Caitlin Ellis Sports Massage

15/06/2026

🏅 Congratulations, Comrades Finishers! 🏅

The medals have been awarded, the finish line crossed, and another chapter of the Comrades Marathon has been written.

Completing Comrades is a remarkable achievement that reflects months of training, discipline, resilience, and determination.

Now it's time for the most important phase of your training plan:

Recovery

Your muscles, connective tissues, joints, and nervous system have all been placed under significant stress. The days and weeks following an ultramarathon are when adaptation and healing take place.

3 Recovery Tips for Tissue Healing and Injury Prevention

1️⃣ Keep Moving—Gently Light walks and gentle mobility exercises help maintain circulation, reduce stiffness, and encourage recovery without overloading fatigued tissues.

2️⃣ Prioritise Sleep and Nutrition
Quality sleep, adequate hydration, and nutritious meals provide the building blocks your body needs to repair and adapt.

3️⃣ Listen to Your Bod- Muscle soreness is expected, but persistent pain, swelling, limping, or changes in movement patterns may indicate an injury that needs attention.

💆‍♀️ Where Does Therapeutic Massage Fit In?

Many runners benefit from a gentle recovery massage 48–72 hours after the race, once the immediate post-race soreness and inflammation have begun to settle.

Therapeutic massage may help:
✔ Reduce feelings of muscle tightness and stiffness
✔ Support circulation and recovery processes
✔ Improve comfort and mobility
✔ Identify areas that may need further attention before they become injuries

A qualified Therapeutic Massage Therapist can tailor treatment to your stage of recovery and your individual needs.

📍Find an MTASA Therapist Near You

If you're recovering from Comrades and would like professional support for your recovery journey, connect with a registered MTASA Therapeutic Massage Therapist in your area.

Your race may be over, but your recovery has just begun. Find an MTASA Therapeutic Massage Therapist and give your body the care it has earned.

03/06/2026

📢👇WHY YOUR PELVIS MAY BE TILTING SIDEWAYS (AND THE MUSCLES RESPONSIBLE)

⚠️ Not all pelvic misalignments are the same.

Most people have heard about:
✔️ Anterior pelvic tilt – pelvis tipping forward
✔️ Posterior pelvic tilt – pelvis tipping backward

But there’s another common and often ignored issue:

➡️ Lateral Pelvic Tilt — when one side of your pelvis sits higher than the other.

🔍 COMMON SIGNS YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE

🔸 Uneven hips – one side clearly higher
🔸 Shoulder imbalance – one shoulder appears lower
🔸 “Fake” leg length difference – feels uneven but isn’t structural
🔸 Altered leg alignment – inward rotation of knee and hip
🔸 Foot collapse – especially one-sided flat foot

👉 Important: In most cases, it’s NOT a true leg length issue—it’s a pelvic imbalance creating the illusion.

⚠️ WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM?

🧠 1. Muscle Imbalance
The pelvis is controlled by a balance of key muscles:

• Quadratus Lumborum (QL)
• Gluteus Medius
• Adductors
• Tensor Fascia Latae (TFL)
• Obliques

👉 Tightness on one side + weakness on the other = pelvic shift

🪑 2. Daily Habits
Small habits create long-term dysfunction:

• Always standing on one leg
• Sitting unevenly (more weight on one side)
• Sleeping on the same side every night

👉 These patterns train your body into asymmetry.

🦶 3. Chain Reaction from the Foot
A collapsed arch (flat foot) can start a chain:

Foot pronation → Tibia rotates inward → Femur rotates → Hip drops → Pelvic tilt

🧠 4. Neurological Factors
Nerve supply (like the superior gluteal nerve) affects muscle control.
Any disruption can alter pelvic stability.

🛠️ HOW TO CORRECT LATERAL PELVIC TILT

✔️ Fix foot mechanics (support flat feet if present)
✔️ Release tight muscles (manual therapy, stretching)
✔️ Strengthen weak stabilizers (especially glute medius)
✔️ Correct posture habits (standing, sitting, sleeping)

👉 Real correction = addressing cause + retraining movement

🎯 FINAL TAKEAWAY

Your body works as a chain.
If one link shifts, everything above and below adapts.

Don’t just treat the symptom—identify the root cause.

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03/06/2026

03/06/2026

02/06/2026

30/05/2026

Right Hand Numbness but Carpal Tunnel Test Is Negative: What Could Be Happening? 🖐️⚡🧠✅

Many people immediately think:

“It must be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.”
when numbness appears in the hand.

But what surprises many individuals is this:

👉 A person may still experience significant numbness, tingling, weakness, burning, or hand discomfort even when carpal tunnel testing comes back negative.

This can feel confusing and emotionally exhausting 💭

Especially when symptoms continue interfering with:

• Writing ✍️
• Holding objects
• Sleeping 🛌
• Typing 💻
• Driving 🚗
• Daily hand use

The hand is connected to an enormous neurological network involving:

🧠 Brain
⚡ Spinal cord
🦴 Cervical spine
💪 Muscles
🖐️ Peripheral nerves
🩸 Blood circulation

A problem anywhere along this pathway may contribute to numbness symptoms.

First: What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? ✋
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome involves compression of the:

Median nerve
inside a narrow passageway in the wrist.

Classic symptoms often include:

• Thumb numbness 👍
• Index finger tingling
• Night symptoms 🌙
• Hand weakness
• Burning sensations 🔥

But:

⚠️ A negative carpal tunnel test does NOT automatically mean “nothing is wrong.”

