12th Avenue Massage Therapy Group


2100 N. 12th Avenue • Pensacola, FL 32503 • phone: 850-432-6870 • fax: 850-432-6815
HOME \| MEET THE THERAPISTS \| FAQ \| CONTACT US \| PHOTO GALLERY

2100 N. 12th Avenue • Pensacola, FL 32503 • phone: 850-432-6870 • fax: 850-432-6815

HOME | MEET THE THERAPISTS | FAQ | CONTACT US | PHOTO GALLERY

Douglas Bruce, LMT
MA#52793

Massage Therapy and the War on Stress

In a 2007 study concerning the relationship between stress and disease conducted by Carnegie Mellon University and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, evidence was established connecting stress and certain chronic diseases and disorders.

No big news there, right? This is something most doctors have known for years. The onset of symptoms of many diseases such as heart disease, depression, stomach./digestive disorders and even gum disease have been shown to have a direct relationship to stress.

Does this mean if you're stressed out at work you're going to get depressed, have a heart attack and end up being fitted for a new set of choppers? The answer to that is no. But what it does mean is that stress puts a tremendous strain on our immune systems and other bodily functions and is a direct factor in terms of our state of well-being and health.

Guess we all knew that too.

Stress is a powerful influence in the functioning of both our minds and our bodies and most people live with some level of stress every day. Sometimes it can feel as if stress is a constant companion. Problems at work, ongoing worries concerning money and finances, relationship woes; at least one of these situations plagues just about everyone.

But here's the good news: Stress can be managed.

Massage therapy is a great way to take control of your stress levels. In fact, reduction in stress is probably the biggest (and best) by-product of massage in general. Whether you receive therapeutic work or a relaxation session, the end result will be stress reduction. And this is because massage reduces our adrenaline production and increases our endorphin production. Endorphins are our bodies' equivalent of opiates and it is the most natural thing in the world to feel great after a massage.

Conversely, stress increases adrenaline and feeds our bodies what amounts to an overdose of a variety of chemicals produced by the adrenaline system. It's like a mixed bag of drugs meant to keep us on edge and in high gear; inhibiting sleep, inhibiting our immune systems, sometimes even inhibiting our reasoning abilities. These are chemicals meant to carry us through a workday or even ensure our survival from short-term threats but not meant to be with us around the clock, 24/7.

As we sleep, our bodies build a store of adrenaline chemicals to take us through the next day. When our adrenaline reaches a certain level, we wake up (usually after 7 or 8 hours of sleep). In the normal course of things, we use this supply of adrenaline during the day while we are building a store of endorphins which will, in turn, allow us to sleep when our adrenaline chemicals wane.

These two systems are called the Sympathetic (adrenaline) and Parasympathetic (endorphin) systems and they work very nicely together; one system building an inventory as the other system's storage is being depleted. Yes, they work just dandy until stress comes into the picture; the ultimate monkey-wrench in the works.

Massage helps put the balance back into the symbiotic relationship between our Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems and in this way is a great tool in the war on stress. Get a massage and you replace adrenaline with endorphins. It's that simple. And it works.

So, will massage help us all become happy stress-free campers without a care in the world? No, it won't do a thing to address the underlying life-situations causing our stress. But massage therapy will (and does) make it much easier to deal with stress through the reduction of adrenaline and assisting in proper rest, sleep, relaxation and better overall health.

