Phil Murray - Massage Therapist

Phil Murray - Massage Therapist Feeling sore, stressed, or just in need of a massage? Contact me on 0432 626 747.
- Phil

Hi everyone,Just a quick one about the tricep group.Moving from the most medial to the most lateral (inside out), there ...
15/07/2024

Hi everyone,

Just a quick one about the tricep group.Moving from the most medial to the most lateral (inside out), there are three muscle heads (hence 'tri'), the long, medial and lateral heads. These three muscles together compose the majority of muscle mass of the arm (anatomically different to the forearm) and are used in almost every upper body pushing movement, as well as contributing greatly to arm stability when holding certain positions. An excellent way to stretch these muscles is to flex the arm at the shoulder joint so that your elbow is pointing straight up; this will create the most length between the origins and insertions (beginnings and ends) of the muscles. If yours are still sore after having tried this, give me a call :)

- Phil

Image credit: KenHub

Gday everyone, I feel like a lot of people stereotype weighted exercises as only for bodybuilders or 'gymbros', however ...
02/07/2024

Gday everyone,

I feel like a lot of people stereotype weighted exercises as only for bodybuilders or 'gymbros', however resistance training or even simple movement can provide a myriad of benefits aside from gaining muscle mass. These include, but are not limited to, maintaining flexibility, improving balance, protecting joints from injury, and even aiding in management of body fat. If you have never tried using dumbbells or other weights in your fitness regime, try using simple lightweight dumbbells or other moderately weighted handheld items, and attempting yoga moves such as Warrior II, Chair pose or others which require movement or holding positions for a duration of time. Have a great day :)

- Phil

Image credit - Men's Health

Morning everyone,I've spoken previously about how hamstring flexibility (or lack thereof) can be resultant of the sciati...
16/06/2024

Morning everyone,

I've spoken previously about how hamstring flexibility (or lack thereof) can be resultant of the sciatic nerve rather than the muscle group. Today I'd like to explain how you can differentiate between the muscles and the nerves in this area. From lateral to medial (from the inside out), the hamstring group comprises the Bicep Femoris (yes there's more than one bicep group), the Semitendinosus, and the Semimembranosus. Through performing a forward fold with your heels elevated, for example on a step or a thick book, and your toes pointing downwards, see if your forward fold is improved as opposed to when your feet are flat on the floor. If improvement is experienced in this variation, it is quite possible that your primary issue is in relation to the lack of elasticity or length in the Sciatic Nerve. If no difference is perceived, the muscles may be the issue. In this case, try manipulating the Hamstring muscle group; the Bicep Femoris should feel rock solid. Hope this helps, and if you're in the Tweed area and require assistance with these movements or treatment of this area is required, please feel free to give me a call :)

- Phil

Image credit - Yoganatomy

Gday everyone,Ever heard of the autonomic nervous system? It's the system in the body that controls things we do without...
09/06/2024

Gday everyone,

Ever heard of the autonomic nervous system? It's the system in the body that controls things we do without conscious thought, like breathing. Sometimes, when we don't think about things, they go out of control, and internal body systems are no different. Every now and then, try and make an effort to pay attention to how your body is behaving; the tempo of your heartbeat, the quality of your inhales and exhales, and how quickly you are breathing. By doing this, you may be able to recognise when things aren't as they should be, at which stage you can apply conscious thought to slow things down and smooth things out. Have a beautiful day :)

- Phil

Good morning all, My last client was experiencing pain along her spine attributed to her occupation, and was surprised b...
27/05/2024

Good morning all,

My last client was experiencing pain along her spine attributed to her occupation, and was surprised by the sensation of more than one muscle being manipulated as I was massaging her back. The Erector Spinae group are primarily responsible for extension of the spine, among other movements, and so are important muscles for maintaining good posture, lifting / carrying things and maintaining torso stability. The three individual muscles, from the most outward muscles inward, are the Illiocostalis, the Longissimus, and the Spinalis. By explaining the difference to the client, and identifying which muscle was specifically affected, I was able to administer a more effective treatment, as well as provide better advice for preventing further discomfort in the future.

Have a good day, and always be mindful of your posture :)
- Phil

Bonjour :)There are a great many individuals in my life who say that they feel 'stiff' or 'sore' all day, and ask for my...
06/05/2024

Bonjour :)

There are a great many individuals in my life who say that they feel 'stiff' or 'sore' all day, and ask for my professional opinion as to how to alleviate this discomfort in between massage sessions. Perhaps the best thing you can do is to stretch, do yoga, or otherwise just move your body first thing in the morning, in order to counteract the past 8 or so hours of remaining still. By getting the proverbial juices flowing first thing, you're setting yourself up for a pain-free day.

