"Alternative" to what?

How did massage therapy once championed by a number of influential doctors become considered alternative?

  A group of physicians in the late 19th century advocated for the inclusion of physiotherapeutics, including manual therapy, as a third branch of medicine(alongside surgery and pharmaceutics). Other physicians shunned it as the purview of charlatans.

  In the end, physical modalities did find a less central place in the conventional establishment, becoming a specialty called physical medicine and rehabilitation. The profession of physiotherapy/physical therapy, organized by physicians' assistants, found a place as allied health care. Independent massage practitioners, despite having similar skills to early physiotherapists, remained in tradition of drug-less and natural healing and were left with the status of alternative. these outliers became the nucleus of the emerging massage therapy profession.

'Excerpted from The Emergence of the Massage Therapy Profession in North America'                                                                                                                         

Executive Spa and Massage

Fascia bodywork and massage

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Glutes, why are these ignored in your massage session?

When I ask clients if their last massage therapist worked on their gluteal muscles, I am always surprised to hear some of their answers.

  "I asked, but they said they couldn't."

 "I was too uncomfortable to ask."

" I don't have an issue in that area so I request not to."

  Sadly, these days, a full body massage is not always a "full body." Certain body segments have become part of the "no touch zones" that are intentionally left out of massage and bodywork sessions.

This trend includes the pectorals, abdominals, and most notably the glutes. It's a problem that is increasingly exemplified in some franchise spas that are trying to protect themselves from the lawsuits of a sometimes litigious clientele, and in schools that aren't always prepared to teach their students the importance of gluteal work. 

  I try to inform the client to help them understand the importance of these muscles, what they do for the body, and why they on occasion need to be addressed and worked. With that said, the client is in control; if he/she is still uncomfortable then of course the gluteal region will not be part of the session. Usually it's not so much as being uncomfortable as it is uneducated on the purpose and function of the muscle group. This goes also for the massage therapist, sometimes schools aren't always prepared to teach the importance of gluteal work, the trend seems to be growing, experts are concerned about it's impact on the profession.

 Three muscles make up the Gluteal group, these are:

Gluteus Maximus

Gluteus Medius

Gluteus Minimus

  These are part of the structure that literally holds the legs to the pelvis, these are critical player in your posture, gait, and special movements. The glutes help stabilize the pelvice, spine and creates powerful movements at the hip joint. Not working these muscles is doing a disservice to the client. This muscle group effects the lower back, hip, legs, and knees. If the gluteal region is dis functioned then it causes misalignment and pain in other areas.

On your next appointment with your therapist ask about gluteal work and if it would be beneficial for you.

"Wisdom, is to the Mind, as Health is to the Body."

Bonnie Haldeman, LMT

Executive Spa and Massage

How do you quiet your mind?

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