Massage Therapy 
Types of Massage 
Relaxation Massage is probably the most well known form of massage therapy. Although it is not necessarily used in a clinical setting working with injuries and specific conditions, relaxation techniques are very beneficial in the warming up of tissue for a deep, therapeutic massage. Techniques such as effleurage, tapotement and light pounding can warm up the muscle tissue about to be worked, creating a more beneficial effect with deeper techniques.

Therapeutic Massage Therapy can treat issues such as sprains, strains, frozen shoulder, whiplash, tension related headaches, post-concussion care, postural related conditions such as lumbar lordosis, kyphosis and hip rotation. Benefits can be found with massage in chronic pain cases such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome; although massage will not cure these conditions, it can greatly decrease symptoms and increase time between relapse.

Deep Tissue Therapy can also be administered to those who need aggressive work over adhesions, restricted muscles and reduced range of motion. With continued work over restricted range of motion, joints can return to normal range of motion and there can be a decrease in muscle tension and pain. Deep tissue work can be integrated into a therapeutic treatment as well as worked into a relaxation massage as often the combination can increase the benefits.

Benefits of Massage
Benefits of massage range from general to specific.

General benefits in massage are increased blood flow throughout the body, improved lymphatic system function, reducing symptoms of stress mentally and physically, overall relaxation in the body, increased mobility in muscle tissue and restoration in normal joint function and range of motion. Massage therapy in conditions with chronic pain can have very good benefits in the long term as well, as the consistent work in the body increases overall mood, your emotional state and health in your muscle and joint tissue.

Depending on what ails you, massage can be beneficial in a very specific way for you. A wide variety of massage techniques can be used in conditions throughout their acute, sub-acute and chronic states. During acute cases, massage’s focus is to decrease inflammation with light point specific work as well as working on surrounding areas to decrease compensation and maintain equilibrium. With subacute, a more rehabilitative approach is taken: work over affected tissue becomes focused on deceasing pain and tension building up around the injured area as a form of protection. Massage techniques are used to decrease adhesions in the muscles, restrictions in the joints and pain in the area as well as keeping the tissues in the surrounding areas relaxed as well to decrease compensation habits. Chronic cases focus mostly on retaining mobility and decreasing restrictions, massage work mostly on tight, tense muscles and working to help keep those muscles stretched and limber as well as maintaining strength to decrease risk of injury.

Your therapist might recommend specific stretching and strengthening exercises to you in order to maintain your healing state while you are at home. Keeping up on these exercise is very important as it decreases risk of sliding back into a worsening state from overuse.

Maintenance
Maintenance with your massage care is very important.
If you are consistent with treatment for your specific injury and condition, the results will increase the chances of getting to a place in your health where you feel your best. Of course, case and condition specific, you may not make a full recovery and be “cured”, but consistency is key with therapy.

The more you put it off and are inconsistent in your treatment and home care, the less your therapist will be able to assist you as the tissues start to tighten up and/or revert back to their state of injury. In cases where your body is held in an unnatural position because of injury, your joints will take on a new placement and move accordingly to decrease pain. This can take time (months to years) to reverse and get you back to normal functions.

This is not written to shame or pressure you, but it is important to understand that your therapist can only work with you as much as you work with them. Life gets in the way and nothing will ever work out as perfectly as we want it to. But if you are ready and willing to do your best, we as therapist will be more than willing to work around your schedule to do what is best for you.

Ultimately the decision is up to you and how you want to feel. Your health is in your hands. 

Long Term
Depending on why you are coming to see a therapist, your time to recovery can vary greatly. It can take as little 4-5 treatments to as long as years to get you back to a place you feel well again. 

Understanding this will be much appreciate by your therapist. We want more than anything to see you better, but we can not undo years of damage in one or even two treatments. Knowing that your condition will take time and having the patience and determination to see it through will reap you with the reward of rehabilitation and pain relief. Are goal of course is never to drag out your treatment, but the body a complicated puzzle and it will take time to form a tailored treatment and get you where you need to be.

Again, we understand that life happens and therapy can be expensive, but we hope to work with you and develop a plan that will work with your schedule and your budget as best we can. If you feel that therapy is for you, give our clinic a call at (403) 245-8282 and ask for Shea in Massage 
Shea Karczewski