Muscle Spasms - What are they?

Ever wonder what is going on when a muscle starts to spasm?  What brought the muscle to this point and how could we have avoided it?  These are questions we need to understand in order to avoid such injury in the future.  Each and everyone of us at some time or another has taken our body and it's ability for granted.  We know what we want to accomplish with our mind and we then set our muscles into motion to complete the task, however there are times that our muscles are not prepared or able to carry out what our mind has in store. 

It is when we overload or overstress our muscles that causes the muscle to be overstretched or torn.  A muscle spasm results from the inflammation that occurs when these very muscles are torn.  When we strain a muscle the pain is usually localized and the area may be sore to the touch. 

When this occurs it is best to rest for a day or two and apply ice therapy or heat therapy to the area to help alleviate the pain. It is important to have good blood supply to the area in order to bring necessary nutrients and proteins for the healing to take place.  Always use ice at first to treat the inflammation then you can use heat.

Now how can we avoid this injury in the first place?  It is generally known that people who are active and fit are much less likely to suffer from muscle strains.  As we age, it is important to maintain a level of fitness with regular exercise and stretching.  A muscle that is toned and stretched is less likely to strain, tear or spasm.

Don't give up on your favorite activities, just prepare for them!

Will I benefit from a Massage?

If you have never had a massage before you may be hesitant to try one for many reasons.  Possibly you are afraid to be exposed on the table, afraid to have a stranger touching your body or just not aware of what a massage entails. 

There are many people who have found the joy and benefits of a massage out of nessecity due to an injury or chronic pain.  These people experience the benefits of massage because they had an urgent need to address a problem.  Don't wait until something like that gets you to a massage therapist!  A massage can be the most relaxing, mood altering, body boost that you can experience in an hours time and the benefits will last several hours after the massage. 

Keep in mind that reputable, licensed massage therapists are professionals and as professionals you will be treated with respect and privacy.  You can undress to your comfort level and there is always dimmed lighting and music to help you relax.  Once you have your first massage your initial worries of being touched by a stranger will go away.  Remember this is just another form of therapy to heal and relax the body.

Different massages are good for different people and problems. Some focus on relieving muscle pain, others work to improve blood or lymph circulation and some are designed to just relax you.  If it is something specific you are after then it is worth researching the different types of massage to make sure you get the maximum benefit. If this is your first massage and you are just wanting one that feels really good and promotes general well being then something like an aromatherapy or regular body massage would be a good choice.

The well being you feel after a massage is the release of endorphins which promotes a sense of well being and it allows the body time to switch off from day-to-day worries.

Be sure to talk openly with your massage therapist prior to the massage to address your needs - they are there to help you and give you what you want.  If you feel like talking they will talk or if you want to just lie back and relax or drift off to sleep they will keep quiet and allow you to do this.

A massage could be just what your body is needing.  Explore your options and enjoy a massage today.

Hot or Cold Theraputic Rice and Flax Packs

Introducing our new hot/cold rice and flax packs.  Several sizes and shapes to choose from in pretty fabrics to comfort and soothe all of your aches and pains- use hot or cold!

Our new rice/flax packs are so soothing because they provide moist heat for many of the aches and pains we get from daily living.  It is not a dry heat which is harsh to your skin, but rather a nice warm moist heat (from the grain) which is beneficial to your skin.

Our larger packs are have channels sewn in to keep the rice/flax mixture dispersed evenly. This large size makes it great for any area. Great for wrapping around your side, laying on your abdomen, draping over your thighs, knees or calves, or on your back.  Also, sit down after a long day and place your feet on the warm pad to relax. It makes a fantastic foot warmer!

Simply heat in the microwave for 1-3 minutes. Please be careful to check the pack's temperature before placing on your skin.  If the pack is too hot to touch then it is too hot to put next to your skin. You want it warm but not burning.

Our soft, comfortable material with the rice/flax filling is just enough to hold heat for 30 minutes or more, and yet just the right amount to allow for the pack to bend and contour to your body.

Lavender scent may be added at no additional charge

This rice pack has many benefits over convential heating pads:

  The moist heat over the dry heat.
  Cradles and molds to your body versus being stiff and unyielding.
  No messy cords to deal with!

Our new hot/cold packs are your own little trip to the spa in the privacy of your own home.  Lie the pack on your forehead or top of your head, gently rub the pack across your neck and soothe your headache away.  If you choose to add essential oil to your pack you will receive the soothing benefits of calming lavender.

Alternately, put it in a plastic bag and store in the freezer, for those times you need a cold pack. Freeze for an hour or more before use. Great for cooling off after a hot summer day, or for those pains that respond best to a cold pack.

BUY TWO and keep one in the freezer and one ready for a warm pack, to be prepared for all aches and pains!

