Massage Services

Medical Massage Therapy

Medical Massage is a results-oriented treatment for conditions diagnosed by a physician. As a Medical Massage Practitioner, I employ a variety of modalities to focus primarily on the areas of the body related to the diagnosis. I will personally create a specific plan to help put you on a path to healing and wellness.

Here is what the Mayo Clinic has to say:

"Brush aside any thoughts that massage is only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. To the contrary, massage can not be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for a stress reliever. You can even learn how to do self-massage or how to engage in massage with a partner at home."

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body. Deep Tissue Massage is a highly effective method for releasing chronic stress areas due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries. This method includes the uses slow deep movement using elbows, forearms and knuckles to strip problematic areas.

Due to the nature of the deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to make sure you don't get too uncomfortable. Please refrain from taking any painkillers, prescription or nonprescription, prior to a session. Also, keep in mind that soreness is pretty common after the treatment, and that plenty of water should be ingested to aid with the flushing and removal of toxins that will have been released from the deep tissue during the session.

Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy Massage is a style of bodywork designed specifically for pregnant women. Pregnancy is a time when a woman's body endures tremendous stress due to dramatic physical and emotional changes. Using various techniques specially developed for the expecting mother, Pregnancy Massage helps release the pain and discomfort experienced throughout pregnancy. The benefits are profound, including emotional support, the relief of joint pain due to extra weight and postural imbalance, and improved breathing and relaxation.

Graston Technique

Overview of Graston Technique® Therapy

Soft tissue injuries can be debilitating and frustrating. Graston Technique® (GT) therapy is successful in effectively treating all soft tissue conditions, whether they are chronic, acute or post- surgical. GT therapy can help you enjoy life again.This unique technique and instruments enable the treatment of scar tissue, improvement of range of motion, elimination of pain, as well as restoring normal function.Other benefits of Graston also include faster recovery, less treatment time, and living pain free.

Clinical Applications

Here are somecommon conditions treated with Graston Technique® therapy:

• Ankle Pain (Achilles Tendinosis/itis)
• Wrist Pain (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
• Neck Pain (Cervical Sprain/Strain)
• Fibromyalgia
• Hamstring Injuries
• Hip Pain
• IT Band (Iliotibial Band)
• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylosis/itis)
• Back Pain (Lumbar Sprain/Strain)
• Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylosis/itis)
• Knee Pain (Patellofemoral Disorders)
• Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
• Shoulder Pain (Rotator Cuff Tendinosis/itis)
• Scar Tissue
• Trigger Finger
• Women's Health (Post-Mastectomy and Caesarean Scarring)

For more information see the Graston website. 

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue therapy intended to eliminate pain, increase range of motion. It normally is used to treat problematic areas as opposed to a whole body massage . It does this by using massage techniques to stretch the fascia and release the bonds that exist between the fascia, muscles and bones. Fascia is the connective tissue that connects and covers all muscles, organs, and skeletal structures of the body. It basically hold you together! Direct myofascial release is sometimes known as deep tissue work. Indirect release applies pressure and gently stretches the fascia; this allows for increased blood circulation and relief from pain. This technique is usually done without lubrication on the skin. The drag allows the therapist to stretch the muscle instead of sliding over it. Communication with the therapist is crucial with this technique.

Sports Massage

Sports Massage is a type of massage designed for highly active people who engage in athletics. It enhances performance and prolongs a sports career by helping to prevent injury, reduce pain and swelling in the body, relax the mind, increase flexibility, and dramatically improve recovery rates. Sports Massage can be highly effective in aiding the rapid recovery from an injury or post event stress by encouraging greater kinesthetic awareness and in turn promoting the body's natural immune function. Sports Massage keeps muscles limber, improves mobility and range-of-motion, manages pain and reduces probability of future injuries. This modality can be done pre or post event, so make sure to tell me which you prefer as the techniques are different.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger Point Therapy is a style of bodywork that focuses on stimulating and releasing \"trigger points\" in your body. Trigger points are tender areas of tension similar to acupressure points, except they occur in the belly of the muscle rather than along the energy pathways of the body. These \"knots\" are built up throughout a person's life due to physical, mental, and/or emotional stress. During a session, focused pressure is applied through a variety of techniques order to release your trigger points. This process can be quite painful at times, yet the effects are lasting and profoundly transformative.

TMJ

An intraoral massage focuses on the muscles both inside and outside of the mouth and jaw. This is a treatment targeted towards people who are experiencing headaches, migraines, jaw tension, teeth grinding, and TMJ disorder. Work will also focus around the neck and the chest.

Cupping

Cupping draws fluid into the area where cups are placed. I use static cupping with a hand pump or silicon cups. They can be placed statically or moved around depending on the treatment. The cups cause discoloration due to broken blood vessels just beneath the skin, much like a bruise. Reduces stress, speeds up recovery from strenuous exercise, and reduces inflammation. The therapy involves using cups made from silicone, glass, plastic, or bamboo to draw out toxins from beneath the skin’s surface. Individuals undergoing the treatment lie face down on a massage table while the practitioner places the cups on their back and draws the air out of the cup, pulling the skin inside. The cups stay on usually for 5-10 minutes. Marks left can last from a few days to two weeks. This modality is not okay for anyone taking blood thinners,  blood pressure medicine, or any kidney medications or for anyone with edema or open skin lesions. Cancer, hemophilia, pacemakers or any type of organ failure are also contraindications.

In each case of the following, there may or may not be a contraindication based on either the location of the problem, or the severity of the confounding factor. Relative contraindications include:

• Clients with acute infections;
• Clients using anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs;
• Clients with severe chronic disease;
• Clients who are pregnant, in puerperium (the period of about six weeks after childbirth during which the mother's reproductive organs return to nonpregnant condition) or menstruating;
• Clients who are anemic;
• Clients who have recently given blood or undergone medical procedures.
• Clients who have health conditions that impede their neurological status, ability to perceive pain, or ability to communicate.
• Clients who have conditions such as diabetes, neurological disorders, medications, or older age, which may impede their ability to experience/communicate pain. Evaluations should address such issues as neurological status, skin integrity, ability to perceive pain, and ability to communicate with staff.
• Clients taking over the counter NSAIDs like Ibuprofen, Aspirin or Naproxen.