a lot, getting up to stretch your legs is important as inactivity (especially sitting for long periods) will only make your back pain worse. Or you can also try sitting on a firm chair instead if your soft couch.
• Watch your posture. Slumping makes it harder for your back to support your weight. Be especially careful of your posture when lifting heavy objects. Never bend over from the waist. Instead, bend and straighten from the knees.

Call your doctor if:

• You have weakness or numbness in your legs, or you have trouble standing or walking.
• You lose control over your bowels or bladder.
• Your low back pain is severe, doesn’t go away after a few days, or it hurts even when you’re at rest or lying down.

These could be signs of a nerve problem or other medical condition.

Preventing Lower Back Pain

It is good to take note of what you have been doing (or not doing!) that affects your back pain. Some ways to prevent lower back pain include:

• Sleep. Sleeping on your side with a good mattress and good pillow, making sure to alternate sides. Preventing Lower Back Pain
  

• Posture. Good posture is vital to minimising back problems.

• Shoes. Avoid wearing high heels, wear comfortable and supportive shoes to help maintain good posture.

• Get bodywork. Myotherapy is a great way to keep your musculoskeletal system in balance, which can prevent you getting back problems. Your Myotherapist will give you specific strengthening and stretching exercises to bring balance back to your body.

• • Think ergonomically. Design your workspace so you don’t have to hunch forward to see your computer monitor or reach way out for your mouse. Use a desk chair that supports your lower back and allows you to keep your feet on the floor.
  • Stop Smoking.  Smoking can increase your risk for osteoporosis of the spine and other bone problems. Osteoporosis can in turn lead to compression fractures of the spine.
  • Watch your weight. Use diet and exercise to keep your weight within a healthy range for your height. Being overweight puts excess stress on your spine.
  • Wallets. Removing your wallet from your back pocket can alleviate some stress on the back.
  • Nutritional Supplements. Fish oil and magnesium tablets can help with back pain.

Lower back pain does not have to take over your life. In many cases, there are ways to get the help and support you need, if you choose to find it. If you are suffering from lower back pain, why not try Myotherapy and see for yourself how it can help you. You can make a booking online or you can call us on 9440 9453.

If you are experiencing lower back pain, you are not alone…

Did you know that 80% of people over the age of 35 experience lower back pain at some point in their lives? And 1 in 4 people will be suffering from it right now…

There is also a link between chronic pain and depression, and they commonly occur together. Depression is often associated with decreased function due to chronic pain, as people are unable to do the many things they would normally have been able to do without pain.

Back pain can refer to both upper and lower back pain. Upper back pain affects the mechanics of the lower back, so sometimes they will co-exist. This blog will focus on lower back pain.

What is Lower Back Pain?

Acute Back Pain vs Chronic Back Pain

Lower back pain can be experienced as pain or tension around the lower back area (lumbar spine) and can affect the spine, joints, ligaments and muscles as well as nerves.

 Commonly, the muscles that are responsible for creating pain in the lower back area, include:

• Psoas
• Quads – particularly Rectus Femoris
• Quadratus Lumborum
• Latissimus Dorsi
• Adductors
• Rectus Abdominus
• Gluteals

Fascia connects via Myofascial Lines or “Fascial Trains”, whereby muscle fibres that run the same direction connect via the fascia. Looking at the picture of the Superficial Back Line (one of 12 different Myofascial Lines”), you can see that fascia connects your head to your toes – literally! Fascial line tightness can contract not only the fascia covering the muscle, but can contract a whole line of fascia, creating overall tightness throughout the body, which creates musculoskeletal imbalances.

The thoracolumbar fascia is a diamond shape of connective tissue that is located directly over the lumbar spine area. It forms the attachment of the Latissimus Dorsi Gluteal muscles, and the Transverse abdominus muscle (core). This area can also become tight and contract, creating postural imbalances.

Causes

It’s sometimes hard to know exactly what causes back pain. It’s usually thought to be related to a muscle strain or mechanical dysfunction in one of the structures in your back, rather than just a nerve problem.

For many people with back pain, there isn’t any one specific underlying problem or condition that can be identified as the cause of the pain. Lower back pain can have many causes including:

Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

Symptoms of lower back pain can depend on the cause. Some common symptoms include:

• Muscle spasm and tightness
• Muscle cramps
• Stiffness
• Pain around the back and buttock areas
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Aches
• Muscle Spasm
• Locking joints creating a limited range of movement (ROM)
• Weakness

If you are experiencing these symptoms, book in to see our Myotherapist today who can start treating you for your lower back pain.

In “Part 2″ our next blog will cover treatment options, self care and prevention of lower back pain, so stay tuned!

Ask yourself these questions:

1. When you wake up from sleep are your jaws clenched or your teeth sore?
2. Does your jaw lock, pop, grate, click or snap?
3. Do you have frequent headaches? How long do they last? What area of the head?
4. Do you have trouble opening and closing your mouth?
5. Have you ever had a whiplash injury or had a blow to the head or jaw?

From time to time, you may suffer from soreness or tightness of the jaw. If the pain continues to get worse or the tightness progresses to a place where eating, smiling or yawning is difficult, then there is a possibility that there is some dysfunction of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). This can also be called TMJ Syndrome or TMJ disorder. It most often affects people aged 20-40, however anyone can be affected by TMJ problems at any age.

