How Massage Can Help People with Autoimmune Diseases

Published November 14th 2021

The immune system is your protection against viruses and bacteria that can cause diseases. If this system detects a foreign invader in your body, it will send out cells to attack them, and protect you. Sometimes, however, your body turns against you and mistakes other parts of it as foreign invaders. When this happens, your immune system sends out cells to attack your own body tissues. This occurrence is known as autoimmune disease.

Some of the common autoimmune diseases include:

  • Pulmonary fibrosis

  • Polymyositis

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Type 1 diabetes

These diseases target single areas in your body and there are others that will target multiple organs or even your whole body. When this happens to your body there are treatments and medications to treat the autoimmune disease, but massage therapy will help with pain relief symptoms associated with these diseases. Massage therapy can also help with the effectiveness of the medications prescribed as treatment.

Massage Therapy and Pain Relief From Autoimmune Disease Symptoms

Those suffering from an autoimmune disease will experience a lot of pain. This pain can range from mild to severe depending on the condition being experienced. If you suffer from an autoimmune disease, you may find that chronic pain is hard to deal with. Even some of the strongest medications will have little to no effect on the pain. There are, however, alternatives for you to manage and attain pain relief.

An increasingly popular option being used to manage pain from autoimmune diseases is massage therapy. Studies have proven those with autoimmune diseases have found a reduction in their pain, depression, anxiety, and stress when they seek massage therapy.

Not all massage therapies are effective for pain relief from an autoimmune disease. Talk to your therapist at Fluidity Balance and your doctor to learn which therapy will work best for your condition. These are some of the different massage options that can work to reduce your pain.

1. Fascia-Focused Massage

The Fascia-Focused massage is meant to fix the imbalance on your fascia. The fascia is a web of tissues connecting all parts of your body. A fascia-focused massage could be the Myofascial release technique that will focus on restoring the balance in your body by performing fascial pulls. This form of massage could also be the rolfing type which is a deep tissue massage to realign your posture and help with spine-related autoimmune diseases.

2. Muscle-Focused Massage

The Muscle-Focused massage is one of the traditional massage treatments and includes the Swedish Massage. The benefit of the muscle-focused massage is to provide relaxation and alleviate pain caused by autoimmune diseases.

With a muscle-focused massage, you receive a massage to relax your tension through the kneading of your muscles with long, gliding strokes. Other muscle-focused massages target trigger points on certain parts of your body to release tension throughout various pain zones in your body.

Some therapists will use their forearms and elbows to provide a deep tissue massage. These techniques will apply more pressure to the muscles and help relax them. Another muscle-focused massage is with the use of hot stones to provide pain relief through heat therapy.

3. Lymph-Focused Massage

Your lymphatic system detoxifies your body so it functions effectively. Sometimes those suffering from autoimmune diseases find it difficult to detoxify themselves because the lymphatic system's abilities have been impaired.

When the lymphatic system is impaired, a lymph drainage treatment can help. This treatment will keep your lymphatic fluid pumping. The lymph-focus massage and other types of massages are different in that the lymph-focused therapy can be light when compared to the deep tissue massage of the Swedish Massage.

The Lymph-Focused massage is a light touch but is quite potent. This massage will provide you with tension-releasing and relaxing effects as it boosts your body's detoxification abilities.

Where to Learn More About Massage Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases

Fluidity Balance can help your mind and body work together. Through our expert massage therapies, we will minimize the impact of any imbalance with your lymphatic system. Our signature hand techniques will help you find pain relief from anything life has handed out to you. Talk to us today about how you can start living life pain-free and relaxed.

The Different Types of Massage Therapy

Published September 26th 2021

A massage is a general term for manipulating, rubbing, and pressing one's muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin. A massage can range from deep pressure to light strokes and includes many different techniques.

These are some of the types of massage therapy you can find for relief of your pain at Fluidity Balance in Wesley Chapel, Florida.

Therapeutic Massage

A Therapeutic Massage is a term used for a massage that helps reduce or relieve pain. It can also reduce your stress levels or work on a specific problem area. This is not always a deep tissue massage. Deep tissue massages are best for breaking down scar tissue and increasing blood circulation, but you don't always need that. A good massage therapist will understand what the right amount of pressure will address your needs, and that is sometimes a lighter touch.

