I'm a nerd. Last winter when we vacationed on a beach, I read a book on pain management. I had recently attended a lecture on it and wanted to better understand how I could help my patients manage their pain through massage.

He issued a call to massage therapists to enter the healthcare world as part of the solution to pain management. With the looming opiod epidemic, the medical world is looking for alternatives.

He said that we need to evaluate how we think about pain. Maybe we can not eliminate pain, but we need to manage it. Rather than measuring pain on a numerical scale, we need to measure how pain affects four areas of life: activity, sleep, mood, and stress. The pain may remain the same, however if the patient can function in these four areas, there is success and pain is managed.

He explained that as an anesthesiologist he could drop someone to zero pain, however they would be on the floor drooling and unable to do anything. That is unacceptable for daily life. There is a difference between someone who has a pain level 7 and is unable to function and someone with a pain level 7 who can sleep and function within their pain. They are managing their pain. 

Massage therapy can be part of managing the pain. We can complement what their doctor is prescribing. Massage can easily be combined with other pain management methods, including drugs. Drugs have their place, but we need to find ways to minimize them.

​Pain is a major public health concern, significantly affecting the quality of life of approximately 100 million Americans.

The Samueli Institute, commissioned by the Massage Therapy Foundation with support from AMTA, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published science on massage and pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to rigorously assess the quality of massage therapy research and evidence for its efficacy and effectiveness in treating pain, function-related and health-related quality of life outcomes for people with various types of surgical pain and anxiety. 

Here is a link to the review:
Massage Therapy and Pain Management

My daughter invited me to teach some of her friends through church some massage techniques. I love teaching and encouraging people to massage their family and friends. Touch can be so healing. Unfortunately in our society we have sexualized touch and have forgotten how healing it is. 

I believe that healing touch is a divine gift. In John 13:5, 14 we read "After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. . . . If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet." There are many other instances of Christ touching people as he healed them: relieving Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, touching two blind men's eyes and causing them to see, and touching a leper to heal him are just a few examples. There is power and healing in touch. Our ordinances involve touching - laying on of hands, temple ceremonies, etc. The Sacrament is the only ordinance which does not involve touching another person. It is the touch of the Savoir that we need. The bread and water are Him. 

With my daughter's friends, we discussed healthy, healing touch and simple ways in which we can help each other. We then practiced massaging each other's feet. The girls loved it! And I loved spending time with my daughter and her friends!

I learned a lot at the 2017 AMTA National Convention in Pasadena! I attended a research class on massage and pain management. There is more research showing that massage helps lessen pain, and with the opiod epidemic many physicians are searching for additional ways to manage pain.

I have had amazing experiences with some of my clients needing much less pain medication after surgery. Stay tuned for one of those stories. 

My back was killing me the day before I attended the AMTA National Convention. If I had to be at convention with a hurt back, this was certainly the right one! I experienced pain relief during my hands-on classes and when a great travel companion/roommate - another massage therapist - gave me a two-hour massage one night. My back pain was manageable, and at times disappeared! 

I learned some new techniques in managing lower back pain and neck issues. It was been a great convention! 

I love learning. I love being a massage therapist. I love helping to lessen the pain and discomfort of my clients. Call me for an appointment!

During our back-country camping trip in the Grand Tetons we kayaked a total of 17 miles and hiked over 15 miles. Surprisingly, we didn't feel too sore, but when we tried to sleep our bodies reminded us how old we are! The small back-packing thermarests are not as comfortable as our mattress at home. Our last night out, we finally got smart and gave each other 15 minute back and thigh massages - simple compressions - something anyone can do! It made a world of difference - both of us slept much better. Next time we'll remember to end each night with a quick and simple massage.

​If you are sore after all of your end-of-summer activities, I recommend booking a massage! Contact me for an appointment.

Stephanie was referred to me. She had lived with nearly a life-time of chronic back pain due to a childhood automobile accident. We decided to try something different. For about five months she came to me weekly for quick 15-30 minute sessions. I did Spinal Touch Therapy (I'll write another blog explaining it, in the meantime, call and ask me about it). We tracked her average pain level each week. She had been living with constant pain at level four or five (on a scale of one to ten).

