Massage Therapy Modalities

Medical Massage Therapy:

This protocol is very unique in that it bridges the gap with western medicine enabling a dialog between the therapist, the patient and their physician. For the person suffering from chronic pain as a result from personal injury, auto accident, sports injury or soft tissue rehabilitation. For some, this therapy can address many of the muscular skeletal problems brought on from everyday life.  

Neuromuscular Therapy:

By using muscle specific techniques,this treatment excels at relieving chronic neck, back and shoulder problems. Combined with Myofascia Release techniques, this is a very effective treatment for various deep muscular ailments.

Deep Tissue Massage:

Deep Tissue Massage, often confused as being deep Swedish Massage, is not for the person new to massage. The techniques involved are more aggressive and used to create a particular response from the muscles, requiring a recovery period for the recipient and follow up therapies with the Massage Therapist.

Trigger Point Massage:

Trigger points are created when the muscles experience ischemic tissue (lack of or slowed circulation.) Sometimes the so-called "trigger point" is actually a symptom of the real problem. We treat trigger points both manually and electronically during a massage. It's not enough to just treat the "point"; restoration of good circulation is the key to ensure the trigger point doesn't return.

CranioSacral Therapy:

This Protocol has its roots in Osteopathic Medicine. Pioneered in the 1980's by Dr. John Upledger, D.O., O.M.M., this therapy has gained worldwide acclaim, so much so that in Europe, patients receive CranioSacral Therapy as part of the regular office visit with their physician. A lighter softer approach, the idea of this modality is to create an environment within the body to facilitate homeostasis (i.e. normalcy or healing environment.) This modality incorporates a 10-step protocol that has been successfully used to treat headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ, chronic fatigue, motor coordinating difficulties, eye problems and central nervous system disorders.

"C.S. Therapy" has been used to relieve other somatic ailments. Consult with your Massage Therapist for more details.

CranioSacral Therapy is used to detect and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system, which may be the cause of sensory, motor or intellectual dysfunction. The craniosacral system consists of the membranes and cerebral spinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face, and mouth, which make up the cranium, down to the sacrum or tailbone area. The therapy has been successfully used to treat headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ, chronic fatigue, motor coordinating difficulties, eye problems and central nervous system disorders.

SomatoEmotional Release (S.E.R.)

Defined by John E. Upledger, D.O., O.M.M, 

S.E.R is the expression of emotion that, for reasons deemed appropriate by some part of the patient's or client's "non conscious," has been retained, suppressed and isolated within the soma. We might think of the soma as the "somatic psyche." Observation of the S.E.R. process suggests that independent retention of the energy or memory of both physical and emotional trauma be frequently accomplished by specific body parts, regions and viscera.

We initiate the S.E.R. process by hands-on communication between therapeutic facilitator and patient/client. It is the result of meaningful and intentioned touch. The meaning and intention of the touch may be either conscious or "nonconscious."

Psychiatrists and psychotherapists who have witnessed or participated in the S.E.R. process often liken it to body psychotherapy. In this analogy we see the patient/client's body movements as analogous to the verbal aspect of psychotherapy. From a clinical observation, it would appear that most somatically retained trauma and emotion originally occurred against a background dominated by physiologically destructive emotion, such as fear or guilt. This destructive emotional background may have been either acute or chronic.  

Personal observation and participation in hundreds of S.E.R. processes has led me to postulate that organs, tissues and perhaps individual cells possess memory, emotional capacity and intellect. Release of retained tissue emotion and pain usually passes through the patient/client's conscious awareness either at the time of the S.E.R. experience or within 34 to 48 hours after treatment. Conscious recall of past incidents connected to "isolated" tissue memories most frequently occurs as sudden insight within a few hours if not at the time of S.E.R. It is not uncommon for patients/clients to consciously experience tissue-related emotion at the time of S.E.R. and to have recall of the original incident later.

Some things you should know

Pediatric Massage:

This is an area of my practice that's growing.  I think it's because of the immediate response that occurs after treatment.  Children react well to bodywork in general.  Most of my "kids" are into some sort of sports activity.  A few of them are involved with more than one.  The same treatment protocols, mentioned earlier, can be modified and applied with positive results.  I have had success in many areas of pediatric massage, ask me about the benefits for your child.

The Kinesio Taping Method:

This is another area of my practice that is growing — I am a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner. The Kinesio Taping Method combines well with other modalities to treat injuries.

The Kinesio Taping Method is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while allowing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. It is used to successfully treat a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and medical conditions. Both Kinesio® Tex Tape and the training protocol have shown results that would have been unheard of using previous methods and materials.

Kinesio® Tex Tape can be applied in hundreds of ways and has the ability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing, and assist in returning the body to homeostasis.