The birds are chirping, the sun is out and everyone has been gearing up for spring.  It is time to get out and mend the fences from winter damage and start the gardens!  We put a lot of emphasis on keeping our bodies active and healthy during these months of peak activity; but what about our furry and feathered friends?  With the nice weather sticking around, your animals are probably becoming more active as well.  Did you know that pet and small animal massage can have benefits that are similar to human massage?  Massage can help keep your pet Active for Life during any season!

Similar to human massage, massage for animals is governed and regulated from state to state.  Here is a link that shows laws by state for animal massage https://iaamb.org/resources/laws-by-state/.  If you are in a state where you have access to massage for your pets, take advantage!  We as humans can voice our discomfort from a bruise or strained muscle but your pets can’t.  Proactive care beats reactive care for your fur family. All of those acrobatics while playing fetch and long summer swims can leave your pet feeling less than their best.  Benefits of massage for your pets include alleviation of muscle tension, spasms and pain, increased range of motion, improved muscle tone, increased circulation and relaxation. 

To some it may sound silly but massage for your pets can help with many things besides every day aches and pains.  Since our pet’s bodies are more similar to our own than we may think, there are many overlapping benefits to adding maintenance massages throughout your pet’s life as well as your own.  Massage can help your pets recover from different medical procedures by helping to alleviate adhesions and scar tissue problems as well as bringing fresh healing fluids to areas of pain by increasing circulation throughout the lymphatic system.  Should your pet run into trouble, it will give you peace of mind to have a team already set in place to give your pet the best chance at full recovery.  Just like your veterinarian, a pet massage therapist is always good to have in your arsenal should you ever need them.  Other complementary health options for your pets can include acupuncture, acupressure, magnetic therapy, shock wave therapy and aromatherapy.  These therapies should only be done by a professional who is licensed or certified and insured within your state’s requirements.

Although we don’t offer massages for your furry family here at PAMT, we are here to help you keep your whole family Active for Life!  If you have questions on how to get started with pet and small animal massage give us a call and we can help to point you in the right direction!   
 
 
 

Over the past couple of months many of you have gotten to know our new therapists by graciously allowing them into your appointments to train.   All massage therapists in the state of Pennsylvania must be licensed and insured but what does this extra PAMT training entail? 

Our therapists come from all walks of life and have a wide array of experiences that they bring to PAMT.  Some come right after they finish school while others have been working for years in the field of massage therapy.  Whatever the case, all therapists that come through our doors go through what we call a PAMT training period.  During this period that can range from 2 weeks to 6 months, our therapists learn all of the nuances of working with our clientele. 

From the moment a new therapist starts his or her training period there are some very specific goals we have set for them.  The top three goals are to cultivate their critical thinking abilities, problem solving skills and assessment techniques.   By thinking more globally, our therapists are able to take a whole body approach.  The end objective for all of our therapists is to have the ability to look beneath symptoms and obvious difficulties to locate and treat the source of pain and discomfort. 

Most massage therapists learn the same basis of Swedish techniques during their official schooling.  We build on the techniques they learn in school to allow our new therapists to steadily develop their own style, technique and intuition.  Training periods are tailor made to fit individual therapists and allowing them to shadow our more experienced team gives invaluable insight as well as ample opportunity to learn and grow in a short period of time. 

While our training process is more detailed than most we feel it is an irreplaceable building block for our team.   We take the time to make sure all PAMT therapists are equipped with the correct skills and techniques so they are confident and prepared before they begin taking clients to help them stay Active for Life!  

We have been writing a lot about Craniosacral Therapy (CST) for infants and children but did you know it has many benefits for adults too?  In honor of National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month here is how we work with TBI’s and other brain injuries here at Pro-Active!
 
If you have hit your head in any capacity it can leave your body with lasting repercussions.  One way we combat these effects is through the use of Craniosacral Therapy.  It your brain injury is recent we do require an OK from your doctor before we can safely work with you.  It is important that we can work closely with your existing team to make sure you are receiving the best treatments possible every time.  But don’t forget that team includes you!  We want to know logistical things such as how many headaches you get and how bad they are.  Are you sensitive to light, sound or touch?   But we also want to know about you.  Has your brain injury affected your mood or sense of wellbeing?  After these preliminaries we can get started!
 
Craniosacral Therapy is perfect for all brain injuries, large or small, because it is such a gentle modality.  By gently touching the head, face and neck, restrictions are released in the soft tissue that surrounds the central nervous system.  By doing this we are able to create normal mobility of the areas surrounding the brain and spinal cord, essentially ‘taking the pressure off’ of your healing brain.  