Amazingly, within a few weeks her average pain was only a one, and within a few more weeks, she regularly started reporting zero pain! I was as surprised as she was. We were thrilled and hoped that the change was permanent. She started sleeping through the night and was able to return to running and enjoying other activities with her husband. We quit the therapy when she moved out of state. She is now the happy mother of a cute little girl.

When I was walking home from school at the age of 8, I was struck by a moving car. As a result, I fractured my femur and hip. As my body healed, I compensated from the injury on the opposite leg which resulted in sacral misalignment. As a teenager and young adult, I experienced chronic lower-back pain which at times prevented me from bending over or participating in my favorite athletic activities. Although the severity of pain was not consistent, I experienced pain on a daily basis. 

After college and beginning my career, my back pain worsened. As a runner, I found my post-run recoveries much more difficult and sleep was often interrupted by deep pain.  I was referred to Heidi by a close family member, so I knew I was in good hands.

Heidi is not only professional, but she is a very thorough caregiver who seeks to solve a problem rather than simply give relief. While the relief I felt from my spinal-touch therapy was incredibly liberating after only a session or two, I noticed that my diminished pain was lasting. In the past, a massage elsewhere gave me relief for a matter of days, but after consistent work with Heidi, my relief lasted longer and longer. Even after I stopped seeing Heidi (due to moving to another state), I noticed that my pain level and occurrence of back pain had decreased significantly. 

Heidi's approach to massage therapy showed me how important it is to understand the human body. I felt that she considered my whole-body wellness and not only my problem area.

Stephanie J. 

When I shovel snow multiple times a day, I figure that counts as going to the gym or working out (not that I really ever do either one). I've had quite a few clients come recently who had injuries or were very sore from shoveling snow. They know that a good massage will help them to recover quicker!

With so much snow this winter it's been a challenge to keep the pathways cleared all the time! I need to plan extra time between clients so that I can shovel the walkway.

Although I take precautions to protect my body, I am still sore and could use a good massage every time I shovel. But who has that benefit?! (Other than maybe my husband and daughter. . . )

Clients often ask how they can maximize the results of their massage. They don't have the time or the money to return for a massage as frequently as they would like.

I think the best is to keep moving. I've also found that stretching and self-massage prolong the benefits of a massage. A few years ago a friend shared a self-massage method with me which I regularly use. It is the "Melt Method." It confirms a lot of what I have learned about the latest research on fascia.

Kira's roommate asked me a question:

What blessings do you currently have in your life that you can trace back to Joseph Smith's prayer in the Sacred Grove?

I chose to answer with a massage slant since that is what I spend so much of my time doing.

I have sensitive skin, so long ago I began to make my own skin-care creams. There are many benefits:

• I use the best-quality ingredients - and the results are nutrition for the skin!
• High-quality lotions can be expensive and we don't always know if the ingredients are safe and non-toxic. I can make my own for a fraction of the price, and I know exactly what I put into it.
• I change the recipe each time - depending on the season, my mood, and my needs. For example, my daily body lotion is different from my massage lotion. I want my daily lotion to soak into the skin quickly. I want the massage lotion to glide and not quickly soak in. I make a different recipe in the summer than I do in the winter.
• I can make it unscented (always my massage lotion) or add a few drops of essential oils to personalize the lotion.
• It is easy to make - it takes me less than an hour to make a batch.
• My daughters and their friends like to help - so it is quality time with my favorite people!

Ancient awkward tree poses.

I would love to receive a daily massage. It's good for your body and your soul. But it isn't happening. The more I learn about fascia, the more I recognize the need to keep it from adhering or becoming stiff. There are many ways to keep our fascia healthy - movement, massage, and yoga among them.

I have always been very stiff and NOT flexible at all. I need to loosen my fascia. I'd love a daily myofascial massage or a Thai massage (basically someone putting you into yoga positions and massaging you - a most delicious massage!). I don't have the time, let alone the money, to receive a daily massage. I've taken a few yoga classes, but am always incredibly self-conscious because my body just doesn't go into those positions. However, my body feels good when I take a gentle yoga class.

Last summer Kira's friend, Heidi, introduced to me "Home Yoga with Adrian." Two or three times a week I have been doing her yoga in the privacy, non-judgmental place of my own home alone or with one of my daughters. Below is Adrian's "Yoga for Beginners" video. She has many other videos at all different levels. She fits my style.

Try some yoga, but then come in for an occasional massage!