​You probably don't think about your shoulders much, until you suddenly experience pain in one of them. Shoulder pain can make a simple act — brushing and drying your hair, reaching behind your back to fasten a bra, or grabbing something overhead — seem like a monumental task.

The most common cause of shoulder pain occurs when rotator cuff tendons become trapped under the bony area in the shoulder. The tendons become inflamed or damaged. This condition is called rotator cuff tendinitis or bursitis.
Sometimes shoulder pain is the result of injury to another location in your body, usually the neck or biceps. This is known as referred pain. Referred pain generally doesn’t get worse when you move your shoulder.
Shoulder pain may also be caused by arthritis, torn cartilage, torn rotator cuff, swollen bursa sacs or tendons, bone spurs (bony projections that develop along the edges of bones), pinched nerve in the neck or shoulder, broken shoulder or arm bone, frozen shoulder
dislocated shoulder, injury due to overuse or repetitive use, spinal cord injury and heart attack.
Massage therapy can very often be beneficial for shoulder pain, if not directly, then by releasing muscle restrictions in the surrounding tissue which allows for free range of motion in the joint. By lengthening muscle fibers, releasing trigger points and stretching tendons with range of motion stretches, we can improve function in the shoulder joint and help to reduce pain for our clients.

​We all know that water is a necessity for life, but are you getting enough water? Drinking less water than your body needs can lead to dehydration. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
Things that can happen to your body if you are dehydrated.
* Not peeing or having very dark yellow pee
* Headache
* Very dry skin
* Muscle tightness and soreness
* Joint pain
* Feeling dizzy
* Sleepiness, lack of energy, confusion or irritability
 
How much should you drink every day? - A healthy adult men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluid a day and healthy adult women should have about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) daily.
Here are a few simple tips that can make it easy to stay hydrated throughout the day:
* Start each day by drinking a tall glass of water when you get up in the morning.
* Keep a water bottle at your desk to sip throughout the day.
* Always drink a full glass of water before lunch and dinner.
* Keep a reusable water bottle with you when leaving the house.
* Substitute other drinks for water instead. If you don’t like the taste of water, try adding a bit of flavor with a squeeze of lemon. Or, you can buy low-calorie water enhancers to mix into your drink.
 
Why you should drink water before and after your massage sessions?
Unhealthy muscle tissue is tight and tough which doesn't allow for good blood flow and lymphatic drainage through it and does not have easy movement. Your massage therapist is trained to find these areas of tight “unhealthy” muscle and they know exactly how to work into it to get the blood flowing again. As that happens your blood will again start delivering oxygen and fluids to the muscle tissue. Any amount of water that is transferred to the muscle is removed from your blood stream effectively causing the percentage of water in your blood stream to decrease. This is same as dehydration.

​What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body.
 
What causes sciatica? -
Sciatica pain is caused by an irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression of a nerve in the lower back. The most common cause is a herniated or slipped disk that causes pressure on the nerve root.
 
Symptoms -
If you have “sciatica," you experience mild to severe pain anywhere along the path of the sciatic nerve – that is, anywhere from the lower back, through the hips, buttocks and/or down your legs. Some people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot. You might have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another part.
 
Treatment –
Sciatica usually can be treated successfully by a brief period of resting and limiting activity. Avoid prolonged bedrest that can actually make sciatica worse. Start gentle exercises to improve mobility and strengthen the back as soon as you can. If you are not making any progress, notify your doctor. Physical therapy including remedial massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, and yoga can be helpful.
In severe cases, an injection of a long-acting anesthetic with a corticosteroid medication may provide relief.
 
When to call a health service provider -
Contact your massage therapist if sciatica pain grows worse over a few days, or if it begins to interfere significantly with your daily activities.

​Massage therapy can provide substantial healing and pain relief for many lower back problems. Specifically, for pain caused by a back strain, when the correct muscle is targeted, the pain can be controlled at its source—for quicker and lasting relief.

If you are one of the many people who suffers from lower back pain, the following are ways that regular massage for back pain can help you find serious relief.
1. Increased blood flow - Increased blood flow is a known proponent of muscle recovery.
2. Decreased tension - While muscle tension is needed by the body to maintain body posture and general movements, too much tension causes pain and muscle restriction, especially in the lower back and neck.
3. Increased endorphins - Endorphins are the feel good chemicals in the brain. Massage tactics including acupressure and trigger point therapy generate these endorphins, which are known to reduce pain and produce a sense of euphoria.

​Do you have excellent posture? If you sit in front of a computer all day, commute long distances, or spend lots of time texting or watching TV, you probably don’t.

Upper cross syndrome, also referred to as upper crossed syndrome or UCS, names a pattern of movement and postural variance attributed to the interaction between “tight” and “weak” muscles in the upper body resulting in poor posture, discomfort, and pain.

Massage therapy can use soft tissue manipulation and assisted stretching to facilitate relief for upper cross syndrome. Activating the relaxation response can help decrease stress levels, increase client resilience, and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to calm the body, which could in turn relieve discomfort from upper cross syndrome.

​Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension. In spite of the paucity of published research evidence, regular massage therapy is a widely used technique in many cultures to treat chronic stress and anxiety and it deserves serious consideration. Consistent anecdotal evidence, a long history of widespread use of massage for stress reduction, and positive findings of open trials support the view that regular massage therapy reduces anxiety in general, and specifically when anxiety is related to examinations, problem-solving or work stress.
In my own massage therapist experience working with various clients who complain of chronic stress, test-taking stress and generalized anxiety, regular massage therapy effectively reduces anxiety, improves emotional resilience and enhances feelings of general well-being in anxious clients.
Massage is safe when done by a trained therapist, seldom resulting in injuries. However, individuals who have chronic pain disorders or other medical conditions that involve the musculoskeletal system should consult with their medical practitioner before receiving regular massage therapy.

