Massage

Types available:

What is Swedish massage?

Swedish massage (with no relation to Sweden) refers to a collection of techniques designed primarily to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart.Swedish massage can relax muscles, increase circulation, remove metabolic waste products, help the recipient obtain a feeling of connectedness, and awareness of their body and the way they use and position it. Swedish massage can also, through relaxation, help open the recipient to greater awareness about one’s self and one’s life.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

The strokes and manipulations of Swedish Massage, ie: effleurage, petrissage, and friction, are each conceived as having a specific therapeutic benefit. One of the primary goals of Swedish Massage is to speed venous return from the extremities. Swedish Massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissue of lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes. It improves circulation without increasing heart load. It stretches the ligaments and tendons, keeping them supple. Swedish Massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system while at the same time relaxing the nerves themselves. As it can help reduce emotional and physical stress it is often recommended as part of a regular program for stress management. It also has specific clinical uses in a medical or remedial therapy.

What Is Neuromuscular Therapy?
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a very specialized form of manual therapy. A therapist trained in NMT has advanced knowledge of anatomy and all the origins and insertions of the muscles in the body. They are trained to know the skeletal, muscular and the nervous system and how each system corresponds to one another. NMT is a whole mind-body approach to treatment.
By definition: Neuromuscular Therapy is the utilization of static pressure on specific myofascial points to relieve pain. This technique manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. In a healthy individual, nerves transmit impulses (which are responsible for every movement, function and thought) to the body very slowly. Injury, trauma, postural distortion or stress cause nerves to speed up their transmission, inhibiting equilibrium and making the body vulnerable to pain and dysfunction. It is therefore necessary to stabilize low levels of neurological activity to maintain normal function and overall health.
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a highly effective treatment for helping to rid the body of pain. NMT is a whole-body approach to treatment, so most people find that when they are treated for their back pain, their knee pain, headaches, bladder dysfunction, and other problems they thought couldn’t be helped or “weren’t a big deal” are also addressed. Some examples of conditions NMT is successful with are: Headaches, Migraines, Scoliosis, TMJ, Whiplash, Herniated Disc Syndrome, Back Pain, Sciatica, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Hip Pain, Knee Pain, Foot Pain, Osteoarthritis, Plantar Faciitis, Torticollis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Shin Splints, Tendonitis, Muscle Spasms, Cramps and Strains, Fibromyalgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Post Polio Syndrome, and the list goes on and on…
Does Neuromuscular Therapy Hurt?
Since NMT is a highly effective method of therapeutic massage, as opposed to relaxation massage, the proper level of pressure does elicit a mild state of discomfort. Occasionally there is some discomfort in deep muscle therapy, sometimes experienced 24 hours after the first treatment. Mild pressure does not elicit pain in normal healthy tissue, therefore the presence of pain during the physical manipulation of tissue is a valuable guideline to the therapist. It indicates those areas where adhesions, muscular spasms, nerve entrapment, trigger points and cellular toxins are located. Continuous feedback from the patient is encouraged to ensure that the therapy is conducted with the minimum degree of pressure necessary to effectively treat the area.
What can I expect during a NMT session?
Your therapist will first gently evaluate the muscle tissues with stroking, kneading and stretching while gradually moving deeper as the tissue warms and allows. The appropriate pressure to be used during a treatment varies depending upon age, fitness, nutritional health, postural pattern, and the extent of trauma and toxicity level in the tissues; feedback from the client is essential to tailor the appropriate amount of pressure. The therapist applies pressure for 8-12 seconds to each area being treated; prompting a therapeutic response in the tissues. If pressure is too light, it does not produce the necessary stimulation of nerve receptors to produce the desired therapeutic response. However, pressing too hard or too long can cause the body to treat the pressure as an intrusion, particularly if there is inflammation in the tissues. Optimal success is achieved by applying pressure to trigger points or ischemic areas 3-4 times for 8-12 seconds rather than a longer duration. This is because the therapist’s goal is to interrupt the physiopathological reflex circuits.
How many treatments will I need?
This question varies with each individual depending upon the severity of their condition, nutritional health, age, fitness, emotional health, the skill of the therapist, the patient’s awareness of his role in maintaining his own health through improved posture and work habits, etc. One person may need only one session, while another may need 25 sessions. Generally after about 10 sessions, about 1 to 2 weeks apart, you should feel a great improvement in your health. When the problem is eliminated, you should have a treatment every few months to maintain your health and help prevent future imbalances from occurring. A good therapist believes the healing process should also be an educational process and so they work to educate the patient about their health and how to improve and maintain it on their own. A good therapist is not after “lifetime memberships”. My goal is to relieve your pain as efficiently and permanently as possible.

