OMR Massage

19/08/2025

I regularly see people with a winged scapula. Here is some great info for you. 😃

🔥 Winged Scapula – “The Floating Shoulder Blade”

💥 A striking sign where the shoulder blade juts out like a wing — often unnoticed until weakness or injury affects your movement!

📜 Name Origin & History
The term “Winged Scapula” comes from the visual resemblance of the scapula (shoulder blade) sticking out from the back like a bird’s wing.
First described in medical literature in the 19th century, commonly linked to injury of the long thoracic nerve affecting the serratus anterior muscle.

⚠️ Causes
💧 Long thoracic nerve injury (most common)
💧 Serratus anterior muscle weakness or paralysis
💧 Brachial plexus injury
💧 Direct trauma to shoulder/back
💧 Neurological conditions (e.g., poliomyelitis, muscular dystrophy)
💧 Post-surgical complication (e.g., mastectomy, lymph node removal)

🗂️ Signs & Symptoms
🩸 Visible protrusion of the scapula from the thoracic wall
🩸 Shoulder instability
🩸 Weakness when pushing against resistance
🩸 Limited shoulder flexion and abduction
🩸 Pain or discomfort in shoulder/back area

🩺 Physical Assessment & Examination⤵️

1️⃣ Wall Push-Up Test – Increased winging when pushing against a wall
2️⃣ Scapular Observation – Compare both sides during shoulder movement
3️⃣ Manual Muscle Testing – Assess serratus anterior strength
4️⃣ Neurological Exam – To check nerve involvement

🩻 Radiologic Findings⤵️
📌 X-ray – Usually normal (used to rule out fractures or deformities)
📌 MRI – May reveal muscle atrophy or nerve injury
📌 EMG/Nerve Conduction Study – Confirms long thoracic nerve damage

⭕ Conservative Treatment ⤵️

✅ Pain management (NSAIDs if needed)
✅ Activity modification to avoid aggravating movements
✅ Orthotic bracing (scapular stabilizing braces)

🧘‍♀️ Physiotherapy Management⤵️

🏅 Strengthening of serratus anterior (e.g., wall slides, dynamic hugs)
🏅 Scapular stabilization drills
🏅 Postural correction exercises
🏅 Stretching of tight pectoralis minor & levator scapulae
🏅 Neuromuscular re-education
🏅 Taping for scapular positioning support

🏠 Home Advice⤵️

✅ Continue prescribed exercises daily
✅ Avoid heavy lifting overhead until strength returns
✅ Maintain good posture at desk/work
✅ Use a mirror to monitor scapular movement
✅ Apply warm compress for tightness relief

Doctor of physical therapy

15/08/2025

Scientists have discovered that when fathers go through serious stress or trauma as children, those experiences can actually leave chemical traces on their s***m, changing what they might pass down to their own kids. In a recent study, men who reported high levels of childhood adversity—like emotional neglect or abuse—showed unique “epigenetic” markers in their s***m that weren’t explained by lifestyle choices like smoking or drinking. These markers, including changes in DNA methylation and small noncoding RNAs, were often found near genes that play a key role in brain development, hinting at how deeply our childhoods can shape the next generation. 🧬

Epigenetics is the science of how life experiences—good or bad—can change the way our genes work, without altering the genes themselves. The research found that the chemical “notes” stress leaves behind in s***m might impact the mental and physical health of children, though scientists still aren’t certain how often or how directly these changes get passed on. Even so, the findings help explain why children of parents who survived trauma (like Holocaust survivors or famine) sometimes show signs of inherited stress or health changes, even decades later. 🧠

Importantly, scientists believe these epigenetic changes are not set in stone: healing, therapy, healthy habits, and positive life choices can actually help “rewrite” some of these molecular marks before conception. That means taking care of mental health isn’t just good for you—it might give your future kids a healthier start, too. The big takeaway? What we carry from the past can echo into the future, but we also have the power to break cycles and create brighter legacies for those who come next. 🌱

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06/08/2025

New Tia Chi Classes !! Wednesdays 9am

31/07/2025

Discover essential tools and strategies for managing lymphoedema in this practical guide. Empowering people with cancer to take control of their condition and improve quality of life.

30/07/2025

The human body, I think is not geared to our endless lifestyle choices. This alone causes “Angst”. Our teenagers are exposed to the most “choices” decisions. Just 100 years ago we couldn’t easily transport ourselves to another country or even a town. We had to make the best is what we had. So many options on what to study etc. Our adrenals have a big job these days. Any wonder they’re over Used and stress is such a big issue. Reflexology and Massage is so good for teenagers.

🧠 The Adrenal Glands: Small But Mighty Stress Regulators
Understanding their role in energy, immunity, inflammation & detoxification

🔹 What Are the Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are two small triangular organs that sit on top of your kidneys. Though tiny, they play a massive role in regulating survival-based body functions—especially your stress response, energy levels, and inflammatory balance.