Therapeutic massage uses different techniques as well as deep tissue, which include:

  • Sports massage

  • Myofascial massage

  • Neuromuscular massage

  • Trigger Point massage

In some cases, a therapist will use a combination of these techniques during a massage depending on your body's needs.

Medical Massage

A Medical Massage is a form of therapy performed as part of your doctor's overall treatment plan. This massage typically concentrates on a specific medical diagnosis. The techniques during this form of massage will focus on parts of your body that have been identified as an area of concern.

Medical massages are an effective therapy for many conditions, such as migraines, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more. These techniques also can address neck pain, strained muscles, back pain, TMJ, temporomandibular joint syndrome, and more. The technique applied will depend on your condition and what your doctor has said will work best for you.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

There are a lot of health benefits with a Lymphatic Drainage Massage, which is increasing in popularity. This massage therapy is a specialized approach that focuses on your lymphatic system that is part of your immune system. The lymphatic drainage massage aims at helping your body maintain body fluid balance, immune functions, and proper blood circulation.

Your lymphatic system contains nodes and vessels with lymph, waste products, a mixture of proteins, water, and your immune system elements. Your lymph nodes are located throughout your body and filter all this debris. You will find the largest nodes in your armpits, groin, and neck. They work to make sure clean lymph goes back in your veins that carry blood toward your heart.

Lymphatic drainage massage is used if you suffer swelling in your arms and legs. This swelling can be caused by lymph fluid being collected in your soft tissues due to genetic disorders, cancer treatment, surgery, infections, or injuries. Your symptoms could be:

  • Weakness

  • Pain

  • Tissue swelling

  • Recurring infections

  • Heaviness in your limbs

  • Skin discoloration

  • Thickening or hardening of your skin

Lymphatic drainage massage will help you reduce these symptoms and more. It is able to treat many of your health problems.

Relaxation/Swedish Massage

The Relaxation/Swedish Massage is typically known as the classic massage. There are varying techniques used in this massage therapy including firm kneading, light tapping, circular pressure applied through palms and hands, and more.

The relaxation/Swedish massage is designed to relax your entire body. When applied, your entire body is rubbed. Your legs receive a long, gliding stroke in the same direction your blood takes to return blood to your heart. The benefits of this technique are that it increases the level of oxygen in your blood and improves your blood circulation as well as your flexibility.

Where to Learn More About Different Massage Therapy

Fluidity Balance is ready to help you improve your health through lasting benefits by our dedicated professionals. We are here to help your mind and body work together to minimize any imbalance on your lymphatic system and help you find pain relief you are currently suffering from. Contact our office and learn how we can improve your quality of life.

The Best Foods to Fight Inflammation

Published September 10th 2021

Studies are showing that the answer to reducing inflammation is not in your medicine cabinet but in your refrigerator. If you follow an anti-inflammatory diet, you have the chance of fighting off inflammation permanently.

An inflammatory diet will reduce your risk of developing one of the many illnesses associated with inflammation, along with helping to relieve and prevent pain caused by it. Experiments are proving the components of beverages and foods can have anti-inflammatory effects.

What Causes Inflammation?

Your immune system is activated when anything foreign invades, such as a chemical, plant pollen, or other microbes. This activation triggers a process called inflammation. Sporadic bouts of inflammation directed at threatening invaders protect your health. However, if inflammation continues day in and day out, even when invaders are not present in your body, it becomes an enemy.

If inflammation becomes a threat to you, many major diseases have the chance of developing, such as arthritis, depression, Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Choosing the right foods to eat will reduce your risk of these serious illnesses.

The Right Anti-Inflammatory Foods

When trying to reduce your risk of inflammation, you need a diet that includes these foods:

  • Green leafy vegetables such as collards, kale, and spinach

  • Nuts, such as walnuts and almonds

  • Tomatoes

  • Fruits such as oranges, cherries, blueberries, and strawberries

  • Fatty fish like sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon

  • Olive oil

These foods are proven to reduce inflammation along with chronic diseases. Vegetables and fruits such as blueberries and leafy greens are high in natural polyphenols and antioxidants that are protective compounds in plants. Nuts have been found to reduce markers of inflammation and lower one's risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. One beverage found to protect against inflammation is coffee. Coffee contains anti-inflammatory compounds and polyphenols.