~Douglas Bruce, LMT
MA#52793


Patients & Clients We want it to be easy for you to come see us. We have provided information and forms to make your visit to 12th Avenue the easiest it can be. - Frequently Asked Questions - Insurance and Massage Therapy - Forms (easy access to all of the forms) - Contact Us find us on FaceBook Referring Physicians We value our relationship with the Doctors who refer patients to us! If we have not worked with you yet, we look forward to showing you what we do at 12th Avenue Massage Therapy Group. - How to refer a patient to us - Forms - FAQ about Massage - Contact Us Therapists If you are a therapist with 12th Avenue Massage Therapy Group we have all the forms, information, and tutorials to run your business. Just log in using the link below: -12th Avenue Therapists		February Wednesday, February 10 Deadline for the Love Story Contest All entries are due for the Second Annual Love Story contest. Winners will be announced Saturday, February 13th. Tuesday, February 23 6:00pm-8:00pm Free Acute and Chronic Pain Management Clinic Join us for our Free Pain Management Clinic. If you have Acute or Chronic pain we can help you! We will perform a Postural Analysis, give you tips for self care, and teach you movements and stretches to help you relieve your pain. Appointments are limited. Each appointment will take approximately 25 minutes. Call for details and to make an appointment: 850-432-6870 -Our license information -12th Avenue Photo Gallery -FSMTA Space Available Are you interested in becoming a part of our group? For more information call: Bruce Common 850-432-6870 or click here to send an email Valentine Special $100 Couples Massage ($20 savings) (each partner receives a 60 massage at the same appointment time) *this offer is good through the month of February
	It's time for our 2nd Annual Love Story Contest! Prizes: 1st Prize: 75-minute Hot Stone Couples Massage and a gift basket 2ndPrize: 60-minute Couples Massage and a gift basket 3rd Prize: 60-minute Couples Massage *couples massage - each partner receives a 60 minute massage at the same appointment time. Click here for all the details >
	Free Chronic and Acute Pain Management Clinic
	Beginning Tuesday, January 26th, 12th Avenue Massage Therapy Group will be offering Free Acute and Chronic Pain Management Clinics. Our therapists will perform a postural analysis, give you tips for self care, and teach you movements and stretches to help you relieve your pain. Appointments are limited. We will be offering the Clinic on the third Tuesday of every month. Please call for an appointment (each appointment will take approximately 25 minutes) 850-432-6870
Thoughts From Our Therapists
Douglas Bruce, LMT MA#52793 Massage Therapy and the War on Stress In a 2007 study concerning the relationship between stress and disease conducted by Carnegie Mellon University and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, evidence was established connecting stress and certain chronic diseases and disorders. No big news there, right? This is something most doctors have known for years. The onset of symptoms of many diseases such as heart disease, depression, stomach./digestive disorders and even gum disease have been shown to have a direct relationship to stress. Does this mean if you're stressed out at work you're going to get depressed, have a heart attack and end up being fitted for a new set of choppers? The answer to that is no. But what it does mean is that stress puts a tremendous strain on our immune systems and other bodily functions and is a direct factor in terms of our state of well-being and health. Guess we all knew that too. Stress is a powerful influence in the functioning of both our minds and our bodies and most people live with some level of stress every day. Sometimes it can feel as if stress is a constant companion. Problems at work, ongoing worries concerning money and finances, relationship woes; at least one of these situations plagues just about everyone. But here's the good news: Stress can be managed. Massage therapy is a great way to take control of your stress levels. In fact, reduction in stress is probably the biggest (and best) by-product of massage in general. Whether you receive therapeutic work or a relaxation session, the end result will be stress reduction. And this is because massage reduces our adrenaline production and increases our endorphin production. Endorphins are our bodies' equivalent of opiates and it is the most natural thing in the world to feel great after a massage. Conversely, stress increases adrenaline and feeds our bodies what amounts to an overdose of a variety of chemicals produced by the adrenaline system. It's like a mixed bag of drugs meant to keep us on edge and in high gear; inhibiting sleep, inhibiting our immune systems, sometimes even inhibiting our reasoning abilities. These are chemicals meant to carry us through a workday or even ensure our survival from short-term threats but not meant to be with us around the clock, 24/7. As we sleep, our bodies build a store of adrenaline chemicals to take us through the next day. When our adrenaline reaches a certain level, we wake up (usually after 7 or 8 hours of sleep). In the normal course of things, we use this supply of adrenaline during the day while we are building a store of endorphins which will, in turn, allow us to sleep when our adrenaline chemicals wane. These two systems are called the Sympathetic (adrenaline) and Parasympathetic (endorphin) systems and they work very nicely together; one system building an inventory as the other system's storage is being depleted. Yes, they work just dandy until stress comes into the picture; the ultimate monkey-wrench in the works. Massage helps put the balance back into the symbiotic relationship between our Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems and in this way is a great tool in the war on stress. Get a massage and you replace adrenaline with endorphins. It's that simple. And it works. So, will massage help us all become happy stress-free campers without a care in the world? No, it won't do a thing to address the underlying life-situations causing our stress. But massage therapy will (and does) make it much easier to deal with stress through the reduction of adrenaline and assisting in proper rest, sleep, relaxation and better overall health. ~Douglas Bruce, LMT MA#52793