Browse all of our wonderful packs and designs on this page:  http://www.herbtime.com/373.html

Prepare for a Strenous Activity

Listen to your body and remain pain-free.


Pain and stiffness can limit your ability to enjoy life to the fullest. If you are going to engage in a strenuous work out or activity make sure you warm up your muscles, tendons and ligaments to be able to have them fully engage in the activity without harm. Muscles will respond much better to rapid movement and engagement when they are warmed up and blood is pumping through them. If muscles are not warmed up prior to strenuous exercise it can cause stress and strain and damage the tissue.

One of the easiest ways to warm up is to move the muscles. You can do this by stretching, slowly jogging in place or warming up your muscles with heat therapy. All of these methods will increase blood flow to the tissues and get the area ready for action.

Work out or enjoy your outdoor activity with your prepared muscles. Once your activity is over be sure to take care of your muscles by cooling down the muscle groups and if you have chronic pain issues be sure to add cold therapy to inhibit swelling and pain after strenuous activities.
Don't give up on your favorite activities - just prepare for them!

Hot Therapy or Cold Therapy with a Chronic Condition

A chronic condition refers to one that is long lasting and persistant. In most medical terms it is a condition or pain that lasts longer than 3 months. The opposite to chronic is acute (short term).


An example of an acute injury is a sprained ankle. Once the injury occurs the body experiences acute symptoms of swelling and pain. Injuries such as these require cold pack treatments to constrict the blood vessels and reduce swelling. If over time and repeated injuries occur to the ankle from over-use or a sporting event the injury can become chronic.
Once a chronic injury develops you can find relief by using both ice and heat therapies. If you are experiencing a chronic injury (muscle stiffness, spasms) in an area of your body it is best to use heat therapy prior to an activity that irritates chronic injuries such as muscle strains. This will help the muscles have the proper blood flow and flexability to withstand the activity. Cold pack treatments are used on chronic conditions after an activity that has irritated the condition. The cold helps to relieve swelling and pain.
So remember, if you have a chronic nagging condition be aware of heating those muscles up before embarking on an activity that might irritate or inflame the area and be sure to add a little cold therapy afterwards to ward off any swelling or pain.

These treatments can go a long way in eliminating the pain associated with many of lifes daily activities. Always remember to consult with your health care provider on the best length of treatment for your specific condition.

Injury Treatment: When to use Hot or Cold Therapy

Do you know when to use heat therapy or cold therapy for an injury?
It's long been prescribed by Doctors, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and others to use heat packs and/or ice packs for an injury. Do you find yourself forgetting which treatment to use when? If so, I will go over the reasons and applications on when it is best to use hot or cold therapy.

HEAT THERAPY

The first step to understanding which therapy to use is to understand the application's effect on the body. When you add a heat pack to the body you are increasing the blood flow to that area. With increased blood flow you can improve flexability of your ligaments and tendons, reduce muscle spasms and therefore alleviate the pain.

Since you are relaxing the blood vessel walls you do not want to expand or heat up an area that is already inflamed. If you have had a recent injury, there is a good chance that there is inflammation and stress in that area. Heat is not recommended at the onset of an injury.
When is heat therapy used? Heat works best on stiff muscles and heat packs can work on untightening those stiff muscles and increasing overall flexability. You can use heat after the initial swelling and inflammation of a recent injury are gone. Most of us have those areas in our body that stiffen up because of an old injury, age, hard work or dealing with the daily stressors in our life. We tend to have areas in our body where we hold the stress and these spots can tend to be stiff and inflexible. Heat packs work well with these stiff muscle groups and will get the blood flowing through the tissues again. A healthy muscle is one that is being fed with blood and oxygen.

The heat pack temperature should not be too hot to handle with your hands or be uncomfortable on your skin. Try heating 1-3 minutes on your heat pack to get the right temperature. The heat pack can remain on your body between 5-30 minutes. Always ask your health care provider on the duration of treatment.

COLD THERAPY

Now that we learned about heat pack therapy, what about cold pack therapy? It's interesting to note that cold therapy can also reduce muscle spasms and alleviate pain. Cold pack therapy works by reducing the swelling and the pain killing effect is caused by deadening the nerve cell activity. Studies have shown that patients who use cold therapy on injuries required less pain medication.
When you apply a cold pack to an injured area of the body (tissue swelling), the cold will do the opposite effect of heat. Remember that heat expands the walls of the blood vessels and cold will actually constrict (tighten up) the walls of the blood vessels. Cold will decrease muscle spasms by making the muscles less sensitive to being stretched.
Cold packs can be used on injured areas for 15 to 30 minutes at a time, however the length of time has been heavily debated. Ask your health care provider on duration of treatment.