therapeutic massage

 
 
 

Therapeutic (Orthopedic) Massage

Therapeutic (Orthopedic) Massage involves an initial individual assessment to aid in relief and assist in restoring structural balance throughout the body. This outcome based approach allows us to focus on both prevention and rehabilitation of musculo-skeletal or soft-tissue dysfunction, pain and injuries often caused by lifestyle factors, repetitive strain, occupation, illness, sports, or discomfort surrounding pregnancy.

Included in each treatment is rehabilitative stretching, strengthening exercises, and use of heat and cold hydrotherapy which will help you get the most out of each treatment, and ensure future prevention of re-injury.

Massage techniques most commonly used include pressure and compression, kneading, frictioning, and mobilizing to improve the health and condition of the muscles, tendons, skin, fascia or connective tissue of the body.

Whether you are in search of help in injury recovery and rehabilitation, looking for a healthful way to deal with day-to-day stress, or simply interested in maintaining good health and relaxation, therapeutic massage is a safe and effective form of health care. 


Therapeutic Massage can be effective in treating the following conditions:

• Postural Dysfunction: Neck, Back, Shoulder Pain • Carpal Tunnel, Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow

• Joint pain, limited joint mobility • Anxiety, Stress, Insomnia, Depression • Chronic Muscle Fatigue Chronic Pain • Sprains and Strains • Texters Thumb • Arthritis • Fibromyalgia, Auto Immune Disorders (Lupus, MS) • Migraine and Tension Headaches • Circulatory Problems • Asthma • Scoliosis • Frozen Shoulder • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome • Knee pain • Cruciate & Meniscal Injuries • IT Band Contracture • Piriformis Syndrome (Sciatica) • Pes Planus • Plantar Fasciitis • TMJD (Jaw Pain) • Whiplash • Torticollis • Herniated discs

Improve Recovery Rate

Massage is frequently recommended to improve the rate of recovery from the following types of injuries:

• Sports Injuries • Recurring Stress or Repetitive Strain Injuries • Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorders • Reduced range of motion from Surgeries and Scar Tissue


Relaxation Massage

Relaxation massage is essentially the same as a gentle Swedish massage that uses smooth, gliding strokes. The primary purpose of this type of massage is to help you relax, and the massage therapist will probably move at a slower pace and use a lighter pressure.

During a relaxation massage there is less emphasis on working out serious adhesion or knots in the muscle tissue and the therapist won't push your pain limits in order to get the muscle to release. It is normal for people to even fall asleep during a relaxation massage.

There are still substantial health benefits to a relaxation massage, including calming the nervous system, promoting a sense of well-being, improving blood circulation and stimulating the body's lymphatic system, which carries away waste products.

The goal, or intention, of relaxation massage is to reduce stress, promote overall wellness, relax muscles, diminish pain, and move body fluids (such as blood) to nourish cells and help remove waste products.

Specific goals for relaxation massage include

  • Relief for tight muscles (knots) and other aches and pains

  • Improved circulation

  • Reduction of stress

  • Enhanced sense of wellbeing

  • Improved mood (reduction in depression, anxiety, and anger)

  • Improved sleep patterns

  • Increased energy and vitality

  • Experience of comfort through touch


Just Breathe, Rest, Relax and Enjoy.


NEURO-MUSCULAR & TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

Neuro-muscular Therapy is a highly specialized type of soft tissue therapy designed to relieve pain and return injured tissues to normal function. It utilizes specific, targeted soft tissue treatment, flexibility stretching and self-care to eliminate the causes of most muscular aches and pains. It can provide long-term pain relief where other approaches have failed.  Neuro-muscular therapy is complimented by Trigger point therapy.

Neuro-muscular Therapy balances the nervous system with the muscular and skeletal systems and naturally brings the body back into alignment. It addresses postural and muscular imbalances, nerve entrapment, ischemia (reduced blood flow to an area of the body) and muscular trigger points.


Trigger Point pain is one of the more common ailments that affect the muscles in the human body. It is also one of the most painful considering the pain does not occur in just one area, but can cause tingling, numbness, and various other discomforts in areas at a distance from the source of the trigger point itself. To know if Trigger Point Therapy is required, you as the client need to understand exactly what a trigger point is!