Each adrenal gland has two parts:
• Adrenal cortex: Produces cortisol, aldosterone, and s*x hormones like DHEA.
• Adrenal medulla: Produces adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine).

🔹 Key Hormones and What They Do
• Cortisol: Helps regulate blood sugar, inflammation, metabolism, and stress response.
• Aldosterone: Controls salt and water balance; regulates blood pressure.
• Adrenaline/Noradrenaline: Increases heart rate, opens airways, sharpens focus in stress.
• DHEA: A precursor to estrogen and testosterone; supports mood, energy, and immunity.

🔹 What Triggers the Adrenals?
• Physical stress (injury, illness, over-exercising)
• Emotional stress (anxiety, grief, trauma)
• Chemical stress (toxins, infections, blood sugar imbalances)
• Sleep deprivation or circadian rhythm disruption

When stress becomes chronic, adrenal activity becomes dysregulated—often referred to as HPA axis dysfunction (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal).

🔹 How the Adrenals Impact Your Body

1. Lymphatic & Immune System
• Cortisol controls immune cell activity and inflammation.
• Chronic high cortisol suppresses immunity, contributes to infections and lymph stagnation.
• Can worsen autoimmune conditions and inflammatory flare-ups.

2. Nervous System
• Adrenaline activates “fight or flight,” reducing parasympathetic healing states.
• Slows digestion, detoxification, and lymphatic drainage.

3. Gut & Digestion
• High cortisol impacts gut lining and microbiome.
• Leads to leaky gut, poor nutrient absorption, and systemic inflammation.

4. Detox Pathways
• Cortisol helps manage inflammation during detox.
• Chronic stress can slow liver detox (Phase I & II), allowing toxins to build up.

🔹 Signs of Adrenal Dysfunction (HPA Imbalance)
• Fatigue, especially in the morning
• Anxiety, irritability, or mood swings
• Cravings for salt or sugar
• Low blood pressure or dizziness
• Brain fog or poor memory
• Irregular periods or hormone imbalance
• Poor sleep or waking between 2–4 a.m.

🔹 How to Support Adrenal Health Naturally
• Get 7–9 hours of quality sleep
• Practice stress-reducing activities: breathwork, prayer, gentle yoga
• Eat magnesium- and B-vitamin-rich foods (leafy greens, nuts, seeds)
• Stay hydrated with added minerals or sea salt
• Support the vagus nerve with deep breathing and lymphatic therapy
• Consider adaptogens (ashwagandha, rhodiola) with professional guidance

🔬 Research References
1. Tsigos C, Chrousos GP. HPA Axis and Stress. J Psychosom Res.
2. Sapolsky RM. Why Stress is Bad for Your Brain. Scientific American.
3. Silverman MN et al. Neuroendocrine–immune interactions.
4. Keller-Wood M. Endotext: HPA Axis Feedback Control.

🌿 Final Thoughts

The adrenal glands are powerful regulators of your body’s stress, immune, and energy systems. Keeping them balanced through rest, nourishment, and lymphatic flow is key to long-term resilience and vitality.

©️

29/07/2025

When I think of butterflies 😉 our bodies are so interesting.

24/07/2025

A great read ! Grab a cuppa and enjoy! I’ve been working fascia /Myofascia tissue connections through assessment and treatment for over 15 years now. This explains it well 😃

💔🌀 When Trauma Blocks the Flow

How Emotional Wounds Create Physical Stagnation in Your Lymphatic System

(This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.)

“Our biography becomes our biology.” — Dr. Gabor Maté

What if your swollen nodes, chronic puffiness, or lymphatic congestion aren’t just physical…
What if they are echoes of unspoken pain?

The truth is, trauma doesn’t just live in your memory. It embeds itself in the tissues of your body — tightening fascia, freezing breath, gripping muscles, and quietly clogging your lymphatic system.

This is the science of emotional stagnation — and the healing potential that’s unlocked when your lymph starts to flow again.

🧠💧 The Forgotten Link: Emotions + Lymph

Your lymphatic system is the silent river of your body — it carries toxins, waste, immune cells, and inflammatory messengers. But it doesn’t have a heart to pump it.

Instead, it relies on movement, breath, relaxed fascia, and neurological safety to flow.

And this is where trauma steps in.

When the body is trapped in a chronic fight-flight-freeze state — whether from abuse, grief, surgery, illness, or stress — your nervous system stays alert. Shoulders rise. The breath shallows. The diaphragm stiffens. Fascia contracts.

And the lymph slows.

