Getting the Most out of Your Massage

As we’ve discussed previously here on the Sore No More! Blog, massage can be a great way to help reduce pain.  Be it from an intense work out or a chronic condition, pain can really get in the way of your day-to-day life.   However, have you ever come out of a massage feeling like you didn’t get the most out of it?   Here are five steps that YOU can take to ensure that you get the most out of your massage.

1.  Shower Before You Go.  Not only will your therapist thank you, but a hot shower can relax your muscles, which means the therapist has to spend less time warming up the muscles and can spend more time working on the real issues.

2.  Tell Your Therapist What You Need.  Most massage therapists have a massage routine based on the amount of time that you’ve paid for.  If you need more work on your shoulders, tell the therapist, but keep in mind that they’ll need to cut time somewhere else.  Let your therapist know that you’d be happy to skip the front of your legs, or some other area that is not bothering you in favor of spending more time on your shoulders.   You’ll get more out of your massage and your therapist will feel like s/he is doing their best to help you.  

3.  Be clear on what pressure you want.  A firm Swedish massage is not the same as a Deep Tissue massage.  Let your therapist know if you need deep pressure to relieve tension.  On the other hand, those who suffer from conditions such as Fibromyalgia generally benefit from a lighter touch.   Let your therapist know what you need beforehand and during the massage.   

4.  Visit a Specialized Massage Therapist.  If you have chronic problems, ask your physician if they can recommend a therapist to you. Many massage therapists work with chiropractors, physical therapists, or even in conjunction with regular physicians.  They may be able to provide a massage more suited to your needs than your local day spa.

5.  Take your Sore No More with you.  Asking your therapist to apply Sore No More! at the end of the massage or even to use it during massaging can allow you to gain the benefits of a great massage and a great topical pain relieving gel!

Being mindful of what you want to get out of a massage can allow you to get the most for your money and will leave you feeling much more satisfied with the end result. 


*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

October News from Sore No More! via #constantcontact

Check out our October customer e-Newsletter here!

October News from Sore No More! via #constantcontact

*If you think this is about you, it probably is, but do you really want to bring it up? Because it's going to be super embarrassing when you cause a ruckus about it and I'm like 'Well if you're going to be that way...but that post was really about Sven... god you're narcissistic.' Yeah, you don't want to be THAT person... *

Ouch! Don't Put it There! - Sore No More! Cautions

Sore No More! has some excellent ingredients to help fight muscle pain.  Ingredients such as Capsacin, Menthol and Camphor.  While all of these are wonderful for their intended use, they can be uncomfortable or even down right unpleasant when used without caution.   The following are some handy hints to keep in mind when using Sore No More!

-There are places that Sore No More should not be applied.   The eyes, mouth and genitals to name a few.  

-Always test Sore No More before you apply it liberally.  While Sore No More! can help relieve arthritis pain or calm those post-work out calves, it can also be irritating for some.  Test on a small area first, just to be safe.  

-Sore No More can increase temperature sensitivity.  The active ingredients in Sore No More can respond to temperature changes.  Do not apply Sore No More before using a heating pad or taking a hot shower.  Likewise, icing or going out in the cold after having just applied Sore No More can result in a cold, tingling sensation.

-Sore No More is not edible!  Despite the fact that we use natural, plant-based ingredients, please do not consume Sore No More! We suspect that it would not do pleasant things for your digestive system.

-Wash Your Hands!   Always remember to wash your hands after applying Sore No More!  It only takes one innocent eye rub to send you running for the sink to rinse with cold water for the next five minutes.

We encourage our clients to use Sore No More to its fullest capacity.   Apply it to areas of chronic pain, or to sooth the pain of new aches.   We’ve even had positive reports from clients about using it on their pets for arthritis pain!  However, always use cautiously to avoid any unpleasant reactions!  

Keep in mind that our client and distributor newsletters are coming out on Monday.  If you’re interesting in being added to our contact list, please email karen@sorenomore.com

Thank you, and have a wonderful day! 


*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

The Mind-Body Connection and Managing Pain

There are natural remedies, medications, and exercises that can help you manage your pain.  In fact, we’ve discussed a lot of pain management options here on the Sore No More blog.  One that we have not explored however is the mind-body connection and how meditation or guided imagery can help you with your pain.

Many people veer away from the use of mental techniques to diminish physical pain. They feel that the implication is that they’re creating their own pain, or that it’s ‘all in their head.’  This is not the case.  The truth is that mental stress can cause physical responses, which in turn can cause pain or irritate problems that already exist.

