What is medical massage?

“Medical Massage”, also known as “Treatment Massage” is known for being goal oriented massage.  The clients seeking medical massage have specific outcomes they are looking for, such as:  decrease intensity and frequency of headaches and pain, increase range of motion of joints, relief from sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ dysfunction, tendonitis, tennis elbow, runner’s knee, support for pregnant and postpardum mothers, improved recovery time from injury – even injury treatment.

What is a session like?

A consultation happens at the first visit, prior to the massage.  The massage practitioner asks specific questions to learn why the client is seeking massage, and to gain more details on the client’s health history, and how the injury occurred.  Sometimes the injury was ten years ago, and the client is now wanting to recover from chronic pain and tension.  Other times the pain and dysfunction is current and the cause is unknown.  Depending on the goals for the massage – a thorough posture analysis and gate analysis may be taken, as well as range of motion tests to determine the level of function within the muscles and joints, and to assess which muscles are involved.

Pregnant and postpardum mothers have experienced tremendous change in their bodies and benefit from specific, skilled massage.  Their needs are unique and require specialized training and experience, to provide support in a way that is safe and well integrated by their body.  Read more information below to learn how massage can help.

During the massage, the soft tissue is palpated to determine which areas are involved, and techniques are employed to address the complaints and provide relief.  Heat and/or ice may be incorporated to increase the massage effectiveness, as well as client participation in providing feedback on pain/pressure levels, using breathwork to further facilitate effectiveness, and contract/relax techniques to engage the muscles and promote healthy information exchange between the brain and affected area.

Overall, the client and practitioner work as a team by both:  sharing objective and subjective feedback, offering and practicing stretching techniques, discussing and practicing healthy lifting/standing/sitting form and postures, and creating new healthy and supportive movement patterns and habits with the intention of decreasing potential for injury and increasing a balance of strength and appropriate flexibility.

What kind of techniques are used?

Several different massage techniques are effective at decreasing adhesions and muscle knots, increasing circulation, and promoting structural balance and healing within the muscles and fascia, including the following:

Myofascial release:  Fascia is an interconnecting/interweaving web of connective tissue that surrounds individual muscles, surrounds muscle groups, and large sheets of it run up and down the body.  Myofascial release works with the muscles (myo) and fascia (fascial) to warm the tissue, create space, and facilitate movement within the layers.  This technique is critical to create space for the muscles to stretch into with later techniques.  This technique is applied slowly, working with the body as tensions are slowly released, fascia slowly stretches.  The practitioner will coach the client to use breathwork throughout the session to increase the benefits and effectiveness of this technique.  It is applied without any cream or oil to create a deep and thorough stretch of the fascia.

Deep Tissue:  molds and sculpts muscles, and includes several additional “strokes” to lengthen, loosen tense muscles and free bound up fibers.  Direct pressure is applied to areas that feel “knotted up” with motion applied either in line with or against the muscle fibers.  This technique may also be used on tendons and ligaments. The practitioner will coach the client to use breathwork throughout the session to increase the benefits and effectiveness of this technique.  Cream or oil is used to facilitate deep, gliding movements along muscles.

Triggerpoint therapy:  Tight muscle fibers and fascia layers can stick together, creating a feeling of a small bundled mass, like a pencil eraser head, that will refer pain to another area when pressed.  This “eraser head” is called a “triggerpoint,” and direct pressure applied to the area for a sustained period of time deactivates it.  Sometimes there are several triggerpoints – the “main” one which was formed first, and then several more that form later as the muscle continues to hold unreleased tension.  The experienced practitioner knows how to locate triggerpoints when an area is painful, which helps to decrease pain to the affected area, and facilitates a more complete transition to healing.  The practitioner will coach the client to use breathwork throughout the session to increase the benefits and effectiveness of this technique.

Tenderpoint:  Tight muscle fibers can also stick together creating a fingertip size area of pain that will create an involuntary reflex, or “jump” response when pressed.  Shortening the affected muscles in a specific area for a designated period of time releases the tenderpoint.  The practitioner will coach the client to use breathwork throughout the session to increase the benefits and effectiveness of this technique.

Swedish Massage:  Light to moderate pressure is used along with cream or oil to provide  long, gliding strokes over the skin.  This technique increases circulation, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, and flushes out an area after applying myofascial release, deep tissue, triggerpoint and tenderpoint techniques.  Swedish massage is known for it’s nurturing quality, and it’s ability to promote deep relaxation, and increased feelings of increased wellness.

Structural Facilitation:  This technique is applied without cream, or with a very minimal amount of cream.  Specific muscles are targeted to improve structure and alignment of joints, and improve muscle balance within an area.  Pressure is applied to specific muscles, while the client is instructed to perform contractions of corresponding muscles.  The goal is to lengthen muscles and fascia on a deep level.  The practitioner will coach the client to use breathwork throughout the session to increase the benefits and effectiveness of this technique.   Moderate to deep pressure is applied.

Prenatal and Postpardum Massage:  The mother’s body experiences many changes on many levels during the prenatal and postpardum period.  Because of this, she has unique needs during this transformative time.  Her body alignment changes to accommodate her growing baby, and as a result, she may experience tension, pain, tingling/numbness and headaches.  Her hormones change, as well, to support her body changing shape, and her sleep quality and quantity is likely affected.  Amy has had specific training to address these needs safely and effectively, and has carried and birthed 3 children of her own, to viscerally understand this sacred journey.  She is also happy to coordinate care with other healthcare providers as needed, with the client’s permission.

How many sessions does it take?

The number of sessions it takes to teach a client’s goals, depends on what the goals of the client are.  Is the goal to simply get out of pain with the least number of sessions?  Or is the goal to correct posture imbalances to help get out of pain AND prevent future pain and dysfunction.  Some factors to consider:

1. How long the complaint area has been affected?
2. Has there has been an injury to the area?
3. What is the level of injury?
4. What is the overall health of client?
5. What is the client’s self care routine outside of the massage sessions?

Each person is different, and so each session is unique and individualized for each client.  Your practitioner will assess your situation, and let you know what they feel is the appropriate plan of action in terms of your massage sessions.  You always make the decision on how many sessions feel right to you.

How can you get the most from your massage?

Drink water to help support the healing process within and between sessions.  Use ice or heat as directed by your practitioner to help decrease inflammation and manage pain levels.  Perform stretches given to you by your practitioner to support the improvement of muscle function, and joint range of motion. Create new healthy and supportive posture and movement patterns and habits with the intention of improving body alignment and function, decreasing potential for injury, increasing a balance of strength and appropriate flexibility and increasing a feeling of health and well being.  Clients who actively follow these guidelines notice they get more out of each massage, the effects of each massage last longer, and goals are reached more quickly.

Contact Amy to schedule a massage.  Amy Licensed in the State of Arizona, and is a nationally certified Licensed Massage Practitioner through NCBTMB.  Massage license number:  MT-18108.  Member of the American Massage Therapy Association, and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce.