Massage therapy:

Massage therapy is an effective treatment for a number of conditions.For more information on specific conditions that we treat, click the links below:

• Low Back Pain
  

  A widespread disability involving reduced function of normal movement of the low back (lumbar) muscles and joints, causing distress.
  Common causes include:

  Trauma (sport injury, motor vehicle accident, etc.)
  Improper Bending and Lifting
  Poor Posture
  Tension

Massage Therapy Benefits for Low Back Pain

• Manipulation of the muscle decreases spasms, releasing active trigger points, minimizing adhesions, correcting muscle imbalances and eliminating inflammatory prescriptions.

Provides education of postural and relaxation techniques as well as therapeutic

• Headaches

  Headaches - pain located in the head due to a variety of different reasons.

  Common causes include:

  Sinus Headache - due to inflammation in the sinuses
  Allergic Headache - due to a heightened sensitivity to a substance or food
  Toxic Headache - due to a chemical factor (e.g. alcohol, drugs)
  Tension Headache - due to a spasm of muscles and blood vessels of neck and scalp caused by a wide variety of reasons.
  Migraine Headache - due to a temporary narrowing, then widening of blood vessels in the brain, usually severe and affecting one side of the head. There is a wide range of causal factors.
  Cluster Headaches - due to a disturbance in blood flow to the brain, usually severe and one-sided. May be triggered by alcohol.

  Massage Therapy Benefits for Headaches
  Pain relief techniques vary depending on the type of headache.
  For Sinus Headaches: Allows for effective drainage of the sinuses
  For Allergic and Toxic Headaches: Pressure point treatment allows for drainage of sinuses
  For Tension HeadachesTrigger point release, Increases circulation, Decreases muscular tension

  For Migraine Headaches: Techniques are used which direct blood away from the brain and back toward the rest of the body
  For both tension and migraine headaches, sources of muscular tension in the head, neck, face and jaw can be addressed and reduced by massage therapy. Many patients have received a significant reduction in both the frequency and severity of headaches after receiving massage therapy. Home care education for stretching, postural exercise and hot/cold therapy is part of our treatment and allows our patients to take control of their condition and health.

• Whiplash

Whiplash results from the involuntary thrust of the head and neck in any direction and the resulting recoil in the opposite direction. This causes injury to the supporting and surrounding tissues.
Whiplash is most commonly a result of a motor vehicle accident, a violent blow to the head or chin, a fall which jerks the head and neck, sudden jerks of arms, or reflex jerking of the head or neck due to noise or fright.

Symptoms of whiplash include:

• headaches
• blurred vision
• ringing in the ears
• nausea
• stiffness
• low back pain
• dizziness
• jaw pain
• neck/upper back pain
• difficulty swallowing
• tingling and numbness in fingers and/or arms

Massage Therapy Benefits for Whiplash

• Decreases spasms and pain
• Minimizes adhesions
• Eliminates inflammatory by-products
• Reduces headaches
• Improves range of motion

 

• Arthritis

Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint and is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and often by changes in joint structures. Arthritis is commonly caused by

• Injury to joints
• Infection
• Trauma
• Degenerative joint disease
• Metabolic disorders
• Periarticular conditions (occurring in structures surrounding the joint)

The most common types of arthritis are:

• Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic disease characterized by inflammatory changes in joints and related structures.
• Osteoarthritis: A condition marked by progressive cartilage degeneration.

Symptoms of Arthritis may include:

• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Changes in joint size or shape
• Heat and/or redness at the joint
• Loss of mobility
• Early morning stiffness

Massage Therapy Benefits

• Reduces discomfort and pain
• Helps to increase and maintain strength and mobility with therapeutic exercises
• Reduces joint swelling and improves flexibility
• A therapist can advise on home care that will help to reduce discomfort and prevent further disability

• Temporo-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction

T.M.J. Dysfunction is a syndrome involving varying degrees of pain and/or malfunctioning of one or both jaw joints.
Signs and symptoms include:

• Clicking or popping of jaw joint
• Misalignment of joint
• Spontaneous dislocation
• Tenderness of jaw muscles
• Limited range of motion
• Dull, aching pain in front of ear
• Headaches
• Hyper-mobility of jaw
• Increased pain in the morning

Massage Therapy Benefits

• Releases trigger points and eliminates spasm
• Mobilization techniques may help correct the bite and increase range of motion
• Gentle stretching techniques may be demonstrated for homecare

• Sports Massage

Sports massage is different from conventional massage therapy in that its specific techniques are designed to enhance the performance of athletes recovering from strenuous activity, prevent overuse problems and injuries, and help rehabilitate injuries.
Massage Therapy Benefits

• Promotes circulation
• Promotes lymphatic circulation
• Enhances flexibility
• Maintains and improves range of motion through active and passive remedial exercises
• Relieves muscles spasms and cramps
• Decreases pain and soreness due to training
• Improves performance and recovery time

• Pregnancy

Massage Therapy is an excellent natural method for treating the muscle tension, backaches, edema (swelling) and discomfort often associated with pregnancy.
Massage Therapy Benefits

• Contributes to an overall sense of well-being
• Relaxes both body and mind
• Decreases edema
• Increases circulation
• Increases energy level
• Reduces muscle tension and backache
• Reduces headaches
• Stimulates endorphin release (natural pain killers)
• Reduces ankle swelling and leg cramping.

Other conditions that massage therapy is effective for include: