TMJ Dysfunction

Have you ever had pain, stiffness, grinding, clicking, or locking of your jaw? These are most often clear signs of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) Dysfunction. This is a common condition, affecting over 10 million people! The severity of the condition varies greatly, with some people experiencing only mild symptoms on occasion, while others suffer a great deal daily. And if you notice your symptoms getting worse, now’s the time to start taking care of it. That grinding, clicking, pain, and locking are all signs that the joint isn’t moving and functioning properly, meaning damage is being done, and without intervention that damage may very well be irreparable.  

What causes this kind of dysfunction? Most often, it’s due to clenching of the jaw and/or grinding of the teeth. Tightening the muscles around the jaw is a common reaction to stress. This can happen as our bodies try to recover from a busy day as we sleep, or throughout the day as we deal with even mild stressors.  

Conventional care that most people talk about is usually limited to night guards, devices worn through the night to prevent grinding of the teeth. However, the problem with these is that they often don’t address the overall problem. A night guard protects the teeth so they don’t wear down so much over time, and/or helps to realign the jaw to prevent an abnormal position of the joint as you sleep. But none of this addresses the clenching, the tightening of the muscles in that area that are at the root of the problem. 

One thing that may help…you guessed it, massage therapy. Studies have shown that massage therapy can help with the symptoms and pain associated with TMJ Dysfunction. The focus of this type of massage is on releasing the muscle tension and restrictions throughout the musculature of the jaw, face, neck, chest, and upper shoulders. That clenching of the jaw doesn’t just affect the TM joint, but rather the muscles controlling that area are positioned throughout the head, neck, and shoulders. It’s important to work them all to address the problem and prevent others. If you have any form of TMJ Dysfunction, you’ve probably felt the neck tension and headaches that can come along with it. 

While massage of the muscles in this area is important, intraoral massage can improve your results even more. Intraoral massage is just massage that is done on the cheek from inside the mouth, with a gloved hand of course. A recent study¹ has shown that combining intraoral massage with external facial massage is 80% more effective than just external facial massage.  

Because of the sensitive nature of this area and the intricacy of the structures, it’s important that you see a massage therapist who is qualified and knows their stuff. TMJ Dysfunction is common, but you don’t have to live with the pain. Book your appointment and get relief now! 

¹Pierson, Melissa Joan. “Changes in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Symptoms Following Massage Therapy: A Case Report.” International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork: Research, Education, & Practice, ijtmb.org/index.php/ijtmb/article/view/110/201
(Info courtesy of My Massage World. Thank you!)Kimberly Rogers WI LMT 3001-146, Soothing Sessions Bodywork

Massage for Digestive issues

Digestive problems can be tough to deal with. Not only does it feel uncomfortable, but depending on the symptoms, may be embarrassing. Add that to the frustration of finding a remedy, and no one is very happy when fighting this particular battle. You may have tried over the counter or even prescription medications, but there is an alternative than many people don’t consider; massage. Massage of the abdominal area has been shown to improve digestive function. 

Studies have shown that not only can massage help restore regularity and decrease associated gas pain, but it can also decrease the time it takes for you to digest your food. When massage is applied throughout the abdomen, it can stimulate a process called peristalsis, which is the rhythmic muscular contractions of the intestines. This is how matter is moved through the digestive tract. By stimulating this process, you’re more likely to remain regular and overcome those bouts of constipation more easily. 

If you find that you’re experiencing some irregularity, there’s a few things to check off the list first… 

Fiber Intake: Having enough fiber is imperative to a healthy digestive system. Fiber helps sweep the walls of your bowels, getting rid of anything hanging on to your intestinal tract; but did you know that having too much fiber can block other waste from making its way through your intestines? Balance is key! 

Water Intake: Water is absolutely necessary for proper digestive function. Staying hydrated helps the body function overall, but digestion is greatly reliant on water to allow waste to travel through the digestive tract. If you aren’t getting enough water, that waste isn’t able to move as easily as it should, resulting in constipation. However, if you’re experiencing diarrhea, don’t cut back on your water intake. While you may think that will help, it won’t. You’re losing a lot of water with diarrhea and can easily become dehydrated. 

Food allergies: Any time something enters your body that doesn’t belong there, your body will let you know it. Sometimes the body reacts to something seemingly normal as if it were dangerous, letting you clearly know that you shouldn’t eat that again. But it’s not always as serious as swelling of the tongue or throat, like you may associate with food allergies. Instead, it may be a less obvious sign as the gastrointestinal tract slows or stalls digestion in an attempt to protect itself. If you’re experiencing periods of digestive problems, start keeping a food journal to see if there’s any association with certain foods. 

Intestinal disorder: When the above are ruled out, you may have a more serious problem like an intestinal disorder. Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome are chronic conditions that directly affect the digestive tract. If you have frequent discomfort, diarrhea, or have a difficult time passing stool for long periods, you’ll definitely want to see a physician.  

