Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter

Wholistic lifestyle consultant Winsome Belnavis of New Lifestyle Wholestic Health Clinic on Phoenix Avenue, demonstrates the first steps of correct massage procedure. - Junior Dowie / Staff Photographer

In today's highly-stressed world, the easiest fix is a massage. But with the proliferation of so many massage parlours the danger of being hurt from a massage by someone who is not properly trained increases.

Wholistic lifestyle consultant Winsome Belnavis, of New Lifestyle Wholestic Health Clinic on Phoenix Avenue in St. Andrew, highlights some of the benefits and the dangers of body massages. Massages usually start on the feet as this facilitates general relaxation of the body.

Manipulation of neck and shoulders. First balance shoulders and apply pressure; stand firmly into a squat hands over shoulder and push down tension. Shoulders are a prime area for stress. This movement opens up the shoulders and body.

Manipulating the neck through a range of motions moving limb through all the stages of movement it can do.

Hold head at angle; mould hand over shoulder and stretch head towards abdomen. Relax muscles as they will go into spasm. If done incorrectly, it can cause spinal injury and accute chronic pain damage to nerve.

BACK UPPER BODY

Never work on actual bony spine, work outside of bony sphere. Work the spine only if you're specifically trained. This area when properly massaged, relieves pressure and stimulates flow of blood and nerve ends to specific organs served by each of the 31 pairs of nerves outside of the spine.

This should be done with gentle strokes. Deep stroking risks the muscles going into spasm and causing pain after.

BENEFITS

Massage therapy has many health benefits. In addition to relieving muscular pain, tension, stress and creating relaxation and a sense of general well-being, massage has numerous other health benefits as explained by Belnavis:

Lowers blood pressure

Improves the circulation. helps to regulate the blood sugar which is beneficial to diabetics and persons with circulation problems.

Strengthens the immune system helps the body to fight, protect and heal itself.

Strengthens and tones muscles.

Makes the body stronger, more flexible and agile.

However, massage, if incorrectly done can cause harm. Consequently there is an international list of situations in which caution should be practised or where massage should not be done.

Dangers

Improper application of a range of motion movements.

Flexing and extending of the limbs incorrectly can cause dislocation of joints and damage to nerves. Care must be taken not to force a limb beyond its point of resistance.

Massage should not be done with elderly persons, persons who have had injuries or surgery. These persons usually have a restricted range of motion.

After Pains

After a massage some persons may experience slight pain after a massage. This is due to relaxation of muscles which had been contracted, compressing blood vessels and nerves, causing increased circulation of blood through the muscles. This causes tenderness and increased sensitivity.

The pains disappear in 24-48 hours. The pains may be minimised by using aromatherapy during the massage and advising the person to take warm showers or baths and rub with a pain-relieving solution.