November/December 2016
Technique
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Working with Sacroiliac Joint Mobility
By Til LuchauDoes the sacroiliac joint move a little or a lot? Experts generally agree that, in spite of being one of the most stable joints in the body, the sacroiliac joint does have at least a little movement. There is much less agreement, though, about how much movement is good.
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How to Not Make Sciatica Worse
By Mark LiskeyI once made a sciatica sufferer’s pain worse. Over the next decade, I talked to massage therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors and tested out ways to keep acute sciatic pain from becoming worse during treatment.
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Sciatica & The Health-Club Incident
No matter how smart we think we are, our trusty brains occasionally allow us to do really stupid things. In my case, it was during a six-week period awhile back that I systematically demolished the posterior cruciate ligaments and menisci in both my knees.
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Ferraris and Eccentric Control
Nuances of pressure are made possible by the control of the extensor muscles, not the power of the flexor muscles. I have another way of remembering this concept that's more fun, though.
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Pour, Don't Push
We massage therapists are devoted to helping our clients, but too often we seem equally devoted to injuring ourselves. We understand the systems and muscles at work in our clients...so why can't we do a better job to take care of our own?
Critical Thinking and Essentials
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Much Ado About Reviews
In today's world, do business reviews really matter? The reality is: yes, they really do.
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Alternatives to Opioids
Recently, the CDC published a guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. Pain management through other options was not a focus of this guideline. However, there was a suggestion that long-term opioid therapy must be considered within the context of all pain-management strategies.
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The Unusual Suspects
There are more than 100 muscles in the human body, yet it is interesting to see how often the same few muscles are discussed—I like to describe these muscles as the usual suspects. But what about all the other muscles in the body?
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The Hidden Nervous System
By Whitney LoweAn extensive network of nerves courses throughout virtually every tissue in our bodies, large and small. While you may think the bigger players are the culprit, there are many small nerves that are also root causes of pain.
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Massage Therapist Population Still Growing . . .
By Les SweeneyThere are 328,799 massage therapists in the United States as of June 2016, according to an ABMP massage therapist population estimate report.
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Honoring Popeye
Popeye’s motto is “I yam what I yam.” So, what does this little aphorism mean?
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Ready, Set, Grow!
Massage therapists Karla Freitag and Tiesha von Kaenel were two of the therapists featured in the last issue of Massage & Bodywork. We had an extended conversation with them about running and growing a business.
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Improve Your Digestion
After a traumatic experience in my early 20s, I began to recognize how important a healthy diet was for my overall well-being.
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Forgive Your Money Mistakes
Have you ever made a mistake with money? It can happen in many ways. Whatever it is, and whenever it was, most of us can probably own up to a money mistake.
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What's Your Ethics IQ? Part 1
Adhering to these standards can provide you not only with the foundation and heart-blood of your work, but also the best odds at having a successful, sustainable practice.
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Zika: What We Know
By Ruth WernerZika virus—is it a momentary distraction, an overblown news blip? Is it a rare-but-tragic contributor to a set of serious birth defects? Or is it a more serious mosquito-borne contagion?
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Vastus Lateralis
By Christy CaelVastus lateralis is one of four quadriceps muscles located on the front of the thigh. The vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, and vastus medialis have the single function of extending the knee.
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The Nocebo Effect
By Cyndi DaleIt’s important we understand that negativity may affect a client’s health. Equally vital is to know how to decrease these side effects and boost a client’s optimism—the antidote to negativity.