If It’s Not Carpal Tunnel, Who Should You Consult? 🏥
Depending on symptoms, several specialists may help evaluate persistent hand numbness.

🧠 Neurologist
One of the most important specialists for unexplained numbness.

Neurologists evaluate:

• Nerve disorders ⚡
• Brain-related causes
• Spinal cord issues
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Cervical nerve problems

🦴 Spine Specialist / Orthopedic Spine Doctor
Hand numbness may originate from:

The cervical spine
especially at:

• C5–C6
• C6–C7
• C7–T1

Nerve irritation in the neck may radiate into the hand even when the wrist itself is normal.

⚡ Neurosurgeon
If imaging shows spinal cord or nerve compression, a neurosurgeon may evaluate structural causes.

💪 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Specialist
These doctors focus on:

• Nerve pain
• Functional movement
• Spine-related symptoms
• Rehabilitation strategies

The Neck Is One of the Most Common Hidden Causes 🦴⚡
Many people are surprised to learn:

👉 Hand numbness may begin in the cervical spine—not the hand.

Cervical nerves travel from the neck into the:

• Shoulder
• Arm
• Forearm
• Hand ✋

Conditions that may contribute include:

• Cervical disc bulges 💿
• Foraminal stenosis
• Bone spurs 🦴
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Cervical myelopathy

Clues That the Neck May Be Involved 🧠
Hand numbness may be more likely cervical-related if accompanied by:

• Neck pain 💢
• Shoulder pain
• Arm pain ⚡
• Tingling down the arm
• Weak grip strength ✋
• Symptoms worsening with neck movement
• Balance problems ⚖️
• Hand coordination difficulty

Other Possible Causes of Hand Numbness ⚡
Many conditions besides carpal tunnel may contribute.

⚡ Ulnar Nerve Compression
Often affects:

• Ring finger
• Little finger

May occur at:

• Elbow
• Wrist

💻 Repetitive Strain & Posture Problems
Long device use may overload nerves and muscles.

🩸 Poor Circulation
Reduced blood flow may create numb or cold sensations.

🧠 Peripheral Neuropathy
Nerve dysfunction affecting multiple areas.

Possible contributors may include:

• Diabetes
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Metabolic conditions

🦴 Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Compression near the shoulder/chest region may affect nerves or circulation.

🧠 Brain or Neurological Conditions
Less commonly, numbness may involve:

• Stroke
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neurological disease

especially if symptoms involve additional body areas.

Why Symptoms Often Feel Worse at Night 🌙
Nighttime numbness is extremely common.

Possible reasons include:

• Wrist bending during sleep ✋
• Neck positioning 🛌
• Reduced movement
• Muscle tension
• Increased nerve sensitivity ⚡

Poor sleeping posture may aggravate cervical or peripheral nerve irritation.

Emotional Impact of Persistent Numbness 💭
Hand symptoms can create major frustration because the hands are central to almost every daily activity.

People may fear:

• Losing function
• Permanent nerve damage
• Weakness progression

Stress and anxiety may also amplify nervous system sensitivity ⚡🧠

This does NOT mean symptoms are “imaginary.”

The nervous system and emotional system are deeply interconnected.

Important Precautions for Persistent Hand Numbness ⚠️
✔ Avoid Prolonged Awkward Posture 💻
Reduce extended neck flexion and wrist strain.

✔ Take Frequent Breaks 🚶‍♂️
Long static positions may increase nerve irritation.

✔ Maintain Neutral Wrist & Neck Position 🦴
Poor posture may worsen symptoms.

✔ Avoid Aggressive Self-Manipulation ⚡
Forceful neck cracking may aggravate irritated nerves.

✔ Monitor Progressive Weakness 💪
Increasing weakness requires prompt evaluation.

✔ Support Sleep Position 🛌
Neutral sleeping posture may reduce overnight irritation.

Warning Signs That Need Urgent Medical Evaluation 🚨
Seek immediate medical attention if numbness occurs with:

⚠️ Sudden weakness
⚠️ Facial drooping
⚠️ Speech difficulty 🗣️
⚠️ Walking imbalance ⚖️
⚠️ Severe arm weakness
⚠️ Loss of coordination
⚠️ Rapid symptom progression

These may indicate serious neurological conditions.

Final Thoughts 💙
A negative carpal tunnel test does not mean your symptoms should be ignored.

The hand is connected to a complex neurological system stretching from the brain to the fingertips 🧠⚡🖐️

Persistent numbness may involve the neck, nerves, posture system, circulation, muscles, or broader neurological pathways.

Understanding these possibilities may help reduce confusion while encouraging appropriate specialist evaluation and safer long-term nerve health awareness.
Doctor of physical therapy

29/05/2026

21/05/2026

SHARED ON BEHALF OF Massage Therapy Association of SA

Have you checked out our annual conference line-up yet?

Science Meets Touch

MTASA 2026 Conference

📅 29–31 May 2026
💻 Online Conference Weekend
🎓 11.5 CEUs

We’re bringing together leading local and international voices to explore what happens when research, clinical reasoning, and therapeutic touch meet.

From fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal pain to matrescence, polyvagal-informed touch, research literacy, assessment skills, and evidence-based space design — this weekend is designed for therapists and healthcare professionals at every stage of practice.

✨ Evidence-based learning
✨ Professional connection
✨ Forward-thinking discussion
✨ MTASA AGM (2 CEUs – members attend free)

This is where science supports practice — and practice informs science.

📌 Save the date.

You won’t want to miss this.

Email [email protected] for more information