Why a Pregnant Woman Should Massage Her Soleus Muscles

Soleus Muscle Massage is Good For Mother and Baby

Pregnancy can be tough on the body.  Although a woman’s body is made to nurture and carry a fetus for 10 months, it does not mean that the task is easy.  Her physical structure will change to accommodate the additional load in the front.  The mother’s joints will become more relaxed and flexible to distribute the extra weight.  Her blood supply increases by approximately 30-40%.  Increases in breathing rate and cardiac output provide ample oxygen to both mother and growing baby.

With the increased need for cardiac output, the heart works harder to pump blood throughout the mother’s body as well as the fetus.  Keeping the circulation vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries) relaxed, open, and clear ease the heart’s pumping obligations.  Managing bodyweight, keeping an adequate fitness level, and maintaining a healthy diet are three things that are recommended before and during pregnancy to help a woman reduce her cardiovascular burden.  But, something that can greatly improve cardiovascular efficiency and reduce vascular resistance is soleus muscle massage.

The soleus muscles are large flat muscles of the calves located between the posterior knee and heel.  They lie underneath the gastrocnemius at the superior end and tie into the Achilles tendon at the inferior end.  The soleus muscles are situated adjacent to the deep veins that help transport blood back to the heart.  When the soleus contracts during walking, running, or jumping, it acts as a pump for venous blood returning to the heart.  The soleus is such a powerful pump, it has been dubbed the ‘second heart’.

Muscles of lower extremity (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The importance of the soleus muscles in pumping blood cannot be understated.  If they are strong, supple, active, and functioning to capacity, the soleus can synergistically work with the heart and pump blood efficiently throughout the pregnant woman‘s body.  But if the soleus muscles are tight and/or in spasm, the heart does not get the extra assistance.  Unfortunately, the heart will then work alone and be forced to pump that much harder.  Additionally, tight soleus muscles can restrict blood flow significantly and lead to swelling, edema, high blood pressure, varicose veins, phlebitis, posterior compartment syndrome, increased breathlessness, and other complications.  Tight soleus muscles can also trigger low back pain, which can amplify pregnancy related lumbago.

Treatment of soleus muscles should ideally be sought throughout the entire pregnancy.  Acupuncture and massage therapy are two drug-free solutions that can provide marked results while also giving the mother-to-be a chance to relax during treatment session.  With regular treatments, a woman can reduce lethargy and fatigue, improve emotional state, minimize painful edema and swelling, lower blood pressure, reduce back pain, lower respiratory exertion, and improve her overall state of being.

A sample treatment at our clinic would be:

• Acupuncture – UB40, UB57, UB58, Soleus Motor Point (MP) 1-3, Gastrocnemius MP 1-2, Peroneus Longus MP, Peroneus Brevis MP
• Massage Therapy/Tui Na – Soleus, Gastrocnemius, Peroneus Group, Anterior Tibialis, Intrinsic Muscles of Foot
• Exercise – Movement of the soleus will improve blood flow.  Add a daily walk to routine.
• Advise Suggest use of The Sciaticare Ball for patient self-use to manage and release Soleus Trigger Points, Lower Back & Sciatica Trigger Points.  This maintenance is recommended between visits to your healthcare practitioner.

Related articles

• The Soleus Muscle, The Second Heart (augustpoint.wordpress.com)

Diet and Lifestyle in Preventing Ovulatory Disorder Infertility

Fresh Vegetables!

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have proven that sticking to a “fertility diet” was associated with a lower risk of ovulatory disorder infertility (ODI).  By following a diet with “higher consumption of monounsaturated rather than trans fats, vegetable rather than animal protein sources, low glycemic carbohydrates, high fat dairy, multivitamins, and iron from plants and supplements”, one can reduce infertility caused by ODI.

