Massage and Your Health

Massage isn't just for relaxation. Sure, it can improve stress levels and calm those jittery nerves but it also has the ability to help heal injuries. Some of the different massage techniques are listed on our site. The Mayo Clinic published an article discussing the benefits of massage for relieving a wide variety of issues including digestive disorders, headaches, and sports injuries. 

Some of the questions we get about massage include:

What should I expect during my first massage therapy visit? 

Where will my massage session take place and what should I wear? 

What do I do during a massage therapy treatment? 

How should I expect to feel after my massage? 

These questions, their answers and more can be read on our massage FAQ page. 

May Outreach: Randall Children's Hospital

Throughout the month of May, we will be collecting unwrapped items for the kids at Randall Children's Hospital. Their list of much needed items include:

• Cause & Effect musical, light up toys;
• Plastic rattles;
• Plastic keys;
• Teething rings;
• Ages 3-5 and 6-10 girls play sets & toys;
• Disney princess Barbies;
• PJ Masks;
• Nerf guns;
• Sports balls;
• Coloring books for all ages;
• Littlest Pet Shop;
• Board games for 8-10+;
• Headphones and earbuds;
• Gift cards ($25 or less) to young teen appropriate stores (I.e. Target, Amazon, Forever 21, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta). 

A full wish list can be viewed here.

Spring is here! Get on that bike!

We live in Portland and cycling is a part of our nature. There are some tips and things to watch out for as you get out there in this spring time weather. 

First, there's the fit of the bike. There are three main components to align for your body: frame height, seat position/ height, and handlebar height. For the frame, your leg length should be the primary factor that helps determine this. It should be easily straddled with both feet flat on the ground and an inch or two of clearance between the top of the frame and your crotch. On a mountain bike, you may want up to four inches for rugged terrain. 

Seat position and height should be determined while seated on the bike. Sitting on the seat with the ball of your foot on the pedal, at the lowest position of the pedal, your knee should be slightly bent. As for position, the seat should be level to avoid unnecessary strain on joints. 

Handlebar position should be determined by what is comfortable for the rider and feels like it's putting the least amount of strain on the joints. Higher is more comfortable and lower is more aerodynamic. 

In addition to fit, there are different types of bikes for different terrains. Choosing the right bike for your activity is important because they are designed for the impacts and rigors of the specific exercise. 

You can read more from the ACA here.

Chiropractic Care Can Help Prevent Overuse of Pain Medications

One of the most diagnosed health conditions in the USA is low back pain. People who go to see their chiropractor are less likely to be sent for surgery or prescribed pain killers. A recent study showed that 60% of opioid overdoses were people that were originally prescribed pain killers for chronic, non-cancer pain. 

Another study has shown that chiropractic care can help relieve pain and reduce the amount of prescription pain killers people take. The study was done by researchers at Southern California University and showed that the likelihood of someone filling a prescription for an opioid analgesic was 55% lower among those receiving chiropractic care.

A summary article about chiropractic care and opioids can be read here.

Read the abstract for the Southern California University study here.

A New Organ!

 Scientists have discovered a network of fluid surrounded by connective tissue in the body. They are defining this network as a new organ, the interstitium, which they say could be the largest organ in the human body. With additional research, scientists are hopeful that they can explain how cancer spreads as well how healing techniques like acupuncture help heal. 

Read more about the interstitium. 

The Benefits of Integrative Medicine

The Mayo Clinic recently released a study about the health benefits of adding massage and acupuncture to your healing plan. The study found that not only is massage beneficial for pain relief, but with the therapist's hands on approach, they may be able to feel areas of pain not otherwise recognized. It also found that acupuncture can have similar benefits. When the acupuncturist is palpating to find sensitive areas, they may be able to find additional areas of soreness or other abnormalities and discuss them with the patient's physician. 

Read the full article here.

Best of Portland 2018

We were best of Portland in 2016 and think we're still great! Help us win in 2018 by nominating us on Willamette Weekly's site.

Acupuncture Benefits Beyond Pain Relief

Acupuncture has been prevalent in the news recently as an effective treatment for opioid addiction. This Forbes article explains how acupuncture not only relieves stress but it is reported to increase the levels of various chemicals in the central nervous system such as enkephalin, epinephrine, endorphin, serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

But did you know that acupuncture has far more benefits than pain relief and that associated with addiction?

Photo: Aubrie LeGault

Sure, you all come see Melissa for your acute and chronic aches and pains but did you know that her treatments can also help alleviate insomnia, depression and anxiety, stimulate hormones to increase fertility, relieve menopause, reduce morning sickness and help with labor induction, and boost your immunity during flu season??

More reasons to give it a try can be found in this article by Mind, Body, Green and on our acupuncture FAQs page.

Computer Mouse Ergonomics

Lots of desk jobs require use of the mouse but it's pretty easy to forget that this can put a strain on your muscles and joints. Here are some tips on good mouse and keyboard use:

• If you have to reach too far for your mouse, it will put strain on your muscles. Try bringing it closer so that your elbows can be relaxed at your sides. 
• Make sure the mouse fits your hand. If it's too small, squeezing it can be a strain on your hand muscles.
• If your work requires you to draw, a graphics tablet can be a great option as they utilize a more natural and relaxed position for the hand and wrist.
• Try moving the mouse from your arm as much as possible. For smaller movements, use your wrist instead of your fingers.
• Take microbreaks ever hour. 15-20 seconds to shake out your arms, stretch your neck and wrists, and look away from the monitor. 

This handout from the ACA has additional details.

March Outreach- Oregon Humane Society

In March, we will be collecting much needed items for the Oregon Humane Society. Their urgent needs wish list includes: 

• Wet/canned cat and kitten food, especially strong-smelling types like Tiki Cat
• Kitten formula (KMR) and nursing bottles
• Puppy pads (for potty-training)
• Veterinary special diet foods for both cats and dogs (e.g. Royal Canin Hypoallergenic)
• Dog toys (puzzle toys, KONG-type chew toys especially)
• Dog treats (for small to medium-sized dogs)
• Wet/canned cat and kitten food (see brands below)
• XL dog crates

They  accept high-quality brands of food like Canidae/Felidae, Castor & Pollux, Eukanuba, Innova, Natural Balance, Newman’s Own, Nutro, Pinnacle, Purina Select/Purina One, Royal Canin, Tiki Cat, and Wellness.