What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy means many things to many people. Let’s simply define massage as the manual manipulation of soft body tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons, and ligaments) to enhance health and well-being. Massage can be divided into two main types – therapeutic massage and relaxation massage.
Therapeutic (clinical) Massage
Therapeutic massage differs from relaxation massage because it focuses on therapeutic goals (for example releasing muscle spasms or strengthening or stretching specific muscles affected by an injury). They use more specific manipulation of the muscle and/or surrounding connective tissue and may address other systems in the body such as the lymphatic, circulatory, and nervous systems. Therapeutic massage is covered under many insurance plans, including auto accident and worker’s compensation claims.
Benefits of Therapeutic Massage
- Reduce pain
- Release muscle tightness
- Repair injured tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments
- Release adhesions
- Release scar tissue
- Release nerve compression
- Greater flexibility and range of motion
Relaxation Massage
Relaxation massage offer gentle techniques. The goal, or intention, of relaxation massage is to reduce stress, promote overall wellness, relax muscles, diminish pain, and move body fluids (such as blood) to nourish cells and help remove waste products. Relaxation massage is an important part of a wellness approach to your health. Relaxation massage is generally not covered by insurance benefits.
Benefits of Relaxation Massage
- Relief for tight muscles (knots) and other aches and pains
- Improved circulation
- Reduction of stress
- Enhanced sense of wellbeing
- Improved mood (reduction in depression, anxiety, and anger)
- Improved sleep patterns
- Increased energy and vitality
- Experience of comfort through touch
What Can Massage Help With?
We Offer Different Types of Massage
Relaxation Massage
Typically uses smooth, gliding strokes at a slow pace with light pressure to help you relax. There is less emphasis on working out painful knots in the muscle, but it still helps to improve blood flow, calm the nervous system, stimulate the body’s lymphatic system, and promote an overall feeling of relaxation.
Deep Tissue Massage
Designed to relieved severe tension in the muscles and connective tissues, it is used to treat specific muskuloskeletal disorders and complaints and employs a dedicated set of techniques and strokes to achieve relief.
Sports Massage
Typically used to prepare athletes for peak performance, drain away fatigue, relieve swelling, reduce muscle tension, promote flexibility, and prevent injuries.
Pregnancy Massage
Massage during pregnancy not only relieves the tensions and aches caused by the extra weight and shift in the center of gravity of the body, but it reduces swelling, soothes the nervous system, reduces fatigue, and enhances energy.