Designated to relieve severe tension in the muscle and connective tissue. This type of massage focuses on muscles located below the surface of the superficial muscles. This is recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, or patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue to have their pain replaced by soreness lasting 1-2 days. It is important to remember that pressure tolerance varies greatly, please be sure to give your therapist feedback on your level of comfort.
Outcome-based massage, primarily the application of a specific treatment targeted to the specific problem(s) the patient presents with a diagnosis and are administered after a thorough assessment/evaluation by the medical massage therapist with specific outcomes being the basis for treatment.
This is a form of soft tissue therapy used to treat somatic dysfunction and accompanying pain and restriction of motion. This is accomplished by relaxing contracted muscles, increasing circulation, increasing venous and lymphatic drainage, and stimulating the stretch reflex of muscles and overlying fascia.
Trigger Points are described as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable "knots" taut bands of muscle fibers that are stuck in contraction. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response. Referred pain frequently radiates from these tender points to a broader areas, sometimes distant from the trigger point itself. Reliable pain patters have been identified allowing practitioners to associate pain in one location with trigger points elsewhere.
Muscles are controlled by the nervous system. NRT resets the nervous system to release a muscle from extensive tension. Based on the Law of Reciprocal Inhibition and Law of Symmetry (neurological and physiological principles). Mechanoreceptors in your nerve bundles respond to pressure, velocity, vibration, stretch, and other forces. When they detect a change, signals are sent to spinal cord and brain. Application of NRT stimulates these receptors, allowing them to reset and release.
PNF is one of the most effective forms of flexibility training for increasing range of motion. PNF techniques can be both passive (no associated muscular contraction) or active (voluntary muscle contraction). While there are several variations of PNF stretching, they all have one thing in common, they facilitate muscular inhibition.
Typically performed on athletes. This type of massage most commonly focuses on increasing blood and lymphatic fluid flow, reducing and eliminating pain as well as trigger points, and restoring range of motion to the affected area(s). There are 4 distinctive types; pre-event, post-event, restorative, and rehabilitative. As the names indicate, each type has a different focus for the athlete as they are delivered at different times during their training and performance schedule.
This massage is similar to Swedish during non-pregnancy in terms of goals (relaxation, pain relief, increased circulation and mobility, etc.). However, due to the changes undergone during pregnancy, modifications are made. To accommodate swollen tender breasts and a growing belly, special pillows, positioning and techniques are utilized to ensure comfort for both the expecting mother and baby. With increasing weight, a changing center of gravity and many other changes associated with pregnancy, prenatal massage can help provide relief and a sense of well-being that is much deserved.
This technique is uses a light touch to remove accumulated fluid and lymph, or edema. This is a common occurrence in individuals who have had surgical procedures, but can also be present at birth or develop later at puberty or adulthood. Edema is also common in pregnancy, it usually affects the limbs of the body but can occur in other parts of the body as well. Your therapist will have special instruction for before and after your massage, so let them know you would like Lymphatic Drainage when you schedule your appointment.
This style of massage uses 5 styles of long flowing strokes; efflourage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross-fiber), and vibration (shaking). This technique has been shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of 8wks, and is beneficial to patients with poor circulation.
Cupping is an ancient Chinese method of massage and it is the best deep tissue massage available.
The suction pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow and sedate the nervous system.
Cupping is used to relieve pain, muscle stiffness, anxiety, fatigue, migraine, rheumatism and even cellulite.
This treatment can be combined with body wrap and essential oil blends to increase effectiveness, or used in a series of treatments to assist in weight loss, lymphatic drainage, smoking cessation and more.