What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy is the manual manipulation of soft body tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments) to enhance a person’s health and well-being. Massage therapists are health care practitioners who use a hands on approach to facilitate healing. Massage therapists do this by looking at a person as a whole unit using a holistic approach. Using this information they can then come up with a treatment pan specific to each individual.
Different types of massage:
Relaxation Massage
Relaxation massage focuses on providing general relaxation, relieving muscle tension and improving blood circulation.
Pregnancy (Prenatal) Massage
Pregnancy massage is a type that’s similar to regular massage that is adapted for the anatomical changes you go through during pregnancy.
Deep Tissue / Sports Massage
A deep tissue massage targets deep layers of muscle and the surrounding tissues to treat injuries and/or chronic pain.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle technique that helps the lymphatic system remove waste and toxins from the body to reduce swelling and inflammation, enhance immune system function, and relaxation and stress relief.
Scar Release Massage
Scar tissue massage involves breaking up the scar tissue of healed wounds (minimum 8 weeks) and adhesions to enhance freedom of movement and decrease pain and discomfort.
What massage therapy can help with
- Stress management
- Neck pain
- Headaches / Migraines
- General aches and pains
- Lower back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
- Pregnancy related problems
- Reduced range of movement
- Chronic pain
- Health maintenance
- Injury rehabilitation
- Terminal illness
- Care of the disabled
- Relaxation
- Lower blood pressure
- Promotes restful sleep / Quality of sleep
- Reduces pain
- Breakdown scar tissue
- Anxiety / Depression
- Improves sports performance and recovery time
- Increased range of motion
During your massage session
- Prior to receiving massage you will be asked to fill out a client information form to gather information about your medical history and any current medications. This is important as it allows the therapist to review your history to ensure that you are safe to receive treatment.
- Your modesty will be respected during the massage session, with only the area that the massage therapist is working on being exposed. This also ensures that you stay warm and comfortable during your session.
- After a treatment plan has been established the therapist will leave the room and allow you to undress the treatment area/s. Linen will be provided for you to cover yourself to protect your modesty.
- A tray will be provided for you to put small items of personal property in and this will be placed within your view.
- At the beginning of the massage session a pressure scale will be explained to you. This will ensure that you remain in control of the session and that the therapist does not exceed a comfortable pressure. Throughout the session the therapist should check in with the pressure however if at any stage you feel that the pressure is to soft or hard you may ask the therapist to adjust accordingly.
- After your treatment the therapist will leave to wash their hands and ask you to get dressed. The therapist will then gain some feedback and possibly reassess your range of movement. You will then be provided with a home care sheet explaining the effects of massage followed by any home care such as stretches that the therapist may want you to do.