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Tips for Less Painful Smart Phone Viewing on the Train, El, and Bus

Posted in Health and Wellness, Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , , , , on June 18, 2010| 1 Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I have a number of corporate clients that come in for short tune up massages on either the chair or massage table each week. Invariably I hear the same complaints: my neck hurts, my shoulders hurt, my head hurts. Then I ask them, aside from computer work, do you have a smart phone? (iPhone, Blackberry, Android, etc.) Often the answer for those with the worst neck pain is: yes.

Megan Bubenyak, offered to let me photograph her in the “bad” iPhone viewing position, then in the modified, more comfortable position I recommend for smart phone viewing on the bus, train or subway.

In the first pic, Megan’s head is leaning too far forward and her arms are doing all the work to hold the phone up to her face.

Poor Smart Phone Ergonomics

In this second pic, Megan has balanced a backpack on her lap and uses it to wedge her elbows in. In this position, she can sit more upright, more comfortably hold her phone in front of her face and her arms and shoulder’s don’t have to do all the work to hold the phone up.

Better Smart Phone viewing position on public trans

If you don’t have a backpack, a purse will do. If you have neither, go ahead and invest in a cheap backpack and a small travel pillow. Stuff the pillow in the backpack and then viola! You have a comfy portable smart phone holder that is lightweight and as a bonus, it holds “stuff” for you too!

Close up of comfy backpack smart phone holder position

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Why Your Massage Therapist May Be More Important to Your Health Than Your Doctor

Posted in Health and Wellness, Massage Therapy, tagged , , , on June 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

As a massage therapist and personal trainer, I am NOT a doctor. According to the State of Illinois, I have no medical credentials beyond licensure for massage therapy. However, I see my clients more often than many of them see their doctors. I see more of my client’s skin than they can see themselves (especially their backs).  I  palpate my clients’ muscles and limbs when I massage them. Over the years I have run into several situations where I’ve noticed skin problems, suspicious bumps and lesions, odd body odors and general changes in my clients complexion and energy level that indicated disease. Some of my clients are serious athletes, others are desk jockeys with very little physical activity. All of my clients come to me with some issue, pain or injury and often they come to help handle stress.

Before I go on let me throw out a HUGE derriere-covering disclaimer: I don’t think that massage therapy is a substitute for medical care. I don’t think you should run to your massage therapist instead of to your doctor. What I do think is that massage therapists see your body, feel changes in your tissue and have a more intimate working knowledge of your body as it changes over time more so than the medical doctor you see maybe once per year.  Below I have listed some of the situations where massage therapists can be your first line of defense and awareness of health issues.
Skin Cancer
In massage school, we were taught to identify suspicious skin conditions and look for moles or freckles that fit the ABCD rule. (The ABCD rule helps identify potential areas of skin cancer: if a mole/freckle is asymmetrical, is bigger than a pencil eraser, is multicolored or dark black and is larger in diameter than a pencil eraser, it may be skin cancer.) I can’t treat or diagnose skin cancer, but I can tell my clients about a suspicious looking mole on his or her back. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. If you have a mole or discoloration on your back or other hard to see area (back of knees for example), your massage therapist can notice your skin and changes in your skin each time you receive a massage.

Tension Headaches

Often times, tense neck and upper back muscles can lead to tension headaches. Some of my clients have chronic headaches and have been to doctors  and neurologists that find no known causes. If the pain in a client’s head is caused by tight muscles triggering the pain to their temples, a few minutes of massage can really help relieve their pain. And as a massage therapist, I know that I can’t “treat” a headache and I don’t pretend to be able to diagnose allergies or neurological conditions. I refer my clients to doctors that can do that. But when headache pain is just a general condition causes by muscle pain and my client has already ruled out any serious illness, relieving muscle tension can make my clients’ lives much easier.

Cysts and Tumors

One of the benefits of going to the same massage therapist regularly is that your massage therapist gets to know your body–and knows when something is not normal. I’ve had quite a few clients with  sebaceous cysts (usually benign pockets of fat encapsulated by a cyst). Massaging these cysts is painful and not advised. But when I first see or feel a new cyst, I’ve been able to advise my clients to seek medical attention. Usually the doctor tells them that just a fatty tumor and it’s not a big deal. But there have been times when a client has had a fatty tumor growing into a nerve or growing so fast it causes them pain and discomfort. Again, having a regular massage therapist that notices these changes can help you get to a doctor before the tumor grows too large. In cases where the tumor is not benign, I’ve been glad that I told my client about the cyst right away so he or she can seek medical attention. In one case, my client told me the doctor removed it immediately  and the tumor did turn out to be serious.

