Scared to the bone

Spooky season is upon us and costumes including ghosts, witches and skeletons are coming out of the cobwebs.

The number of skeletons about is keeping our minds on your bone care. Bone troubles shouldn’t be a worry this Halloween with the help of Bowen therapy. Be it broken or fractured bones or aches and pains, Bowen could be the solution.

 

Bowen therapy is the gentle rolling movements, which sets the scene for the body to heal itself. It is a drug free, non-invasive treatment ‘asking’ the body to change rather than forcing.

One Bowen client suffered with 3 broken metatarsals resulting in immobilised foot for 3 months. They said: “My first visit resulted in the limp completely gone and after 3 visits the swelling has virtually disappeared and the added bonus is that my posture has gratefully improved.”

Don’t keep bone problems in your closet along with the ghosts and ghouls.

 

 

For more information on Bowen therapy call 0844 561 7173, or send an email to ask@BowenTherapy.org.uk. We can’t keep the stress away unless you get in touch, so find your nearest Bowen practitioner here.

 

 

Happy Halloween!

Strong bones make strong women

 

 

How well do you take care of your bone health? Osteoporosis is the condition that makes the bones weak and fragile and more likely to break or fracture. Some of the factors that cause this are ones that cannot be changed. However, promoting a positive lifestyle and treating breakages with care can help to make experience of Osteoporosis better. This is where Bowen comes in to play.

20^th October sees the launch of the yearly campaign by the IOF (International Osteoporosis Foundation) to promote awareness of all aspects of Osteoporosis. Pair the pain of Osteoporosis with Bowen therapy to support the campaigns strap line of ‘strong bones make strong women’.

Advice given to sufferers of Osteoporosis is to avoid negative lifestyle habits. Bowen therapy is the small rolling movements with fingers and thumbs to help you to relieve stress. Bowen is a relaxing treatment, rather than forcing the body to change Bowen ‘asks’ the body to recognise and make the changes it requires.

Bowen is also useful for dealing with breakages and fractures. A patient who was suffering with problems due to breaking her neck said that “my neck muscles returned to normal and my rotations steadily improved with each session” and that she was “so impressed with Bowen”.

What better timing to consider Bowen therapy than the celebration of Osteoporosis World day. Bowen therapists are located all across the UK, for more information and to find your nearest therapist click here. For even more information call 0844 561 7173, or send an email to ask@BowenTherapy.org.uk.

Massages as good as pain-killers

A new study has found that massage is not just good for soothing and relaxing your muscles, but can mimic the affects of pain relieving drugs.

The findings, published in the Journal Science Translational Medicine, found that massages promote the growth of new mitochondria and dampen the effect of molecules in the immune system that contribute to inflammation.

Therefore the massage can work in the same way as anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

'The potential benefits of massage could be useful to a broad spectrum of individuals, including those suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and patients with chronic inflammatory disease,' says lead researcher Dr Mark Tarnopolsky from McMaster University in Canada.

'This study provides evidence that manipulative therapies such as massage may be justifiable in medical practice.' 

The Bowen technique is a drug-free, non-invasive, hands-on remedial therapy where the therapist makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.  

Bowen therapy is a compliment to other treatments

For many who suffer with muscular pain, knowing which treatment will be most effective is often confusing with so many different types to choose from. Each therapist will tell you that their treatment is the most effective and it's difficult to always know what to expect.

Here is a quick guide to the most popular treatments so that you can make an informed decision for your health.

Bowen Technique

The Bowen Technique helps the body remember how to heal itself. The Bowen moves send neurological impulses to the brain resulting in immediate responses of muscle relaxation and pain reduction. Electrical impulses sent to the nervous system remind the body to regain normal movement in joints, muscles and tendons. This helps relieve muscle spasms and increase blood and lymph flow.  

The therapist uses thumbs and fingers to make rolling type moves on different muscles on the body. There are times when the therapist actually leaves the room so the body has time to make its own adjustments, which help relieve tension and reduce pain. You should see results within 2-3 treatments.

The Bowen technique acts as a compliment to all other methods for easing muscular pain as well as a stand-alone treatment in itself.

Bowen Therapy taking place

Sports Massage

This deep-tissue treatment works on the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the body using manipulation, stretching, compressions and friction techniques to remove nodules and tension from the muscle. The treatment can feel quite intense, but the therapist should work to a level that you find comfortable.  You can see results from one treatment depending on the severity of the issue.

Alexandra Technique

This technique corrects established defects of posture, particularly those related to the back when lying, sitting, standing, or walking. According to its deviser, the Australian therapist F.M. Alexander, the technique promotes relaxation and can help eliminate aches, pains, and other disorders associated with muscle tension and poor posture.

You will be taught how to recognise when your body is in a position that is un-natural and may cause postural problems, with verbal instruction and manual guidance the teacher will encourage you to release inappropriate tension during everyday activities.

Oesteopathy

Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body and treats the body as a whole holistic system that needs everything functioning smoothly together. Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.

A bit of info on Bowen....

 

BTPA is the largest UK professional association for qualified Bowen Therapists. Members of this association are qualified in Anatomy & Physiology and First Aid. They are also fully insured, abide by a strict code of conduct and ethics and are committed to a programme of continuing professional development.

Bowen technique prides itself on being able to trigger the body's own healing systems. Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise and make the changes it requires. With primarily fingers and thumbs, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual. No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used. Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

Bowen is generally pleasant to receive, each session lasting 30 – 60 minutes, depending on the age of the client and the nature of their condition.  Many clients become so relaxed they fall asleep during the treatment.

Short-term (acute) injury may be resolved in one to three Bowen treatments, while long-standing (chronic) conditions may require longer. A gap of five to ten days is recommended between Bowen sessions; so that the body can process the subtle information it has been given. Bowen Therapy may help with a host of health issues such as:  back pain, frozen shoulders, sports injuries, whiplash, migraine, hay fever, asthma, IBS, fertility matters to name but a few.

For further information on Bowen Therapy, registered BTPA members in your area, how to become a BTPA member and/or testimonials visit www.bowen-therapy.co or call 0844 561 7173.