Treatments & Applications

There are many different ways of delivering a massage. Many Massage Therapists have different styles and techniques. Seeking out a Therapist who promotes healing and treat's injuries, as well as making the client feel comfortable, is important. Some people when receiving a massage enjoy the treatment and tend to "doze" off asleep. The massage techniques that I apply and feel are the most beneficial for my treatment style and form of massage therapy are:

Deep Tissue
A thorough deep tissue massage is the involvement of hands, forearms, elbows, and thumbs applying stripping and kneading in correspondence with the fiber direction of a muscle. Pressure is applied at the origin and insertion of muscles. This will cause the muscle to relax. Sometimes frictioning cross fiber direction, along tendons and scar tissue, will breakdown adhesions and reduce any scar tissue formation. A deep tissue massage is beneficial in loosening fascia (connective tissue) and allowing trigger points (knots) to dissipate.

Client has presented hyper tonicity throughout the erector spianie muscles. Complains of acheness. These muscles are primarily postural and flexion muscles. Pressure is applied along the spine with elbows, holding while the tension decreases.

Several clients have come to me with frozen shoulder or rotator cuff tears. This is imperative to keep the shoulder mobile. The scapula actually adheres to the thoracic cage. So working the origin and insertions of these compensating muscles is the key.

Client may have various problems with the feet. Plantarfacitis to pes planus or one of several conditions. Special attention is focused with thumb stripping along the plantar aponeurosis. Time can also be spent applying Reflexology Techniques.

Lymphatic Drainage
This is a very soothing but more brisk massage. It involves many long strokes toward the appropriate lymph nodes. It is beneficial to one who has had any type of Chemo-Therapy and different types of surgery (i.e., cosmetic). This type of massage is excellent for an ailment in an acute stage, as it promotes and increases the healing time by decreasing inflammation.

A lymphatic massage increases toxin release and muscle tone by allowing more blood flow to the area. This massage induces relaxation by stimulating the appropriate nervous system.

Pressure points
This massage technique can be performed to many different designated areas on the body, such as a muscle that has a trigger point (knot) or to the attachment of a muscle. The muscle filaments have a reflex reaction affect; after a sustained amount of pressure it causes the muscle to relax. In combination with deep breathing, woven fibers will smooth out. Quite often certain areas on the body where pressure points are applied have a reflex reaction, which affect other specific muscles and even organs.

	Sub-occipital pressure points are applied after stripping along scalenes and sternocleidomastoid. This is the culprit to tension headaches.
	Over half of my clients have low back pain either from past related injuries, overuse or postural abnormalities. I use my forearm to warm up the superficial muscles proceeding inward by applying pressure points at the attachment of Quadratus Lumborum. This is a little painful but loosens the low back incredibly. This treatment is beneficial to a lot clients who have sit down jobs where the hips are flexed for long periods of time.
	Thumb stripping along the tendons with pressure points applied at the attachment Wrist extensors and supinator. This technique is very effective for persons with the wrist often extension. I use this technique for several musicians, tennis players and computer users.
	This is a client suffering from sciatica. Client is securely draped while pressure points are applied to the muscles originating of the sacrum. Running along the piriformis muscle as it runs diagonally to the head of the trochanter. This will slacken the muscle alleviating pressure from the nerve. (See ailments; sciatica)

Sports Massage/Injuries
Sports massage is a more stimulating "get back into the game" massage. This will increase the blood flow, muscle tone, and the repair time of any injury that has occurred (sporting events or certain types of repeated taxing physical activity).

Injuries involving the overuse of muscles sometimes require a frictioning technique that requires a cross fiber direction; this is often applied to tendons and certain adhesions, to break down any scar tissue.

Ice is applied after frictions, followed by the therapist assisting the client in stretching. The goal is to increase range of motion and regain mobility to the affected area.

Often the client performs a resistance exercise with the assistance of the therapist to strengthen the injured / atrophied muscle.

Injuries that are in an acute stage (first 24 hr.), require that the client be advised to rest while the therapist elevates the affected area and applies ice. At this stage only compensating areas should be massaged.

In a subacute stage (24-72 hr.), some drainage techniques and effleurage (gliding manipulations primarily affecting the circulation of blood and lymph) to the periphery of the injury can be applied (see section on Sprain / Strain).

Injuries from an accident in a chronic stage require a deeper massage consisting of petrissage (kneading and muscle squeezing) plus seeking out any adhesions and trigger points. This will help in promoting the healing of any torn muscle fibers (i.e., whiplash / low back strain).

Hydrotherapy
The application of water is one of the greatest forms of therapy and easily accessible at the turn of a tap.

An Epsom salt bath, warm or hot, (according to preference) is beneficial to the body as it draws out toxins and heals.

A heating pad can be applied, moist or dry, (whichever preferred) to chronic stiffness. This will cause the muscles to relax.

Ice and cold compress are always applied to an acute or inflamed area.

Healing Face Rejuvination
The face like any other part of the body has muscles…. Well over 40 if you can believe it!!!

The sad thing is we spend so much time worrying what and when to apply it, how much does it cost and what ingredients does it contain. The huge misconception is due to commercialism is we are trying to do everything external rather than internal. For example look at men….they have less facial lines….why? Think about what they do everyday that women don’t and how much muscle involvement is there? Just in case you can’t think clearly it’s….shaving. And why is it that all the young looking people are “smiley”….because they are increasing the tone of the muscles in their face. It’s kind of too simple for anyone to realize it.

The blood needs to be increased, oxygen intake needs to be increase and the elasticity in the skin needs to be stimulated. After receiving many facials I came to the conclusion that the part that felt the best was the actual manipulations performed on the face rather than what was applied. When muscles aren’t used they start to atrophy they need to be stimulated. This is what is happening when a massage is performed to the face.

All my clients and friends thoroughly enjoy facial massage and as you can see the end results are beautiful.

Thumbs along forehead outward proceeding upward.

Finger tips under and along the brow in an upward movement.

Upward “swoop” along the outer eye and temples.

	Client has presented hyper tonicity throughout the erector spianie muscles. Complains of acheness. These muscles are primarily postural and flexion muscles. Pressure is applied along the spine with elbows, holding while the tension decreases.
	Several clients have come to me with frozen shoulder or rotator cuff tears. This is imperative to keep the shoulder mobile. The scapula actually adheres to the thoracic cage. So working the origin and insertions of these compensating muscles is the key.
	Client may have various problems with the feet. Plantarfacitis to pes planus or one of several conditions. Special attention is focused with thumb stripping along the plantar aponeurosis. Time can also be spent applying Reflexology Techniques.