Abdominal adhesions: These bands of scar tissue that form between abdominal tissues and organs causing them to ‘stick’ together, can also be a culprit in constipation. Adhesions like this can press into and squeeze areas of the intestines. This may be mild or moderate, causing occasional or frequent constipation, or may be severe, causing a complete obstruction which would require surgery. 

While massage can be greatly beneficial for digestive issues like constipation and gas, if you’re experiencing diarrhea, massage to the abdomen may in fact make your symptoms worse. It’s important to be open with your massage therapist about what symptoms you’re experiencing at the time of your appointment and for the previous 24 hours. We’ll work with you to develop the right treatment plan or refer you to the best specialist to help. 

Info courtesy of My Massage World. Thank you!

Kimberly Rogers, WI LMT 3001-146  Soothing Sessions Bodywork

Soothing Sessions Bodywork

Myths about muscle soreness

If you’ve ever done any activity out of the ordinary, you know what it’s like to be sore after. If you’ve done squats, you know walking up and down steps is like torture the day after. Or have your arms shaking after an intense workout. Whether you’re still working toward that New Year’s resolution of getting into shape, or just pushing yourself a bit past your normal, it’s important to be aware that there are many misconceptions about muscle soreness. 

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the result of microscopic tears in the muscles and surrounding connective tissues, causing inflammation. This term is used frequently when it comes to both cardio workouts as well as strength training, but knowing the facts about it is important when deciding what is true and what isn’t. Let’s disperse some myths associated with DOMS so you can know what to expect after your gym session.  

DOMS is caused by the build up of lactic acid in your muscles:  

FALSE 

When working out, your body naturally forms energy through breaking down molecules. As a result of this process your body’s cells become more acidic which causes the “burn” you feel when you are getting a good workout. The myth that lactic acid causes this is false because lactate serves as a buffer to slow down the rate that the cells become acidic. The lactate naturally clears from the muscles within 15-30 minutes after your workout. A study in Clinics in Sports Medicine concluded that DOMS is the result of microtrauma in the muscles and surrounding connective tissues which causes inflammation. The act of lowering a dumbbell after a bicep curl, is more likely to cause this microtrauma as opposed to lifting a dumbbell during a bicep curl due to the higher load being placed on your muscles.  

It’s not a good workout unless you’re sore the next day:  

FALSE 

Most of us feel that we didn’t get a good workout if we aren’t in pain the next day because that’s what we’re told; no pain no gain, right?. Wrong! While muscle soreness from a great workout can last from 24-72 hours after a workout, there are many factors that affect how different individuals experience DOMS even if they come from a similar background or are similarly trained. A good workout, whether cardiovascular in nature or strength training, may or may not result in DOMS, depending on the individual, other recent activities, diet, hydration, and number of other factors. While this muscle soreness isn’t something to necessarily avoid, muscle failure after a workout means you’ve probably pushed too far, and next time it would be a good idea to ease up a bit. 

The more in shape you are, the less you will experience DOMS: 

FALSE 

You may find that the more in shape you are the more your body will get used to an activity and you may not experience much DOMS. But that’s often the case when you’re doing the same kinds of workouts each time, without recruiting under-utilized muscles for new activities and movements. Those muscles are simply stronger and more capable of handling the load you’re putting on them. That’s why it’s suggested to change your workout routine regularly in order to challenge yourself. What many people don’t know is that there is another factor that weighs in on this, pun intended; your genetics. Some may be known as no-responders, low-responders and high-responders in the way of soreness. For those who are more sensitive to muscle soreness this may not be exciting news. Regardless, it’s a good idea to test where you fall on the scale of pain by tracking how your body responds to changes in your workouts. 

Muscle damage is bad: 

FALSE 

This microtrauma to the muscles during activities is normal. When muscles repair themselves, they become larger and stronger in order to prepare themselves for heavier loads in the future. In this a little pain does result in a little gain. While DOMS isn’t necessarily a desirable outcome, there’s not much reason for concern unless the pain is very sharp, specific to a particular movement, and doesn’t go away in just a day or two; a sign that there’s possibly an injury present as opposed to general muscle soreness.  

Pre and post workout stretching can prevent DOMS:  

FALSE 

You’ve heard it time and time again that it is important to stretch before and after your workout in order to protect your muscles, but the question is, does this really work? According to Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews on the effects of stretching before or after exercise on the development of DOMS, stretching in healthy adults before and after exercise did not reduce the effects of DOMS. Static stretching performed before a workout however, was shown to decrease your strength during the workout.  

When trying anything new in the world of exercising it’s always advisable to proceed slowly and with caution in order to allow your body to adjust to the new movements. Don’t jump right into an excessive routine because you think you’ll get faster results. That’s simply not how the body works. Doing that means you’re more likely to injure yourself and burn out in the process.

(info courtesy of My Massage World)