The foam rolling technique is becoming increasingly popular amongst those who use massage as a treatment, from physical therapists to athletic trainers. This technique, also known as self-myofascial release, involves using a foam roller, lacrosse ball, Theracane or even your own hands to apply pressure to specific points of your body, assisting in the recovery of  your muscles and allowing them to return normal function.   The technique itself has been around for some time, and yet has risen to prominence only recently. Part of the reason for it’s rising popularity is its effectiveness, with many adherents reporting reduced muscle..

Scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease, generally classified as an autoimmune rheumatic disease, that affects over 300,000 Americans.  Caused by the body’s auto-immune system triggering inflammation and other tissue abnormalities, symptoms of scleroderma include hardened or thickened skin that looks shiny and smooth, ulceration of fingertips, small red spots on the face and chest, painful or swollen joints and muscle weakness.   Although it differs from person to person, scleroderma can be very serious, with an untreated case leading to acute kidney disease, pulmonary hypertension, lung inflammation and gastrointestinal problems. Currently, there is no..

Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions you can make in your life. The job you choose will take up around 40 hours of your week, every week, for most of your life, so finding the right job is hugely important. There’s nothing worse than hating a job you’ll be spending most of your time doing.   Many people are now finding that massage therapy is an excellent career choice, providing great job satisfaction, great earning potential and a fantastic fit for their other lifestyle commitments.   Massage therapy is also a growing sector, with employment for..

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common nerve compression disorder of the upper extremity in working adults in the U.S. Caused by the repetitive use of the hands and wrists, the symptoms of CTS, pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers or hand combined with weakness in the hand and a tendency to drop objects, can make continuing to work in a job role that requires manual dexterity difficult, with 18% of workers who develop CTS leaving their job within 18 months. What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? The symptoms of CTS are caused by compression of the Median nerve..

Stress is something we all experience every day. We all have responsibilities as part of our social and professional lives, and those responsibilities can put us under pressure. Your body’s reaction to that pressure is to release a series of hormones to help you battle through whatever challenges you are up against.   In the short term, this is a good thing, your body's stress reaction can sharpen your reflexes, make you better able to deal with pressured situations and can even make you heal faster. In the long term, a constant feeling of stress can unbalance your body's hormone..

The use of massage therapy dates back thousands of years to ancient cultures that believed in its medical benefits. The first written records of massage therapy are found in China and Egypt around 2700 BCE and modern massage therapy continues to use massage techniques from across the globe, each with its own unique style and differing effect. Here at Northwest Career College, we operate one of the premier massage schools in Las Vegas and our established, seasoned Las Vegas instructors offer day and night classes to accommodate your work and family schedules. Popular Types Of Massage 1. Swedish Massage -..

Over 80% of US adults will experience non-specific lower back pain (LBP) at some point in their lives and, over the past ten years, LBP has risen to be the second most common cause of disability in the US. The influence of LBP on a patient is significant, impacting the physical, social, psychological, and economic aspects of an individual's life.   Despite the widespread nature of the condition, however, there has been little agreement in the medical community on the best way to treat non-specific LBP. Current treatments range from surgical intervention to the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)..

It is not at all unusual for most new mothers to experience mood disorders after the birth of their child. The dramatic shift in hormones, the labor and birth, and general fatigue all contribute to fleeting feelings of sadness. As many as two-thirds of new mothers worldwide experience postpartum blues, also known as "baby blues." The onset generally occurs at about day three and the duration of these transient feelings of sadness is about a week or two. The blues are characterized by weeping, insomnia, fatigue, moodiness, and anxiety but is self-limiting. With some rest, support, sunshine, and compassion, these..

For years, massage and bodywork was contraindicated for cancer patients. Massage schools, mostly fearing that bodywork could spread cancer, largely taught their students to avoid working with cancer patients. The notion is still pervasive in the bodywork community. But as the field of massage therapy matures, its knowledge base expands, and the notion that massage is contraindicated for cancer patients is changing. There are still hurdles to overcome. How massage therapy fits into traditional insurance or managed care coverage is a gray area. And old attitudes about contraindication die hard.   Massage and bodywork are increasingly important weapons in the..

In recent years, people have been speaking out more about death and about compassionate care for the dying. At the same time, the ancient healing modality of massage has been recollected and recognized as a viable resource in palliative care, as well as in health care. Hospice has evolved into a care program that attempts to provide for the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of those approaching death. Hospice care has become a strong force in the search for a more unified approach to death that combines medical technology with compassionate care of the whole person.   The basic..