Talk About a Fragmented Industry

Look at all these different kinds of massage:

• Acupressure
• Qigong
• Alexander Technique
• Integrative Energy Therapy
• Reflexology
• Integrative Manual Therapy
• Ashiatsu
• Integrative Massage
• Relaxation Massage
• Aston Patterning
• Jin Shin Jyutsu
• Repetitive-use Injury Therapy
• Bowen Therapy
• Kinesiology
• Rolfing
• Brennan Healing
• Lomilomi Massage
• Rosen Method
• Chair Massage
• Lymph Drainage
• Shiatsu
• Cranio-Sacral Therapy
• Lymphatic Massage
• Soft Tissue Release
• Deep Tissue Integration
• Sports Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Medical Massage
• Stone/LaStone
• Energy Healing
• Myofascial Release
• Structural Integration
• Myomassology
• Swedish Massage
• Esalen Massage
• Neuro-Muscular Therapy
• Thai Massage
• Esthetics
• Therapeutic Touch
• Feldenkrais
• Ortho-Bionomy
• Touch for Health
• Geriatric
• Orthopedic Massage
• Trager
• Hanna Somatic
• Polarity Therapy
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Healing Touch
• Tui-Na Accupressure
• Heller Method
• Watsu

Does the sheer size of this list indicate that there still are some critical things missing to our understanding of massage and its effects?

I think so. And I think we need better quality data and better theories to isolate the truly valuable things that are common to all of these traditions, as well those things that give each their unique power (if indeed they have any at all).

What if we could compare we could somehow measure the effects of each of these therapies? We could identify which works best and save a lot of time and effort. And get a bit closer to understand the underlying characteristics of the body that make massage so valuable.

Another Possible Cause of CTS

Image via Wikipedia

Check out this illustration of the hand. Note the common sheath for the tendons, especially how it runs down the carpal tunnel. Its the big fat structure in light blue.

As we've seen throughout the body, sheaths have been known to stiffen when they are not stretched regularly.

Could this sheath become stiff enough to cause the pressure on the nerve that characterizes carpal tunnel syndrome?

If so, manipulating this sheath may release the pressure on the carpal nerve.

Its also conceivable that stiffness in the forearm could be interfering with the normal positioning of this nerve. So, the wrist is flexed, the range of motion available to this nerve is reduced, resulting in the pain.

A complex problem with many factors. One thing is for sure. Slicing the ligament is not the last word in treating this painful condition.

Are Wrist Braces for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome a Good Idea?

Image via Wikipedia

Some thoughts on the topic.

Personally, I believe immobility helps in the short run but costs you big in the long run. Loss of range of motion is the circulatory problems at the root of carpal tunnel syndrome. Immobilization can only exacerbate the problem. It is not a real solution.

You are much better off practicing Qi Gong or Tai Chi. Get the blood moving into the muscles involved and get the muscles to relax. Then do gentle stretching and massage.

Current Thinking on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Note the dominant medical view of carpal tunnel syndrome on WebMD's blog. It dismisses massage as a solution.

I really feel that most people who try massage fail with it because the typical approaches are not comprehensive enough.

Things I've read advise a DAILY massage, which means to me that the underlying cause is not being treated.

If the tissue around a muscle is impairing proper circulation, the sarcomeres within a muscle will run out of ATP the next time the muscle must do work of significant duration.

None of the advice from mainline physicians given seems to address the true nature of the muscular problem.

Founding Deep Therapeutics

Hey guys, welcome to my new blog. As the founder and president of Deep Therapeutics, I'd like to welcome you to my effort to share what I am doing at Deep Therapeutics.

Deep Therapeutics started as an idea back in September 2006. Here's what I said about it back then:

I am now working on a business plan for a new company that I am calling Deep Therapeutics. The focus is technology that diagnoses and treats muscular trigger points, something that currently is done by hand.

I've blogged about a lot about trigger points. Resolving trigger points, of which many medical professionals are unaware, frequently requires the attention of a highly skilled practitioners of alternative therapies. You can resolve your trigger points yourself, but it takes a lot of knowledge and persistence. As with most conditions, patients that are proactive and get the right therapy make the fastest progress.

The plan is to create technology that aids the existing approaches, overcomes their shortcomings, lowers costs and speeds resolution. At the same time, these systems will create a consistent treatment experience, track patient progress and counsel patients on how to prevent recurrence

Three years have passed since this post, but the idea is essentially the same. The education I've been getting through the Founder Institute has really helped me accelerate the effort.

Adeo Ressi has assembled an excellent group of mentors, a lot of great material and 78 other intelligent, helpful founders that have really made the first semester a great success. I highly recommend looking it into if you have any entrepreneurial aspirations.