Did you know the muscles that move the TMJ are the same muscles you use to chew food (muscles of mastication), the masseter, medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid and the temporalis muscles?  Your Myotherapist will address these muscles when you visit Inner Outer Health.

How do I locate the TMJ?

You can find this joint yourself by placing a couple of fingers in front of your ear, and open and close your mouth. You can also placing your index finger in your ear. When you do this action you will feel the TMJ move form under your fingers.

What is TMJ dysfunction/ TMJ Syndrome?

The best ways to describe this is to view the YouTube video below.

Generally speaking, pain or restriction around the jaw (joint or muscles) that occurs over an extended period of time can be termed dysfunctional.

Over time, the disc of the TMJ can wear and become very thin, or changes may occur to the disc due to dysfunction, which may create impaired movement of the joint. When there is dysfunction present, if it is not treated early on it could lead to disc degeneration and TMJ Syndrome.

TMJ dysfunction can be classed into three different categories:

1. Myofascial – generally presents as muscular pain or discomfort in the muscles surrounding the jaw. Myofascial Pain Dysfunction (MPD) Syndrome is also being included here, as muscles may be in various states of tension or spasm due to various causes. It is believed that there is a connection between Myofascial pain and psychological or emotional stress. Teeth grinding or clenching may also be present. In this case, TMJ pain may be secondary to these events.
2. Joint issues such as disc displacement, dislocation of jaw, or injury to the bones around the joint.
3. Arthritis/degenerative joint disease – inflammatory joint disorder that can manifest in the TMJ.

Any one or more of these categories may be present at once. Most people have fairly mild cases of the disorder, whereas others may have persistent and chronic issues with their TMJ. Disc displacement is not uncommon.

Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction

Symptoms of TMJ can be very diverse, however the most common symptoms include:

• Migraine-like headaches where the pain is located around the side of the head or behind the eyes
• Headaches (usually tension or sinus)
• Neck-aches particularly at the base of the skull
• Vertigo / balance issues
• Ringing in the ears
• Ear pain
• Problems chewing or opening/closing the mouth
• Clicking or popping jaw
• Sore cheek muscles
• Stomach pain
• Lower back pain
• Poor posture
• Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
• Facial pain or tenderness
• Locking of the jaw
• Jaw mis-alignment or bite problems

Causes of TMJ dysfunction

There are many possible causes for TMJ dysfunction, including neurological, muscular, vascular, problems with the joint itself or hysterical conversion . Other causes could include:

• Degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis,
• Trauma from things such as teeth grinding or clenching, which can cause inflammation around the TMJ and surrounding muscles.
• Age-related wear and tear
• Hypermobility – this occurs when the ligaments around the TMJ become lax.
• Stress-related muscular tightening. During periods of stress, we release adrenaline which is a hormone that tells your muscles to tighten, ready for action… however, over prolonged periods of time, if stress is chronic then muscular tightness may present in the facial muscles, especially around the jaw, accompanied by teeth clenching or grinding at night.
  

How to treat TMJ Syndrome

Often, jaw problems can resolve in several weeks to months. The TMJ.org site states that “less is best” when it comes to TMJ treatment

If you have recently experienced TMJ pain and/or dysfunction, you may find relief with some or all of the following recommendations. Treatment for TMJ Syndrome / TMJ Dysfunction / TMJ Disorder can include:

• Physical therapy such as Myotherapy to treat the muscular aspects of the TMJ dysfunction
• Dry needling
• Occlusal (bite) adjustment
• Oral appliances such as a dental plate or mouthguard to help protect teeth from grinding at night
• TMJ implants
• Dental or orthodontic care may be required to adjust bite and jaw alignment

Self Care

The following recommendations are ways that you can self-treat your TMJ disorder.

• Ice/ Cool Therapy. Icing the area can decrease inflammation and also numb pain and promote healing. Keep an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel or clean cloth. Use ice for 10-20 minutes, then rest the area for 40 minutes, and repeat if necessary.
• Moist Heat – Using a heat pack or a hot water bottle wrapped in a warm, moist towel can reduce pain, and improve function.
• Soft Diet – Avoiding hard, crunchy, and chewy foods gives your jaw a chance to rest a little. Also avoid stretching your mouth to accommodate such foods as whole fruits.
• Relax Facial Muscles – Relax your lips, and keep teeth apart as often as you can. Make an effort to be mindful of this.
• Relaxation Techniques – Various forms of relaxation can help you to deal with the pain of TMJ dysfunction. Techniques such as deep, slow breathing can enhance relaxation and assist in pain management. Relaxation massage, yoga, meditation and floatation therapy can also be helpful in reducing stress and aiding relaxation.
• Jaw Exercises – To increase jaw mobility and promote healing, you can try slow, gentle jaw exercises. Your Myotherapist can recommend exercises for your jaw.
• Side Sleeping – When you are side sleeping try and alternate sides and use a supportive pillow between your neck and shoulder.
• Chew gum – at all cost avoid chewing gum as can greatly aggravate the area

Jaw exercises:

At Inner Outer Health, we offer Myotherapy which can help in the treatment of TMJ dysfunction by working through trigger points (knots) in the muscles around the jaw, neck, shoulders, and back and other techniques. Your Myotherapist can also give you specific exercises and stretches to do at home for your own self-treatment in between your sessions.

If you or someone you know is suffering from TMJ dysfunction, please share this information with them.