From: massagemag.com/News/massage-news
By:  Karen Menehan, Editor in Chief

Some leaders in the massage field are taking steps to try and ensure that massage becomes a greater part of the U.S. health care system, as the implementation date of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) comes closer. A section of the ACA, which goes into effect in 2014, prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against health care providers—including those licensed as complementary health care providers—relative to their coverage and participation in health plans.
A group of Washington state massage therapists has written a document titled "Evidence-Informed Massage Therapy is an Integral Component in the Affordable Care Act's Essential Health Benefits."
The document summarizes "the high-quality evidence for [massage therapy's] effectiveness in treating medical conditions and populations" pertaining to the three (out of 10) Essential Health Benefits described in the ACA.
The authors are Marissa Brooks, L.M.P., Michael Hamm, L.M.P., Benjamin Erkan, Diana L. Thompson, L.M.P., and Kenneth Pfaff, H.F.W.L., H.P.C.U.H.G.S.
"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) supports the integration of MT into state-regulated insurance plans, both in its definitions of health care practitioners, and in its definition of Essential Health Benefits (EHBs)," the authors wrote, adding that two sections in the ACA
provide for massage therapists to provide care: "Section 2706: Non-discrimination with respect to licensed or certified providers acting within their scope [and] Section 3502: Establishing community health teams that include CAM practitioners ... " The authors also noted that of the 10 EHBs specified in the ACA, massage therapy "has shown substantial benefit in three primary categories: 5. Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment"; 7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices"; and 9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management."
The documents reviewers include Ruth Werner, the current president of the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF). Thompson is MTF past president. Tracy Walton, L.M.T., and Albert Moraska, Ph.D., reviewed the document as well. The document was funded by the American Massage Therapy Association's Washington chapter.

Posted by:  Stevenswood.com. We invite you to visit http://stevenswood.com/spa/spa-menu/ for a listing of treatments performed in our Indigo Eco-Spa by licensed/certified massage therapists and estheticians.

Benefits of Massage

From:  uppermichiganssource.com
By:  Patti Mulligan

Health care professionals are increasingly recognizing the medical benefits of massage.
Marie Chenier of Escanaba was in a 4-wheeler accident four years ago. The trauma of the crash left her in pain in several areas of her body, including her hip and back. At the request of her physical therapist, she turned to massage therapy to help her recover.
"My hip was numb and full of knots, swollen. The message therapist was actually able to do a deep tissue massage and get the knots out of there, which took the swelling down," said Chenier. By relieving pressure caused by overly tense muscles, Chenier says massage therapy also relieved nerve pressure causing numbness in her hip.
Elizabeth Thompson, massage therapist and owner of Grand Day Spa in Escanaba, said:
"When you go to massage school, you learn about the bones, the muscles, blood flow, lymph flow so that you know what is under that skin. You  know what to do and what not to do, so you don't hurt the person." 
Margie Haslow, physical therapist at Northwoods Rehabilitation in Escanaba, says, "Massage therapy is very beneficial to promote elasticity in the muscles, relieve tension and spasms. It also increases blood flow to the tissue and injured area. So, it helps in promoting healing."
Many people may be reluctant to seek massage due to prohibitive costs. But some health care companies are beginning to cover the cost of massage, if prescribed by a doctor.
After only six treatments, Marie Chenier said her pain is almost completely gone. She credits massage with providing the finishing touch in her recovery. 

Article posted by Connie Sackman, Spa Director, Stevenswood Spa Resort.   
We invite you to visit: http://stevenswood.com/spa/spa-menu/ for a listing of spa treatments performed by our licensed professional massage therapists.

The Benefits of Massage Therapy for Animals and Pets

From:  Examiner.com
By:  Susan Stokes

Cathy Sauer, massage therapist and owner of Chasing Dreams LLC, is seen here performing massage therapy on her canine patient.

Credits: 

Massage therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissue of the body through stroking, rubbing, kneading or tapping in order to increase circulation, improve muscle tone, increase range of motion and to relax the patient. Massage therapy has been found to be beneficial not only for humans but for animals as well.

Animal massage therapists develop and implement treatment plans using these same hands-on techniques based on the individual animal’s needs, and they may work in conjunction with veterinarians.
Cathy Sauer, owner of Chasing Dreams LLC based in New Jersey, is one such therapist. She is a member of the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists, an association whose member technicians are trained and operate under guidelines specifically designed to achieve the ultimate benefits of animal massage therapy.
Sauer grew up with a love for horses and animals in general. She was a horse trainer for many years working with junior riders. During the past 10 years, she bred Quarter Horses for Reining Cow, Working Cow and Cutting.
During Cathy’s competitive years with her animals, she noticed the wear and tear on their bodies similar to humans as we age and are subject to stress. She began to search for ways to help improve and maintain the health and well-being of her animals in addition to traditional veterinary medicine.
“I became a certified animal massage therapist because I found that massage for the pleasure horse or dog that does not compete has enhanced their lives in so many ways," said Sauer. "The benefits they reap are many, and massage therapy can help an older dog or horse with mobility issues as well as many other problems.”
Sauer has learned there are numerous health benefits achieved through animal massage including:

• Relaxation and stress reduction
• Increased flexibility of soft tissue
• Reduction of edema (swelling)
• Enhancement of waste and toxin elimination
• Maintenance of good posture and body balance
• Prevention of atrophy (wasting) in inactive muscles
• Improved athletic performance
• Loosening and softening of scar tissue
• Releases endorphins which are naturally occurring steroids in the body which act to assuage pain
• Enhanced muscle tone and range of motion
• Advances healing through increased flow of nutrients to injured muscles
• Lengthens connective tissue and reduces the formation of adhesions leading to fibrosis.