What Is Neuromuscular Therapy?
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a very specialized form of manual therapy. A therapist trained in NMT has advanced knowledge of anatomy and all the origins and insertions of the muscles in the body. They are trained to know the skeletal, muscular and the nervous system and how each system corresponds to one another. NMT is a whole mind-body approach to treatment.
By definition: Neuromuscular Therapy is the utilization of static pressure on specific myofascial points to relieve pain. This technique manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. In a healthy individual, nerves transmit impulses (which are responsible for every movement, function and thought) to the body very slowly. Injury, trauma, postural distortion or stress cause nerves to speed up their transmission, inhibiting equilibrium and making the body vulnerable to pain and dysfunction. It is therefore necessary to stabilize low levels of neurological activity to maintain normal function and overall health.
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a highly effective treatment for helping to rid the body of pain. NMT is a whole-body approach to treatment, so most people find that when they are treated for their back pain, their knee pain, headaches, bladder dysfunction, and other problems they thought couldn’t be helped or “weren’t a big deal” are also addressed. Some examples of conditions NMT is successful with are: Headaches, Migraines, Scoliosis, TMJ, Whiplash, Herniated Disc Syndrome, Back Pain, Sciatica, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Hip Pain, Knee Pain, Foot Pain, Osteoarthritis, Plantar Faciitis, Torticollis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Shin Splints, Tendonitis, Muscle Spasms, Cramps and Strains, Fibromyalgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Post Polio Syndrome, and the list goes on and on…
Does Neuromuscular Therapy Hurt?
Since NMT is a highly effective method of therapeutic massage, as opposed to relaxation massage, the proper level of pressure does elicit a mild state of discomfort. Occasionally there is some discomfort in deep muscle therapy, sometimes experienced 24 hours after the first treatment. Mild pressure does not elicit pain in normal healthy tissue, therefore the presence of pain during the physical manipulation of tissue is a valuable guideline to the therapist. It indicates those areas where adhesions, muscular spasms, nerve entrapment, trigger points and cellular toxins are located. Continuous feedback from the patient is encouraged to ensure that the therapy is conducted with the minimum degree of pressure necessary to effectively treat the area.
What can I expect during a NMT session?
Your therapist will first gently evaluate the muscle tissues with stroking, kneading and stretching while gradually moving deeper as the tissue warms and allows. The appropriate pressure to be used during a treatment varies depending upon age, fitness, nutritional health, postural pattern, and the extent of trauma and toxicity level in the tissues; feedback from the client is essential to tailor the appropriate amount of pressure. The therapist applies pressure for 8-12 seconds to each area being treated; prompting a therapeutic response in the tissues. If pressure is too light, it does not produce the necessary stimulation of nerve receptors to produce the desired therapeutic response. However, pressing too hard or too long can cause the body to treat the pressure as an intrusion, particularly if there is inflammation in the tissues. Optimal success is achieved by applying pressure to trigger points or ischemic areas 3-4 times for 8-12 seconds rather than a longer duration. This is because the therapist’s goal is to interrupt the physiopathological reflex circuits.
How many treatments will I need?
This question varies with each individual depending upon the severity of their condition, nutritional health, age, fitness, emotional health, the skill of the therapist, the patient’s awareness of his role in maintaining his own health through improved posture and work habits, etc. One person may need only one session, while another may need 25 sessions. Generally after about 10 sessions, about 1 to 2 weeks apart, you should feel a great improvement in your health. When the problem is eliminated, you should have a treatment every few months to maintain your health and help prevent future imbalances from occurring. A good therapist believes the healing process should also be an educational process and so they work to educate the patient about their health and how to improve and maintain it on their own. A good therapist is not after “lifetime memberships”. My goal is to relieve your pain as efficiently and permanently as possible.
 