TBI’s take time to heal but the addition of CST to your healing regimen is essentially giving your body the tools it needs to heal.  All PAMT therapists go through the Upledger training program for CST certifications.  Below is an article pulled from their website about using CST to treat post concussion syndrome.  CST is a deceptively complicated modality but once mastered it can have incredible healing results.  As always, for any questions on CST, brain injuries or anything else give us a call or send us an email!
 
 
 
http://www.upledger.org/docs/CranioSacral-Therapy-and-Concussion-Mariann-Sisco-for-FSMTA-Dec-2014.pdf

The important thing for many of us that ride is to enjoy what we do, feel good about our horse’s well-being, and to be able to walk pain free after we ride. Most of us also know quality feed and regular exercise for our horse is important, however; when it comes to our own bodies, we are more likely to find ourselves pushing through extreme pain and stiffness, calling it a day only after thoroughly overworking our bodies.  If you started riding at an early age you will almost certainly recall how easily you managed to recover from your first falls – we seemed to ‘bounce’ and get right back on without a thought. As we age, it is a scientific fact that we no longer ‘bounce’ – we hit hard and as adults, we take the full impact of our falls directly into our bodies. All of the injuries we experience in our lives add up over time and begin to overwhelm our bodies. Protective postures begin to show up and before we know it, we end up walking through life crooked, sometimes without even realizing it.

Now, imagine getting on your horse with this new picture of yourself – crooked, stiff, or even in pain.  All of these symptoms are now passed on to our equine partners, causing them to be crooked, stiff or in pain. Your horse has no way to tell you what is happening, except to go lame, have health issues, or have a change in behavior. You can stop this pattern, and there are many possible benefits to be gained between both you, and your horse.  The strength, flexibility and stamina required to ride our horse is more significant than we give ourselves credit for. Making sure your muscles are neither under or over developed can be an issue that we aren’t even aware of. Horseback riding uses some common muscles groups (legs, abdominals, back and shoulders) but also some very uncommon ones including inner thighs, sub-occipitals, lower abdominals and hip flexors. 

Horses are amazingly sensitive animals. When a horse has a rider in the saddle, they pick up so many signals from us. This includes how tense we are both physically and emotionally. They also pick up mis-cues from us if our bodies are not in balance. Think of the horse that always pulls to the right. Now, let’s look at your own body. Is one shoulder higher than the other one? Perhaps one hip is more forward than the other one. Imagine now how that will translate to your amazingly sensitive horse once you get in the saddle.

Any horse and rider, no matter what discipline, can benefit from having more balance in the saddle. You will benefit by being able to be more effective and efficient, and your horse will benefit by being happier, more balanced and easier to ride. Therapeutic massage sessions assist with resolving ongoing soft tissue damage and aids in removing obstacles to achieving a more enjoyable partnership with your horse, as well as contributing to injury prevention for both of you.

The recipe for a lifetime of carefree riding includes regular exercise, both on and off a horse, with lots of stretching in between. Take time to warm up your muscles before riding or working around the barn, especially when it’s cold outside. Also take some time to stretch out after exerting yourself – these things pay off in the long run to allow you to move more freely throughout your entire life!

Our mission is to help our clients to stay “Active For Life!”. For the professional athlete, this might mean achieving higher performance levels, but for the average rider it means improving quality of life – before, during and after your ride. With massage/bodywork, we help our clients to shift their way of thinking about chronic and acute pain. Just maybe – you really don’t have to live with that pain you feel today!

Holidays are a time for family gatherings, house decorating and hours spent shopping for those perfect gifts for loved ones. It is also a time when our bodies become fatigued, strained and sore.  After the holiday season ends, the decorations and presents are gone but the toll stress takes remains.  The top areas where stress and strain settle in are the shoulders, neck, lower back and feet. The good news is that with a few thoughtful adjustments to your daily routine, you can stay on track and feel great too.

Neck and Shoulders
The combination of carrying shopping bags, purses and heavy coats causes the body to react by pulling the shoulders up towards the ears, causing pain between the shoulder blades and up into the neck. To avoid this, here are a few things to remember:

1. Lighten up your load. Carry a small purse that can be worn across the body. Ask for multiple smaller bags instead of one big bag to carry purchases, then even out the weight of the bags between both hands.
2. Check in with your shoulders. Are they creeping up towards your ears? Focus on allowing them to relax and practice lifting the collar bone to allow the shoulders to roll back. This eases shoulder strain, and it’s great for strengthening the core too!
3. Wear a scarf to keep warm. Keeping your neck warm can help to keep the shoulders where they belong.  Shoulders respond to our necks being chilled by bracing against the cold, so bundle up when the air gets cold or damp.
4. Stretch it out at least once a day. Grasp your hands together behind you. Roll your shoulders back to open up the chest. Breathe deeply in and out and hold it there for 30 seconds. Slowly release and shake out your arms.
   

