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Massage: A Natural Reaction to Pain

What did you do the last time you bumped your head or had a sore muscle? More than likely, you rubbed it. Throughout time, touching has been a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and healers in all countries and cultures have developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch.

Having a massage does more than just relax your body and your mind -- there are specific physiological and psychological benefits related to massage, ranging from calming the nervous system and reducing tension and anxiety, to improving circulation which allows the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, stimulating the lymphatic system which carries away the body’s waste products, and helping with pain management in conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, and muscle spasms.

In the soothing environment of our centrally located Manhattan, New York offices, our massage therapists work under the direction of our physiatrist (MD) who pinpoints the problem area. “Our massage therapists will use a variety of techniques to promote healing and relaxation, as well as to promote greater flexibility and range of motion,” says Dr. Kessler. “Massage helps to improve blood circulation, decrease pain and inflammation, helps to relax the muscles, and makes you feel better.”

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Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 11:31 AM


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Sciatica – Getting to the Root of the Problem

The term sciatica describes the symptoms of leg pain and possibly tingling, numbness or weakness that travels from the low back through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of the leg. The clinical diagnosis of sciatica is referred to as a "radiculopathy," which means simply that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve.

“An important thing to understand is that sciatica is a symptom of a problem -- of something compressing or irritating the nerve roots that comprise the sciatic nerve -- rather than a medical diagnosis or medical disorder in and of itself,” says Dr. Kessler. “This is an important distinction because it is the underlying diagnosis (vs. the symptoms of sciatica) that often needs to be treated in order to relieve sciatic nerve pain.”

In addition to standard medical treatments, several alternative treatments have also been shown to provide effective sciatica pain relief for many patients, including acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic manipulation, all of which can be provided in the comfortable New York City offices of Spine and Sports Medicine.

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Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 3:25 AM


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