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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Massage Therapy Self Care
• Maintaining Healthy Skin
• Answers to Your Massage Questions: Highlights From This Month's "Ask a Massage Therapist" Online Forum

The Atlanta School of Massage Therapy is promoting the idea of massage self-care during periods between massage sessions. The school advocates these self-help sessions as a great way to ease muscle pain and tension between profession massage sessions.

There are many self-care tools available from your local massage therapist, as well as the Internet. There are a variety of tools available to target most symptoms. Products include body support pillows, hot and cold presses, orthopedic back supports, pain relieving lotions and gels, and other hand-held massage tools that can be used to relieve muscle pain and tension.

More and more people are looking to take their massage therapy experiences home with them. Investing in at-home, self-care tools can be a great way to extend the benefits of your regular massage therapy treatments.

Most of us are expose our skin - especially our hands - to many types of harsh chemicals throughout our day. This includes shampoos, makeup, laundry detergent, soap and other household cleaners. So, how can you protect your skin from the damage these substances cause?

One way to protect yourself is by regularly applying a protective lotion, whether as a sunscreen or to simply hydrate dry and itchy skin. A company called 21st Century Formulations has developed Skin MD Natural, a shielding lotion that bonds with the outer layer of the skin to protect it from chemicals, environmental toxins and irritants to hold in natural moisture and prevent the effects of aging.

"The artificial moisturizers in conventional creams and lotions can send a signal to the moisture parts of your skin that enough moisture is present," said Dr. Brian Zogg, a board-certified dermatologist. "Your skin then makes less of the natural moisture needed for an effective dry skin treatment. A shielding lotion protects your skin against chemicals and uses your natural oils and moisture to heal the damage"

For more information about shielding lotions, visit www.skinmdnatural.com.

Question: I'll start by saying that I've been diagnosed with Fribromyalgia over 2 years ago. Since my pain responds well to most massage techniques I go as often as possible and I go to a massage school because it is much cheaper. Keep in mind that some of the therapists are not very educated on proper techniques to use for pain. I have 2 questions:

1. I recently was diagnosed with "acute" and "severe" tendonitis of my shoulders. Can you suggest a stroke technique I should tell the student therapists to use for that?
2. Normally, most of my pain is in my hips, glutes and peraformis (sp?). Some also in my elbows and knees. For the most part I'm exteremely flexible, especially in the hip area. Any ideas for additional pain relief?

Answer: In treating shoulder tendonitis, I have found that deep transverse friction followed by compressive effluerage, stretching and passive ROM seems to help my clients who have had this problem. Only use this technique for a short time as it can be quite uncomfortable. Focus should be on the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. For your therapist to have better access to the supraspinatus, you can laterally rotate your arm and rest on your elbow while lying prone. In the other case, you may want to go to a therapist who is more experienced in working with fibromyalgia. Myofascial release, lymphatic drainage and stretching techniques are helpful.

Rajam Roose

Note: Information provided in this Q&A section is drawn from the "Ask a Massage Therapist" online forum, in which massage therapists field questions relative to the massage profession. Readers are encouraged to post their questions at www.massagetoday.com/ask/. Answers should not be misconstrued as a diagnosis, prognosis or treatment recommendation and do not in any way constitute the practice of massage therapy or any other health care profession. Readers should consult their own health care providers for medical advice.

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