Is Winter Gone Yet?March/April 2015

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Helping Veterans and Wounded Warriors

Reiki's noninvasive nature makes it an effective choice for treating PTSD.

No matter howlong thewinter, springis sure tofollow.-Proverb

Office Hours and Contact

Interior Sports & Leisure MassageVickie Acree907-590-1160isandlm@outlook.comTuesday-Saturday By Appointment

In this Issue

Helping Veterans and Wounded WarriorsManaging ArthritisSecrets of Sleep

This nation's military veterans andwounded warriors continue to fight,long after they come off the battlefields.They fight to be whole again and toreclaim their physical and psychologicalhealth. Many forms of massage andbodywork can help them do just that.

Therapeutic MassageWith its ability to meld body and mind,massage is an excellent way for veteransto reintegrate. Not only can this kind oftherapeutic touch address the physicalwounds, it can help bring a sense ofnormalcy back into daily life."Gratifying physical experiences, such asmassages ... may be experiences thatpatients build up that are notcontaminated by trauma, and which may

serve as a core of new gratifyingexperiences," writes Bessel van der Kolk,author ofTraumatic Stress.

Research on massage and veterans,funded by the National Institutes ofHealth, has shown considerable promisefor this hands-on therapy. An initial2014 study found that veterans reported

significant reductions in physical pain,physical tension, irritability,anxiety/worry, and depression aftermassage. As a result, researchers arehoping to show in Phase 2 of their studythat massage could diminish ourveterans' needs for opiods for painmanagement, a significant concern forthe US Department of Defense and theveterans themselves.

Many of our military personnelreturning from battle zones come homeless than whole. In cases of amputation,massage can help control edema, dealwith neuromas, improve skin health,and loosen scar tissue. For more on thistopic, read "David's Heroes" in theNovember/December 2014 issue of

Massage Bodyworkmagazine. Find it online atwww.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/398416.

When visiting a massage therapist for thefirst time, expect a comprehensive intakeprocess to facilitate your session. If you

The fight is not over for many wounded warriors after they come home.

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are a veteran or wounded warrior, yourtherapist will want to discuss the extentof your injuries with you, the medicalprocedures you've undergone, and anyongoing health issues, as well asmedications you're currently taking. Allof these questions help inform thetherapist how to work most effectivelyand safely with you, so be honest andforthcoming in your responses. As withany massage, be sure to let your therapistknow if anything makes youuncomfortable during yoursession--whether it's that the roomtemperature is too hot or the massagepressure is too deep. At any time, youcan end the session if the work is toointense or you need a break.

Craniosacral TherapyCraniosacral therapy (CST) has shownconsiderable promise in helpingmilitary veterans and otherposttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)sufferers. The developer of CST, thelate John E. Upledger, DO, OMM,believed this subtle hands-on therapycould make a difference. When heinvited veterans to be part of intensiveCST programs in 1999, he found thattheir depression and anxiety levelsdropped considerably after the therapywas administered, and that feelings ofhopelessness, which had once beenpervasive, quickly dissipated.

Further evidence for CST came in2004-2005, when military personnelreturning from duty in combat regionswere exposed to the therapy atCalifornia's Naval Hospital Lemoore."The results were absolutely profound,"says retired commanding officer SandyDeGroot, who oversaw the program."It's very hard for [those returning fromactive combat zones] to come back fullyand be in the present moment. TheCST work allowed them to releasetrauma held in the body."

ReflexologyAccording to author Paula Stone,reflexology is a highly effective therapyfor PTSD, a condition that affects morethan 5.2 million Americans every year."Acute sustained stress erodes the veryfabric of our being, while acute traumacan tear it. Whether prolonged orsudden, traumatic life experienceswound a person in body, emotions,mind, and soul, and can result inPTSD. Compassionate bodywork,

including reflexology, can help heal thebody and the person."

She says two benefits of using reflexologyfor clients with PTSD are (1) it can beutilized when massage and other touchtherapies cannot and (2) the clientremains clothed. "Reflexology improvesthe client's sense of well-being,improves sleep, reduces anxiety, andoften reduces the need for painmedications, especially following surgeryor cancer treatments." Stone says footreflexology improves the function of allbody systems. "Immediately noticeableare improvements in the flow ofbioelectrical energy, blood, lymph, andnerve impulses. Reflexology also worksenergetically by balancing the body'senergy systems. It works in harmony witha broad spectrum of energy therapies,such as polarity therapy and Asianmedicine."

