What is Therapeutic Massage?

What is Therapeutic Massage?

Therapeutic massage is a holistic therapy that treats the whole body by tracing the discomfort to its original cause. By identifying the cause, therapeutic massage can heal the cause as well as the symptoms of the disorder. Therapeutic massage uses gentle or strong, deep or shallow massage to heal damaged, impaired, knotted, tense or immobile muscles. Regular therapeutic massage sessions assist in better mobility and increased functioning of the muscles and can prevent the onset of injuries.

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Conditions indicated for Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic massage can assist in the treatment of many conditions and ailments. The following are the most common conditions:

Neck pain                                            Back pain

Tension headaches                         Jaw pain

Frozen shoulder                                Arthritis

Sciatica                                                Tennis elbow

Plantar fascititis                                Stress

Muscle cramps                                 Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Levator Scapula, common trigger point for headache referral.

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Benefits of Therapeutic massage on the body

Therapeutic massage improves blood flow to the area being treated through the massage techniques. This assists in relaxing the muscle and improving its functioning.

Lymphatic flow is improved which helps reduce pain and swelling of the muscle.

Therapeutic massage stretches tight muscles, relaxes and releases overused muscles, reduces spasms and muscle cramping, assists in the regeneration of the muscle tissue.

Therapeutic massage decreases cortisol production which is released when the body is stressed or in pain.

 It increases the production of serotonin and dopamine which assists in relaxation, improved mood and pain relief. Therefore, reducing anxiety, improving sleep, concentration and energy levels.

Therapeutic massage can improve a joint’s range of movement and assist in the strengthening and stabilization of a joint.

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Treatment sessions:

 Acute injuries can be seen to 72 hours after the injury has occurred. Ensure that you have applied rest and ice therapy to the injury to reduce inflammation and swelling before therapy. For an acute injury it will be a few sessions to get the injured muscle working again.

Therapeutic massage can be performed at any time for a chronic condition, a condition that has been going on for more than 6 months. These conditions may require weekly sessions at first and then as the condition improves sessions will be slowly spaced out until a monthly maintenance schedule can be implemented. It is important to have regular massage sessions to help prevent the condition from becoming worse.

We believe that you should see a marked difference in your condition by the third session. The third session will allow for the therapist to see in which direction therapy should continue.

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