What Is Sports Massage?

 

 


Sports massage is a form of massage which utilizes specific strokes and stretches to help obtain maximum performance and physical conditioning with less chance of injury or pain. It helps to obtain maximum conditioning by increasing power, endurance and flexibility both before and after an event or work out. Performance increases of 20% are common as a result of massage sessions.
In recent years, sports science has made tremendous breakthroughs in the approach to improving athletic performance. Appropriate diet, rest, flexibility, strength training, and fluid replacement must be combined with efficient training and recovery techniques to maximize individual performance. But there’s more…
Growing numbers of athletes are utilizing sports massage, making it an integral part of their sports training and competing regimen. Sports massage focuses on releasing tight, contracted, overworked muscles used in your sport or activity, and on restoring them to their optimum condition
The results speak for themselves. Sports massage can be the answer to enable you to train and compete more efficiently and allow you to achieve new levels of success and personal achievement.
FOUR TYPES OF SPORTS MASSAGE
 
 

 

  • Pre-Event – 15- to 20-minute session at a sports event as close as 30 to 40 minutes before competition. The purpose is to increase circulation, joint range-of-motion, and muscle flexibility. Techniques are designed to invigorate muscles and to prepare and athlete for a quicker, safer, and more efficient start.
     
  • Inter-Competition – Brief 10-15 minute sessions during breaks in games or matches. The purpose is to invigorate fatigued muscles and increase muscle flexibility for resumed competition.
     
  • Post-Event – The most widely used event massage, it can reduce or even eliminate next day stiffness and soreness. It enhances and speeds the body’s natural recovery process.
     
  • Maintenance – Thorough 60-minute sessions during a training and competing season, focusing on maintaining and repairing fatigued and injured muscle tissues used most in your sport or activity. It allows you to maintain your ability to train and compete at optimum levels and helps prevent injuries.
What is Myofascial Release?
Derived from the Latin words “myo” – meaning muscle, and “fascia” – for band; myofascial release therapy releases tension from the fibrous bands of connective tissue (fascia). Myofascial release therapy aims to free constrictions or blockages in the fascia, thereby alleviating problems with connective tissue scarring, injury and postural distortions. Disruptions of the fascial network are freed and tension on bones, muscles, joints and nerves is relieved. Ultimately, myofascial release restores complete balance back to the body.
People suffering form postural distortions and/or repetitive strain patterns are the one’s who will be helped the most by Myofascial Release. Here are some issues that can be helped with MFR : scoliosis, kyphosis, lumbardosis, forward head posture, pelvic tilt, chronic back pain, frozen shoulder, fibromyalgia, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, pregnancy (pre and post-natal), menstrual problems, incontinence, tennis or golfer’s elbow, shin splints, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle spasms, whiplash injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome. What will a MFR session be like for me?
Myofascial release therapy utilizes gentle manipulation that slowly stretches, softens, lengthens and realigns fascia. The work itself is performed skin to skin, without oils or cream, it is slow, gentle and requires a lot of focus. After careful observation of ones posture, a myofascial release therapist will feel for stressed areas of the body. When restricted areas are found, gentle stretches will be applied in the direction of the muscle fibers, stretching one body part away from another. This stretch is held for a couple of minutes until a softening or release is felt. The direction and duration of a single stretch can vary and may last several minutes. In addition to the obvious sensation of being stretched, the client may feel warmth, tingling or a burning sensation when a release occurs.

 

Some other conditions that can be helped:
Fibromyalgia - a condition that causes widespread muscle and soft tissue pain, tenderness and fatigue.
For more information on fibromyalgia please follow this link. 

Whiplash – a series of injuries that may occur with hypertension and hyperflexion of the cervical muscles. Some of theses injuries may include sprained ligaments, strained muscles, misaligned vertebrae, TMJ problems, and central nervous system damage.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome – a set of symptoms brought about by the entrapment of the median nerve between the carpel bones of the wrist.
 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

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