How an Anti-Inflammatory Diet Benefits You

If you are looking to reduce inflammation, you want an overall healthy diet. The Mediterranean Diet follows the tenets of anti-inflammatory eating and includes the right foods, such as whole grains, fish, healthy oils, fruits, and vegetables.

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet is a method of eating based on the cuisines of Italy, Greece, and other countries which border the Mediterranean Sea. The diet there consists mainly of legumes, whole grains, vegetables, seeds, nuts, fruits, spices, and herbs. Olive oil is the primary source when fat is added to food. Sweets and red meats are eaten occasionally, and poultry, dairy, seafood, and fish are eaten in moderation.

Following such a diet, not only lowers your inflammation, but this more natural, less processed diet can have other noticeable effects on your emotional and physical health. When you follow a healthy diet, it is beneficial not only for reducing your risk of chronic disease but can also improve your mood, minimize pain, and boost your overall quality of life.

Risks of Inflammatory Foods

Foods and beverages considered bad for your health are also bad for inflammation. Sodas and refined carbohydrates along with processed meats and red meat have been associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes along with excess inflammation. Some of those inflammatory foods and beverages include:

  • Margarine, lard, and shortening

  • Refined carbohydrates like pastries, and white bread

  • Red meat including hot dogs, sausage, burgers, and steak

  • French fries and other fried foods

  • Sodas and other sugar-sweetened drinks

These inflammatory, unhealthy foods and beverages are also responsible for weight gain. Weight gain is also a risk factor for inflammation.

Where to Learn More About Foods to Fight Inflammation

Fluidity Balance & Scar Tissue Release is here for you to help your body and mind work together. Contact me today at 813-843-1949 and learn how your choice of the right diet combined with Lymphatic Drainage Detoxification sessions and Vitamin IV Infusions can improve your quality of life.

All About Lymphatic Drainage

Published January 1st 2020

Lymphatic drainage consists of signature hand techniques that are gentle and rhythmic on the skin. These specialized movements are administered by highly trained practitioners who are certified in the delivery of manual lymphatic drainage. Each stroke moves the skin in the direction of the lymphatic flow to elicit the drainage of fluid and waste. Lymphatic drainage services can benefit just about everyone. The benefits are many and include:

  • Detoxification - This process helps to reduce sluggishness brought on by the consumption of high fat foods and too little exercise.

  • Headaches - Many headaches, including those resulting from sinusitis, have components of congestion. Once tissue is manipulated, blocked fluid and blood flow improves as evident by the reduction of pain and discomfort.

  • Healing - After surgery or injury, tissue may be swollen and sore. Lymphatic drainage will help drain the tissue, reduce inflammation and improve healing.

  • Pregnancy & postpartum - There is often fluid retention in pregnant women and lymph drainage can improve comfort in the hands and feet.

  • Reduction of scar appearance - Lymph drainage regenerates tissues to reduce scarring and pain at surgical incision site.

Serious illness can impede proper functionality of the lymph vessels and lymph nodes resulting in the accumulation of lymph fluid. We provide specialized techniques which gently redirect the flow of lymph to an area where the lymphatic system is working normally.

Contact us for an individualized plan.

All About Lymphatic Drainage

Published Month 1st 2021

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Tortor condimentum lacinia quis vel eros donec ac. Turpis egestas integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna sit. Facilisis volutpat est velit egestas dui id ornare arcu odio. Auctor neque vitae tempus quam. Fermentum dui faucibus in ornare quam viverra orci. Sed cras ornare arcu dui vivamus arcu. In nulla posuere sollicitudin aliquam ultrices sagittis orci a scelerisque. Ipsum consequat nisl vel pretium lectus quam. Facilisi cras fermentum odio eu feugiat pretium nibh. Et netus et malesuada fames.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet:

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.