Massage by Christi

10/27/2024

I haven't posted on here in awhile, if you are a regular client and you aren't receiving my emails for available times please message me so we can put you on the list. I will accept new clients by referral only at this time, thanks!

12/10/2023

Massage gift certificates make a great gift! Get them now through cfmassage.abmp.com or through me @ 231-206-3047. Thanks and have a Merry Christmas!

12/03/2023

Give the gift of relaxation this Christmas! Gift certificates can be purchased at cfmassage.abmp.com or through me at 231-206-3047

11/21/2023

I am thankful for all of my clients! Have a great Thanksgiving!
I still have an 11:30 and 1:00 opening for tomorrow 11/30 Wed.
Call or text to 231-206-3047 Thanks!

09/25/2023

I now have a 12:00 open tomorrow that I would like to fill.

09/11/2023

Those of you coming from Muskegon will want to take a different route as the southbound lane is closed after VanWagoner and also allow extra time. Thanks!

04/04/2023

🔊 PAIN CAUSED BY STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID

What SCM Pain or Sternocleidomastoid Muscle?

The SCM or the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle is one of the largest muscles of the neck. This muscle is divided into two parts. It begins at the skull just behind the ears. From there, it forms two parts of which one attaches to the sternum or the breastbone and the other attaches to the clavicle or the collar bone. SCM or the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle is located just underneath the skin and can be visualized when moving the neck completely to one side. Since an individual moves the neck and the shoulders many times during the day hence this muscle is used extensively by the body. This makes it prone to overuse and this results in what we call as SCM Pain or the Sternocleidomastoid Pain. Putting stress to these muscles, having abnormal sitting posture, or sudden movements of the neck or shoulder like in a motor vehicle accident can cause SCM Pain or Sternocleidomastoid Pain.

What are the Pain Patterns of SCM Pain or Sternocleidomastoid Pain?

When we speak of SCM Pain or Sternocleidomastoid Pain, it becomes important to understand the pain patterns of it as the SCM muscle is divided into two parts and both parts have different pain patterns.

Pain in the Sternal Part of SCM or the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle: The sternal division of the SCM or the Sternocleidomastoid muscle may cause pain to the cheek which can be mistaken for a case of trigeminal neuralgia which is a condition in which a nerve irritation causes intense facial pain. In some cases, there may be pain to the breast bone. It can also cause pain deep in the eye resembling pain from sinusitis. It can cause pain in the tongue when swallowing food.

Pain in Collarbone Part of SCM or Sternocleidomastoid Muscle: The clavicular or collarbone pain pattern causes severe pain in the forehead, in the ear or behind the ear. In some cases, an individual can also feel pain in the face and cheeks as well.

How is SCM Pain or Sternocleidomastoid Pain Treated?

Massage: Coming to treatments for SCM pain or the sternocleidomastoid pain, massage is the best form of treatment. This therapy is simple and can be done by the experienced massage therapist or the patient themselves can do it as well. The patient can use the thumb or the forefinger to squeeze the muscles gently so as to relax the muscles. This can be done through therapy as well. Apart from this, stretching and strengthening the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle may also help treat the SCM pain.

Sternocleidomastoid stretch

1. Standing with feet comfortably apart. Roll/fold a regular bath towel lengthways into a strip roughly 6” wide. Drape the towel strip evenly over the shoulder of the affected side. Grip the end of the strip hanging behind the back in the hand of the affected side, and the end at the front using the other side.

2. Apply firm downward pressure to the shoulder by pulling simultaneously on each end of the towel. Then slowly and in a controlled manner tilt the head away from the towel toward the opposite shoulder. Then also rotate the head away from the towel. When a stretch is felt in the neck, stop and hold the position for 20 seconds whilst breathing slowly and deeply. Return to starting position.

03/16/2023

🔊 SCIATICA

WHAT IS SCIATICA?

💡 Sciatica is the result of a neurological problem in the back or an entrapped nerve in the pelvis or buttock. There are a set of neurological symptoms such as:

➡️ Pain (intense pain in the buttock)
➡️ Lumbosacral radicular leg pain
➡️ Numbness
➡️ Muscular weakness
➡️ Gait dysfunction
➡️ Sensory impairment
➡️ Sensory disturbance
➡️ Hot and cold or tinglings or burning sensations in the legs
➡️ Reflex impairment
➡️ Paresthesias or dysesthesias and oedema in the lower extremity that can be caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerves (the lumbar nerve L4 and L5 and the sacral nerves S1,S2 and S3)

CAUSES OF PAIN

💡 Pain is a result of irritation of the sciatic nerve. it can be constant or intermittend. The pain may be worsened by certain movements like coughing or sneezing (these movements increase the intra abdominal pressure). Sitting, bending, prolonged standing or rising from a sitting position can aggravate or increase the pain.

