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PHIT America and Medical Fitness Network Share Joint Vision

SILVER SPRING, MD (December 1, 2015)PHIT America has found a partner in the medical community that shares the same mindset and vision of a healthy and active American population. That partner is the Medical Fitness Network.

Both PHIT America and the Medical Fitness Network are dedicated to educating Americans about the power and importance of exercise and having a physically active lifestyle.

“We at PHIT America are focused on educating Americans about the importance of reversing the ‘Inactivity Pandemic’ which is affecting 83 million Americans,” states Jim Baugh, Founder, PHIT America.

“Exercise has an essential role in the treatment and prevention of many chronic medical conditions,” says Lisa Dougherty, Founder/CEO, Medical Fitness Network. “Exercise also improves overall health and quality of life. These benefits are applicable to people of all ages and most all states of health.”

“We share a mutual goal of educating people about healthy living, the importance of exercise and finding help if you face chronic diseases/medical conditions and their risk factors,” adds Baugh. “We are pleased to offer those who come to our website this important community resource of fitness, complementary health and wellness professionals that the MFN provides.”

Both PHIT America and MFN are in complete agreement when it comes to pursuing the following goals:

  • Educate Americans about the issues of physical inactivity and compel them to be active, fit, and playing more sports to achieve better health
  • Get one million children active by 2020! This will be achieved by promoting and supporting grassroots and school-based programs which will get more children active, fit and healthy
  • Help to pass common-sense U.S. legislation (PHIT Act) which will result in more active and fit Americans which will prevent health care costs
  • Bring together companies, organizations, celebrities, local ‘influencers’ and concerned Americans to work on a common approach to get America more active, fit and healthy

“The Medical Fitness Network is excited to have both our fitness and healthcare professional members and consumer visitors learn more about the work, research and resources of PHIT America,” adds Dougherty.

About the Medical Fitness Network

The mission of the MFN is to improve the quality of life for those with chronic medical conditions or who need pre or postnatal care by connecting them to qualified fitness & healthcare professionals. MFN provides a free national network of exemplary fitness and healthcare professionals with a background in treatment and rehabilitation of various diseases and medical conditions.

About PHIT America

Founded in January 2013, PHIT America is a non-profit campaign focused on overcoming the severe ramifications of the ‘Inactivity Pandemic’ through three strategic approaches – education, supporting school-based activity programs, and advocating – which will get Americans, especially our youth, more active, fit and healthy. For more information about PHIT America, visit www.PHITAmerica.org.

PHIT America, 8505 Fenton Street, Suite 211, Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.phitamerica.org

Media Contact:
Mike May
PHIT America
561.317.6111
mmaymarketing@gmail.com

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Massage and Fibromyalgia – A Therapists Point Of View

I have been privileged to practice therapeutic massage full time, in private practice, for the past nine years. Being a Registered Nurse has largely guided my practice to serve many people with chronic pain. Many of my clients have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Often they have a dual diagnosis of OA (osteoarthritis), hypothyroidism, and/or lupus.

I live and practice in a part of Pennsylvania where we experience all four seasons and quite a variety of weather.  It amazes me that, although my fibromyalgia clients live very different lives, vary greatly in age, and do not know one another, they all present with similar pain patterns.

For example, when the summer begins many clients experience an increase in tenderpoint pain. Often they associate this with air conditioning and artificially cold environments. When we are facing a storm front, the pattern that presents is often a tight upper neck and head and/or forehead pain, and even migraines.

In winter many clients relate that they are experiencing “fibro flares,” meaning general fatigue, and overall flu-like pain with mild depression. Generally, therapeutic massage helps to decrease these symptoms.*

I practice a more clinical style of massage therapy, focusing on pain relief and mobility improvement. In my practice, I have found that an eclectic massage works best. This combines trigger point therapy and myofacial release technique with relaxation techniques—in other words, long soothing strokes with mild rocking; then when the muscles are warm, a deeper pressure with deeper friction strokes over the knots to break down the fibers, release the toxins, and reduce the pain they create.

The University Of Miami School of Medicine, Touch Research Institute, has conducted various studies regarding the benefits of massage therapy.

In a study geared to fibromyalgia patients, it was concluded that massage therapy provided the following benefits: increased serotonin level, decreased circulating stress hormones, decreased levels of substance P (basically a pain messenger), decreased tender point pain, improved sleep patterns, and improved overall sense of well-being.

The principal investigators stated that massage therapy is a clinically significant complementary treatment for fibromyalgia.

I have seen the impact massage therapy has on my fibromyalgia clients. They often enter the session feeling stiffness and discomfort, and leave feeling lighter and in less pain. I have also seen first hand the mood-elevating effect massage therapy has on a person who is feeling down.

Jane Wagner, a 68-year-old client diagnosed in 1964, states, “Massage therapy helps me to feel less pain, and I sleep better on the days I get therapy.” Jane further advises: “Once you go to therapy on a regular basis, the therapist knows your body and can feel tight spots that you don’t even know you have. Once they are released, you feel so much better.” Jane utilizes an indoor pool exercise program three times per week, along with massage therapy sessions every other week to help manage her fibromyalgia.

Many clients claim that monthly massage sessions keep their pain under control. Gail Lewis, a 50-something client diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago, states “Massage therapy has helped me get through really bad bouts with deep spinal pain and tenderpoint pain.” Gail uses a combination of monthly therapeutic massage sessions, daily weight lifting, and aerobics three times per week to keep her pain under control. Gail has not let her fibromyalgia stop her from becoming a three-time national champion in the natural body-building arena.

Based on what I have experienced in my practice, I view therapeutic massage as a tool that can help people take ownership of their fibromyalgia in a positive, healing way.

Regular sessions can help people reconnect with themselves, and facilitate a deep state of relaxation through which they can release some of their pain. During massage the breathing slows down, as does the heart rate. This leads to a state of deep relaxation, kind of a pre-sleep state. Once you have received several sessions, your body can become more conditioned to reproduce this state of deep relaxation.

*It is important to note that you should select your massage therapist carefully.

Utilize state licensing websites or national certification web sites to search for a certified therapist in your area. A helpful website is www.NCBTMB.com, where you can locate a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist in your zip code. Once you have identified a therapist, call for an interview. Ask for credentials and extent of experience working with fibromyalgia patients.

Remember, although massage is very beneficial for everyone, it can be a painful experience for a fibromyalgia patient if not properly performed.


Written and posted by permission by:Sharon Muzio, RN, NCBTMB

Sharon lives in Harrisburg, Pa with her family. You can e-mail her at avwc@comcast.net