Therapeutic Massage: How can it help you?

Your personalized plan

On your first visit, your massage therapist will ask you general health questions and review any referring practitioner's recommendation. Your massage therapist will then assess your problem area to determine the best approach, perhaps by checking for restricted or painful movement, gently feeling for tenderness and looking at your posture.

Your massage therapist

Massage therapists have extensive training that includes massage technique, anatomy and physiology, and a knowledge of when massage is and is not appropriate. A growing number of local, state and provincial governments license massage therapists. Many Massage therapists are certified by schools or have specialized training which they will gladly explain.

Painful or tight muscles

Massage can relieve many types of muscle tightness from a short-term muscle cramp to a habitually clenched jaw or tight shoulders. Some massage techniques release tension directly by stretching and kneading your muscles and their connective tissue coverings (called fascia). Other techniques work less directly, but quite powerfully, by stimulating your nervous system to allow your muscles to relax.

Injuries

Massage can help heal injuries such as tendinitis that develop over time, as well as ligament sprains or muscle strains caused by an accident. Massage reduces inflammation by increasing circulation, which removes waste products and brings nutrition to injured cells. Certain massage techniques can limit scar formation in new injuries and can reduce, or make more pliable, scar tissue around old injuries.

How will a massage feel?

Massage on normal tissue is almost always a pleasant sensation. Massage in the area of an injury or chronic pain may at first cause some discomfort which usually lessens noticeably in the first few minutes. Your massage therapist knows ways to minimize pain, and will work carefully within what feels right to you. Always tell your massage therapist if you feel any discomfort so she or he can make adjustments.