Download - Sound massage for a relaxed back - fachverband-klang.de · 3 you aware of stressful situations or conduct, and there-by provide opportunity to avoid these and replace them with positive

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If you suffer from back pain, sound massage may:

• enableasenseofwellbeing

• inducerelaxation

• affecttheautonomicnervoussystemintheformof aparasympatheticresponse

• regulatemuscletension–especiallystriated musculature

• facilitatereductionofmuscletoneinsmoothmuscles

• stimulateperfusionandlymphflowandtherebyalso metabolism

• relaxconnectivetissue/fasciae

• reducepain

• promotebodyimage

• increasemotivation

Harmonic sounds and soft vibrations The harmonic sounds of the singing bowls generallypromoteastateofsoothingrelaxationinashortperi-odof time. The vibrationsof the singingbowls spreadout over bodily fluids, tissues, organs, and muscles, aswell as cavities throughout the body. In comparisontoatraditionalmassage,wearenotworkingwith“out-side energy”, but with very fine impulses that triggerresonanceswithin thebody- so that itbegins tovib-rate from the insideout. The soft oscillations functionassoft,continuousvibrationsintheareabeingtreated.In this way, muscle tension can be reduced, perfusionandlymphflowarestimulated,andfasciaethroughoutthebodyarerelaxed(compareHardt,2009).Consistentvibrationleadstorelaxationofstriatedmuscleandalsohas a tension reducing effect on smooth muscle. Thissometimes leads to surprisingly fast reduction in painandoverall regenerationofthebody.Thisgentlemodeoftreatmentsupportsthebody’sreadinessandspeedofdevelopmentwithoutsurpassinglimitsorcausingaddi-tionalpain.ThisapproachalsoreflectsonofthecentralprinciplesofthePeterHess®soundhealingmethods:lessis more! Experience indicates that sound massage can

Weareallfamiliarwiththisstory:themanychallengesofourcareersandeverydaylifeproverbiallyrestonourshoulders;combinethosewithrepetitivetasksandpoorposture,andtheresultisanachingback.Statisticsspeakfor themselves: one out of two Germans complains ofoccasionalorchronicbackpain.Itisthereforenosurprisethatbacksymptomsareafrequenttopicinthepracticeofsoundmassage.

Sound massage therapy for back pain Therearemanypotentialcausesofbackpainand,inanyevent,theseshouldbemedicallyevaluatedpriortoanytherapy. Stress is a primary cause of back pain. As astudy conductedby theEuropeanProfessionalAsso-ciationforSoundMassageTherapywithmorethan200participantswereabletoshow,regularsoundmassagespromotepositivewaystomanagestressandincreasethefeelingofWellbeinginandwithyourownbody(Koller/Grotz,2010).Whendealingwith stress-relatedsymp-toms,soundmassage,asaholisticmeansofrelaxation,isidealforsupportingtraditionaltreatmentmethodsandplaysanespecially important role inprevention.Whenappliedbyatrainedprofessional,soundhealingmethodsmayalsobeusedastargeted,independentinterventions.Collaborationbetweentheclient/patient,soundmassage practitioner,andthetreatingphysicians,therapists,andother care team members is highly desired. Whethercausedbystressorotherfactors,soundhealingmethodsprovide numerous approaches to therapy and are anidealcomplementtoholistic,integratedbacktreatment.

The burden of lower back pain Sound massage for a relaxed back by Zeljko Vlahovic

photos: Anna Avramidou

©(Publisher)EuropeanAssociationSound-Massage-Therapy,D-27305Bruchhausen-VilsenarticleoutofthespecialistjournalSound-Massage-Therapy,editionnumber12/2017,publishedingerman·www.fachverband-klang.de

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reby reduce pain (compareBeutel, 2007), so that, forexample, a traditional massage may then be carriedoutsubsequently.Especiallywithchronicpainpatients,“just a feeling of wellbeing” during a sound massagecanbeakeymomentintheirhealingprocess.Particu-larlywhenconsideringthatwithitsmechanicallyverygentle,subtle,stimulithroughfinesoundvibrations,asoundmassageisaverygoodalternativetoelementsofadeepmassagethatoftencannotbecarriedout.Buthealing sounds can also support perfusion-promoting and tension-reducing massage stimuli following amassage.A“regeneration”candevelop,andthepleasantfeelingissustainablyanchoredthroughsound.

Positive feelings facilitate change Othersymptomsassociatedwithbackpainincludesleepdisorders,fatigue,resignation,orevendepression(com-pareMatzenberger,2009).Thepleasant,pain-freebodyexperienceduringasoundsessionisawelcomecounterposition–andnotjustforchronicpainpatients.Soundspromoterelaxationusuallywithinjustafewminutesandtriggerpositivefeelingsliketrust,comfort,orassurance.

supportourregulatorysystemforhomeostasis,thusthenaturalimpulseforthepreservationofourinternalsys-tems.Thesetrendtowardstheirown“centre”andthere-bytowardsbeing“well”.

Reduce pain – enable regenerationIn practice, regular sound massages have not onlyshown to play a significant role in prevention, butsound healing methods have also proven themselvesin complementary applications, for instance prepara-torymeasurespriortotraditionaltreatment.Targetedcollaborationbetweensoundmassagepractitionerand,for example, physical therapist or ergo-therapist canbe especially beneficial here. Through sound healingtherapy, the client/patient is prepared for the actualtreatment,sothatitstherapeuticeffectisheightened.Thosesufferingfrombackpainrepeatedlydescribehowsoothingandrelaxingasoundmassageisfortheback.“Problem areas” such as joints with restricted rangeofmotionormusculartightnessoftencausepainand allowonlylimitedtherapeutictreatment.Priorrelaxation throughsoundtherapycanenablelooseningandthe-

The harmonic sounds and rhythmic vibrations of the singing bowl are perceived as very soothing and gently relax tensions.

photo: Anna Avramidou


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youawareofstressfulsituationsorconduct,andthere-byprovideopportunitytoavoidtheseandreplacethemwithpositivebehaviouralprocesses.Thisisthefirststeptowards change. The sounds – for example associatedwithtargetedaffirmations–alsosupportonthejourneytowardschange.Thereisevidencethattheyhaveaposi-tiveimpactonthemotivationtodosomethingforyour-self(compareErler,2014),sothatsomepatientsregardtheir experiencewith sound therapyas the impulse toget involved in their own healing process and therebyimprovetheirhealthinasustainablemanner(compareKrause,2016).Atthesametime,thesoundsarenotonlybeneficialtothereceiver,butalsotothegiver–becauseinthesoundspaceallparticipantsbenefit!

Whenyouconsiderthatapprox.80%ofpatientstreated for back pain suffer from “unspecified” back pain, inother words, the cause of their back pain cannot beclearlydetermined,theholisticeffectofasoundmassagebecomesmoresignificant.Mentalandphysicalrelaxa-tionopensthewayto“lettinggo”and“self-examination”.Youcouldsaythatwiththehelpofhealingsounds,thesoulisabletounfold.Occasionally,somethingis“apainin the neck”, “oppress our shoulders”, or “breaks ourbacks”.Withtheaidofthehealingsounds,wearereadyto look insideand, andmayunderstand fromahigherpoint of view, what’s the reason of our complaints. Inthismanner,targetedsoundexercisescanbecomepartof a daily psychological regimen. They can help make

Standing in the XXL bowl, the sounds spread from the soles of our feet upward – they have a straightening and loosening effect. Ideal for self-application or preparation for therapy.

photo: Anna Avramidou


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photo: Archiv Peter Hess® Institut
