Shoulder pain is a very common problem, affecting as many as one in every three people. Many people with shoulder pain have problems with their rotator cuff, which is the common term for the four muscles that support your shoulder joint. Billions of dollars are spent annually in the treatment of shoulder pain in the United States. Your first move … Read More
What Are Meridian Lines? And What Is Their Role in Gua Sha and Acupuncture?
Many centuries ago Chinese philosophers and healers began to study the rich and complex natural phenomena of life. They carefully observed the environment around us, and also the human body. They noticed patterns in how nature’s energies flow, and also how all things are subject to universal laws. From these roots Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) grew into a comprehensive system, … Read More
Does Gua Sha Help Weightlifters and Bodybuilders?
Weight training comes with a fair share of risk, and there is always a possibility of straining or tearing muscles, or developing painful tendonitis or a slap tear. Anyone who spends a lot of time in the gym will know how back, shoulder or neck pain can severely limit your workout routine. While applying ice to the painful area, getting … Read More
What is IASTM and what are the benefits?
“Just a minute while I go get my scraper…” my colleague said to his patient. I thought about what might be going through his patient’s mind. What is a scraper? Will I have any skin left when he is done? Is it really as bad as it sounds? My colleague was referring to a small plastic device that was triangular … Read More
Gua Sha vs. Cupping – Which one is better?
Is Old the New “New?” An estimated 4.5 million Americans visit the emergency room or doctor’s office because of an adverse reaction to medication, and an additional 2 million individuals already hospitalized experience an adverse drug response. This statistic resonates with many people, therefore in Western society there is a movement away from medications and invasive procedures to relieve pain … Read More
The Evidence and Science Behind Gua Sha
Centered around a mysterious, invisible set of energy pathways and with techniques that baffle the Western mind, traditional Chinese medicine can seem esoteric, to say the least. In that regard, gua sha, the therapeutic method of scraping the skin to alleviate pain and improve health certainly doesn’t disappoint. An ancient and maybe one of the earliest known medical practices, gua … Read More
How a lack of sleep is directly related to obesity
It always seems easier to look for the latest pill, diet, or training program, but what if the key to you burning fat is something as simple as sleep? There are 3 reasons why getting more sleep will increase fat burn for you. 1. Decreased cortisol levels Cortisol is your body’s fight or flight mechanism. Whenever your senses feel that … Read More
Swedish vs Deep Tissue vs Shiatsu vs Sports Massage: What’s the difference?
Have you felt stressed out lately because of pressure at the office? Or you recently suffered an injury by accident and you want to reduce pain? Either way, there’s an answer to these problems that often help – a massage! Massage therapy is a manual manipulation of soft tissues in the body such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues. It involves rubbing, manipulating … Read More
5 Tips to Keep You Injury Free in the Gym
Everyone loves getting a good workout in, but if you want to be able to do this for years to come, you need to make sure that you’re preventing any possible injuries. Injuries can strike at any moment and very often, can mean spending two or more weeks away from all physical activities. If you’re hit hard, frustration will set in … Read More
IASTM/Graston Vs. Deep Tissue Massage – How are they different?
As a Chiropractor, I’ve known about the Graston technique for a long time, but over the last few years, other similar treatments and tools have started becoming popular. These include Gua Sha, Hawk Grips, the Echo Muscle Reliever etc. Whether we are referring to Graston, Gua Sha or any similar tool, these all fall under the IASTM umbrella and therefore … Read More