These days we live in a high-stress, fast paced world.  Stress activates your sympathetic nervous system or your ‘fight or flight’ system.   This is great if you’re defending your home from an intruder, or avoiding rear-ending the car in front of you.  The following are some physiological changes that occur when you are in a sympathetic state:

• Your heart speeds up
• Blood flow to your brain and muscles increases up to 400 percent
• Your digestion stops (so it doesn't use up energy that's needed elsewhere)
• Your muscle tension increases
• You breathe faster, to bring more oxygen to your muscles (via)

As you can imagine, your body is not made to uphold these kinds of reactions for extended periods.  So, how can managing this response help you to manage your pain?

Let’s say, for example, that you have a herniated disk in your spine.  You travel through heavy traffic every day to get to work.  By the time you arrive, your back is aching.  You assume it’s from sitting in the car for the past hour, but what if it’s because your muscles tightened in response to events on the stressful drive to work. Thus creating more pressure in your spine and subsequently on that disc?   If you could mentally relax your muscles, you might be able to decrease the pain you experience through the rest of the work day.

This example involves stress in response to a particular situation.  However, many people who live in chronic pain live in a constant state of stress thanks to their pain.  If you can put yourself in a calm place, mentally, then you might just be pleasantly surprised by a how your pain is affected.

Please view the following links to learn more about meditation and guided imagery to manage your pain.


Sources and Further Information:
Meditation a Hit for Pain Management  << This will guide you through the ‘body scan’ process of meditation.

Meditation Techniques and Pain Management

Guided Imagery and Pain Relief

Integrative Pain Medicine << Provides an example of guided imagery

In Chronic Pain? You Might Need Psychotherapy

Also, a Youtube search of ‘Mind-Body Connection,’  ‘Guided Imagry,’ or ‘Meditation’’ will yield many more options.

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

August News from Sore No More! via @constantcontact

Check out our August Customer Newsletter!

August News from Sore No More! via @constantcontact

*If you think this is about you, it probably is, but do you really want to bring it up? Because it's going to be embarrassing and make you look just a little silly if you're wrong... I'm just saying... *

Ingredient Investigation :: Green Tea Extract

“Biological additive used as an anti-irritant. Rich in vitamin 'C' and fluoride, acting as a mild antibacterial agent.”  -Sore No More! Website

Green tea is highly versatile. It’s used in beverages, for it’s internal health benefits and in cosmetics, amongst other things. Since we’re exploring it as an ingredient in Sore No More! we’re going to go ahead and explore its cosmetic usefulness today.

Most of us have heard that green tea (and thus the extract)  is a powerful antioxidant when consumed. Did you know that those same polyphenols have been shown to be absorbed through the skin? Using cosmetic lotions, gels, oils, etc containing green tea extract allows you to get a few more antioxidants into your body to neutralize those free radicals!

Green tea extract is also thought to have conditioning qualities that encourage continued firmness and elasticity in the skin while keeping it toned and healthy.

As mentioned in the Sore No More! ingredient description; there are multiple compounds found in green tea extract (including tannins and polyphenols) that have astringent qualities and provide a barrier between the skin and harmful bacteria from the outside world.

For us, green tea extract is just another one of those ingredients that we like to think makes Sore No More! just a little unique! 

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Keeping the Toolbox Full: Resources to Help You Manage Pain

One of the best things you can do to keep your body healthy (and subsequently pain free!) is to stay informed. The following are some links that may help you manage your pain and/or live a healthier lifestyle. Remember- take everything with a grain of salt and find things that work for you. Just because it works for someone else doesn't mean it's the right thing for you, but it might still be worth trying.

JointHealing.com

Learn about Joint Health and products that may help sooth your aches and pains.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil is well renowned in the field of integrative medicine and his website can give you insight into managing pain and living a healthy lifestyle.

Web MD -Pain Management Health Center

Web MD offers a variety of articles on managing various types of pain, many of which come in an easy-to-understand slide-show format.

Ehealth Pain Management Forum

MedHelp Pain Management Forum

Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Sometimes you just need an understanding ear (or computer screen) to bounce ideas off of. Find people with similar ailments on one of these forums and swap ideas, commiserate, or offer encouragement.

Eat Right for Your Type

We’ve discussed before on the Sore No More! blog that what you eat can affect your pain level. Check out this website to find out how your blood type can make all the difference in how your body digests foods.

National Fibromyalgia Association

This website can teach you everything you need (or want) to know about Fibromyalgia.

ProHealth: Arthritis

Learn about Arthritis and how to manage it. Also, keep up on the latest research about Arthritis.

We leave you with these links to add to your toolbox for now, but keep checking back, here at our blog and on our facebook page for more great tools to keep you living a healthy, happy, pain-free life!

*Please Note: Sore No More! is not affiliated with any of the above websites, they are simply provided as educational tools for our fans and customers. *



*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com