Repetitive Use Injuries

Frequently clients come to me with complaints of neck pain, shoulder pain and wrist pain. Many of my clients are heavy computer and smart phone users with little time to stretch or exercise. Again, I do not diagnose nor do I treat carpel tunnel syndrome. But I can loosen the tense muscles around my clients cervical spine, the muscles in their forearms and the scalene muscles in their necks. Often times the pain disappears in just a few massage sessions. As a personal trainer, I can also give my clients exercises and stretches to do to keep their upper bodies from getting too tense again.

Muscle Injuries

When clients injure themselves in accidents or during exercise, my first advise is to see the doctor, then RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevate the injured limb). I don’t massage acutely injured muscles, especially if there is any chance of the muscle being torn or of the limb being broken. I also don’t massage bruises which any well-trained massage therapists knows is a contraindicated condition for massage. But after my client has seen his/her doctor or chiropractor, or if the injury is a week old and the client is on the mend, a few sessions of massage can send fresh blood to the effected area and help speed the healing process of my client’ own body. Using a combination of therapeutic techniques I can also release some of the muscle tension in the injured area and help ease my client’s scar tissue adhesions.

Scar Tissue

While I was in massage school I over exercised and ended up with a pretty serious groin pull. And after visiting two medical doctors that could not find out what was wrong, and after an MRI and an X-ray that did not show the scare tissue area clearly, I recovered thanks to the help of my massage teacher and my Chinese Medicine Doctor. It turns out my injury was bad enough to cause me pain and restrict my movement but not show up on an X-ray or MRI. After a few scar tissue massages, I was walking easier and my pain subsided.

I am not one of those people who think alternative medicine is the only way nor do I refuse medical treatment. If I need surgery, antibiotics, or have any serious medical condition, I go to the doctor. Bet most of my issues these days are not medical. They don’t require radiation explosing X-rays, doctors visits, pharmaceutical drugs nor surgery. In my own daily life, muscle tension is likely my number one complaint. And for that, I prefer massage therapy to muscle relaxers!

Colds and Flues

When I am working on my clients I notice their energy level and body temperature. A few weeks ago one of my regular clients was very rundown and quiet. When I worked her neck and back she feel very warm. I asked her is she was coming down with something and she said she didn’t think so. But something felt off and I worked on her more lightly. A few days later I got an email that she indeed did have a bad cold.

When someone has a fever, it’s often the first sign of the body fighting off a virus or infection. But in the summer heat it’s hard to tell if you are warm or feverish. Massage is contraindicated for a fever because it takes energy away from your body and your body needs that energy to fight the illness. Similar to working out when you are sick or run down. it can put your body into a healing crisis aka make you really really sick really really fast! When  feel a client is warm or seems low energy I change my focus and work with lighter strokes. I try to give them more of a relaxation massage versus a deep tissue massage. I can’t cure their cold and I can’t even diagnose what’s wrong with them. But I can modify my massage to fit their condition that day and that can help make them feel better or at the very least less sick than if I worked their muscles very deep that day.

Referrals

Sometimes people are reluctant to go to their doctor or a specialist. They think their problems will go away over time. They don’t want to take the time to get an MRI or leave work to see their doctor. In this case, your massage therapist can nudge you to see your doc and verify that indeed your condition does require medical attention. If I massage someone who has muscle pain and there is not a noticable improvement in 1 or 2 sessions, of if the condition worsens, I advise them to see a doctor. For muscle and bones issues, I refer them to chiropractors or orthopedic doctors. By referring my clients to other health care providers, I let them know that yes their condition does require a doctor’s care. I also give them a second opinion (aside form their own) that yes they need to take the time to take care of their problem. Sometimes people are looking for an outsider to give them permission to take care of themselves. As a licensed massage therapist, in many people’s eyes, I have more credibility than say,Jimmy the Bartender, when it comes to body issues like injured muscles. Again, I am not treating or diagnosing, but I do notice, bring awareness to my clients and refer them to various other health care providers depending on their problem.

Emotional Issues

Lastly, for some people, being touched and having their muscles massages brings up emotions or memories of past traumas. For people dealing with addictions like compulsive overeating or smoking addiction, getting a massage brings their awareness to their body and may even make them want to take better care of their bodies. In these cases, I can refer my clients to licensed psychologists or counselors to help them better cope with their issues.

Overall, I look at massage therapists as partners in wellness with medical doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists. We are not doctors, but we do see clients more frequently than other health care providers and we do care about our clients health and well being!

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iPad=iHurt: Apple’s Ergonomic Fail

Posted in Health and Wellness, Massage Therapy, Workplace Wellness, tagged , , , , on June 6, 2010| 2 Comments »

Common shot of iPad showing only users lap. Image from Flickr.

By Sue Shekut, Owner,  Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist,  Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I’ve been noticing iPad advertisements all over town. I see iPads on billboards, ads on my computer and on television. Notice how the ads don’t show people sitting and using the iPad. They show people’s laps and legs and then a close up the iPad. Hmm, why hide the necks and shoulders of iPad users? My guess, because sitting hunched over a small but relatively heavy iPad makes people look pretty uncomfortable.

