RELIEVING
BACK PAIN
By Deborah Karlan, L.M.T.
B ack pain is the most common
reason for visits to my office for
restorative massage. Symptoms
include muscle aches, shooting or
stabbing pain that radiates down your
leg, and limited flexibility. Jack came to
me with back pain and muscle spasms.
I checked his posture both standing and
laying down. He had an imbalance in
the tension of the right thigh and right
hip flexors, causing forward rotation
of the hips and pain and spasms in
the right leg and low back muscles.
I began treatment with releasing the
front hip flexor, which attaches to the
front side of the spine and in many cases
contributes to back pain. This is done
with a gentle neuromuscular technique
by bending the knee and pushing in an
upward motion on the abdomen above
the crest of the hip while sliding the leg
down. This gentle stretch of hip flexors
allows the tension in the back muscles
to lessen, so that they can be released
with massage.
After I released the tightness and
trigger points in the neck and shoulders.
I was ready to work on the back side of
the problem. If I have done a good job
on the front side, the back is usually
very easy to release. On the back side,
I started with myofascial release, then
iced and stretched to eliminate trigger
points, after which I worked out the
spasms. I finished with good flushing
strokes to release the remaining tension
in the muscles. Jack was as good as new.
For back pain relief, be sure that the hip
flexors are released for a more lasting
recovery. We are requiring masks and are
carefully disinfecting after each patient.
Be safe and pain free.
Andrew Ashton, co-owner of Andrew Ashton of LaPosh
Salon in Clearwater and co-founder of The Fairy Godfathers
charity, and his team surprised LaPosh stylist Lisa Brady of
Palm Harbor with cake and song on her birthday.
86 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020
Ear to Tampa Bay
Continued from Page 84
EDITOR’S NOTE: Deborah Karlan, L.M.T.
has been a licensed therapist in Florida since
1982. Her Wellness From Within office is at
2158 Drew St. in Clearwater. Her information
website is wellnessfromwithinllc.com. For
questions and appointments and to find
harmony and balance with massage, please
call (727) 641-8979. FL
License MA4487, Est. MM27138
ADVERTORIAL
67 years of turning disabilities into
capabilities, which is scheduled to be
at The James Museum of Western and
Wildlife Art in St Petersburg.....David
Phillips of Belleair is the board chair of
the Clearwater Free Clinic in Clearwater,
which provides health care for uninsured
families and individuals…..Melissa
Moré, director of volunteer services for
Empath Health, which is headquartered
in Clearwater, announced the group’s
Volunteers of the Year: Chris Zogorean,
who received a Specialized Volunteer
Service Award, Carol Levin, a recipient
of the Miriam “Bunny” Flarsheim
Award, Colleen Martin, winner of the
Outstanding Young Leader Award, Wayne
Kaffai, who was honored with the Empath
Health Members Award and Nero Jones,
Dr. Allen Haimes of Clearwater
Beach celebrated his birthday
at a socially distanced brunch
given by his wife Judith at the
home of Louise Collins and
Al Wiseman in Tarpon Springs.
Dr. Harry Barash
and Pat Rawlings of
Clearwater were met
with musical “Happy
Birthday” greetings
at a socially distanced
surprise birthday dinner
party for her in Safety
Harbor, hosted by Mary
K and John Wilson of
St. Petersburg and catered
by the Stuffed Mushroom
of Safety Harbor.
GRAM
who was the Organizational Support
Volunteer of the year awardee.....Isabel
Arnez of Clearwater, daughter of Monica
and Ismael Arnez, owners of Pico Rojo
Rotisserie restaurant and carryout in
Clearwater, graduated summa cum laude
from Gibbs High School, where she also
earned a St. Petersburg College associate
degree with the summa cum laude honor.
Isabel will attend Florida International
University virtually as an honor student…..
Sarah Gamble, daughter of Gail and
Chip Gamble of Dunedin, who resides
with her husband Jason Carrion in
Austin, Texas, has taken an assistant
professor position focused on teaching,
research and community design with the
University of Florida in Gainesville. 9
GRAM GRAM
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