Ever feel pain after getting up from bed in the morning or sitting at your desk? After a hard work out, run or even long-distance walk, do your joints feel tight or you feel overall tension? Pain doesn’t always have to be caused by a single knot or two in your muscles. Beneath the skin and around all muscles, organs, blood vessels and nerves are interconnected fibers called fascia (pronounced fash-ee-uh).
Unlike our skin and muscles, fascia doesn’t stretch. It responds to how we regularly use our bodies. Sitting for long periods of time, bent over gardening, or repetitive movement such as painting, typing or lifting weights causes the fascia to respond by adapting in ways that hold that shape. Then, as we stand or stretch from that position, the adjusted shape of the fascia, lessens the ability for fluid to move freely and can cause discomfort or pain.
Various bodywork modalities to compress or decompress the skin affects the tissues beneath to enhance how we feel overall. Hard foam rolling or deep tissue massage helps push fluid through layers of fascia. Movement coupled with decompression or compression further hydrates the tissue to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Cupping
Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist places special cups on the skin for a few minutes. The most common form are dry cupping and massage cupping. Dry cupping places a cup on the body using suction where it remains in one location for a period of time. Massage cupping, known as glide cupping, involves moving the cup over the affected area to more effectively cause release. It decompresses layers of tissues to create a better environment and space to improve glide of fascia and allow systems to best do their job within the body.
Muscle Flossing
Muscle flossing is a newer technique available. Often used to speed recovery for athletes after competition or intense training, muscle flossing is also highly beneficial for anyone seeking a non-pharmaceutical option for pain reduction and improvement in movement.
Muscle floss is a reusable mobility tool to improve range of motion, reduce pain and help improve joint and muscle movement. Flossing uses a compression band with a specialized wrap technique and a series of movements to enhance the glide of fascia. Target areas often include shoulders, elbow, wrist, hips, knees, ankles, legs or arms (never use muscle floss on your head or neck).
Increase Glide, Decrease Pain
Both modalities coupled with the benefits of massage therapy promotes blood flow and circulation, loosens adhesions, releases trigger points and flushes toxins in order to promote healing to issues in tissues.
DeAnn Gietzen, licensed massage therapist with Northern Mandala, has achieved functional movement therapy certification in both cupping and muscle flossing. Specialized therapeutic sessions are available with either cupping or cupping combined with flossing to get you back to feeling your best and moving with more ease.
Learn more about sessions available or schedule your appointment online.
DeAnn Gietzen is the owner and licensed massage therapist with Northern Mandala, LLC, based in East Grand Forks, Minn.
Through a 750-hour training program at Josef’s School of Hair, Skin and Body, DeAnn received advanced training in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and pathology. The course also included clinical practice, practical application and certification in CPR, first aid and AED. DeAnn has successfully completed the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. She is licensed in massage therapy by the state of North Dakota. DeAnn has also achieved Functional Movement Therapy Certification in Cupping and Muscle Flossing. Schedule your massage with DeAnn today.
First, ensure the massage therapist you are working with has the appropriate qualifications for the technique used. Some methods – cupping, dry needling, shiatsu – are trendy, yet they require additional certification beyond the initial training a massage therapist receives. Even more, ensure your massage therapist is appropriately licensed and have received appropriate education in the location where they are working.
DeAnn Gietzen is the owner and licensed massage therapist with Northern Mandala, LLC, based out of East Grand Forks, MN.
Northern Mandala 