Lower Back and Feet
Lower back pain is also common during this time of year. The main factors that cause back pain are poor posture and fatigue. Some tips to remember:

1. Wear shoes without a heel. This applies to men as well as women. If the shoe heel is higher than the ball of your foot by even ½  inch, it will cause the pelvis to rotate forward and contribute to lower back pain. Sneakers made for exercise are the perfect shoe to wear to recover from your Christmas shopping.
2. Avoid walking on concrete for long periods of time. Concrete has no ‘give’ to it, so the force of walking on it sends severe concussions up through the legs into the hips, contributing to lower back pain. If you can’t avoid concrete, be sure that you have a good cushion in the sole of your shoes.
3. Stretch it out at least once a day. Lay on your back and bring your knees to your chest. Hold the knees in place with your arms and twist at the waist to bring them as far to one side as you can. Stay there for 60-90 seconds while breathing deep – focus on relaxing your hips and lower back. Now take your knees to the other side and repeat.

 
With these simple tools and maybe a massage, you should be right back to your pre-holiday self in no time!

*Disclaimer:  This blog is only about my personal experiences and if you are interested in trying CBD be sure to consult with your physician first.  If you have any questions about my personal experiences with CBD please reach out. You can call the office or email me, I would love to speak with you!
 
My name is Marissa Hughes and I am the Business Manager here at PAMT.  Today I am here to tell you my story about chronic pain and my personal experience with CBD/Hemp products.  I believe that alternative products like CBD are the next big breakthrough for those with chronic pain, but I also know that products like these are far from mainstream.  I have a deep compassion towards all who suffer from chronic pain and happiness for them when they find something that helps.

Before my life as an office dweller, I was a typical horse girl.  Crushed toes and blinding headaches were daily reminders of the long hours spent in the barn and I wore them as badges of honor.  I rode for 15 years and could never imagine doing anything else with my life.  Then, in September of 2010, I fell off during a routine riding lesson where I was jumping my horse.  It wasn’t my first fall nor my last, and at the time didn’t realize it was by far the worst.  I didn’t think much of it at the time but little did I know that fall would change my life forever. 

The reality is that falling off the back of a 1,000 lb. horse hurts.  But, within a few days after the fall it became clear that the pain I was feeling was not normal.  The first of many appointments was made with my family practitioner and I was diagnosed with a sprained rib.  I am sent away empty handed and told to follow up in 3-6 months. 

Fast forward 6 months – nothing has changed and the pain in my rib cage is still excruciating.  My pain level was a 10 out of 10 at all times.  I can’t eat or sleep.  Coughing or sneezing brings me to my knees.  I am sent for an ultra sound and another set of x-rays.  “The imaging looks perfectly healthy” they say.

I am sent to a fantastic thoracic specialist who tells me he can fix me - he is subsequently unable to find anything wrong on my MRI to fix.

The thoracic specialist sends me to a pediatric sports medicine doctor who says she can fix me.  She gives me pills for the pain. 

I am sent to the chiropractor who tells me he can fix me.  We still work together, but he can’t fix me. 
I am sent to an osteopath who says she can fix me.  She can’t. 

I am sent to dozens of massage therapists who say they can fix me.  It helps, but they can’t fix me. 
I called the number one thoracic surgeon in the country.  He accepted my case.  He looked at my imaging.  He realized very quickly he couldn’t fix me. 

I am sent to a psychologist to deal with the emotional aspects of chronic pain.  She tells me the pain is all in my head and if I can control my thoughts I can control my pain.  I am told I am making the pain up for attention. 

Are you beginning to see a pattern?  Go to the {insert medical specialist here}, take images, medical specialists say they can fix me, they give up when the answers do not come easily, repeat. 

Repeat, repeat, repeat. 

While being bounced from specialist to specialist my family and I were doing our own research.   We reached out to a retired thoracic surgeon in Boston who had written a paper about his experience with a condition whose symptoms were eerily similar to mine.  This condition is only really seen in soldiers who are thrown during an explosion and hyperextend their ribcages when they land on the ground.  He says he knows a surgery that can fix me.  We loop in my surgeon at CHOP and they decide to do a surgery not commonly seen outside of World War 2.  My doctor had surprisingly assisted the Boston surgeon for this exact condition once but had never performed this surgery solo before. 

