Mara Nicandro NMT – Holistic Neuromuscular Massage Therapy for Vital Wellness

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Tag: muscle trauma

Why old injuries flare up under stress

Jul 6, 2013

—

by

Mara Nicandro

in Physiological Laws

✨ Neck Pain? See How It Affects Posture and Ever

✨ Neck Pain? See How It Affects Posture and Everyday Life ✨

Do your shoulders feel like they’re constantly creeping up toward your ears? Struggle with neck tension, poor posture, or even jaw pain? The levator scapulae and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles could be at the root of it.

When these muscles become overactive, they pull your head forward, contributing to forward head posture. This doesn’t just strain your neck – it impacts movement, breathing, and jaw function, often leading to clenching and further misalignment. If not caught and addressed, these patterns can escalate, causing chronic pain, headaches, and restricted mobility.

With a Neurokinetic Therapy assessment, we discovered that Andrew’s levator scapulae and SCM were locked in a pattern of overcompensation, contributing to his forward head posture and neck discomfort. By resetting their function and balancing their recruitment patterns, we reduced his tension and improved his alignment. Now, Andrew feels better and can continue his movement practice with proper form, avoiding further strain or compensations.

Swipe to see Andrew’s before-and-after transformation! In the ‘before’ photo, you’ll notice the tension pulling his head forward. In the ‘after,’ his posture is more relaxed and balanced, with improved alignment and reduced jaw tension.

This is the power of addressing root causes with the right approach. Curious to learn more? DM or click the link in my bio to explore how this could work for you!

#NeckPainRelief #LevatorScapulae #SCM #PostureCorrection #JawTension #FunctionalMovement #ChronicPainRelief #BeforeAndAfter #NeurokineticTherapy #MindBodyConnection

✨ Before & After: Realigning with Purpose ✨

💥 Shoulder Pain & Surprising Muscle Connections

💥 Shoulder Pain & Surprising Muscle Connections 💥

Ever felt those stubborn knots or trigger point pain in your shoulders? It’s like a deep ache that doesn’t just sit still—it tugs, pulls, and radiates through your neck, shoulders, and even your jaw. Learn the surprising connection behind this tension: when stabilizing neck muscles aren’t doing their job, nearby muscles like the masseter (yes, your jaw!) start overworking, leading to even more discomfort and tension.

✨ How This Impacts More Than Just Muscles:
Chronic tension doesn’t just affect movement. It can activate the “fight or flight” response, restrict deep breathing, and even slow lymphatic flow. This adds stress to your system, reduces your ability to relax, and can impact immunity over time.

✨ How Self-Care Helps:
By addressing the root cause, we help restore balance, ease tension, and support natural functions—so you can feel at ease in your body and breathe freely again. No need to keep suffering; relief is possible. 🌱

#ShoulderPain #TriggerPoints #JawTension #HolisticHealth #FunctionalMovement #HolisticHealing #TMJrelief #frozenshoulder #NeckPainRelief

🌿 Reclaiming Freedom in Movement Through Holist

🌿 Reclaiming Freedom in Movement Through Holistic Care 🌿

#Repost @bradley_blair_osteopath - Every muscle tells a story about how our bodies adapt, compensate, and sometimes get stuck in patterns. The pectoralis major is a prime example, with its three distinct heads often holding tension and restricting ease of movement. Here’s where a holistic approach comes in – rather than just “fixing” the tension, we use Neurokinetic Therapy to assess why it’s happening, uncovering underlying weaknesses that impact your movement.

➡️ By understanding how the clavicular, sternocostal, and abdominal heads affect your shoulder’s mobility, we address these tension lines with targeted manual therapy, Neurokinetic Therapy, and movement re-education, making physical therapy exercises more effective. Whether it’s stiffness from lifting, restrictions in daily movements, or deeper patterns, this holistic approach ensures lasting relief and functional strength.

Ready to feel how a balanced approach can transform your movement? 🌱

#HolisticHealing #FunctionalMovement #MindfulMovement #NeuromuscularTherapy #NeurokineticTherapy #ShoulderHealth #ManualTherapy #RestoreBalance

🌿 Sinus Congestion & Lymphatic Health: How They

🌿 Sinus Congestion & Lymphatic Health: How They’re Connected 🌿

Did you know that your sinus health and lymphatic system go hand-in-hand? When the lymphatic system is sluggish, it can lead to fluid buildup around the head and neck, causing uncomfortable sinus pressure, congestion, and even pain. 😣

For those of us dealing with seasonal allergies, this can feel even worse! Allergens like pollen and dust trigger inflammation, creating even more fluid and congestion. A slow lymphatic system struggles to keep up, making allergy symptoms drag on longer than necessary.

