Yes, you read correctly.  I can now be found practicing Registered Massage Therapy and Active Release Techniques (ART®) from a new location in Coquitlam, BC.  Effective October 1st, 2011, my practice has relocated to the offices of Dominelli Massage Therapy and Wellness.  I join a team of talented and passionate practitioners offering diverse approaches and experiences from within the massage therapy and acupuncture professions.

My complete relocation to Coquitlam spearheads an exciting change in direction with my practice.  I look forward to establishing myself as a part of this wonderful clinical community and continuing to focus on reaching my future goals in health care.

Cheers!

Image Credit: Downtown Vancouver (Facebook Page) *Anonymous Photographer*

Sport and competition have the clear and undeniable power of connecting people.  Over and over again, we see proof of this power all over the world. Most notably in Canada, the sport of hockey holds this distinction.  Across the country, hockey represents a common thread sturdy enough to link the masses of individuals.  Hockey is the awning under which people from different cultures, beliefs and personalities gather and connect.  Whether it’s a pick-up floor hockey game at a gymnasium, a scheduled match in an amateur ice hockey league, or rooting in the stands for the local professional hockey team, many people find themselves enjoying the company of friends and random strangers with whom they would never connect in their everyday life.  An example of human bonding superseding individual boundaries.

In essence, the spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind.  From time to time, this intrinsic value of competition is challenged (and sometimes compromised) by way of cheating (i.e. doping).  Even the basic characteristic of human emotions provide a challenge to the spirit of sport.  Emotions are core to humanity, and expectantly go hand-in-hand with sports.  Joy and sadness, fear and anger, anticipation and surprise… these, and other basic sets of emotions factor in greatly with the performance of a team, an athlete, and the fanatic.  However, it’s each and everybody’s individual responsibility to effectively process and constructively utilize these emotions.

Over the course of the 2010 Olympic Winter games in Vancouver, BC, we witnessed the power that sport and competition hold over bringing people together.  No matter which country an athlete represented, which sport an athlete competed in, or which corner of the world a fan traveled from, the positive tangent associated with the spirit of sport was displayed in grandiose scale.  The atmosphere was electrifying and contagious, alive with celebration and comradery.  On the flip-side, the recent happenings in downtown Vancouver, following Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs provides us with evidence that this sport/emotion dance can play out along the negative tangent as well.

It was highly disappointing how ‘herd mentality‘ (a constantly studied and researched topic by social psychologists) played its part in the aftermath of the Vancouver/Boston Stanley Cup final.  To the gut-wrenching disgust of many Vancouverites, British Columbians and Canadians, the planning and implementation of violent acts by a small number of individuals initiated a domino effect which culminated in everything from physical violence to property destruction and looting.

Though the events of the evening have left a bitter taste in the mouths, and deep sorrow in the minds, of many… the greater population hold true to the spirit of sport, despite the home team’s defeat.  They strive to overshadow the negative impact placed upon the city by verbally and publicly opposing, and condemning, the acts propagated by the senseless few.  The actions of a small group, and the media focus highlighting their deeds, does not define the spirit of the greater population.  Focus is now placed on the restoration of Vancouver’s reputation and image.  Through social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flikr, etc.), people have congregated to dispel the effects of the riots and show support to the police, firefighters and paramedics who placed themselves in harm’s way.

Many videos, pictures, articles and pages can be found through our connections to social media.  Here are a few examples of how social media is being utilized to combat the effects of the 2011 Stanley Cup Riot:

Downtown Vancouver Facebook Page Photo Albums (collection of photos showing the true spirit of the city and its fans.)
Vancouver Riot Pictures: Post Your Photos (A Facebook page asking individuals to post photos of rioters for the purpose of assisting police in identifying and prosecuting those involved.)
Vancouverriot.com (An online blog also set up to identify and highlight those responsible.)

Photo Credit: Christa Olson

If we look at the efforts of the many who openly condemn the actions that took place in Vancouver on June 15th, 2011, we witness the spirit of sport.  Sport becomes a metaphor of everything you do in life and of all the amazing and serendipitous things that happen, which in turn makes you a winner.  A winner is one who (paradoxically) lets go the need to win and in the process becomes victorious.  By elevating your internal athlete, without the need to win, victory is yours.  How we exhibit excellence is by our choosing. The city of Vancouver and its greater population choose to display this excellence….. exhibiting the true spirit of sport.

Please leave a comment about how you feel the spirit of sport is alive in Vancouver. The more we comment, the greater effect we will have to overshadow the tarnished image of the city of Vancouver, its fans and humanity as a whole.