She has since branched out to treat a variety of animals including cats, goats, cows, llamas and alpacas.
“All types of animals can benefit from this therapy,” continued Sauer. “It can help boost the immune system, aiding in allergies and the stress of this summer's heat wave.”
“Just be reminded that this is a complementary therapy and is not a substitute for regular veterinary care,” cautions Sauer.

Stevenswood Spa Resort, Stevenswood.com, offers pet massage by our certified massage therapists, 707-969-7720.

Scientific Proof of Massage Therapy Benefits...

From:  SippicanVillageSoup.com

by:  The Matrix Spa | July 01, 2013

Source: Brown Chiropractic & Acupuncture  

Relaxation, healing & stress management, just some of the benefits of massage...

As you lie on the table under soft, fresh sheets, hushed music draws you into the moment. The smell of sage fills the air and you hear the gentle sound of massage oil being warmed in your therapist's hands. The pains of age, the throbbing from your overstressed muscles, the sheer need to be touched -- all cry out for therapeutic hands to start their work. Once the session gets underway, the problems of the world fade into an oblivious 60 minutes of relief and all you can comprehend right now is not wanting it to end...

But what if that hour of massage did more for you than just take the pressures of the day away? What if that gentle, Swedish massage helped you combat cancer? What if bodywork helped you recover from a strained hamstring in half the time? What if your sleep, digestion and mood all improved with massage and bodywork? What if these weren't just "what ifs"?

Courtesy of massagetherapy.com and Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals:

Evidence is showing that the more massage you can allow yourself, the better you'll feel. Here's why:

Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Touching is a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support. Think of the last time you bumped your head or had a sore calf. What did you do? Rubbed it, right? The same was true of our earliest ancestors. Healers throughout time and throughout the world have instinctually and independently developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch. Many are still in use today, and with good reason. We now have scientific proof of the benefits of massage - benefits ranging from treating chronic diseases and injuries to alleviating the growing tensions of our modern lifestyles. Having a massage does more than just relax your body and mind - there are specific physiological and psychological changes which occur, even more so when massage is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy and not simply mere luxury. Massage not only feels good, but it can cure what ails you.

The Consequences of Stress

Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of disease is stress-related. Massage and bodywork is there to combat that frightening number by helping us remember what it means to relax. The physical changes massage brings to your body can have a positive effect in many areas of your life. Besides increasing relaxation and decreasing anxiety, massage lowers your blood pressure, increases circulation, improves recovery from injury, helps you to sleep better and can increase your concentration. It reduces fatigue and gives you more energy to handle stressful situations.

Massage is a perfect elixir for good health, but it can also provide an integration of body and mind. By producing a meditative state or heightened awareness of living in the present moment, massage can provide emotional and spiritual balance, bringing with it true relaxation and peace.

The incredible benefits of massage are doubly powerful if taken in regular "doses." Dr. Maria Hernandez-Reif, from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami, is known for her massage research, along with colleague Tiffany Field. Together, they and other researchers have done outstanding work proving the value of massage. While their studies have shown we can benefit from massage even in small doses (15 minutes of chair massage or a half-hour table session), Hernandez-Reif says they know from their research that receiving bodywork 2-3 times a week is highly beneficial. And if we lived in a fantasy world, Hernandez-Reif has the answer. "I feel a daily massage is optimal."

It's undoubtedly a wonderful thing when your therapist begins unwinding those stress-tightened muscles, and your day's troubles begin to fade away. But it's the cherry on top to know this "medicine" only gets better with frequency.

What You Already Know: The Benefits of Massage

In an age of technical and, at times, impersonal medicine, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself. So what exactly are the benefits to receiving regular massage and/or bodywork treatments?

- Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.

- Stimulates the flow of lymph, the body's natural defense system, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast

  cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer.

- Increased circulation of blood and lymph systems improves the condition of the body's largest organ - the skin.

- Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles

- Reduces spasms and cramping

- Increases joint flexibility.

- Reduces recovery time, helps prepare for strenuous workouts and eliminates subsequent pains of the athlete

  at any level.

- Releases endorphins - the body's natural painkiller - and is being used in chronic illness, injury and recovery

  from surgery to control and relieve pain.

- Reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing

  has occurred.

- Improves range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain.

- Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication.

- Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with

   restricted range of motion.

- Assists with shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as less need for medication, less depression and

  anxiety, and shorter hospital stays.

Posted by Connie, Stevenswood Spa Director: 

We invite you to visit Stevenswood.com and select a massage therapy treatment from our spa menu.