Through lymphatic drainage therapy, we can help clear this congestion by stimulating lymph flow in the head, neck, and chest, supporting natural drainage pathways. The result? Less sinus pressure, reduced puffiness, and relief from those persistent allergy symptoms! 🌬️✨

Breathe a little easier this season by supporting your body’s natural detox pathways. Your sinuses (and immune system) will thank you! 💚

#LymphaticDrainage #SinusHealth #AllergyRelief #BreatheEasy #HolisticHealth #NaturalTherapies #ChicagoHealth

🧠✨ Body Detective Insights: Connecting the Do

🧠✨ Body Detective Insights: Connecting the Dots

My client Emme came in today after standing for four hours to vote, which flared up her low back pain. During her assessment, I noticed her jaw was clenched, joining the tension chain—a classic sign of the body’s guarding reflex, where it tenses up as a protective response. This was a timely reminder in our already scheduled session, as we've been working together on addressing her compensatory patterns. Here’s what I discovered that might help you too:

When your quads become the overachievers while glutes and hamstrings take a coffee break, it creates a fascinating chain reaction:
• Toe gripping patterns emerge
• Upper shoulders become “earrings” instead of flowing down like water
• The jaw joins the tension chain, clenching tightly
• Breathing patterns shift
• Even lymphatic flow becomes compromised, impacting natural drainage and balance in the body.

All of this can lead to chronic pain, like low back pain, creating weakness and further overcompensation.

🔑 Key Solution Chain

1. Start with jaw release work

2. Align & breathe to retrain respiratory patterns, using a ball squeeze to sync breathing with adductors and intrinsic core muscles—no gripping, just natural engagement

3. Introduce a bite wheel to support jaw alignment and reduce tension

4. Gentle lower body alignment work

5. Foot freedom exercises

6. Mindful walking

💪 Workout Tip
If this sounds familiar, try:
• Checking your grip during exercises
• Temporarily scaling down weights or using light resistance bands
• Letting your core engage naturally—no gripping needed
• Think “strong but soft” vs. “white-knuckle grip”

Break the Cycle: Small Shifts Today, Lasting Relief Tomorrow.

Remember: true change happens when we allow our nervous system to shift into "rest and digest" mode. Adaptation is key—small shifts in alignment and breathing help us move out of stress mode and support lasting balance. Your breath is your built-in posture coach! Little changes create big shifts when we work with our body’s natural patterns instead of forcing them.
#jawclenching
#lowbackpain
#MovementMedicine #PostureHealth #BreathWork #BodyMechanics #HolisticHealing

Is Your Lymph Flowing Freely? 🌊 How to Check fo

Is Your Lymph Flowing Freely? 🌊 How to Check for Lymphatic Congestion in Your Underarms and Neck!

Did you know that your lymphatic system plays a major role in detoxifying your body? If you’re noticing puffiness around your neck or underarms, it could be a sign that lymphatic flow is sluggish.

Here’s a quick self-check:

1. Underarms: Gently press around your underarm area. A normal, healthy look is slightly concave or flat. If it’s puffy, that could be a sign of lymph congestion.

2. Neck Area: Check along the sides of your neck and around the collarbone. Tenderness or puffiness here can mean your lymph isn’t draining well from the head and neck.

What You Can Do: Gentle stretches, deep breathing exercises, and self-massage around the neck and underarms can help stimulate lymph flow, supporting your body’s natural detox!

Listen to your body’s signals. If you’re feeling extra congested, consider a professional lymphatic drainage session for a deeper reset.

Save this post for your next self-check! 💙 Drop a question below or send a message if you'd like to learn more about lymphatic health and wellness.

#LymphaticHealth #DetoxNaturally #WellnessJourney #SelfCareTips #LymphDrainage #HolisticHealth #LymphaticMassage #BodyWellness #UnderarmHealth #NaturalHealing #HealthyLymph #BreatheBetter #SelfCareRoutine #HealthCheck #HolisticWellness

🌿 Do your shoulders feel like they’re creepin

🌿 Do your shoulders feel like they’re creeping up toward your ears? You’re not alone! Shoulder tension and neck pain are common, and when left unchecked, they can even lead to spinal compression. 😣

Everyday stress, desk work, and poor posture can cause certain muscles to overwork, pulling the shoulders up and adding extra strain to the neck and spine. This not only leads to pain but can impact your alignment and mobility long-term. 💆‍♀️

Want to know more about why this happens and how you can find lasting relief? Check out my latest article, where I break down the causes and share holistic approaches to help ease the tension and support your spine: [Link in bio or click below] ⬇️

👉 https://nmtforhealth.com/shoulder-tension-neck-pain-spinal-compression/

#ShoulderTension #NeckPainRelief #SpinalHealth #HolisticHealth #PostureMatters #ChronicPainRelief #MindfulMovement #WellnessJourney #SelfCareIsHealthcare

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