Ned Batchelder has a great post on the ergonomic issues of the new iPad here. Ned shows a video of someone using the iPad to make slides that shows just how awkward it is to use the iPad for data creation. Commenters say that hey, the iPad isn’t designed to be a data creation device but a data consumption device.  Do we really need separate devices for each use?

Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge Apple fan. I’ve been using Macs since they first came out (Does anyone remember the old SE30’s with the 9″ monochrome monitor. That’s where I started. And interestingly enough that’s about the time I started needing to see a chiropractor, too.) But as slick as Apple’s touch screen iPod’s and iPad s are and are, they really cause a world of hurt for users’ necks and shoulders.

Whats Wrong With iPad?

1. iPad/iPod devices are small and relatively lightweight. So at first glance you may think, hey, it won’t hurt me, it’s a device under 1 pound. But that one pound gets pretty heavy if you hold it up over time.

Try this exercise. Hold a 1 pound weight up in front of your body for 5 minutes. Bet you can’t do it. The 60 seconds may be pretty easy. But as the clock ticks, the weight gets heavier and heavier. Now think about holding that weight for an hour. Two hours.  Even try holding just a real apple for ten minutes in front of you. (An edible apple I mean.) After a while your arm gets too heavy. It’s not so much the weight of the apple or the device that gets you. It’s the weight of holding your arm in front of you for long periods.

A Woman Named Rachel "holding" the Apple logo. Image from Flickr, luckmontague's photostream.

Even though the woman above is not holding any weights, just keeping her arm up will make her arm and shoulders fatigue. quickly. It’s unlikely you anyone would use their iPad in this position, but it gives you an idea of how heavy your arm can be.

2. The “iDevices” are small and to see the screen you have to bend over them. Your neck has to crane to position your eyes over the keypad. I watched a client use her new iPad yesterday. Even though she was sitting in a comfy overstuffed chair, with her legs up, resting the iPad on my knees, she still had to lean far forward and look down at the device.   Thanks Apple for keeping massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors and orthopedic docs busy for years to come!

Even Steven Jobs will need  a neck and shoulder massage after using the iPad!  Notice in the photo below that he is holding the iPad in his hands away from his lap unlike ads for the iPad where we see people holding the iPad on their laps. It’s a trade off in whether his neck gets tired faster from craning forward or his arms and shoulders from holding the iPad closer to his face.

Even Steve Jobs Looks Uncomfortable Using the iPad Image from curiouslee at Flickr.

3. The touch screen is “cool” but it requires you to move your arm in front of your body at an awkward angle. using a keyboard already causes users to tighten their pectoral (chest) muscles a great deal. Tighter pectoral muscles often leads to muscle tension in muscles in the upper back and neck. Why? These back muscles have to compensate for the pec muscles literally pulling your body forward.

Notice how the young man pictured below is leaning far forward over his keyboard? He is engaging his pectoral muscles and the muscles in the back of his neck and upper back are straining to hold him upright. I feel safe to say he may have some neck and shoulder pain from this position. You may think your posture is much better than his But then thick about how you sit if you work on a iPad or iPod!

Image from NatBat at Flickr

I don’t doubt that the new iPad will necessitate a whole slew of new products designed to hold your iPad at a more ergonomic position. Until these come out, I recommend you use the good old Porta Book to hold your iPad at a comfortable viewing angle. The Posta Book is inexpensive, about $20, and lightweight. And it’s available here.

Or if you have a common house cat, you can make use of your pet as an iPad holder. One man did in the pic below!

Image from Flickr.

More articles on iPad ergonomics

The ErgoLab’s Apple iPad Part Deux: Don’t Shoot The Messenger
Donald Clack Plan B, iPAD: ergonomic disaster – end of story

The ErgoLab: The Apple iPad; this Apple has a few worms.

Business Inside SAI: Apple Still Hasn’t Fixed The Big Problem With The iPad: It Looks Really Uncomfortable To Use

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From Russia with Love-Spotlight on Yuriy Dmytrenko

Posted in Health and Wellness, Massage Therapy, tagged , on May 27, 2010| 1 Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

You may ask, who the heck is Yuriy Dmytrenko? Is he a Russian gymnist? A well known swimmer? A famous soccer player? Well, he’s a little bit of all the above–AND, he’s a fantastic massage therapist.

Yuriy waiting for his next client at Whole Foods Gold Coast

Yuriy works at both Working Well Massage chair stations in Chicago. You can meet Yuriy at Whole Foods Gold Coast or at Whole Foods Lincoln Park. One of the things I really like about Yuriy is that he combines the strength of an athlete with old world gentlemanliness of his native land–Russia. Yuriy can give really deep massages or he can be gentle and relaxing. After a massage, I can count on Yuriy to help me put my coat on, help me pick up my groceries and give me a nice smile and hug!