Ref: (1) The Spirit Of Sport: Rajgopal Nidamboor (re: Jerry Lynch – sports psychologist; Chungliang Al Huang – Ta’i-Chi Master)

Image Credit: Pamela L. (pamcl1218) on Flikr

Many of my clients witness me preaching about how sitting for extended periods of time is not natural for the human body.  Recent research studies have produced data that indicates significant stress on the spine when factors of ergonomics (ie. sitting angle) and length of time are present.  A suburb graphic recently shared with me, and I pass it along to you.  This graphic effectively illustrates my concerns surrounding this phenomenon by sharing data produced from the recent research findings.  I encourage everyone to utilize this as your ignition toward making changes in your workplace, at home, and your general lifestyle. Granted, today’s typical workplace demands and duties place the expectation on individuals to be seated at a desk for hours on end…. however, at the very least, continue reading  for suggestions to minimize the effects on your body.  Continue reading the rest of this blog entry as the illustration follows my set recommendations below.

1) Move around as often as possible.

Staying in a solitary position for too long places muscle and other soft tissues though conditions that are unnatural for their purposes, thereby causing harm and injury.  Scar tissue builds up around the soft tissue and propagates a pain/tension cycle that, once chronic, can be timely to address.  See my ART (Active Release Techniques) page for more information regarding scar tissue.

2) Exercise and eat right!!!

Building and maintaining muscle strength and endurance will assist your body in combating the stresses placed on it during prolonged activity.  Fueling your body with a healthy diet makes the process that much more efficient and effective.

3) Stay hydrated!

Sure, caffeine may help you wash away your grogginess but it should not take the place of water.  In fact, coffee dehydrates.  Your body requires hydration for many purposes.  Tie in the exercise component as well.  Exercise can be energizing and stimulating enough to replace your “need” for that grande, double shot, extra hot americano.

4) Therapeutic maintenance (Schedule a massage therapy session at least once per month)

To help address the continuous collection of stress on your body, place preventative maintenance as a priority.  In addition to the above stated recommendations, schedule time aside once a month for a massage therapy session.  For mental health/stress, consider a Registered Clinical Councillor.  For combined physical and mental health, consider Yoga.  The options are there, you just have to make it a priority.

I could go on. Each individual is… well… individual…. and requires a specially designed approach in dealing with their pain/tension issues.  Please feel free to contact me regarding your maintenance programs.  Allow me to help you get your body back on track.

Via: Medical Billing And Coding

I am happy to announce that as of this past Sunday (28 January 2011), following a successful examination, I achieved full-body certification in Active Release Techniques (ART).  This past week I stepped away from my practice in Port Moody, BC, to complete the last of 3 seminars in ART.  Each seminar focused on a different area of the body (upper extremities, lower extremities and spine).  Specifically, the last seminar related to treatment of the axial skeleton (spine).  Now with all 3 initial seminars under my belt, I am excited to incorporate the full range of ART into my practice.  I anticipate future treatments will become increasingly well-rounded and the results of therapy will be taken to a higher level.

Treatment protocols instructed in this latest seminar have provided me with tools to further the effectiveness of treatments relating to a number of conditions.  In the coming weeks, I plan to highlight some specific conditions in which ART can be quite useful.  In the coming weeks I plan to highlight some specific conditions in which ART can be quite useful.  This information will be shared on my website in future blog entries.

If you have any questions regarding ART, please feel free to email me (jp@jpthermt.com) your questions or ask me during your next treatment.  I will be happy to field your questions and shed some light on how ART can help.

For a description of what Active Release Techniques (ART) is all about, and what is required of you for a treatment, please visit the my Active Release Techniques page or visit www.activerelease.com.

All the best in health and wellness,

JP daSilva, RMT & Certified ART Practitioner

1) a section to indicate your consent for treatment,

2) a description of my cancellation policy, and

3) a short survey asking who/what referred to my massage therapy practice.

I hope this will provide you with some convenience when seeing me for your first massage or active release techniques (ART) visit.  Normally, I ask my massage therapy clients to arrive early to fill out the forms.  This option will hopefully eliminate the requirement to arrive 15 minutes early, freeing up time for you to plan your arrival with less stress.  Regardless, it’s always recommended that you arrive before your scheduled time.  Arriving early helps ensure your will receive the full length of your scheduled session, and not affect other clients that have massage treatments after you.  Arriving fully prepared… well… that’s a bonus!!

In between sessions, I took in the sights and sounds of the activities surrounding me. The vocal jubilation of the crowds, the intricacies of the plays, and the general feeling of excitement that filled the air produced a euphoric sensation during my involvement in the games.

Congratulations to all the athletes who took part in the games, and to the members who worked behind the scenes to make it all happen.