What is ovulatory disorder infertility?  ODI is infertility based upon issues concerning the release of a follicle from the ovary.  Ovulatory disorders can manifest as a lack of ovulation (anovulation) or irregular ovulation (oligoovulation).  In anovulation, the eggs may not develop properly for fertilization.  In some cases, the eggs don’t develop at all.  In oligoovulation, the periods are irregular.  It is possible for menstruation to still occur in women, even without ovulation.  Therefore, a monthly period does not necessarily equate to the ability to conceive.

How is ovulatory disorder infertility diagnosed?  ODI is diagnosed through patient medical history, family medical history, temperature charts, blood tests, and ultrasound.  Any combination of the above data can be used to diagnose ODI.  But since the cause of ODI is unknown, it remains that each individual will require and respond differently to treatment.  Reasonably, a doctor should prescribe specific treatment relevant to each individual.

The findings of the study show the importance of diet and lifestyle in regards to fertility.  By eating healthy, controlling weight gain, exercising frequently, and managing stress, ODI can be influenced in a positive way.  Although not noted in the results, it can be mentioned that the woman’s monthly blood hormone activity is more balanced (i.e. LH, FSH, Progesterone, etc.) with a well-regulated period.  The good news is that these tools can be integrated into any Eastern (acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, massage) or Western (IVF, ICSI, IUI, cryopreservation, etc.) program.  The best part is that making lifestyle adjustments for the better provides a healthy environment to nurture a growing fetus.  Also, these lifestyle changes cost next to nothing and the benefits can be reaped long after conceiving and carrying your baby to term.

NOTE:  Be sure to notify your doctor of all treatments you may be undertaking as well as any changes to your lifestyle.

As a recap, here are some food ideas that may help reduce ovulatory disorder infertility:

• Replace saturated and trans fats with monounsaturated fats.  (Typically monounsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature.  Examples: olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil)
• Consume vegetable rather than animal protein sources.  Some vegetable foods high in proteins are legumes, nuts, beans, seeds. (Examples: soybeans, kidney beans, peanuts, almonds, lentils)
• Eat low glycemic carbohydrates.  (Examples: unsweetened yogurt, berries, cheese, eggs, fresh vegetables)
• Take a multivitamin.  (For women trying to conceive, consider supplementing your diet with a prenatal vitamin.)

For more information on the Harvard study:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2007-releases/press10312007.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17978119

Related articles

• Fertility Foods (nourishingresults.com)

Promising Research on Pre-eclampsia Detection and Prevention

I came across two articles on pregnancy concerning pre-eclampsia today.  The articles are related to each other in that they both talk about something called pre-eclampsia.  Pre-eclampsia or preeclampsia is defined as “high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman who previously had normal blood pressure” according to the Mayo Clinic.  Problems with pre-eclampsia arise because there is no Western medical way to remedy the situation other than delivering the baby.

Typical signs/symptoms of pre-eclampsia include:  high blood pressure, protein in the urine, headaches, vision changes, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.  If you have any combination of these symptoms during your pregnancy, please visit your physician to discuss any concerns about pre-eclampsia.

The first article discussed a new study showing a predictable test for pre-eclampsia.  There currently exists a proteinuria test done that can tell doctors if there is a chance for pre-eclampsia.  Experts in the field say that the proteinuria test does not show enough correlation between protein in the urine and pre-eclampsia to be a valuable marker.  (Example: Proteinuria as a predictor of complications of pre-eclampsia, By Hofmeyr and Belfort)  But now, researchers at the Mayo Clinic have been able to look at a different marker in the urine, called podocytes, which are shed from the kidneys in patients that develop pre-eclampsia during their pregnancy.  Although this was a small study, there are promising results from the small clinical study, showing that all 15 of the women that tested positive for podocytes in their urine developed pre-eclampsia.

The second article, also from BBC news, talks about an amino acid, called L-arginine, that could help reduce the chance for pre-eclampsia when taken with antioxidant supplements.  The study was done on 228 women and basically showed some correlation between the intake of L-arginine with antioxidants and reduction of pre-eclampsia.  Two concerns about the information in this article are:  What is a food bar?  Why did 30% of the control group have pre-eclampsia when 5-10% would be normal?