PAIN PATTERNS

💡 In regards to relief the pain, the supine position decreases the pressure on the herniated disc and will subsequently decrease pain. Pain is located along the distribution of the nerve and can be felt in the back, buttocks, knee and leg. It only radiates to one side of the leg and can result in reduced power, reflexes and sensation in the nerve root. Also gait dysfunction (toe walking, foot drop and knee buckling), paresthesias or dysesthesias are frequent neurological symptoms.

SYMPTOMS BASED ON NERVE COMPRESSION

💡 Sciatica can be caused by the compression or irritation of nerve L4, L5, S1, S2 and S3. The sciatica symptoms depend on which nerve is compressed or irritated.

◾ L4: When the L4 nerve is compressed or irritated the patient feels pain, tingling and numbnessiIn the thigh. The patient also feels weak when straightening the leg and may have a diminished knee jerk reflex.

◾ L5: When the L5 nerve is compressed or irritated the pain, tingling and numbness may extend to the foot and big toes.

◾ S1: When the S1 nerve is compressed or irritated the patient feels pain, tingling and numbness on the outer part of the foot. The patient also experiences weakness when elevating the heel off the ground and standing on tiptoes. The ankle jerk reflex may be diminished.

source: B.W Koes, M.W Van Tulder, W.C Peul. Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. BMJ.

12/10/2022

Give the gift of relaxation this Christmas with a gift certificate. They can be purchased through myself or at cfmassage.abmp.com

10/27/2022

🔈 KNEE BURSITIS EXERCISES

You can stretch your leg right away by doing the first 3 exercises. You may start doing the other exercises when your leg is less painful.

🔎 Hamstring stretch on wall: Lie on your back with your buttocks close to a doorway. Stretch your uninjured leg straight out in front of you on the floor through the doorway. Raise your injured leg and rest it against the wall next to the door frame. Keep your leg as straight as possible. You should feel a stretch in the back of your thigh. Hold this position for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

🔎 Standing calf stretch: Stand facing a wall with your hands on the wall at about eye level. Keep your injured leg back with your heel on the floor. Keep the other leg forward with the knee bent. Turn your back foot slightly inward (as if you were pigeon-toed). Slowly lean into the wall until you feel a stretch in the back of your calf. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Return to the starting position. Repeat 3 times. Do this exercise several times each day.

🔎 Quadriceps stretch: Stand at an arm's length away from the wall with your injured side farthest from the wall. Facing straight ahead, brace yourself by keeping one hand against the wall. With your other hand, grasp the ankle on your injured side and pull your heel toward your buttocks. Don't arch or twist your back. Keep your knees together. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

🔎 Hip adductor stretch: Lie on your back. Bend your knees and put your feet flat on the floor. Gently spread your knees apart, stretching the muscles on the inside of your thighs. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

🔎 Quad sets: Sit on the floor with your injured leg straight and your other leg bent. Press the back of the knee of your injured leg against the floor by tightening the muscles on the top of your thigh. Hold this position 10 seconds. Relax. Do 2 sets of 15.

🔎 Heel slide: Sit on a firm surface with your legs straight in front of you. Slowly slide the heel of the foot on your injured side toward your buttock by pulling your knee toward your chest as you slide the heel. Return to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 15.

🔎 Straight leg raise: Lie on your back with your legs straight out in front of you. Bend the knee on your uninjured side and place the foot flat on the floor. Tighten the thigh muscle on your injured side and lift your leg about 8 inches off the floor. Keep your leg straight and your thigh muscle tight. Slowly lower your leg back down to the floor. Do 2 sets of 15.

09/29/2022

Try icing this area if having sciatic pain as it could be from an inflamed piriformis muscle pressing on the nerve.

🔈 RELATIONSHIP OF SCIATIC NERVE TO PIRIFORMIS

(A) The sciatic nerve usually emerges from the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis.

(B) In 12.2% of 640 limbs studied by Dr. J. C. B. Grant, the sciatic nerve divided before exiting the greater sciatic foramen; the common fibular division (yellow) passed through the piriformis.

(C) In 0.5% of cases, the common fibular division passed superior to the muscles where it is especially vulnerable to injury during intragluteal injections.