Have a great day, and don't forget to stretch :)
- Phil

Image credit: Adobe Stock

Experiencing tension in your hamstrings, Achilles Tendon area or just in the back of your legs? An important considerati...
29/04/2024

Experiencing tension in your hamstrings, Achilles Tendon area or just in the back of your legs? An important consideration may be that it is not a muscular issue; it could be an impingement upon the Sciatic Nerve. This nerve extends from the base of the spinal cord all the way down to your feet, and can create unique sensations of tension or pain in many people. There are a number of causes, such as excessive weight bearing on the nerve, genetic disorders or even remaining in the same position for too long. Perhaps the best remedies for this affliction are targeted stretching, yoga and of course, massage. If this affects you and you would like to live pain free, please give me a call.

Have a beautiful day :)
- Phil

Image Credit - Barricaid's Blog

Never expected that anyone would write a poem about massage, thanks Terah :)- Phil
14/04/2024

Never expected that anyone would write a poem about massage, thanks Terah :)

- Phil

Good morning everyone,Today I'd like to talk about the Sternocleidomastoid muscle, or more simply the SCM muscle. It's t...
07/04/2024

Good morning everyone,

Today I'd like to talk about the Sternocleidomastoid muscle, or more simply the SCM muscle. It's the muscle in your neck that you can see pretty clearly when you turn your head to the side. Like many muscles, it gets its name from its origins and insertions (where it connects). It originates on the Manubrium (top part) of the Sternum as well as the Clavicle (hence SternoCleido) and Inserts onto the mastoid process of the cranium (hence mastoid). This muscle can be quite stiff in a lot of people, mainly due to long periods of inactivity, or spending a significant amount of time with your head facing one extreme direction (ie. sleeping on your stomach with your head turned to the side). The most effective means of countering this, aside from massage of course, is STRETCHING!!! There are a plethora of 5-minute videos on Youtube that you can watch every day, and will help you to alleviate any tension in the SCM and other neck muscles. Need a quicker, even more effective fix? Please feel free to give me a call :)

Have a wonderful day,
- Phil :)

Image credit: Yoganatomy

Good afternoon Y'all,Almost every client I receive comes with complaints of some kind of muscular tension or soreness, a...
01/04/2024

Good afternoon Y'all,

Almost every client I receive comes with complaints of some kind of muscular tension or soreness, and I am often asked what is an effective, long-term solution to address this discomfort. With the exception of massage (of course), the most effective tool at your disposal is stretching, or more specifically, yoga. Yoga not only relaxes the mind, body and soul, but also works as perhaps the most effective exercise for the body. It allows you to stretch, strengthen and condition muscles through simple movement, whilst more unconventional positions, such as pigeon or bridge pose, may impact areas of the body you may have never even used before! All that being said, if you're looking for an effective way to stay flexy and pain-free in between massage sessions, yoga is the way to go :)

Have a lovely day,
-Phil

Image credit: Yoga Australia

Good evening :)As discussed last week, a client of mine suffers from Bursitis, which was originally mistaken for muscula...
25/03/2024

Good evening :)

As discussed last week, a client of mine suffers from Bursitis, which was originally mistaken for muscular pain. In the case of the shoulder joint, the muscles in question are the Deltoid group. This is composed of three muscles; the Anterior (front), Middle and Posterior (rear) deltoids. Each controls a specific movement; the Anterior controlling arm flexion (forward movement), the Posterior controlling arm extension (rearward movement), and the Middle controlling arm abduction (movement away from the body). These muscles can also work together to facilitate more complex movements, such as Circumduction (arm circles). It is not uncommon for individuals to experience discomfort in these muscles, usually due to excessive use. If this applies to you and you're a local to the Tweed area or surrounding suburbs, please feel free to contact me in order to book an appointment.

Regards,
-Phil

Good morning all,I have had a client recently who has been diagnosed with Bursitis, and has complained of a sore shoulde...
18/03/2024

Good morning all,
I have had a client recently who has been diagnosed with Bursitis, and has complained of a sore shoulder. The client asked for firm pressure to alleviate the discomfort, which I had to advise against. Bursitis is the resulting condition of an inflamed bursa; a fluid-filled gland that reduces friction between moving parts of your body. When a joint is subject to adverse conditions, such as excessive exercise with no rest periods, strain due to obesity/weight gain, or injury to the area, the gland becomes inflamed and painful. Firm pressure to the area can actually further inflame the bursa and make the situation worse. The best method for curing bursitis is lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and incorporating rest days/periods into your fitness routine. If it is the result of an injury, medical assistance may be necessary. Whatever the case may be, light pressure effleurage massage techniques can be very beneficial in reducing felt pain and discomfort. If this applies to you and you are a local to the Tweed area or surrounding suburbs, feel free to give me a call :)

Enjoy the rest of your day,
- Phil

- Photo credit: My Physio Perth

Address

Tweed Heads, NSW

Telephone

+61432626747

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