Otherwise, it is probably a good idea in general to take a vitamin/mineral supplement during pregnancy, such as a prenatal vitamin.  But, don’t forget that there is also a good reason for eating healthy, as vitamins and minerals can be absorbed much more easily through food than through pills.  Some foods high in L-arginine are:  peanuts, almonds, walnuts, other nuts, salmon, shrimp.

If you are looking for natural, alternative ways to try to reduce your chances of pre-eclampsia during your pregnancy, visit your local acupuncturist and check out what they have to offer.  You may be surprised to learn how much Chinese medicine can do!

Research abstract – http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/7/11

Pre-eclampsia prediction (podocytes) article – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15694021

Pre-eclampsia prevention (L-arginine) article – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13454469

Other Related article

• IVF increases chances of pre-eclampsia by 40 percent (news.bioscholar.com)

Pregnant and in Pain? The Sciaticare Ball Can Help!

For many women, pregnancy comes with a list of aches and pains.  As a woman’s body prepares itself to carry a baby, her bones and ligaments adapt to support the additional weight.  This changing of body position is necessary, and at times, it can also lead to an unpleasant prenatal period.

Two of the most common pregnancy complaints that I see in my clinic are: lumbago (low back pain) and sciatica.  These are typical issues that arise during pregnancy.  Why?  First, the upper half of the body has to adjust to carrying an additional load (i.e. baby), one that increases significantly during the second and third trimesters.  The body tries to balance this load by increasing lumbar curvature.  The new weight distribution puts more strain on the low back when the woman is standing upright.  Secondly, while the baby is growing inside the womb, the hips are opening and adjusting to make room.  The woman’s hips tend to spend more time externally rotated (knees and feet pointed away from midline).  With the external rotation of the hips, the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve get shortened.  If shortened for extended periods of time, the hip muscles can start to spasm and pinch or irritate the sciatic nerve.

I’ve spent much time treating sciatic pain and back pain for pregnant women and great relief can be found in acupuncture and massage therapy.  These are natural, drug-free ways of reducing pain and treating many issues that arise throughout the entire 10-month journey of pregnancy.

Though, sometimes a pregnant woman will have flare-ups of pain at times that make it inconvenient for her to visit my office for treatment.  To mitigate these painful occurrences between acupuncture treatments, I started looking for a way to allow the sufferer to address sciatic and low back pain on her own.

I developed a tool that allows pregnant women to treat their own lumbago and sciatica pain between their office visits.

It’s called the Sciaticare Ball.

The Sciaticare Ball is an acupressure tool, massage tool, and trigger point tool.  It treats stubborn, tight muscles that cause body aches and pains.  The Sciaticare Ball is a versatile tool that can treat the difficult sciatic and lumbago conditions.  But, the Sciaticare Ball treats much more!  Visit our website for FREE information regarding the multitude of other uses for the Sciaticare Ball:  August Point Wellness Website

I’ve seen the other products on the market.  Comparatively, the Sciaticare Ball provides more accurate and precise treatment of your stubborn muscles to: increase blood flow, relieve pain, and reduce swelling.  The Sciaticare Ball is easy to use and accommodates the reduced mobility of a pregnant woman.  The Sciaticare Ball can be used while laying down, sitting, or even standing up.  Stay healthy before, during, and after your pregnancy with the Sciaticare Ball!

The Sciaticare Ball is a serious tool for serious pain.  I highly recommend checking it out.  I’m sure you will find it to be more valuable than any other self-care massage tool you own.

Fertility – Nurturing the Soil for Planting the Seed

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child from unprotected, well-timed intercourse over the course of a year.  Given that definition, there are many people who try for only a few months before they decree themselves barren and seek outside help from a specialist.

