Author: Waverley Back & Sports Care

Having a lifestyle like Bear Grylls, adventurer and TV presenter best known for Man vs Wild and Born Survivor, requires incredible fitness.

During his outdoor adventures, he might be jumping out of planes, diving into freezing cold water, gamely trekking across deserts and up mountains, or parachuting into extreme terrain such as trees, glaciers and sand.

Bear broke his back in a parachuting accident ten years ago, in addition to past injuries and pains, and has to be fully fit to undertake his exploits and endure extreme temperatures. His wife Shara started seeing Bowen therapist Sarah Yearsley for her back problems some time ago, and now Bear also sees Bowen sessions as an essential part of his preparation and recovery in between his excursions.

“Bowen Technique releases energy, sending impulses to the brain to trigger the body’s own healing system”

“Bowen has helped keep my body together despite the continual bashing it takes,” Bear says. “It’s a vital support in putting right a whole range of new aches and pains, making sure that old injuries don’t cause me problems, and helping me fight stress and fatigue.”

Sarah, his therapist, explains: “Bear provides a perfect illustration of the amazing versatility of Bowen. It helps him across a full range of symptoms – not only alleviating pain but boosting his immune system and helping minimise fatigue. Of course, he isn’t a typical patient, but most of his problems are no different from those I treat in people with normal lifestyles.”

Bowen Technique involves gentle movements with the fingers and thumbs along the muscles, ligaments, tendons and soft tissues of the body. The process releases energy, sending impulses to the brain to trigger the body’s own healing system. It is said to be particularly effective in correcting muscular and skeletal imbalances. The practitioner usually works through clothing, making light movements

Survival expert Bear Grylls says the Bowen technique keeps his back fit and healthy, and reduces stress and fatigue. to encourage the circulation of blood and lymph, increase mobility and release blocked energy.

Originally founded by Aussie Tom Bowen (1916-1982), it’s a holistic treatment, focused on helping the entire body. What might appear strange on your first visit is that the practitioner leaves the room after each series of movements, but this is to allow the body to initiate its healing process. So, rather than ‘making’ the body change, Bowen ‘asks’ the body to recognise and make the changes it requires.

Source: http://www.bowentherapy.org.uk/docs/articles/natural-health-may-2014.pdf

This treatment is called cupping therapy (also Chinese cupping, cupping suction, dry cupping, etc.) and it involves using glass, plastic, or rubber cups over skin and creating negative pressure by removing the oxygen inside.

These days, the negative pressure is created by a suction pump attached to the cup, but traditionally this treatment is done by lighting a flame under the cup and quickly placing it over the skin.

The negative pressure causes the soft tissue (skin, fascia, muscles) to raise and get sucked into the cup.

I’ve been using cupping for years in my practice. I was introduced to this treatment technique by one of my colleagues. Since then I have experienced the level of successful outcomes that can be achieved by such a simple technique to administer.

I, myself, have also experienced first hand how immediate the pain relief from cupping can be.

Although cupping has gained recent popularity thanks to international exposure by athletes showing off their residual bruise like markings, this treatment has been performed for thousands of years by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners to treat various illness and pain.

How is cupping performed?

The treatment can be performed by leaving cups over tight or achy spots on affected muscles or by gliding the cups over muscles in a massage-like fashion.

You can also leave the cup in one area have the patient perform a movement or stretch.  This is called tissue distraction with movement (TDM).

Massage lotion is definitely recommended to reduce the friction on the skin and to make the treatment more comfortable.

Professional practitioners trained in acupuncture will place the cups over known acupuncture points to stimulate Qi (pronounced “chee”).  Some cupping sets even come with a firm metal projection that attaches within the inside of the cup and provides an acupressure over the targeted area.

The cups can be left over the desired areas for however long you are comfortable with, normally around 10 minutes.

What is cupping therapy used for?

Literature on cupping has been shown to provide the following benefits:

1. Decrease pain
2. Decrease tenderness
3. Improve mobility
4. Improve tissue oxygenation
5. Improve function
6. Reduce Inflammation

Does cupping therapy hurt?

Although it may look bizarre and painful, cupping is typically a fairly comfortable treatment but it depends on how much suction is being used.

