Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic Massage is a general term for a range of therapeutic approaches with roots in both Eastern and Western cultures. Therapeutic Massage involves a practice using a variety of strokes and techniques to help manipulate a client’s muscles and other soft tissue with the intent of improving a person’s well being and health. Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy of two of the more common techniques used to release difficult areas.

Myofascial Release is used to evaluate and treat restrictions in the body’s contractile connective tissues (muscles) and non-contractile supportive tissues (fascia) by the application of gentle traction, pressure and positioning. Fascia is a complex supportive web throughout the body affecting all components of the musculoskeletal, nervous and visceral (organ) systems. It surrounds groups of muscle fibers, and entire muscle groups and organs. While it is not contractile, it can be passively elastically deformed. That is how it retains tensions from physical and emotional traumas. It is also involved when a person suffers chronic pain or physical dysfunction. Chronically tense muscles restrict blood flow and fatigue the body. Both fascia and muscle tissues can become shortened if they are improperly used. As well, layers of fascia can stick together.

Myofascial release techniques are used to coax muscles in spasm to relax, and break adhesions in the fascia. Bodies respond to these therapies by releasing tension that has been stored in the fascia, thus allowing more functional flexibility and mobility of the muscles, fascia and associated structures.

Trigger Point Therapy is a pain-relief technique to alleviate muscle spasms and cramping. The therapist locates and deactivates ‘trigger points’, which are often tender areas where muscles have been damaged or acquired a recurring spasm or ‘kink’ that worsens painfully when aggravated. Trigger Points typically ‘refer’ pain to areas surrounding or even very distant from the ‘tender point’. The major goals are to reduce spasm inducing new blood flow into the affected area. The spasms are partly maintained by nervous system feedback (pain-spasm-pain) cycle. Spasms also physically reduce blood flow to the trigger point area (ischemia), reducing oxygen supplied to the tissues and increasing the spasms.

Pressure is applied to trigger points, for a short term (between 7-10 seconds per point), which can be momentarily painful but is greatly relieving. It is common to hit the same trigger points several times during a session, but you won’t be leaning into a sore spot several minutes. Often ice or another cooling agent is used to reduce nervous system response, making the area easier and more comfortable to work.