Medical or Therapeutic Massage

Medical or Therapeutic Massage, focuses specifically on an area of tension or injury to help release spasms and trigger points , loosen “frozen” ligaments, or to help facilitate healing and to reduce scar tissue.  The therapist may work in the area where the pain is experienced, but will often work on other seemingly unrelated areas that may be causing or contributing to the problem due to Trigger Points and muscular/skeletal imbalances.

Techniques that may be employed include:

• Deep Tissue
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Myofacial Release
• MyoSkeletal Release
• MET (Muscle energy techniques):
• Post-Isometric Relaxation
• PRT (positional release techniques)
• Facilitated Positional Release
• Strain Counterstrain

In addition, client educational materials and personal coaching may be used to help the client increase their self awareness and to help them learn how to avoid re-injury.
Some of the methods I employ include:

DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

This technique works deeply into the muscles and connective tissue to release chronic aches and pains. Deep Tissue massage focuses on the places where muscles attach to bone, but also works in the belly of muscles to break down scar tissue and release muscle cramps and spasms. This work can feel intense, but it should never be more uncomfortable than each person’s tolerance level. Deep tissue massage can bring relief from a variety of different aches and pains.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

Myofascial release refers to the manual massage technique for stretching the fascia and releasing adhesions between fascia and other tissues, muscles and bones with the goal of eliminating pain, increasing range of motion and balancing the body.

Fascia is a complex supportive web that exists throughout the body. This connective tissue affects all areas of the musculoskeletal, nervous and visceral (organ) systems. It surrounds groups of muscle fibers and entire muscle groups and organs much like the shrink-wrapped packaging on items in your local Supermarket. It is not uncommon for people to develop tiny tears in this fascia from accidents, surgeries, prolonged alignment issues or overuse injuries. These tears eventually scar over, potentially knitting fascia to adjacent tissues. Myofascial Release breaks these adhesions through the application of slow, gentle stretching techniques. The tissues respond to the work of the therapist with increased functional flexibility and mobility, and fewer aches and strains.

TRIGGER POINT — NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY

Trigger point therapy is a technique which relieves chronic pain from long standing tension. This method applies concentrated finger or elbow pressure on trigger points of the muscle.  These points are painful, irritated areas, usually the size of a pea but often larger in the larger muscles, which are chronically contracted.

When these areas are pressed, the client will often feel pain, burning, or tingling to adjacent areas. Static pressure is applied to these trigger points for a short time, then the muscles are gently stretched. This work increases blood flow in the area and helps relieve release the  Trigger Point. It also alerts the nervous system to the source of tension, encouraging the body’s natural healing processes to alleviate the underlying issue. Trigger point work can feel intense, but the relief derived from it is often quite dramatic.

PRICES

30 minutes: $50
60 minutes: $85
90 minutes: $120

Prepaid discounts are available – call to ask for details!