KNEADFUL THING massage

 

Massage therapy refers to a comprehensive health management strategy focusing on the application of various techniques to positively affect the soft tissues and joints of the body.

Massage techniques most commonly 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. The following are some of  specific treatment techniques that I use.

 

SCAR TISSUE

Scar tissue is the fibrous connective tissue the body will lay down to help strengthen damaged skin, muscles or organs. If you have ever had an injury and then healed, you have scar tissue. 

It is not the scar itself that is the problem. The body, in hopes to help strengthen the injured area will attach the connective tissue to everything around it until it can no longer move freely. It is these adhesions to the surrounding area that  limit range of motion, circulation and sensation after an injury.

Scars are not as strong and stable as healthy body tissue. Massage Therapists are trained with specific techniques to help re-align scar tissue, reducing the appearance, increase use and function of tissue and reduce aches and pains from surrounding tissue.

PRENATAL MASSAGE

Prenatal massage is one of the most popular ways to increase levels of well-being.  Pregnancy can be a very stressful and emotional time for a mother-to-be. Many physical factors can contribute to pain or discomfort that massage therapy can treat directly.

  • provide relief from muscle strains, aches and pains, spasms and cramps
  • reduces edema and blood pressure, promoting better blood circulation
  • actively aids in reducing fluid retention and swelling in the hands and feet
  • creates a positive environment of relaxation and soothing stress relief

Treatment plans are custom designed to fit your needs. How you are positioned, what is treated and draping of linens are all discussed before treatment.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

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 re-balance our muscle and connective soft tissue system.
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.
 

TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

Trigger Point therapy involves applying pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body.
Muscle fibers that are caught in contraction, or 'muscle knots" can be found lying atop a nerve path. When this happens there are key identifiers that therapists use to distinguish where you need to be worked on.  Active Trigger Points will often refer pain and tenderness to another area of the body when pressure is applied. 
Not only can trigger points mimic the symptoms of other common issues they can also be at the root of referred pain.  Trigger point therapy can be the saving grace for patients who have suffered from chronic pain that has not been diagnosed properly and therefore never resolved. common referred pain caused by trigger points include tinnitus, tension headaches, TMJ pain, lower back pain and a decrease in range of motion in the legs and sometimes arms (due to shoulder pain). 
The purpose of trigger point therapy is to encourage the contracted muscle fibers to release and stop the pain pattern to referral areas.