A trigger point (also referred to as trigger site or a muscles knot) is a very tender spot in the body, often an isolated area within a particular muscle group - which will cause shooting pain in other areas of the body when stimulated. Trigger points can make themselves apparent in visible knots or in tight bands of muscle fibres. Due to the tenderness of these sites, people often feel that the long lasting benefits of Trigger Point Therapy are worth the temporary pain they feel as a result of treatment.

Considering that an untreated trigger point is likely to cause increased, spreading pain and future problems with balance and correct posture, the long-term benefit of the therapy outweighs the short-term pain associated with Trigger Point Therapy.


Benefits:

One of the advantages of Trigger Point Therapy when compared to other massage therapies that are used to manage and treat pain is that it identifies and works very specific points of the body…specifically, those locations where the pain occurs to provide the best method of treatment for the pain.


Method

Depending on where the pain is, and it usually occurs in the shoulders, back, or hips; the therapist will have the client lie down in a way which is both comfortable for the client, in the sense that other trigger points are not aggravated, and easy for the therapist to work the area. The therapist will then canvass the body in order to locate the exact area of where the trigger point is located. Location of the trigger point can be uncomfortable for many, especially if they have more than one.


After locating the trigger point or points, the therapist will use several different finger techniques of varying pressure on and around the points in order to break down the build-up of the knot. Because of the direct pressure applied to the area which is affecting the client the most, this can be uncomfortable. Depending on the size of the trigger point, it may take several visits to the therapist in order to be assured that the entire trigger point has been deactivated.


DEEP TISSUE & MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

Deep Tissue Massage is a general term covering a range of manual therapy techniques that deal with assisted muscle release at a deeper level.

Other systems that include deep tissue massage are Myofascial Release and Sports Massage.

Deep tissue massage usually involves warming the skin and superficial soft tissue of your body prior to the therapist using greater pressure to access the deeper connected tissue underneath.


What is Myofascial Release ?

 The word 'fascia' means the 'band' or 'connective soft tissue' that supports your entire body. If you could see connective tissue beneath your skin you would observe that it is fibrous, densely woven, continuously connects and surrounds our internal organs, permeates the entire body from head to toe, and has characteristics that provide cushioning and support to our complete body.

Time, injury, wear and tear, poor posture, stress and other factors can cause this connective tissue to manifest tension, restrictions and imbalance within our bodies. Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on technique that works to 'release' and rebalance our muscle and connective soft tissue system.


How is the fascia treated?

Your trained therapist will first observe your posture and discuss any pains or physical conditions that cause you discomfort or restrict movements. Skill and knowledge base allows your practitioner to feel, observe and sense where varied degrees of pressure, stretching, kneading and palpitation will help eliminate pain and restore range of motion. To use an analogy, imagine your fascia system is a damp linen sweater that is laid out for drying. You might 'stretch’ and reshape the sweater fabric to condition its shape and conformity to its proper appearance. In a like manner, your Myofascial Release specialist will use skilled 'stretch' and 'release' technique as well as other techniques to condition your myofascial system.


What conditions might warrant Myofascial Release Therapy ? 

General discomfort, chronic pain, sporting injuries, headache, back pain, whiplash injury, general injury, muscle spasms, restriction of motion, poor posture and specific ailments related to everyday living such as carpal tunnel and neurological dysfunction.  Myofascial restrictions can be manipulated to restore range of motion and alleviate pain.


What is the process?

You and your therapist will discuss relevant information including any discomforts you have such as pain, injuries, disorders and similar matters. Problems are noted and treatment begins. The goal is to provide safe and effective treatment that encourages your body to restore, realign and balance your myofascial system.


Myofascial Release

Stretch... Hold... Release... Restore Range of Motion


Sports Massage

An athlete benefits from massage while training for an event, during recovery after athletic activity, and in the case of injury. Sports Massage focuses on specific muscles used by the athlete to enhance performance in his or her chosen sport.

A program of Sports Massage can provide injury rehabilitation, enhance athletic endurance, decrease chances of getting injured, and shorten recovery times after athletic activity.

Our integrated approach utilizes a variety of modalities and techniques, targeted stretching and self care to eliminate the causes of most muscular aches and pains.

Sports Massage can be part of a comprehensive program, complementing other health care approaches.


BENEFITS OF SPORTS MASSAGE

  • Increase sports performance and/or endurance

  • Relieve pain after an event or injury

  • Prepare muscles for a specific event

  • Loosen and gently stretch muscles

  • Increase flexibility

  • Prevent stiffness

  • Return muscles to a normal state after athletic activity