Is your pillow causing you headaches?

Is your pillow causing you headaches?

Are you suffering from restless sleep? Finding it difficult to fall asleep due to discomfort? Or are you waking with a headache and stiff neck that stays with you all day?
Then maybe it’s time for a new pillow!
Just like proper footwear is a recommendation to correct incorrect ankle and lower limb alignment, correct pillows and pillow height are necessary to assist in decreasing/managing neck and shoulder pain or stiffness.

I personally have found that when a patient is experiencing pain or discomfort when they wake up – particularly the upper body region- how they are positioned during their sleep is a major contributor.

When we lie down to sleep the one thing we look for is what’s called a neutral spine. Your pillow and mattress are vital in achieving this, but let’s concentrate on the Pillow for now.

Here’s a quick tip!

When lying on your pillow in any which way, you don’t want the pillow to be too high that it causes your neck to be on stretch (which can sometimes be excessive) and alternatively, you don’t want the pillow to be too low either. Too low causes one side of the neck region to “squash” and also our shoulder will roll in (which is another kettle of fish altogether for another blog). Some people will also find the need to ‘bunch up’ their pillow underneath them to create more height and end up sleeping with their arm or hand underneath their head. This is where symptoms start to creep down to the arm and hands.

Now if you’re sitting there nodding your head and thinking to yourself, yes that’s me! It doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a brand new expensive pillow, the pillow you have may be right but your posture may just need fine tuning. However, having a pillow at the correct height can take all the hard work out of retraining the posture.
Not sure where to start with your pillow?
Fear not! The practitioners at MyoSports offer a complimentary pillow assessment to help check over the pillow you have and also point you in the right direction with options that may be more suited for you and achieve that neutral spine.
Check out our Complimentary Tab on the website for more information.

Don’t suffer one more night of restless sleep, let us know how we can help you get the sleep you’ve been searching for.

CUPPING

THE INS AND OUTS OF CUPPING

What is Cupping?

By definition Myofascial cupping is a soft tissue therapy that involves the application of decompressed cups on the skin, creating a vacuum effect that lifts up underlying tissues such as the fascia ( connective tissue ) and muscles, blood and other fluid, close to the surface of the skin. By lifting up these tissues, it allows space to increase fluid and hydrate the muscles and fascia.

There are a few techniques that can be used when applying cups

  1. Myofascial release cupping– This is where the cups are applied and moved around the skin in a gliding motion to help break up any fascial adhesions and help move any stagnant fluid.
  2. Static cupping/ trigger point cupping – this is where the cup is applied directly onto the trigger point to draw more fluid (blood and lymph) using direct negative pressure.
  3. Functional cupping– here the cups are applied to specific muscles or fascial chains. The client is then asked to perform certain functional movements to affect a positive change in movement restrictions. This is a newer concept of cupping that has proven very effective for people with limited range of motion.

What do the red/purple circles mean?

No doubt you would have noticed the big red/purple bruise looking circles on some of the athletes in the most recent Tokyo Olympic Games…Well this is the result of a cupping session, and trust me, they look worse than they feel.

Where there is dead, static blood, lymph, cellular debris, pathogenic factors, and toxins present in the body, cupping can leave marks which indicate that the stagnation has been moved from the deeper tissue layers to the surface.

Benefits of cupping:

➔ Increased circulation and promotion of fresh oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood and lymph to the skin and muscles.

➔ Encourages tissues to release toxins and encourages blood flow to help ‘flush’ build up toxins through the lymph system

➔ Reduces inflammation

➔ Rapidly facilitates rigid soft tissue release

➔ Increase range of motion and flexibility

➔ Release muscle spasms

Specific conditions cupping can directly help with:

➔ Scar tissue post-surgical

➔ Plantar fascia or plantar foot pain

➔ Stiffness or tightness in any muscular area’s

➔ Back Pain

➔ Headaches

➔ Neck Pain

➔ Chronic Pain

➔ Jaw Pain (TMJ)

Cupping is done within our standard Myotherapy treatment, if you would like it specifically let us know when you book your appointment and you will be directed to the most appropriate practitioner for your needs.

Benefits of Myotherapy for Pregnancy

Benefits of Myotherapy for Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life, that natural glow that emanates from her as a miracle is being made. Whilst pregnancy can be this way, with the changes that occur, for many there are other things that may come from this time in their life, such as general fatigue, back pain, cramps and pelvic pain to name a few. The great thing about Myotherapy is that the assessment and treatment we can perform can be beneficial for someone experiencing the pain and discomfort that may arise because of pregnancy.

So, what specifically can a Myotherapist assist with:
– Pelvic girdle pain
– Back pain
– Nerve Pain
– Generalised overall pain from low back to the neck region (as the posture changes with the growing baby)
– Exercise advice pre & post natal
– Cramping

MyoSports also offers complimentary fitting of pregnancy garments to ease discomfort and increase your strength awareness whilst you continue to get about your day.  Check our Complimentary Tab here on the website for more information.

With all this in mind the effects or benefits that Myotherapy may produce for you are improved rest, reduced pain, improved movement, promotion of relaxation and better quality sleep which allows you to function optimally throughout this time, essential for creating your bundle of joy!