I had surgery on December 27th, 2012, over two years after my fall.  All the tests, appointments and pills came down to one surgery.  When I woke up from anesthesia (over an hour early) there was no one in my hospital room and no painkillers in my system.  Why would they not give you painkillers when they cut open your main abdominal muscle you ask?  I still don’t have an answer for you.  We left the hospital with no strict instructions on follow ups or physical therapy.  Why?  Honestly it was because they had no idea what to do for me after putting me through a technically experimental surgery.   

There was a risk that over time the surgery would essentially undo itself.  It did.  I have not slept on my left side or stomach since 2010.  I missed parties and horse shows and important family events.  I feel like I brought the people I love most down with me.  I am still angry.  Angry at the empty promises of being fixed only to be given up on half way through every process we tried.  Angry that no one cared enough to try harder, really.  Angry that no one understood what I was going through even though they tried so hard to.  Angry that I was and still am in pain.  I came to the conclusion that if I was going to feel better it was going to come on my own accord.  And I gave up on all the people that gave up on me.  

Enter CBD Oil.  Over seven years after my fall I stared to hear more and more about one particular CBD/Hemp company called Charlotte’s Web.  I heard success stories that sounded an awful lot like mine and was shocked.  The pain these people were in was unimaginable, even to me.  But they found something that worked.  I remember thinking what do I have to lose?  It can’t make it any worse right?  So I ordered it.  A split second later I had something I hadn’t had in years….hope.  I anxiously awaited the arrival of my own prescription and when it finally arrived I couldn’t wait any longer.  I took my first dose right here at PAMT. 

Within 10 minutes my anxiety quieted and my body felt like a 1,000 lb. weight had been lifted.  I was not impaired in any way, nor was in pain.  Now I was really in shock.  I had hoped that it would be everything I anticipated and dreamed, but it is so hard to get your hopes up too high after years of disappointment.  How could this one unassuming looking bottle of CBD oil do what 7 years of doctor appointments couldn’t?

Now don’t get me wrong, CBD didn’t cure me.  I still have good days and bad days with my rib pain.  But the good days finally outweigh the bad.  I have replaced my unhealthy ibuprofen habit with CBD.  My anxiety is the lowest it has been in years, in part due to decreased pain.  But the oil didn’t stop at the rib.  I found I could use CBD for headaches, back pain, neck pain, rib pain and anxiety which reduces my need for unhealthy NSAIDS. 

I am still angry.  I really don’t know if it is something that I will ever get over.  I do still believe doctors and their surgeries and pills do have their place in this world.  But as someone who has sat, terrified at the other end of a mile long desk while a man in white coat tells me there’s nothing more they can do, it’s so easy to believe them.  I implore you not to.  Be your own advocate and if you can’t, find someone who will fight for you.  Don’t give up on yourself when everyone you have seen tells you that you are out of options.  I am here to tell you that you aren’t.  Even if CBD isn’t for you, alternative healthcare is a growing field and there is something out there somewhere that IS for you. 

So, if any part of my story rings true to you and your story or the story of someone you know, I hope you know you are not alone.  My story is not the outlier and yours isn’t either. 
 
Marissa

One of the most common questions asked here at Pro-Active is “What should I wear for my session?”  Today were here to tell you!

During any session at PAMT you will have the option to either undress to your level of comfort or to remain fully clothed - about half of our clients choose each option.   Our therapists are highly trained and skilled in techniques to ensure that staying fully clothed will not hinder your appointment or therapeutic results in any way.  The most important thing is that you feel completely comfortable so that the maximum level of healing can happen.   In the case of whether to remain clothed or not, the choice is 100% dictated by the personal preference of each client. 

If you choose to undress, it does not really matter what you wear into the office.  If your choice is to stay fully or partially clothed, wear something comfortable!  It can be difficult (though not impossible) to work over heavy fabrics like denim because it does not stretch or move very well.  Good alternatives are yoga pants, leggings or athletic shorts paired with a loose t-shirt.  Wearing loose fitting and stretchy clothing will make sure your therapist is able to fully assess problem areas and range of motions concerns. 

Remember that you are in control of your own session and the best thing to do is to speak openly with your therapist. Just let your therapist know at the beginning of your session that you would like to stay clothed.  It’s that simple.  Clearly communicating with your therapist will aid us in keeping you Active for Life!

If you have any questions or concerns about what to wear for your session, give the office a call at 610-932-8888.   