For some, the desire to reproduce is powerful and there are a flurry of emotions which can cause the woman (or couple) to feel anxious and desperate when faced with difficulty getting pregnant.  Usually, the next step for the couple is to start calling all the local infertility clinics and setting appointments and consultations to figure out what’s wrong.  All forms of medicine, from conventional to eccentric, become a possible option to fix this “problem”. But, before any appointments are made, the woman (and possibly, man) should first look within herself to ascertain if her current lifestyle is negatively impacting her body and if she can make positive changes to enhance her fertility.

A balanced body, mind, and spirit should be the mother-to-be’s goal in fulfilling her wishes in becoming pregnant. There are key lifestyle ideas that we recommend as a foundation for any couple wanting to procreate.  These ideas can complement any number of outside therapies and will improve the chances of pregnancy success if the need for assisted reproductive technology (ART) arises.

Listed below are 6 suggestions that can create a more fertile environment for planting the seed of life. Making these adjustments in your daily routine may be just the thing to tip the scales in your fertility favor!

1.  Think Pregnant – Imagine yourself pregnant. Imagine yourself healthy, radiant, happy, and carrying a healthy baby inside of you. Look at yourself in the mirror.  Stuff a pillow under your shirt and visualize a pregnant belly. Think about what it would feel like to be pregnant, the joy growing inside of you. Do this every day. This exercise is a mental preparation and meditation for you.

2.  Be Positive – If you don’t think it will happen, it probably won’t.  This applies to life as well as conception. Set yourself up for a positive experience by thinking that you can do it.  Because in most cases, you can!

3.  Exercise – Exercise is a way to relieve stress, release endorphins, and distract you from obsessing about getting pregnant. Find a way to do some form of moderate to strenuous exercise a few times a week.  A healthy body is more capable of handling the extra effort required to grow a fetus.

4.  Manage Weight – Maintaining a healthy weight puts less strain on your own body physically and metabolically.  Extra fat can alter the estrogen levels in the body.  In the other direction, a certain % of fat is required for certain bodily functions to occur.  Compare your body measurements to a body mass index (BMI) and check to see if your weight is within normal range.

5.  Eat Healthy – Cut out artificial sweeteners/flavors, soft drinks, alcohol, drugs.  Reduce intake of dairy products, fried foods, caffeine.  Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic. Eat meats that are hormone-free, mercury-free, and as natural as you can find.  In a nutshell, try to eat as many unadulterated foods as possible.

6. Find Peace – Find a quiet place in the home, or in the neighborhood park to visit every day.  Use this location to sit for a few minutes and clear your head.  This means turning off the phone, the radio, and your conversation with the rest of the world.  Just sit and relax.  Let your mind dissipate away the constant chatter and inner monologue for 5-15 minutes a day.  You should only focus on one thing during this time, deep breathing.  Deep inhale into the belly (where your baby will grow), and exhale slowly.

Give your body 2-3 months to build up and maintain this new adjustment to your activities.  These suggestions may be all that you need to create a warm, nurturing, safe, comfortable environment inside your body for life to begin!

Infertility – Mariah Carey uses Acupuncture to Increase Chances of Pregnancy

If you’re looking for more evidence that acupuncture can promote a healthy environment for the body to conceive, take a look at this.

Of course, celebrities have access to the best healthcare not only in America, but in the entire world.  They are privy to the latest, cutting edge technology when it comes to medicine.

So, why would someone with the financial clout of Mariah Carey seek out an ancient medical practice to aid her in her quest to reproduce?  Simple.  Because it works.

http://blogs.babycenter.com/celebrities/mariah-carey-credits-acupuncture-for-pregnancy/

Related Articles

• Mariah Carey sought pregnancy advice from Celine Dion (hollywoodnews.com)
• “Mariah Carey Used Acupuncture To Help Get Pregnant” and related posts (dbtechno.com)
• Mariah Carey Takes Fertility Tips From Fellow Chart-Topper Celine Dion (omg.yahoo.com)