Having a massage not only helps you relax, it can also benefit the immune system, a new study suggests.
According to researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, USA, people who received a 60-minutes remedial massage had an increased number of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that play a large role in defending the body from disease. Also massage therapy increases the activity level of the body’s white blood cells that work to combat viruses.
But please remember, only receive massage therapy when you are healthy and don't have any flu symptoms such as coughing and fever.
Infection Control Risk Management Plan
If any infection risks are identified, Oberon Remedial Massage undertakes a procedure of risk management, including:
• Taking immediate action to eliminate the factors causing the risk, including quarantining, thoroughly cleaning the site (on the person(s) involved as well as the physical area in the premises)
• Modifying or changing procedures, protocols and work practices, as required, after a debriefing session to identify how the incident occurred and what changes may be required to ensure it does not happen again
• Monitoring therapist and client compliance with infection control procedures
Standard Precautions
Obeorn Remedial Massage provides standard precautions in our performing of massage treatment.
• Therapist hygiene including hand washing and hand care with Alcohol hand sanitarizer and wipes
• Clean premises
• Safe handling of accessories used in massage
• Disinfecting massage equipments, towels and linen

Horse riding, also known as equestrianism, is a moderate intensity exercise. Horse riding engages many of the body’s main muscles, which means many chances for injury.
A common issue for horse riders is over-exercised core muscles which leads to an imbalance in the low back. Horse riders also have unique muscle requirements especially the leg, hip, abdominal, shoulder and back muscles. Shoulder injuries and soft tissue damage are very common and the joints in the lower body, particularly the hips, knees and ankles can take some serious impact while riding because of the repetitive and persistently forceful vibrations placed on them.
As there are so many muscle groups and opportunities for injury, there are various preparation and aftercare methods recommended by medical professionals and therapists. Warming up and stretching is always advised. But Simple stretching cannot properly warm those muscles up.
A massage therapy is an alternate way of warming up and stretching horse rider’s muscles. Regular massage treatments can help keep horse rider’s muscles flexible and relaxed. 
A massage therapist can help identify, address and relieve the issues that might be affecting your ride. Stiff, tight muscles often lead to injuries and a massage is known to relax them, so it can reduce the risks of injuries. Massage therapy also can help you achieve better balance, boost control and a more relaxed seat as a rider. By improving body awareness, a massage can help improve your concentration and bond with the horse, which results in a more enjoyable ride for both of you.
Massage therapy has a lot of positive effect on muscle recovery and boosting athletic performance. The key to getting the most from your massage program is not to wait until you’re tired or injured. Massage therapy should be a regular part of your schedule for safe and enjoyable horse riding.
Do you need a massage? – 
Call Oberon Remedial Massage at 0438 042 153 or visit our website www.oberonmassage.com

1. Colder Weather Causes Muscle Tension
If you have been outside in the cold for work a sports event, when you come home and your body warms up, you may notice that your neck, shoulders and even your glutes are sore. In cold conditions, the body tenses up in defence and if you are exposed for a long period of time in cold temperature, that muscle tension can remain long after you are back in a warmer environment. Massage therapy during the colder months is a great way to release the tension you may experience during this time.
2. You get SAD during winter 
You may be noticed that you start to feel depressed as the seasons turn from warm to cold. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing and it can cause anyone to feel the effects of the winter blues as the nights get longer, the days get shorter and the weather gets gloomy.
Massage encourages positive changes in the endocrine system where hormones are created. These changes decrease cortisol levels (stress related hormone) & increase oxytocin levels (happy hormone) leading to the release of serotonin and endorphins, relieving the stress and enhancing your mood.
3. Boost your immune system
Being out in the cold really might make you catch a cold and flu. Massage therapy can help your body fight cold by boosting your immune system. Massage therapy increases lymph flow which fights off infections and bacteria, boosting your immune system during the cold and flu season!
4. Massage helps dry skin
As the humidity drops in winter the cold, winter air makes the water in your skin evaporate quicker, making your skin drier. Massage therapy is proven to improve skin hydration during these dry winter months. Oils and lotions used in massage contain healthy amounts of vitamin E, which your skin will absorb better through circulatory motion, leaving your skin feeling nourished and hydrated!
Do you need a massage? 

What exactly are the benefits of receiving massage? Most people would agree a massage makes them feel good. But many probably don't realise exactly how good a regular massage is for their overall health.
One of the immediate benefits of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm. This occurs because massage prompts the release of endorphins, the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of well-being. Levels of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine, are also reduced. Studies indicate that high levels of stress hormones impair the immune system.
It may simply look like a lot of pressing and kneading on skin, but massage is actually a scientific process. The reason you feel different after a massage is because it is healing and invigorating tired, aching or injured muscles. Massage increases blood flow and lymph circulation. Lymph is a fluid that rids body tissues of waste, is dependent on the squeezing effect of muscles. Massage can dramatically aid lymph movement, which together with blood, supplies nutrients and oxygen and rids wastes and toxins. It is easy to understand why good circulation is so important to our health and why massage can be so beneficial just for this purpose.
Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you'll be and how youthful you'll remain with each passing year.