🔒 Fascia: Where Trauma Hides

Your fascia — the connective tissue that wraps every muscle, organ, and lymphatic vessel — holds somatic memory. Emotional trauma causes fascial rigidity, particularly in:
• The neck & jaw (where the vagus nerve and deep cervical nodes sit)
• The gut (where trauma often somatizes and lymph collects)
• The pelvis (home to lymphatic cisterns and stored grief/violation)

Research in biotensegrity and somatic release confirms that emotional experiences change fascial tone, impeding fluid flow and lymphatic movement【Scarr, G. Biotensegrity】.

🧬 The Vagus Nerve & Lymph Flow

Your vagus nerve is the body’s brake pedal. When it’s toned and calm, your body feels safe — digestion flows, breath deepens, and lymphatic rhythm returns.

But trauma often leads to vagal shutdown or overload, impairing:
• Gut-lymph circulation
• Neuro-lymphatic drainage in the brain
• Immune balance and inflammation

That’s why so many trauma survivors develop autoimmunity, swelling, or chronic fatigue.

😭 When You Cry, You Drain

This may sound poetic, but it’s physiologically true:
When you weep, sigh, exhale deeply, or shake, you’re moving lymph.

Emotional release techniques — like somatic therapy, breathwork, craniosacral therapy, and MLD — often trigger “emotional detox” symptoms. This isn’t a setback. It’s a sacred reset.

🌿 What Can You Do to Heal?

Healing trauma-driven lymph stagnation is about more than drainage. It’s about creating safety in your nervous system so your body can finally let go.

💆‍♀️ Therapeutic Tools:
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD): Gently moves fluid & rewires safety into touch
• Fascial Release & Craniosacral Therapy: Frees old holding patterns in the body
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Cold exposure, humming, gargling, breathwork
• Castor Oil Packs: Anti-inflammatory, grounding, and somatically soothing
• Somatic Therapy: Releases stored trauma through body awareness and movement
• Gentle Movement & Emotional Expression: Dancing, weeping, sighing, praying

🧘🏻‍♀️ Real Healing Happens When…

The body feels safe enough to surrender.
The fascia softens.
The breath deepens.
The lymph begins to flow.

And the soul finally exhales.

This isn’t just lymphatic therapy.
This is sacred restoration of a body that’s been carrying too much for too long.

📚 Supporting Research:
• Van der Kolk B. The Body Keeps the Score — trauma’s impact on physiology and memory
• Scarr G. “Biotensegrity and the Fascia System”
• Carter J, et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2016 — trauma, inflammation, and immune dysregulation
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2016.10.019

©️

15/07/2025

At The Australian School of Reflexology, our mission is to empower individuals to learn a powerful, natural and holistic tool for wellbeing—for themselves and those around them, or to build a new career and become of service to the broader community.

Through practical, hands-on tuition and dedicated mentoring, we guide our students on a journey to discover the power of reflexology as a supportive path to health and balance. 🌿👣

Find out our signature courses suitable to all levels and the more recent new offerings:

www.reflexologyaustralia.com

irene@reflexologyaustralia.com

Expressions of Interest ARE OPEN! 🤗

08/07/2025

(cervical radiculopathy)
A pinched nerve is a damaged or compressed nerve. It develops when a nerve root is injured or inflamed. The nerve root is the part where a nerve branches off from the spinal cord.

A pinched nerve in the neck may feel like pins and needles. It might also cause pain and weakness in the shoulder, arm, or hand.

Exercises for a C7 pinched nerve (cervical radiculopathy) focus on reducing pressure on the nerve and improving neck and arm mobility.



Common symptoms include:

●pins and needles
●muscle weakness
●burning sensation
●numbness
●pain that radiates outward
●pain when moving your neck or head
●poor neck range of motion.



■ Gentle Stretches:
》Cervical Retraction (Chin Tucks):

》Neck Tilts:

》Neck Extensions
》Shoulder Blade Squeezes

》Shoulder Rolls

■ Nerve Glides
》Median Nerve Glide

》Ulnar Nerve Glide

■ Strengthening Exercises:
》Scapular Rows
》Wall Angels
》Deep Neck Flexor Exercises
》Chin Tuck with Neck Extension
》Shoulder Rolls

■ Others
》rest
》soft cervical collar
》hot or cold compress
》practicing good posture
》nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
》acupuncture
》massage
》yoga

26/06/2025

Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald writes for The Cambridge Perspective — our new thought leadership series — on how the capsule sponge is revolutionising early detection and screening for oesophageal cancer.

It means patients can get treated more quickly, and will cut down on invasive procedures and save the NHS money.

Professor Fitzgerald also reveals how she can't wait for the planned Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, that will accelerate many more cancer breakthroughs in the future.

Read more: https://orlo.uk/nm0sB

University of Cambridge
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre

01/05/2025

To release arm nerves - nerve flossing. I recommend a treatment if you find this difficult.