Finding HelpOther modalities that have offered relieffor members of our nation's militaryinclude breath work, Healing Touch,myofascial release, reiki, TherapeuticTouch, trauma touch therapy, and evenyoga. More are being added to the listevery day.

If you or someone you know is a veteranor wounded warrior, and is suffering,reach out. Contact your local VeteransAffairs offices, visit the WoundedWarrior Project(www.woundedwarriorproject.org) orComfort for America's UniformedServices (CAUSE; www.cause-usa.org),and make an appointment with yourmassage therapist or bodyworker.

For more information on PTSD, visitthe National Center for PTSD, USDepartment of National VeteransAffairs, at www.ptsd.va.gov.

Stretching can slow degenerative arthritis.

Managing ArthritisExercise and Bodywork Keep Joint Pain at Bay

Secrets of SleepJed Heneberry

The word arthritis strikes fear in thehearts of older adults. It often signifiesaging, pain, inactivity, and disability.However, new research shows moderatephysical exercise can actually easearthritis symptoms by decreasing painand increasing a person's likelihood ofliving a normal life.

Understanding ArthritisThe most common form of arthritis--osteoarthritis, or also known asdegenerative arthritis--affects morethan twenty million Americans.Osteoarthritis (literally meaning"bone-joint inflammation") is caused bywear and tear on joint surfaces and mostfrequently involves the hips, knees,lower back, neck, and fingers. Morethan half of people over sixty-five havesome evidence of osteoarthritis onX-rays, although it doesn't alwaysmanifest as symptoms.

Many problems arise from a sedentarylifestyle. Joints lose flexibility andmuscles lose strength, feeding the cycle

of pain, inactivity, and more pain.

Exercise Offers Sweet ReliefVigorous walking, swimming, andbicycling boost the release of powerfulendorphins, the body's naturalpainkillers. When done four to five daysa week, these aerobic activities improvegeneral cardiovascular health and aid inweight management (obesity is the singlebiggest risk factor for osteoarthritis).

Strengthening and stretching exercisestargeted at maintaining joint flexibilityand muscle strength--especially forat-risk joints--slow the progression ofdegenerative arthritis. Yoga classes andmoderate weight lifting programs areexcellent ways to improve strength andflexibility. Bodywork can also providerelief.

If arthritis is slowing you down, getserious with your exercise plan. Consultyour physician; work with a professionaltrainer, physical therapist, yogainstructor, or bodyworker; and start a

gentle, progressive exercise program.Your joints will reward you for it, andyou'll free yourself from arthritic pain.

We've all heard it before: get your eighthours of sleep and watch your lifeimprove. But the reason we've all heardit is because it's true, and research keepsshowing the importance of sleep and itsvariety of health benefits.

The National Sleep Foundation saysthere is no "magic number" of hours foroptimum sleep benefits, but thatdifferent age groups, and even differentindividuals, need different amounts ofsleep. General recommendations are7-8 hours per night for adults, whilechildren often need 10-11 hours.Getting less than what you need has beenlinked to an increased risk of diabetes,heart problems, psychiatric conditions,and more.

Here's a quick look at some new findingsthat reveal the secrets of sleep, and also

how to get more of it.

- Sleep Suppresses Appetite: Just onenight of sleep loss can increase brainactivity in the region that containsappetite sensation in response to foodimages, increasing the long-termpossibility of becoming overweight."Lack of Sleep Makes Your BrainHungry," The Journal of ClinicalEndocrinology Metabolism.

- Naps for Your Noggin: The right sideof the brain, which is generallyassociated with creativity, is active duringso-called power naps, while the leftbrain remains mostly quiet. While it isnot clear what exactly is happeningduring these brief rest periods,researchers suspect the brain isconducting important memory tasks."'Power Naps' May Boost Right-Brain

Activity," Health.com.

- Cherry on Top: Drinking tart cherryjuice increased melatonin in studyparticipants, improving sleep efficiency,quality, and time. "Effect of Tart CherryJuice on Melatonin Levels andEnhanced Sleep Quality," EuropeanJournal of Nutrition.

Here's the thingabout luck...youdon't know if it'sgood or baduntil you havesomeperspective.-Alice Hoffman

A lot of things happening these past few months! We havethe Iditarod Dog Race, the Ice Sculptures, the Iron DogRace, and many other activities going on. Make sure to getout and enjoy them and be careful with all you do!

Best Wishes, Vickie

Interior Sports & Leisure Massage

Regency Court Mall 59 College Road Suite 106-1Fairbanks, AK 99701