Ashley Thomas Massage and Bodywork

01/13/2025

It is with a sad heart that I have to announce that on January 11, 2025, my dad, Erik Dalton, died quickly from a heart attack while swimming drills in his pool on his 81st birthday in Costa Rica. I will miss him greatly, but I know he passed away in a place that he loved and made beautiful memories with my mom. Please share your memories of my dad as we celebrate his remarkable life.

As my dad intended, I am stepping into the leadership role at the Freedom from Pain Institute and Dalton Myoskeletal. The Dalton Myoskeletal team and Erik's MAT educators will continue to share Erik's work in the future. I know my dad has touched many of your lives with his work. Please share your memories and thoughts as we celebrate his remarkable life.

Adrienne Kesinger

10/28/2024

09/30/2024

The office will be closed tomorrow Monday 9/30 and until we can figure things out from the hurricane damage- not damage to the office building but to all of the surrounding areas. The gas station in front of the office has been swamped with cars lined up, today you could not drive to our parking area. I have emailed all scheduled clients for tomorrow (Monday) and hope to know more soon about the rest of the week. I hope everyone is safe.

07/10/2024

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PUBLISHES LARGEST STUDY EVER ON MASSAGE THERAPY USE

July 2024

"Many people receive massage therapy and for many reasons. But according to a new study – the largest and most comprehensive ever conducted on the subject – the prevalence of visits to massage therapists is higher than one might have imagined and the reasons may be surprising."

“What our study shows is that it’s probably not helpful any longer to label massage as an ‘alternative’ therapy, with all of the marginality that the term conveys.”

“Licensed massage therapists ought to be respected as mainstream practitioners, whose profession provides a therapeutic approach not just to address pain and functional challenges but to foster wellness and overall well-being, physical and emotional.

Everyone can benefit from working with a skilled massage therapist. They’re the hidden gems in the healthcare system.” - Jeff Levin, Ph.D., M.P.H., University Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health. (Robert Rogers/Baylor University)

Study Link: Journal of Science & Healing
Prevalence & Determinants of Massage Therapy Use in the US
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550830724000958

06/23/2024

Hey everyone! We have someone coming to the office this Thursday 6/27 to do thermal imaging at a discount price! $150 for breast, $250 for half body and $350 for full body. See the link below for more info on thermal imaging. If you’re interested message me here or text me 828-772-6674 to grab a spot!

https://gastonthermalimaging.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3Nt8qqPXaRlQ0cL6GoaIKrNtFSZrZ_2_SdH1K09W2BIMe9JfMu82op3J0_aem_qqIAY_Nxg1kdZ3G60bDRrw

Gaston Thermal Imaging - Serving the Carolinas - Thermography - Medical DITI is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that allows the examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. An infrared scanning device is used to convert infrared radiation emitted from the skin surface i...

04/26/2024

Here we go! 🤣

10/06/2023

Hello everyone! We will be holding a free Bowen Therapy Clinic for people and pets on Oct 14th - drop in from 9am-5pm at A Touch of Balance, 340 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill NC.

Come and experience this simple but highly effective therapy that can help the body realign itself and address many issues such as frozen shoulder, headaches, TMJ, sciatica, nervous system issues, anxiety, injuries, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, gastrointestinal issues, asthma, bedwetting in children and much more!

For animals it can address neurological problems like degenerative mylopathy, degenerative disc disease, injuries, arthritis, lack of energy and vitality, post surgery issues and more.

Bring your dog, cat, goat, chicken, rabbit, duck, or any other animal that is small enough to manage.

For the humans wanting to recieve Bowen please wear loose fitting clothing.

Pamala Martin and I will be hosting this event and we are very excited to introduce this wonderful therapy to our community.

For more information you can call or message:
Ashley 828-772-6674
Pamala 828-712-6069
Hope to see you there!

09/05/2023

Savez-vous que des études montrent que le fascia est plus douloureux que la peau ou les muscles?

Quand l’on touche le fascia, l’on touche directement et sommes en interrelation direct avec le système nerveux autonome.

Le fascia et le système nerveux autonome semblent être intimement liés. La stimulation des mécanorécepteurs entraîne un abaissement du tonus sympathique ainsi qu'un changement de la viscosité des tissus locaux.

Le réseau fascial est l’un de nos organes sensoriels les plus riches.

Comme le fascia est innervé, il peut également être une source importante de douleur. Cela dit, la contribution des fascias aux syndromes douloureux ne peut être sous-estimée.
Le fascia contient à la fois des mécanorécepteurs et des nocicepteurs et a également une fonction proprioceptive.

Mécanorécepteurs:

Les fascias sont densément innervés par des mécanorécepteurs (organes terminaux de Golgi, corpuscules de Pacini, terminaisons de Ruffini, terminaisons nerveuses libres), sensibles à la pression manuelle.

Nocicepteurs:

Les fascias contiennent de nombreux nocicepteurs, principalement des nocicepteurs de fibres A et C, ce qui peut expliquer les descriptions de la douleur du fascia comme «bouillante, piquante, brûlantes et tranchantes».

Ceci peut amener le thérapeute à penser que la douleur perçue par le patient est due à une douleur neuropathique mais en réalité, la douleur vient des fascias. Une myriade de minuscules terminaisons nerveuses libres non myélinisées se trouvent presque partout dans les tissus fasciaux, mais particulièrement dans le périoste, dans les couches endomysiales et périmysiales et dans les tissus conjonctifs viscéraux.

Propriocepteurs:

Le fascia profond semble également avoir une fonction proprioceptive et peut donc affecter le contrôle moteur. L’hypothèse est que les expansions myofasciales pourraient garantir la coordination motrice entre les différents segments du corps, apportant un support anatomique aux chaînes myocinétiques.

Fibres sympathiques:

Le fascia et le système nerveux autonome semblent être intimement liés. La stimulation des mécanorécepteurs entraîne un abaissement du tonus sympathique ainsi qu’un changement de la viscosité des tissus locaux.

Des études sur l’anatomie du fascia thoraco-lombaire révèlent une relation étroite entre le système nerveux sympathique et la physiopathologie des troubles fasciaux. Quarante pour cent de l’innervation du fascia thoraco-lombaire sont constitués de fibres sympathiques, connues pour avoir un effet vasoconstricteur sur les vaisseaux sanguins, ce qui peut ensuite conduire à une ischémie du fascia. Cela peut aider à expliquer le phénomène d’augmentation de l’intensité de la douleur avec le stress psychologique, ce qui augmente l’activation du système nerveux sympathique.

Sources:
(Schidler et al, Pain 2014, Pain Rep 2018)

(Mense 2007; Tesarz et al. 2011).

(Gibson 2009; Deising et al. 2012).

(Stecco C. 2015a)

(Willard et al, 2012).

04/18/2023

This article is a transcribed edited summary of a video Bob and Brad recorded in October of 2022. For the original video go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gh7KN6N7lg&t=104s Brad: Most shoulder problems are caused by or worsened by how the shoulder blade is on the rib cage itself. Oftentimes it'...

12/02/2022

Massage gift certificates make an awesome gift! Available online or at the office in Mars Hill!

11/06/2022

It was such a beautiful day of massage for a yoga retreat! At the always gorgeous historic Ellerson House in Hot Springs, NC. 💖

08/06/2022

🤣