I asked Yuriy to tell me a bit about his background and he shared his story with me. Now I am sharing it with you! Yuriy was born in Russia and completed the Russian Institute of physical education in 1992. He taught high school physical education classes and trained young people in gymnastics, swimming, personal training and soccer while teaching. He moved to the U.S. and became a personal trainer,certified through the ISSA. In 2002 he graduated from the First Institute of Massage in Glenview and in 2008 he became a United States citizen!

As English is not his native language, sometimes Yuriy may appear shy or gruff. but if you speak to him, his whole face lights up when he smile and does his best to alleviate your tired and tense muscles. I recently had a client tell me “I love Yuriy” because he is so sweet and such a  good massage therapist!

I respect Yuriy for coming to a new country where he did not speak the language and working his way through U.S. based training to become a personal trainer and massage therapist. And, he legally obtained citizenship and continues his English language studies to improve his speech and comprehension of English. It’s an honor to work with Yuriy and always a pleasure to get a massage from him too!

Picture of Yuriy massaging client, Pete Skarnulis

Try Yuriy’s massage at Whole Foods Lincoln Park on
Mondays from 4-8pm
1550 N Kingsbury, Chicago, IL

or at Whole Foods Gold Coast on
Wednesdays from 4-8pm
30 W Huron, Chicago, IL

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Legal issues for Massage and Chiropractic

Posted in Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , on May 21, 2010| 40 Comments »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Back Muscles and Spine

Massage therapists and and chiropractors have had a symbiotic relationship over the years.  Chiropractors hire massage therapists and massage therapists often refer clients to chiropractors and/or rent space from chiropractors. I used to teach the Business class at one of the local massage schools, and, as a business owner myself, I have to keep up on laws and regulations regarding massage…and chiropractic.  Unfortunately a recent law has put the chiropractic profession a bit at odds with massage therapists. To enlighten clients and other massage therapists, I am going to break down some of the current laws regulating massage and chiropractic are in Illinois.

The Law Regulating Massage Therapists in Illinois

The State of Illinois began requiring massage therapists to obtain a state License for Massage in January, 2005. This law requires massage therapists to complete schooling of at least 500 hours, take and pass the National Certification Exam and pay a fee every two years. In Illinois, Massage Therapist’s are also required to take 24 hours of continuing education credits every two years. This licensing act was an attempt to further legitimize massage therapy (and make it clear massage is not prostitution) and give massage therapists  a uniform standard of education and ethics to follow. Prior to this law, each municipality regulated massage according to their own guidelines. Some cities had stringent regulations, others had none. The state law helped eliminate this confusing patchwork of regulations and put massage therapy under one set of rules, the Massage  Licensing Act.

The Massage Licensing Act requires licensees to be fingerprinted as part of the license application process. This is required to help protect the public from sexual predators and other people with a history of sexual violations. The law also requires massage therapists to have taken and passed courses including kineseology and anatomy and physiology. This means that licensed massage therapists know how your muscles attach, work and can be injured–and how to reduce muscle tension and “knots” in your muscle tissue.

The Law Regulating Use of Unlicensed Persons to Perform Massage In Chiropractic Offices

However, the State of Illinois then passed an act, 22S ILCS 60/Medical Practice effective January, 2010, that allows Chiropractors to hire unlicensed, and potentially untrained staff to give clients “therapeutic” massages at the Chiropractor’s office. Chiropractors may have lobbied for this bill saying that they did not want to have to wait for students to pass their licensing exam before they could work for chiropractors. However, there is no shortage of Licensed Massage Therapists in Illinois (According to the ABMP, there are currently about 8,000 Licensed Massage Therapists in Illinois). And chiropractors can directly bill insurance companies for massage services, while independent massage therapists cannot for most insurance companies in Illinois. Ironically, according to a representative I spoke to at Blue Cross Blue Shield, even with a high-end Blue Cross insurance plan, only chiropractors are allowed to perform the massage, not massage therapists, in order for the insurance company to reimburse for the massage.

Unfortunately, this paves the way for chiropractors to now hire unlicensed, potentially unqualified people to give clients their massages and then in some cases, the chiropractor may bill the insurance company for those massages even if the chiropractor does not perform the massages. Thus untrained employees can be allowed to provide direct patient care to patients with medical conditions. Untrained people can injure you while doing massage work because they haven’t had the 500-hour massage school training (which includes not only training on proper massage techniques, but also anatomy, kinesiology and physiology. And ask a massage therapist: most chiropractors do not stand over massage therapists as they work, monitoring their massage performance–chiropractors are usually working on other patients. In some offices, chiropractors work in one room while the massage therapist works behind closed doors in another room.

