Massage therapy is a manual form of therapy, aimed at promoting circulation in soft tissues. Soft tissues are muscles and their tendons, and fascia – generally speaking. Massage treatments are great at treating symptoms, as well as attempting to prevent injury or re-injury. That is to say, whatever your goals or needs, your therapist is ready and willing to help you achieve them. Paired with other therapies, especially chiropractic, massage therapy is a very effective holistic approach to wellness. Massage therapy operates on the premise of treating the whole person, because every part of the human body is connected. Manual therapies as such aim to exploit (in the best way) the body’s natural healing process.
Massage therapists apply their knowledge of orthopaedic testing and therapeutic exercise in addition to their hands on treatments. Not only is a massage therapist trying to help you during the short hour or half hour you have together, the aim is to help you feel your best all the time. This might involve stretches or exercises to do on your own time to prolong the effects of your massage treatment, and to ameliorate muscular imbalances that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Massage therapy can help a number of conditions, including but not limited to:
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
Tension headaches
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Pronator teres syndrome
Sprains
Strains
Pregnancy
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Patellofemoral syndrome
Sports injuries / overuse injuries
Recovery from injuries
Lymphatic swelling
Plantar fasciitis
Shin splints
Piriformis syndrome (sometimes called sciatica)
Chronic pain
Frozen shoulder
Whiplash
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
Various tendonitis presentations such as tennis and golfer’s elbow
The list goes on!
Needless to say, you’re in good hands!