Many people have problems with joints that are stiff and achy.  Even worse is when movement of those joints causes pain.  You know that massage is wonderful for reducing stress, but did you know it is also a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal for pain relief? 

Here's a quick crash-course lesson in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and biomechanics. Muscles cross joints. That's it. That's all you need to know. It really is that simple, let me explain.

Let's take the knee which is a simple hinge joint.  If we want to move the door that's hanging on a hinge we apply a force to the door to push or pull it open.  But let's take a door with an automatic closer on it.  One end is attached to the door while the other end is attached to the door jamb on the other side of the hinge.  Muscles are comparable to the automatic closer.  When contracted they supply the force that moves the joint. With the knee, the hamstrings muscle group (on the back of the thigh) attach below the knee while the gastrocnemius (largest muscle of the calf) attaches above the knee. When contracted these muscles cause the knee joint to bend bringing the foot up toward the buttock. Likewise, on the front of the thigh is the powerful quadriceps muscle group which attaches below the knee and on contraction straightens the knee.  Simply biomechanics; but wait, there's more. 

Sometimes due to trauma, overuse, or even lack of use, those muscles become chronically shortened.  Now we have a problem.  The muscles that are supposed to create the movement of the joint now begin to restrict it.  The bursae (fluid filled sacs that cushion and reduce friction between bones and tendons) may become inflamed, which is the condition known as bursitis.

Increased joint pressure caused by muscle tightness creates a kind of mortar and pestle effect on the cartilage (the gristle that the bones move on) which causes it to wear out prematurely.  This is called osteoarthritis.  As the condition worsens and bone begins to rub on bone, boney outgrowths (osteophytes) will develop which further destroy the cartilage. 

Massage cannot fix osteoarthritis.  It cannot fix bursitis.  But, massage CAN loosen tight, restricted muscles thereby easing the pressure and freeing the joint structure to move in the way it was intended!

The next time you have stiff achy joints remember this: muscles cross joints.  Your body is telling you it's time for a massage.

Clara Moskowitz, LiveScience Senior Writer  

SAN DIEGO - The pursuit of happiness is sometimes easier said than done.

Some scientists have argued that happiness is largely determined by genetics, health and other factors mostly outside of our control. But recent research suggests people actually can take charge of their own happiness and boost it through certain practices.

"The billion-dollar question is, is it possible to become happier?" said psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside. "Despite the finding that happiness is partially genetically determined, and despite the finding that life situations have a smaller influence on our happiness than we think they do, we argue that still a large portion of happiness is in our power to change."

Lyubomirsky spoke here Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She and colleagues last year reviewed 51 studies that tested attempts to increase happiness through different types of positive thinking, and found that these practices can significantly enhance well-being. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Here are five things that research has shown can improve happiness:

1. Be grateful -Some study participants were asked to write letters of gratitude to people who had helped them in some way. The study found that these people reported a lasting increase in happiness - over weeks and even months - after implementing the habit. What's even more surprising: Sending the letter is not necessary. Even when people wrote letters but never delivered them to the addressee, they still reported feeling better afterwards.

2. Be optimistic - Another practice that seems to help is optimistic thinking. Study participants were asked to visualize an ideal future - for example, living with a loving and supportive partner, or finding a job that was fulfilling - and describe the image in a journal entry. After doing this for a few weeks, these people too reported increased feelings of well-being.

3. Count your blessings - People who practice writing down three good things that have happened to them every week show significant boosts in happiness, studies have found. It seems the act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad.

4. Use your strengths - Another study asked people to identify their greatest strengths, and then to try to use these strengths in new ways. For example, someone who says they have a good sense of humor could try telling jokes to lighten up business meetings or cheer up sad friends. This habit, too, seems to heighten happiness.

5. Commit acts of kindness - It turns out helping others also helps ourselves. People who donate time or money to charity, or who altruistically assist people in need, report improvements in their own happiness.

Lyubomirsky has also created a free iPhone application, called Live Happy, to help people boost their well-being.