Massage Services
A Concorde massage therapy student, is available to give massages to UTHSC students, UTHSC staff and Baptist students at no charge if the recipient is willing to complete an on-line evaluation survey after the massage.
***Beginning Wednesday, December 9, 2009, Nakeedia Fullwiley, massage therapy student, is available to give massages.
***Contact Nakeedia directly for an appointment by e-mailing her at nakeediafullwiley@gmail.com
Be sure to leave your name, phone number, the best time to contact you, and the type of massage appointment you are requesting. If you do not get scheduled, your name and number will be placed on a waiting list and you may get called if there is a cancellation. PLEASE DO NOT CALL UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES.
This service is very popular and not everyone who calls can be scheduled. Please be patient with the student when you are attempting to get an appointment.
Chair massages - 15 minute relaxation
Table massages for 30 or 60 minutes
LOCATION: University Health Services
910 Madison Avenue, Suite 922
By appointment only
As you set new health goals for the year, remember just how much you get from regular massage. A short list of massage benefits includes:
- Stress reduction
- Improved circulation
- Enhanced digestion
- Improved range of motion
- Relaxation of tense muscles
- Enhanced detoxification
Massage helps your body function optimally. For instance, if you experience stressful situations, you tend to hold that stress in tensed muscles. Massage works to relax the tension so your body's functions can return to normal. Overall, massage does so much to help your body function at its best... and it may be the most enjoyable way to improve your health. Be sure to make regular massage sessions a big part of your health plan this year!
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A new season... and a new reason to get your next massage! Much of the news on health lately has been focused on the spread of the latest strain of the swine flu. This issue covers how you can boost your immune system and improve your odds of avoiding illness. Other steps you can take to stay healthy include providing yourself with a nutritious diet, drinking plenty of pure water to help flush toxins from your system, and getting an adequate amount of rest. A recent study indicated that getting at least seven hours of sleep each night reduces the likelihood of getting sick. (And studies show massage can help you to get better sleep.) Some nutritionists recommend supporting your immune system by increasing your intake of probiotics (the good microorganisms that live in your intestinal tract), such as acidophilus. According to information found online at nih.gov, “Friendly bacteria are vital to proper development of the immune system, to protection against microorganisms that could cause disease, and to the digestion and absorption of food and nutrients.” Read the rest of this issue to see the many ways massage can support your immune system and keep you healthy!
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How Does Massage Help Your Mobility?
When you think about massage benefits, you probably picture relaxing tense muscles and relieving stress. Another great benefit is improving the mobility in your joints and your range of motion. Your ability to move easily and to perform virtually any task depends on the mobility of your joints. When you decide to take a drink, nerve impulses instruct your muscles to contract, enabling you to grasp a glass and move it toward your mouth. The function of the joints in this example is to regulate the range of motion of your fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck to successfully complete the required task. If any of your joints are stiff or in a locked position—or in some cases too loose—it becomes more difficult or impossible to complete the sequence of motions.
What can interfere with joint function?
Lack of use can lead to a joint locking up. If the proper spacing between two joint surfaces is not maintained, function is altered. The ligaments—bands of strong, flexible, white tissue that connect and support the joints—must be firm enough, pliable and properly supportive or the joint performance will suffer. A muscle contraction can pull the joint out of alignment. If a muscle gets a partial signal from a nerve, it may tense rather than completely contracting. This tension can prevent the joint from proper function. As you can see from the above example, many factors can contribute to limited range of motion, joint pain, stiffness, etc. Fortunately, your regular massages can help your joints to perform at a more optimum level.
For instance, each massage can help to increase the circulation to the joint area so each joint will receive the raw materials and nourishment it requires. This increased circulation can help to remove any cellular waste as well. Your joints are affected by the ligaments, muscles, and tendons that surround them. So when your muscle function is improved, it can positively affect the neighboring joints. The proper attention to a joint area can help to improve the range of motion, reduce painful conditions, and restore its performance.
Proper exercise can help as well. Joint movement encourages lubrication of the joint. The ligaments, tendons and joint capsule are warmed from the movement, which helps to keep these tissues pliable. It’s important to avoid undue stress to your joints. Besides inviting injury, trying to do too much, too soon when working with a stressed, weakened or injured joint can prevent recovery. Be sure to stay within each joint’s limitations when exercising, stretching, or in normal activity. It’s better to go slowly than to risk injury. Your regular massages help to return proper balance to your body’s many systems—your muscles, joints, tendons, etc. The conditions that tend to cause a muscle to remain too tense or a joint to be stiff and limited in its motions can be normalized in many cases. Each day brings new challenges to your body’s functions—many which manifest as tensions, aches, pains, and limited ranges of motion. Making sure you get regular bodywork sessions can help your body to overcome many of these challenges and maintain a happier balance, as well as helping to head off some potential problems before they adversely affect you. So contribute to that freedom of movement by keeping a regular massage schedule! Make your future a healthier one. Reference: Mosby's Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage
Massage for Chronic Neck Pain
Massage treatments significantly reduce chronic neck pain, according to researchers at the University of Washington. Sixty-four patients were split between two groups. One received a self-care book; the second received up to 10 massages over 10 weeks. Those receiving massage reported a 39 percent improvement on the neck disability index; 55 percent said their neck pain became less bothersome overall. The results, published in The Clinical Journal of Pain, were particularly strong at the four-week mark and suggest massage has promise as a short-term treatment. Source: Massage & Bodywork July/Aug ‘09
Quick Links
Contact UHS
910 Madison Ave. Suite 922
Memphis, Tennessee 38163
Phone: 901-448-5630
Fax: 901-448-7255