The size of the cups is also important.  The bigger the cups, the more comfortable the treatment.  Smaller cups may feel more like pinching.  The therapist would choose the biggest cup that fits the area you are treating to reduce the likelihood of discomfort.

Mild discomfort may be experienced with aggressive cupping over tight or sore muscles.  This can be similar to the feeling of a deep tissue massage or myofascial release with a foam roller.

Typically this is considered to be a “good hurt”.  It’s the kind of hurt you don’t mind as much because you know you are doing some good to your body.

The residual markings left after treatment also make it appear as though it is painful, however, unlike a bruise, these marks are not tender and only last a few days.

Source: https://myphysiosays.com/2017/04/13/what-is-cupping-therapy/

Massage therapy can play an important role in your health regimen. See what the research says about massage for health and wellness.

1. Reduce stress – The longterm effects of stress can take emotional and physical tolls. Massage therapy may relieve stress and conditions associated with it, such as tension headaches.

2. Get better sleep – Research indicates that massage can improve sleep in those with lower back pain, fibromaylgia, insomnia, pain and other health conditions.

3. Boost mental health and wellness – Research suggests that symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression (all associated with mental health) may be directly affected with massage therapy.

4. Manage pain – Pain can negatively affect a person’s quality of life and impede recovery from illness or injury. Research shows massage can help low-back pain, headaches, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and more.

5. Increase range of motion – Elite and recreational athletes alike can benefit from massage therapy. Massage can help reduce muscle tension, improve exercise performance and prevent injuries.

Source: https://www.amtamassage.org/articles/1/News/index.html

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse consequat nisi sit amet odio convallis, non iaculis dolor rutrum. Donec condimentum nunc felis, ut ullamcorper nulla facilisis ut. Quisque ac dui tellus. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Sed vel lacinia ligula. Nullam ut mi vel eros pulvinar malesuada.

Vivamus malesuada eros ac nulla malesuada rutrum. Ut eu pretium lacus. Pellentesque id felis dui. Etiam scelerisque eros vel justo sodales, vel ullamcorper neque pretium. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et..

Our infographic includes statistics on eye safety at home, at work and during sports, with important tips important fitting considerations for kids.

Magnis ivamus malesuada eros ac nulla malesuada rutrum. Ut eu pretium lacus. Pellentesque id felis dui. Etiam scelerisque eros vel justo sodales, vel ullamcorper neque pretium. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aenean quis molestie ligula, a interdum libero.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse consequat nisi sit amet odio convallis, non iaculis dolor rutrum. Donec condimentum nunc felis, ut ullamcorper nulla facilisis ut. Quisque ac dui tellus. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Sed vel lacinia ligula. Nullam ut mi vel eros pulvinar malesuada.

Vivamus malesuada eros ac nulla malesuada rutrum. Ut eu pretium lacus. Pellentesque id felis dui. Etiam scelerisque eros vel justo sodales, vel ullamcorper neque pretium. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et..

Our infographic includes statistics on eye safety at home, at work and during sports, with important tips important fitting considerations for kids.

Magnis ivamus malesuada eros ac nulla malesuada rutrum. Ut eu pretium lacus. Pellentesque id felis dui. Etiam scelerisque eros vel justo sodales, vel ullamcorper neque pretium. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aenean quis molestie ligula, a interdum libero.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse consequat nisi sit amet odio convallis, non iaculis dolor rutrum. Donec condimentum nunc felis, ut ullamcorper nulla facilisis ut. Quisque ac dui tellus. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Sed vel lacinia ligula. Nullam ut mi vel eros pulvinar malesuada.

Vivamus malesuada eros ac nulla malesuada rutrum. Ut eu pretium lacus. Pellentesque id felis dui. Etiam scelerisque eros vel justo sodales, vel ullamcorper neque pretium. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et..

Our infographic includes statistics on eye safety at home, at work and during sports, with important tips important fitting considerations for kids.

Magnis ivamus malesuada eros ac nulla malesuada rutrum. Ut eu pretium lacus. Pellentesque id felis dui. Etiam scelerisque eros vel justo sodales, vel ullamcorper neque pretium. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aenean quis molestie ligula, a interdum libero.