Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic Massage is used to treat:

Adhesions: Fibrosis tissue and scar tissue that bind together tissues which are usually not attached.

Edema: Collection of fluid in the tissue causing swelling.

Hyper tonicity: An increase in muscle tone or muscle tension.

Trigger Points: hypersensitive locations in the muscles and connective tissue that cause pain in response to stress. They can develop into tight bands or knots that can cause pain, muscle spasms and limitation of joint movement.

Muscle Spasm: Involuntary contraction of muscle or muscle guarding to prevent its use in an attempt to protect an injured area. This is also known as Muscular Splinting.

Swedish Massage

The most common type of massage is Swedish massage therapy, a foundation from which most other therapies are derived. It involves soft, long, kneading strokes, as well as light, rhythmic, tapping strokes, on topmost layers of muscles. This is also combined with movement of the joints. By relieving muscle tension, Swedish therapy can be both relaxing and energizing. And it may even help after an injury. The four common strokes of Swedish massage are:

Effleurage: a smooth, gliding stroke used to relax soft tissue

Petrissage: the squeezing, rolling, or kneading that follows effleurage

Friction: deep, circular movements that cause layers of tissue to rub against each other, helping to increase blood flow and break down scar tissue

Tapotement: a short, alternating tap done with cupped hands, fingers, or the edge of the hand.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is best for giving attention to certain painful, stiff "trouble spots" in your body. This technique uses slow, deliberate strokes that focus pressure on layers of muscles, tendons, or other tissues deep under your skin. Though less rhythmic than other types of massage, deep tissue massage can be quite therapeutic in relieving chronic patterns of tension and helping with muscle injuries and pain.

Sports Massage

Developed to help with muscle systems used for a particular sport, sports massage uses a variety of approaches to help athletes in training: Pre-event, Post-event, and injury treatment. You might use it to promote flexibility and help prevent injuries. Or, it may help muscle strains, aiding healing after a sports injury.

Myofascial Therapy / Myofascial Release

Myofascial therapy is a hands-on form of treatment that releases restrictions in the body's fascial system. Used to eliminate pain and restore mobility, myofascial therapy also includes education in proper body mechanics and movement, and enhancement of posture, flexibility and strength. The focus of this therapy is on resolving the cause of the injury or trauma, not just the symptoms.
Myofascial release is Deep tissue massage technique used for the purpose of relaxing and lengthening tight and restricted muscle and connective tissues involving the application of sustained pressure and movement into the fascial system in order to eliminate fascial restrictions. Myofascial release is an effective therapeutic approach in the relief of cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches.

(Fascia is a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating or binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body even to the cellular level. The whole network of fascia in the body is referred to as the fascial system. The fascial system covers the muscles, the skeleton, and the organ systems of the body. It also creates tunnels through which the nerves and blood vessels travel.)

Nerve Mobilization Technique: this technique is used to treat Nerve Entrapment Syndromes.

Nerve Entrapment Syndromes are nerve impingement conditions in which nerves or nerve roots are placed under abnormal pressure by soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, or fascia. The abnormal pressure on the nerves or nerve roots creates pain locally or radiating outward, numbness or tingling in the area supplied by the nerve and possibly weakness or twitching of affected muscles. Nerve entrapment syndromes are fairly common and you may have heard of some of them like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Piriformis Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Meralgia Paresthetica, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

Therapeutic Ultrasound:

Ultrasound therapy increases blood flow in the treated area which speeds the healing process.

Ultrasound Therapy reduces swelling and edema which are the main sources of pain.

Ultrasound waves gently massage the muscles, tendons and/or ligaments in the treated area. This enhances the recovery rate of damaged tissue without adding strain, and softens any scar tissue that is usually present in an injured area, aid in the breakdown of scar tissue, reduce chronic inflammation, promote healing and cause a relaxation in soft tissues.

Other beneficial effects you can expect include improvement of pain, swelling and increased range of motion.

Therapeutic Ultrasound is used in conjunction with massage therapy to treat: tendinitis, chronic joint swelling, muscle spasms and trigger points, scar healing, shoulder pain, low back pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, knee pain, foot pain and plantar fasciitis.

Basic Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a form of massage that stimulates the lymphatic system with gentle massaging strokes, increasing lymphatic flow. The light rhythmical massage encourages the lymphatic system to eliminate metabolic waste products, excess fluid and bacteria. Lymphatic massage can be useful in cases of edema, sports injury or for people experiencing a sluggish immune system or those suffering from a lack of energy. Stimulating the lymphatic system through manual lymphatic drainage will activate all of the above functions as well as encourage fluid circulation and cell regeneration. Both actions promote detoxification, facilitate healing and support the immune system. Problems with the lymphatic system often include edema (swelling), aches, pains, soreness, and flu like symptoms due to congested lymph pathways.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage benefits are numerous and include:

Clearing areas of edema and congestion in tissues, such as swollen ankles, puffy eyes and swollen legs, joint pain, arthritis

Promoting scar tissue healing, especially sprain / strains of ligaments and muscles

Post-operative healing

Treatment of lymphedema and other conditions arising from venous insufficiency

Improving chronic conditions such as sinusitis, arthritis, acne and other skin conditions, overall immune function

Deep relaxation

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