License Massage Therapists may lose work to unlicensed people because the chiropractor can hire someone else to do the same work for less pay. In addition, Public Act 096-0618, does not afford the public protections from sexual predators or require unlicensed massage therapists to be finger printed or background checked! It is not clear  how this new law protects the public or can be said to be for the public good.

Note: Reimbursement requirements depend on your particular insurance plan.

As a client, what can you do to protect yourself and make sure your massage therapist is qualified and licensed?

1. Check the State of Illinois Division of Professional Regulation website to look up your Massage Therapist by name and see if he or she has a valid state Massage Therapist license here.

2. If you receive massage from someone at a chiropractor’s office, ask the chiropractor if the massage therapist is licensed. If not, ask for a massage therapist that is licensed by the state and has completed all required training and testing.

3. If your insurance company has been paying a portion or all of your massage bills at the chiropractor, check with the insurance company to find out the exact requirements for reimbursement. Does your insurance company require the chiropractor to personally perform your massage or can they have someone in their office perform the actual massage for reimbursement?

If the insurance company requires the chiropractor to perform the massage, and your chiropractor charged your insurance company for performing massages then he/she delegated the massage to a staff member that is not a Licensed Chiropractor, your chiropractor could run into trouble with the insurance company. If the insurance company ever found out, you may also be in trouble too. You may have to pay back the insurance company for your massages and you may also be accused of committing insurance fraud. But, if it’s a great deal for you and the chiropractor to have the insurance company pay for your massage, who would ever tell the insurance company? Well, a disgruntled employee of the chiropractor’s office for one.  Or a spouse divorcing one of the chiropractor’s patients could be a whistle blower. Anyone with a bone to pick with the chiropractor. (Bad pun intended.)  Ask yourself if saving a few dollars is worth the legal risk.

4. Note that using a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account (HSA) for to pay a massage therapist directly for your massages IS legal IF the massage is considered therapeutic. For example, if you have been diagnosed by a doctor or chiropractor with plantar facitis or a low back or cervical disorder that requires massage, that would be a therapeutic massage. Or, if you have fibromyalgia or a repetitive injury such as a thoracic outlet syndrome, massage to help with these conditions would be considered therapeutic. Check with your Flex Spending or HSA account administrator for details of your specific plan. To be an expense for medical care, the expense has to be primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness.  Check the U.S. Government’s rules for “qualifying medical expenses” here.

For example, a Cigna plan allows you to use a FSA or HSA funds to pay for massages if they are used to treat a physical defect or illness. Cigna Plan – Fees paid for massages are not reimbursable unless to treat a physical defect or illness. Physician’s diagnosis letter required.”

I don’t want to scare anyone out of getting a massage at your chiropractor by any means!  Most chiropractors are law abiding and follow insurance company guidelines. I work closely with several chiropractors and I refer clients to them often. But knowing the law and abiding by it may save you from problems and legal issues down the road.

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An Exciting New Massage Treatment!

Posted in Massage Therapy, tagged , on May 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Cat massage!

Although I no longer have cats, I do enjoy a good cat massage! (And a good laugh!)

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Status of Amendment to Chicago Massage Establishment Act

Posted in Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , on May 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Chicago City Council

I don’t know about you, but I am getting pretty exhausted by the ups and downs of this amendment to the Chicago Massage Establishment Act process. (More info from my previous posts here and here.) After all the hooplala about the amendment being voted on  in the Chicago City Council meeting on May 12….nothing happened. Well, not nothing, but the amendment did not come up for a vote and there was no word anywhere about the City Council meeting until today.

According to Alderman Moore’s Ward City Council Report, “You might recall from my last City Council report that I delayed a vote on a misguided piece of legislation that restricted the ability of “massage establishments” to operate in business districts.  Fortunately, this legislation did not come up for a vote at this City Council meeting, and I’m told discussions are underway to amend the proposal to make it far less onerous.  I will keep you apprised of this legislation, as well.”

UPDATE: The latest word from AMTA, as of May 15, 2010, is that the amendment did not come up for a vote and this may be viewed as a tentative win.

Thanks to each of you who contacted Chicago officials to voice your opposition to the proposed zoning amendment. The time you took to do this was worthy of the investment. At this time, we’ve stopped the amendment from going to a vote. Your emails and phone calls to city alderman have been heard.

At the same time, according to AMTA, there is still opportunity for this misguided piece of legislation to be reintroduced for full City Council vote on June 9th or any City Council Meeting between then and May 2011 when the new City Council is seated. The Zoning Committee needs only 48 hours notice to the City Clerks office to have the proposed amendment put on the City Council Agenda.

Therefore, the AMTA-IL Government Relations Committee will continue to dialogue with the City to effectively have the proposed amendment tabled (meaning it would not be reintroduced again). The AMTA is also expanding partnerships with City officials to ensure that the application process for a massage therapy business license is fortified and preemptive in an effort to mitigate illicit activity. AMTA will also continue to develop and bolster the relationships forged among other allied healthcare professions and the small business communities that have a stake in this issue.

