Registered Massage therapy is defined as the hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments and joints.  Massage Therapy can help to alleviate the discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular over-use injuries, many chronic conditions as well as to help develop, maintain or improve physical function.

 

What can be expected during the first Massage Therapy Treatment?

 

You will be asked to complete a health history form.  Your therapist will review it with you  to gain an understnding of your past and current health .  Next your  therapist will perform an examination which may include a postural assessment, a series of orthopaedic test as well as range of motion testing.

 

Utilizing the information gathered during the consulatiotion and examintion your therapist will recommend a course of treatment

 

Your therapist will exit the treatment room while you are given time to disroobe to whatever degree you feel comfortable, then you will be required to get on the massage table, under a sheet and a blanket.

 

The sheet and blanket will only be folded back to work on areas as are necessary.

The treatment is an ongoing assessment, as new information is constantly being acquired to increase the effectiveness of your treatment.

 

After the treatment, you will be given time alone to get dressed.

 

Following the treatmment self care strategies will be provided to you by your therapist. These may consist of specific exercises, stretches, modified activity recommendations, and/or life style modifications.

 

 There are various kinds of massage thereapy which include relaxation, therapeutic and sports massage. Therapists use the information from your health history and their initial assessment, including testing of your muscles and joints, to make a personalized treatment plan.

Relaxation Massage may also be referred to as Swedish Massage, and is what is normally shown in movies, TV shows, and printed advertisements. This type of massage is generally what people think of when they think of massage; they think of the pampering, lighter touch massage that's given at spas, health clubs, resorts, and on cruise ships. Relaxation Massage is effective for relieving everyday stress, loosening any general tension in the muscles, and giving an overall feeling of well-being. 

 

Deep Tissue Massage is also known as Therapeutic Massage. This type of massage uses special techniques that are not used in a Relaxation Massage session. To release the tightness in the soft tissue, the massage therapist needs to work deeper into the tissue and will use whichever therapeutic technique is most effective for the condition. This type of massage requires more firm pressure and can cause some discomfort in order to release the tension. Throughout a Therapeutic Massage session, the massage therapist must "check in" with the patient on the amount of pressure being used so that only as much pressure as is needed in each area is used. Therapeutic Massage does not need to cause intolerable or excruciating pain to get results.

 

Which massage is best for my first massage?

 

During your first massage, you'll find out what type of pressure you like and which areas of the body you feel require more work. Also, your massage therapist may also have a better sense of what type of massage is best suited to you and what areas need attention more.

 

How often can I get massage?

 

Your body would be perfectly capable of tolerating a relaxation massage everyday if you could afford it, but unfortunately that is not the case for most people. It is important to work with your massage therapist to create a treatment plan that fits your budget, your schedule and that is effective. Most people find that a once-a-month Relaxation Massage is ideal to keep stress and tension under control and at the same time, fit into just about any budget.

 

As for Therapeutic Massage, it is not a good idea to get this type of massage every day. Since it involves working deeper into the soft tissue, that tissue will need a day or two of rest and recovery. A typical Therapeutic Massage schedule is for two to three sessions a week for a week to deal with any more acute injuries or issues, and then progress with treatment to so that sessions are more spaced out and treatment becomes more of maintenance for problem areas.

 

Is there such thing as a combination of Relaxation Massage and Therapeutic Massage?

 

Many people can't imagine a full sixty-minute session of deeper, therapeutic techniques, since there is an expected level of discomfort involved. In this case, it's best to set a limit on the amount of time that you want deeper, therapeutic work done, then have the remainder of the session done with a more relaxing pressure. In reality, a Therapeutic Massage is not always a full session of deeper, therapeutic techniques. Typically, it will start with a more relaxing pressure to warm up the tissues, then get deeper with therapeutic techniques, then end with relaxing pressure to "flush" the tissue. This type of session is still considered a Therapeutic Massage.

Sports massage is a specific massage techniques utilized with athletes with the goal of enhancing the athlete’s preparation for, or recovery from the specific demands of training and competition.

There are 5 time periods where sports massage is appropriate:

• Pre-event

• Inter-event

• Post event

• Rehabilitation

• Maintenance

Sports massage can help an athlete increase mobility, range of motion, oxygen supply, and blood flow; this can help maintain higher athletic performance. It can be done onsite, at a competition, or at health care clinic. The main focus of sports massage isn’t relaxation so the therapist will use a number of different techniques including General Swedish Massage Techniques, Trigger Point Therapy, Deep-Tissue Massage, Lymphatic Massage, and Hydrotherapy along with others. The therapist will also discuss your training and self-care with you in order to create an efficient and effective treatment plan that is tailored to you and your needs as an athlete.