Whether the summer athlete is a seasoned participant applying their skill in competition for which they trained all winter, or the ‘summer warrior’ suddenly involved in an outdoor activity after a sedentary winter, sport-related injuries are prevalent.  Everything from twisted ankles to whiplash injuries occur. But for each individual, the extent of the injury is as variable as the activities to which we expose ourselves. Is your injury a mild strain that recurs every-so-often or a one-time tweak that prevents you from getting back into the summer routine you desire? What are you doing to keep yourself going? What are you doing to return to playing-form sooner?

If you haven’t done so, consider booking a Massage Therapy or Active Release Techniques (ART) appointment to address your condition.  Soft-tissue injuries don’t need to keep you on the sidelines when you crave to be in the action. In the short term, soft-tissue injuries can be addressed to get you back in the game. Recurring conditions can be prevented by using therapy to ‘stay ahead of the game’.  Massage Therapy or ART may only represent one piece of your puzzle, but it can definitely play an important role in your recovery or as a preventative maintenance routine when combined with other self-care practices.

Book an appointment today. Stay in the game!!

Newborns/infants can benefit from massage therapy by way of relaxation, stimulation, relief and interaction.  During infancy, a child is taking in an abundance of information from his/her surroundings.  That infant can learn to relax when placed in a relaxed environment, and just as easily experience negative feedback in a stressful environment.  Some massage techniques can be applied to provide relief from colic, or easing the discomfort associated with gas or spasms.  A child suffering from cerebral palsy may find both stimulating and relaxing treatments beneficial, using treatment techniques that either stimulate muscle response or relax others.  The interactive aspect of treatments foster the ability to build relationships, teaching the infant about forming bonds with other individuals.

The ability for children to experience the benefits of massage does not end in infancy.  Recently I have treated a variety of children, some as young as 9 years old.  Underlying issues have included anxiety-based tension, while others involved functional issues related to the chosen sport of a highly athletic child (gymnastics, ice hockey, soccer, etc.).  Their response to treatment has been more than positive.  Not long ago, an 11-year-old ice hockey player came to me complaining of an imbalance in his hips.  He felt there was a decreased range of motion in his dominant side, especially during a busy training and game schedule.  After one session his range of motion improved significantly.  In another case, built-up shoulder tension troubled a 10 year old with a diagnosed anxiety disorder.  Treatments appeared to aid him in reaching a increased level of relaxation, experiencing a “melting” feeling when trigger points are manipulated under point pressure.

These are just a few cases in my experience as a registered massage therapist.  However, I have found this positive trend to be a common observation amongst fellow peers and colleagues in the health care field.  One can speculate why this might be.  Maybe this trend is related to the amount of time available for chronic tension to set in. An adult working a particular career for years, performing the same repetitive task for hours each day, will be much more susceptible chronic tension due to overuse. On the other hand, a child’s activity level varies through the day so tension built from overuse or stress may be less likely to become chronic.  It is also possible that this trend may have some relation with high levels of adaptation as a child’s body grows during adolescence.  Once again, these are merely speculations on my part.  Further research would be required to confirm these theories.  However in my experience, children (and teens) are like conduits when it comes to receiving therapeutic treatment of any way, shape or form.

A couple of days ago, a study was brought to my attention.  This study evaluated the effect of myofascial trigger points (a.k.a. “Knots”) in children who experience tension-type headaches.  Although the study was performed on a small sample size was small (9 girls; mean age: 13.1years; range: 5-15 years) the results were significant.  After using trigger-point manipulation over a specified number of treatments during the course of the study, there was a reduction of headache frequency by 67.7%, intensity by 74.3%, and duration by 77.3%.

To access the study, click here.

So no matter if your child is highly active in sport (gymnastics, hockey, baseball, soccer, etc.), or going through emotionally stressful periods in his or her life, consider involving that child in some form of holistic or wellness regimen.  Doing so may set that child on a clearer and healthier path through life.

As a supplemental note, beginning July 1st, 2010 I will be introducing a child/student discount for massage therapy services at my clinic.  To receive more information about this, or any other aspect of my practice, please feel free contact me.

The Canada Day long weekend is nipping at our heels.  During this time I will be away from the office.  With this in mind, I have made some adjustments to my clinic schedule on the days prior to July 1st.  Here is my schedule for the weeks surrounding Canada Day:

June 25 (Friday) – 10am-7pm

June 26 (Saturday) – 8am-2pm

June 28 (Monday) – 10am-7pm

June 29 (Tuesday) to July 6th (Tuesday) – CLOSED

I will return to my regular schedule on Wednesday, July 7th.  See my contact page for my regular schedule.

I wish you all a safe and fun-filled Canada Day weekend.