I will keep you up to date as I learn more. For now, if you are so inclined, thank Alderman Moore for his efforts to make this amendment less damaging to legitimate massage businesses in Chicago!

Alderman Joe Moore  email: ward49@cityofchicago.org

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One Last Time-Help Us Keep Legit Massage in Safe Accessible Areas in Chicago

Posted in Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , , on May 9, 2010| 1 Comment »

Used Car Lot
Is this where you want to go for your massage? Image by dumin via Flickr

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I was in error when I wrote last month that the city of Chicago had defeated the amendment to the Massage Establishment Act. According to the American Massage Therapy Therapy Association (AMTA). The amendment was not defeated, it was tabled for a vote on May 12. So, once again I am calling on you to take a few minutes or email or call your Alderman/woman. I am providing the latest info from the AMTA’s website below along with contact info for Chicago alderman. (Read my original blog post about this issue  here.)

Say “NO” to restrictive zoning! Say YES to better licensing and enforcement!!

It is rare in the Chicago City Council that an alderman gets an ordinance out of committee, only to have it blocked on the floor of the city council as happened on April 14th. Invoking an absolute right of parliamentary rule and exercising tremendous amount of political courage, Aldermen Joe Moore (49th Ward), Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward) and Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) joined together to “defer and publish”. . . Kudos to Moore, Smith and Reilly! The ordinance will come up for a full vote again at the next Chicago City Council meeting on May 12th. All 50 aldermen in the city of Chicago must hear from us!

The amendment is now slated to come up again for a full vote before the full Chicago City Council on Wednesday, May 12th to immediately enact the ordinance.

WE CAN STILL STOP THIS AMENDMENT, BUT YOU MUST ACT TODAY!

Before Tuesday, May 11, please call, e-mail and write to the alderman where you live, work or patronize a massage therapy clinic !

We really need YOUR help, fellow Chicagoans! Please take just a few minutes to call or email your alderman or alderwoman today. Ask them to support legitimate, licensed massage therapists and local economies citywide and Vote NO to this amendment to the zoning ordinance!

Here is a sample email from the AMTA you can cut and paste or use and modify in your own words:

“As a client of a legitimate massage therapy business and your constituent in the (#) Ward, I am writing to voice my opposition to the recent amendment to the City of Chicago Zoning Ordinance that would redistrict “Massage Establishments” out of B-1 and B-2 zoning districts to B-3 and “C” zoning districts as sponsored by Alderman Ray Suarez of the 31st ward.

While I applaud the alderman’s effort to address the problems of illicit activity, the current direction is misguided. First, the amendment is confusing licensed massage therapy with prostitution and adult entertainment. It clearly discriminates against legitimate massage therapists and businesses that offer licensed massage therapy as a primary practice or ancillary service. Further, it is the ONLY professional service that is being singled out. Could illicit activity not happen in a spa, salon or doctor’s office?

Second, licensed massage therapy is recognized as a legitimate profession by the National League of Cities, of which Chicago is a member. It is a licensed profession in the State of Illinois that is protected by The Massage Licensing Act. This over-arching attempt by government to move practitioners and consumers of licensed massage therapy into zoning districts that strike no parity with the needs of small business owners and consumers sends a message that Chicago is out of touch. It communicates that Chicago is unfriendly to small businesses and unsympathetic to those desiring close proximity to the small businesses that serve and support their local economies.

Third, the amendment as proposed, still does not address the issue of mitigating illicit activity; it merely codifies illegal activity, by moving it slightly away from the periphery of public view and flat-out sends a skewed message that the city is not in fact interested in eradicating this kind of crime.

Since the amendment was passed out of committee on April 12th, overt efforts and attempts by the American Massage Therapy Association-Illinois Chapter have been made to reach a fair and amenable solution, including the draft of a Fair Practice Act and a Model Ordinance. Today, we all stand in solidarity with many local chambers of commerce, other allied professionals and consumers.

This matter is scheduled to come before the City Council on May 12th, 2010. I am requesting that you allow common sense to prevail, exercise the same political courage of Aldermen Moore, Smith (48) and Reilly, and that you vote NO to this amendment.

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Feel free to cut and paste our sample email or write your own. I appreciate your help on this important issue!

