Massage Therapy has a therapeutic effect on the body by acting on the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. In Ontario, a Registered Massage Therapist is trained in Swedish Massage which consists of hands-on manipulation of soft tissues of the body; muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints. As a Massage Therapist I use my knowledge of anatomy and physiology to combine traditional Swedish and modern Massage Therapy techniques with exercise and other therapies to treat patients.
Therapeutic Massage
A therapeutic massage means you have a specific complaint(s), for instance, pain in your shoulder or a low back. I will:
- Assess your current condition. This will include reviewing your health history, asking how long have you experienced the pain, whether the onset was sudden, how you experience the pain. I assess through observation and the way you move.
- Propose a plan. I will propose an approach to treatment. This might be focusing on the specific area or the full body of complaint. I may recommend a series of sessions at intervals and when we will reassess. As well I will recommend other ways of treating the area, such as using heat, ice, strengthening or stretches. If appropriate, I will refer you to another health professional for further assessment and treatment.
- Perform the therapy. This is the actual massage, or treatment, based on the assessment and the plan you have agreed to.
- Evaluate the outcome. At the end of the treatment we will review the results. How is your pain, your ability to move and the initial impact of treatment? On the basis of the results we will discuss next steps in your treatment plan.
Wellness or Relaxation Massage
Relaxation Massage is a Swedish Massage focused on decreasing muscle tension and calming the nervous system with an emphasis on leaving the patient with a relaxed and rejuvenated feeling.
Massage Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. If they are left on for a longer period (3 – 10 minutes) they can leave a bruise and you may have observed this on many athletes who used cupping therapy. People get cupping therapy for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. The cups which I used are made of either silicone or plastic. Cupping therapy might be trendy now, but it’s not new. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures.
Reflexology Therapy
Reflexology therapies are natural therapeutic methods based on the principle that through the application of pressure on specific point on the hands or feet we can affect the entire body. Specific points on the hands and feet are a reflection of other parts, glands, and organs of the body.
Reflexology therapy can:
- Relieve tension
- Improve Circulation
- Support the body’s effort to function optimally
Reflexology is non-invasive and you do not have to remove your clothing, just your socks. Reflexology is one of the safest and least invasive complementary therapeutic practices available. Therapists do not diagnose, prescribe, or treat specific medical conditions, reflexology is not a replacement for conventional medical care.