Lymphatic Drainage To Keep You Moving!

Did you know a stagnant lymphatic system can cause all kinds of problems? Lymphatic drainage massage is a unique modality that offers unique and powerful results! By re-energizing sluggish lymphatic circulation, you're body can naturally detox easier and function better! If you aren't recovering from your workouts as fast as you would like, or you feel like your immune system needs a boost, manual lymphatic drainage work is something you should try! It's gentle massage work that works with the body to accelerate lymphatic flow.
I have used lymphatic drainage to help treat my sinus head aches lately, and it works amazingly without having to take any drugs! You're body works hard for you! Take care of it! Have a wonderful and healthy day folks!

Breathing is Kinda Important....

This next anatomy post is going to be a little different. It may be one of the most important structures for everyday life, as well as moving, feeling, and functioning to the best of your ability.
I'm going to discuss the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is a dome shaped sheet of muscle that is positioned at the base of the thorax and right above the abdomen. You can find it by placing your fingers right around your lower ribs. The diaphragm is a breathing muscle. During normal breathing, the diaphragm contracts downward creating a vacuum in the thoracic cavity so the lungs will inflate and when it relaxes, you breathe out and air flows out of the lungs, similar to when a balloon deflates. 
 

The Diaphragm, like any other muscle can become tight, overworked and dysfunctional. When that happens it can be felt in a variety of ways often throughout the entire body. We do a lot of breathing everyday, so if we are breathing into our chest, instead of our belly, dysfunction can occur. Stress is also a huge cause of problems with breathing. If you think you're having issues with your diaphragm, get assessed! It's amazing when your body can do when it's functioning properly!

Breathing is imperative to healthy movement! I encourage you to notice how you breath today, is it shallow and into your chest? Do your shoulders move when you take a deep breath? Slow down and let your diaphragm do it's very important job!
Have a healthy Sunday friends!

Taking the Blame For Low Back Pain Everyday!

I'm going to finish up my series of commonly abused muscles today with this big one. As a massage therapist i get people on a daily basis who come and see me looking for relief from their low back pain. They want me to punish their low back because it hurts, and maybe if i'm mean enough and use enough pressure the pain wont come back, i'm here to say that almost never works! Especially long term!

So, today i'm going to talk about a big player in low back pain, it's called the Quadratus lumborum or affectionately, the QL.

The QL is a muscle of the low back that is located on either side of your spine. It's the muscle between your lowest rib and your hip bones or illiac crest and It attaches to lumbar vertebrae 1-4 in between.
The QL is a very important muscle in creating stability for your lower spine. It helps extend the spine as well as assists in lateral flexion or bending to the side. When the ribcage is fixed the QL also hikes the hip.

The QL gets blamed and abused all the time. Sometimes it is the problem, but not without a reason. A common problem i see is when the erector spinae muscles aren't working correctly. The erector spinae muscles are largely spine stabilizers, if they aren't pulling their share of the weight, the QL has to start working overtime to keep you upright.

Another very common problem is when the glutes decide to take a nap. With no stability in the hips, the QL will be forced to do the job that the much bigger and stronger glute muscles should be doing!

I love the QL muscles, especially when they are working correctly. Sometimes abusing these muscles isn't the answer for helping your body move the best way it can. Get assessed and find out whats going on before poking and stretching. :)