City of Chicago Alderman Names and Emails by Ward

1st Ward Proco Joe Moreno ward01@cityofchicago.org
2nd Ward Robert Fioretti ward02@cityofchicago.org
3rd Ward Pat Dowell Pat.Dowell@cityofchicago.org
4th Ward Toni Preckwinkle tpreckwinkle@cityofchicago.org
5th Ward Leslie Hairston lhairston@cityofchicago.org
6th Ward Freddrenna Lyle flyle@cityofchicago.org
7th Ward Sandi Jackson Sandi.Jackson@cityofchicago.org
8th Ward Michelle Harris mharris@cityofchicago.org
9th Ward Anthony Beale abeale@cityofchicago.org
10th Ward John Pope jpope@cityofchicago.org
11th Ward James Balcer jbalcer@cityofchicago.org
12th Ward George Cardenas ward12@cityofchicago.org
13th Ward Frank Olivo (Zoning Committee Member) folivo@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 581-8000  City Hall Phone: (312) 744-3076
14th Ward Edward Burke (Zoning Committee Member) eburke@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: 773-471-1414  City Hall Phone: 312-744-3380
15th Ward Toni Foulkes Toni.Foulkes@cityofchicago.org
16th Ward JoAnn Thompson JoAnn.Thompson@cityofchicago.org
17th Ward Latasha Thomas (Zoning Committee Member) lrthomas@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: 773-723-0908 City Hall Phone: 312-744-7738
18th Ward Lona Lane ward18@cityofchicago.org
19th Ward Virginia Rugai vrugai@cityofchicago.org
20th Ward Willie Cochran Willie.Cochran@cityofchicago.org
21st Ward Howard Brookins ward21@cityofchicago.org
22nd Ward Ricardo Munoz rmunoz@cityofchicago.org
23rd Ward Michael Zalewski mzalewski@cityofchicago.org
24th Ward Sharon Dixon Sharon.Dixon@cityofchicago.org
25th Ward Daniel Solis (Zoning Committee Chair) dsolis@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 523-4100 City Hall Phone: (312) 744-6845
26th Ward Roberto Maldonado Contact by Phone 773 395-0143
27th Ward Walter Burnett wburnett@cityofchicago.org
28th Ward Ed Smith (Zoning Committee Member) ehsmith@cityofchicago.org
29th Ward Deborah Graham Contact by Phone (312) 744-8805
30th Ward Ariel Reboyras ward30@cityofchicago.org
31st Ward Ray Suarez (Zoning Committee Member that sponsored amendment) rsuarez@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 486-6488 City Hall Phone: (312) 744-6102
32nd Ward Scott Waguespack ward32@cityofchicago.org
33rd Ward Richard Mell rmell@cityofchicago.org
34th Ward Carrie Austin (Zoning Committee Member) caustin@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 928-6961 City Hall Phone: (312) 744-6820
35th Ward Ray Colon (Zoning Committee Member) ward35@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 365-3535 City Hall Phone: (312) 744-6835
36th Ward John Rice Contact by Phone 773)622-3232
37th Ward Emma Mitts emitts@cityofchicago.org
38th Ward Thomas Allen (Zoning Committee Member) tallen@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 545-3838 City Hall Phone: (312) 744-6811
39th Ward Margaret Laurino (Zoning Committee Member) mlaurino@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 736-5594 City Hall Phone: (312) 744-7242
40th Ward Patrick O’Connor pjoconnor@cityofchicago.org
41st Ward Brian Doherty bdoherty@cityofchicago.org
42nd Ward Brendan Reilly Brendan.Reilly@cityofchicago.org
43rd Ward Vi Daley (Zoning Committee Member) vdaley@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: (773) 327-9111 City Hall Phone: (312) 744-3071
44th Ward Thomas Tunney ttunney@cityofchicago.org
45th Ward Patrick Levar plevar@cityofchicago.org
46th Ward Helen Shiller hshiller@cityofchicago.org
47th Ward Eugene Schulter (Zoning Committee Member) ward47@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: 773-348-8400 City Hall Phone: 312-744-3180
48th Ward Mary Ann Smith msmith@cityofchicago.org
49th Ward Joe Moore ward49@cityofchicago.org
50th Ward Bernard Stone (Zoning Committee Member) bstone@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: 773-764-5050 City Hall Phone: 312-744-6855
Note: Ald. Bernard Stone (50th Ward)  is the only Committee member that was opposed to the ordinance.  Thank you Alderman Stone!!!!!

A Better Idea For Massage In Chicago

In the meantime, the AMTA-IL Government Relations Committee is finalizing language for a model ordinance that would require massage therapy establishments to submit proof of state licensure when applying for business licenses or renewal (currently not done), and levying substantial fines for violations (also not currently done). Members of the Zoning Committee and a City Commissioner want to partner with the AMTA to address the issues of illicit activity in their wards without discriminating against licensed massage therapists and legitimate massage therapy establishments.

The AMTA proposal is designed to protect the public from illegal massage “parlors” without adversely effecting the business of legitimate massage therapists. But this proposal will likely fall on deaf ears if the current nonsensical and damaging amendment to the Massage Establishment Act passes on Wednesday, May 12.

