It's September and that means it's a BUSY time in the Rath home! Labor day....JDRF walk.....my birthday!....the start of a new school year at 2 different schools....flag football practice and games for both boys.....grieving the end of summer....shopping for pumpkin candles....there is a lot going on and our plates are feeling full. But I continue to remind myself that a full plate means a happy and full life and I'll be sure to stop and enjoy the turning leaves, feel the cooler morning air and smell the pumpkin-scented everything.

I'm also celebrating my 16th year as a massage therapist this month! I am so incredibly grateful to still be going strong in a career that I love so much. I honestly cannot imagine doing anything else! People often ask if my hands are sore after all these years of massaging. I'll tell you a secret....some times, if I work too hard or too much in one day, I do get sore thumbs and hands. This month's muscle is one that I have to really work with to keep from hurting me and I've found most people have some level of soreness in this muscle.
So, without further ado......September's Muscle of the Month.....
Muscle of the Month: Thenar Eminence
* Location- The thenar eminence refers to the muscles on the palm of the hand, near the base of the thumb. It includes 3 muscles- Abductor Pollicis Brevis, Flexor Pollicis Brevis and Opponens Pollicis 
*Action- Together this muscle group controls all of the actions and movements of the thumb. 
* Common Complaints- Depending on the cause, pain may be sharp, achy, stabbing, throbbing, or dull. Discomfort can vary from mild to severe pain and often results in a loss of grip and hand strength. 
*Typical Causes- We use our thumbs for just about everything.....driving, typing, holding things, folding laundry, texting, rock climbing, knitting...the list goes on. Our thumbs and hands are over used on a daily basis and the repetitive use can cause pain, injury and loss of strength. More serious problems like arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain's tendinitis, and hand fractures can also cause pain in the thumb and hand.
*Stretches- This link is a great one for explaining hand issues and describing stretches and exercises, this one is a quick video with a good thumb stretch, and this one has some of my favorite hand stretches that I do every day.   
*Helpful hints- The thenar eminence can easily be massaged on your own. Try putting the effected hand on a table top or your lap and use your opposite elbow to push around on your palm, massaging any area that hurts. Or you can use your thumb and fingers of the opposite hand to squeeze the thumb muscle and palm of your hand. If adding some self massage and ice/heat doesn't help, talk to me and we can discuss what your specific problem may be so we can come up with a workable solution.
Announcements
*School is in full swing and my hours have shifted just a bit....
Mondays- 9:00-2:30
Tuesdays/Thursdays- 9:00-2:30, 4:00-7:00
Wednesdays- 1:00, 4:00-7:00
Saturdays- 8:30-2:00
Remember you can view my schedule and submit an online request to schedule your appointment by clicking here. And please feel free to email/call/text me for other options and questions.

*The JDRF walk is just around the corner! We are typically the largest family team at the walk, but we're looking a little small this year. We would LOVE for you to come and join us for a fun, kid friendly walk on 9/13/15! If you haven't yet, please watch our video  and consider donating even just $5 to help us reach this year's goal. We've passed our $7000 goal and we'd love to keep going  and hit our yearly average of $10,000! Your dollars help more than you know, and give our son and all the other Type One Diabetics hope that one day we'll turn Type One into Type None. From the bottom of my heart...thank you for your love and support!!!
 
 In sincere gratitude,

Bryn Rath
Tranquil Massage
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