If you are one of millions of Americans suffering from chronic ailments such as lower back or neck pain, it can be difficult to know whether going to the chiropractor or getting a massage will alleviate your pain.   The answer, which may surprise you, is often both.  Today, chiropractic work and massage therapy are often seen as two sides of the same coin.  Rather than being incompatible like many once thought, these types of bodywork are actually complementary. 

Here at PAMT we regularly work closely with our trusted network of local chiropractors to make sure our clients are receiving all of the care they need.   Massage therapy works with soft tissues to improve mobility and pain levels while chiropractic work is used to resolve structural issues within the body.  This means that massage is useful before and/or after a chiropractic adjustment so that muscles can easily adapt to the new structural foundation of your body.   Massage used before adjustments relieves muscle tension that may be pulling joints out of alignment and aids the body’s ability to receive a more complete adjustment.  Massage used after adjustments helps the body to recover and to relearn a new ‘normal’ position. 

Many clients have found that chiropractic care in tandem with massage therapy was the best answer for them.  This approach ensures that any structural and soft tissue problems are addressed together.  Both treatment options are holistic in nature and focus on the underlying conditions and sources of your pain rather than just the symptoms.   Together these treatments can keep you Active for Life!

Most people come to PAMT for their first session to address a specific issue. As we work with each client through their healing process, other underlying problems typically become apparent and the treatment plan is adjusted accordingly.  As overall pain free well being is achieved, we work with you to increase the amount of time between appointments. For example, it is normal to have appointments once or twice a week at first, and then move toward once every two weeks, etc.  When your body is able to remain pain free for three weeks at a time, most are ready for maintenance work. But what does being on maintenance mean? 

Maintenance work is our ultimate goal for every client no matter what their problem may be.  Some decide to come monthly for their maintenance while others can stretch out the time between appointments to 6-8 weeks.  This depends heavily on your occupation, level of physical activity and other outside factors including stress levels.  Whatever maintenance plan you find works best for you, it is as important as the original reason you came to see us.  Just like you take your car to the mechanic for regular care, your maintenance massages are a tune up for your body. We let you know if things are fine or if we find a new issue that is getting started and needs attention.  Think of it as preventative care for your body to keep things running smoothly.

You can always ask your massage therapist when maintenance is realistic for you to begin or whether the time you currently have between appointments is appropriate to keep you Active for Life!

We love helping our clients stay Active for Life however there are some circumstances where massage therapy is not recommended.

1. While you are sick

Getting a massage when you have a fever or feel a virus coming on can increase your symptoms and actually make you feel worse.  Because of the increase in circulation and manipulation of muscle fibers and tissues, metabolic waste is released and pushed through your system faster than normal.  When you are already dealing with symptoms in the early or mid-stages of sickness, it is best to stay home and rest.  A good rule of thumb is if you are too sick to go to work, you’re probably too sick to get a massage.

    2. Deep bruising, open wounds, rashes and sunburn.
In most of these cases the bruising, wounds or rashes can be worked around.  Just be sure to tell your massage therapist about them before your session so they know to avoid tender or open areas.  However, sunburn is a bit tougher to work around.  If it only affects some parts of the body, therapists can normally work around it.  But, if you forgot some SPF at the beach over the weekend it is best to avoid your massage until the tenderness and redness subside.

    3. Recent trauma
This point is twofold depending on your injury.  Generally most small injuries are contraindicated locally.  This means your therapist can still work with you, just not on your ankle that you sprained yesterday.   If your injury is more severe, your therapist can help to make a plan with your doctor(s) and guide you to when massage would be the most beneficial for your recovery.  If your massage therapist avoids working with an injury, sprain or strain, it is for a good reason!  

    4. When taking steroids or blood thinners or if you have a history of clotting
Steroids and blood thinners can greatly affect the effectiveness of your massage.  These types of medications can cause your immune system to weaken, thin skin and swelling on their own.  Adding massage into this can lead to skin damage and bruising.  If you have a history of clotting massage may not be for you.  If you have a clot forming, massage may cause the clot to move or break and travel to other parts of the body.  Always tell your massage therapist about clotting history any new medications you are taking so they can safely and effectively redirect your session to meet your needs at the time. 

    5. Alcohol
If you have been drinking or still have alcohol in your system it is best to skip your massage.  Alcohol can desensitize you and lead to unreliable feedback on the amount of pressure your therapist may be using.  Best to save your session for another day!
 
If you ever have questions on whether or not massage is a good fit given your situation give us a call so we can help you stay Active for Life!