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Something Special for Expectant Mothers–Prenatal Massage Tips

Posted in Massage Research, Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , , on April 20, 2010| 7 Comments »

Image courtesy of Birth Balance Blog

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Prenatal Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Prenatal massage therapy is an area that is generating more and more research. Right now a few of my massage clients are pregnant. I thought I’d share some of the tips on prenatal massage with you that I share with them!

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Pregnancy Today’s Kelly Lott, RMT, suggests that, in addition to feeling good, prenatal massage therapy can have other benefits for the mom-to-be and her baby, too.  “A study conducted by Dr. Tiffany Field at the University of Miami School of Medicine showed that massage actually reduces stress hormones in the body. Touch is vital to the mother’s physical and emotional well-being as she adapts to her new body image. Regardless of individual circumstances, a pregnant woman’s body is challenged, changed and stressed in many ways. Massage gives special attention to the mother-to-be, which in turn nurtures the new life that grows within her.”

In addition, other benefits include:

  • Relieves swelling/edema in legs
  • Reduces low back pain
  • Relieves muscle soreness and pain in neck and shoulder area
  • Gives mothers-to-be a place to be pampered, to relax and feel nurtured!
  • And according to Shirley Vanderbilt at MassageTherapy.com, “Recent studies from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) in Miami, Fla., indicates that pregnancy massage provides more than just symptom relief for the mother. A group of 26 pregnant women were given either massage or relaxation therapy during a five-week study. In addition to experiencing a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, stress, sleep problems and back pain, the massage group had fewer complications in their delivery. Their newborns also had fewer postnatal complications. Another TRI study reported massage during labor resulted in shorter labor times for the mothers, shorter hospital stays and less postpartum depression.” (Read more from Shirley Vanderbilt on Pregnancy Massage at massagetherapy.com here.)

Cautions for Prenatal Massage

There are, however, times when expectant mothers should avoid seeking massage therapy. Because of the increased risk for miscarriage in the first trimester, it is commonly recommended to wait until second or third trimesters to explore prenatal massage. If an expectant mother is experiencing any of the following complications or conditions, she should abstain from prenatal massage as well:

  • heavy discharge (watery or bloody);
  • diabetes;
  • contagious illness;
  • fever;
  • vomiting;
  • unusual pain;
  • preeclampsia;
  • high blood pressure;
  • morning sickness;
  • abdominal pain;
  • diarrhea;
  • any malignant condition.

Additionally, areas of the body that should not be massaged include:

  • skin rashes, open sores, bruises
  • raised or distended varicose veins
  • Points on the hand between the thumb and index finger*
  • Points on the inside of the lower leg about 4 inches above the inner ankle bone*

*These are accupressure points thought to stimulate contractions and labor

Prenatal Massage Positioning

For table massage, pregnant women should not lie on their stomachs. Prenatal massage should be done with the mother to be in a side lying position, usually hugging  a body pillow. Some massage therapists will also use a body cushion system that allows the mother-to-be to lay face down with her belly supported by the pillows. Pregnant women love this pillow because ti allows them to lay face down without any pressure on their bellies. However, there is some concern that this body cushion position may over stretch ligaments in the woman’s abdomen and some massage therapists (myself included) prefer to avoid the risk and use the side lying position exclusively.

For chair massage, most massage chairs have a “pregnancy bolster” which allows the expectant mother to sit in the chair without putting any pressure on her belly. The massage chairs at Working Well massage stations are designed to move the breast plate high enough to that the expectant mother’s belly is under the breastplate.

Finding a Good Prenatal Massage Therapist

Massage therapists must be certified in prenatal massage to perform prenatal massage. If you already see a massage therapist, ask him or her if they have this certification or if they can refer you to a massage therapist that does. If you are in Chicago, I, myself, am certified in prenatal massage and I also know of several massage therapists with prenatal certification I can recommend.

To find a reputable prenatal massage therapist in the US, visit the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professional’s massage locator service here. Or visit the National Massage Therapy Certification Board and search for ‘pregnancy massage.’

Read more at Suite101: Benefits of Prenatal Massage: When and Why to Get a Massage During Pregnancy

Read “12 Reasons to Administer Prenatal Massage Therapy” here.

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The Amendment to Chicago’s Massage Establishment Act was Defeated Today!!!

Posted in Massage Therapy, tagged , , , , , , on April 14, 2010| 1 Comment »

Thank You
Image by jaredchapman via Flickr

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Thanks to the overwhelmingly negative reaction of massage therapists and the public, including those of you on this blog that wrote or emailed your alderman, today Chicago City Council defeated the proposed amendment to the Massage Establishment Act.

Link to Chicago Tribune  article about today’s vote here.

Thank you so very very much for taking the time to make your concerns heard. The AMTA and the ABMP are continuing to work with our aldermen to address the issue of massage “parlors” without causing harm to legitimate massage therapy businesses.

Thanks you, thank you, thank you!

Now back to wellness, stress management, nutrition, fitness and ergonomic topics!

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