ABOUT...

Unlike a regular massage session, medical massage is solely therapeutic in nature.  What this means, is that the sole purpose of the massage is to aid in tissue healing, speed up the recovery process, rehabilitiate the tissue to a normal state of quality and function, and when possible, to find the cause of the dysfunction and prevent it from recurring. The session is purposeful, has a specific goal, and only strokes that meet the needs of the tissue are used.  Because of the nature of tissue healing and rehabilitation, medical massage requires a commitment to the work.  As in any permanent change in the body, weight loss, muscle strength building, increases in flexibility...etc, tissue healing takes time, patience, and most importantly commitment.  Because of the time it takes to make long term changes in the body, Medical Massage requires a commitment to massage over time.  Sessions are not purchased on a single basis, but are based on the amount of work required to make the changes needed, so therefore sessions are purchsed in series of 3, 6 or 12 sessions only.  There is also no pre-determined time limit for sessions, they could range anywhere from 30 to 75 minutes long. 

It is very important to understand that long term changes are trying to be achieved and that the injury process varies from person to person.  Just as in weight loss, you will have gains, losses, and plateus throughout the entire process.  You will also not get very good results if you only diet and exercise sporadically, you need to be committed and the process needs to be monitored closely to adapt to any changes that will be required to keep the process going.   Healing works very similar to this concept.  Results will be minimal if the work is unfocused and sporadic.  An open mind and consistency is needed and patience is definately a virtue.  As with all healing, you will have good days and you will have bad days, our goal is to make our good days more frequent and better each time, and our bad days less frequent and with less severity. 

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A MEDICAL MASSAGE SERIES...

FREE CONSULTATION:  I require everyone who thinks, or I think requires medical massage to come in for a FREE consultation to assess the dysfunction and find out their exact needs.  During this consultation, and using a diagnosis from a doctor, questions such as how, when, where, to what degree of pain...etc will be asked and need to be answered as truthfully as possible so that an accurate assessment of the situation can be understood.  Once an assessment has been made, the client will be given a quick lesson on the injury, the healing process, the structures involved, and their relationship with massage therapy.  Once the client has been educated, I will give my recommendation as to what kind of series will be required for a quick recovery, moderate recovery, or long term recovery.

PURCHASE A SERIES:  Once the client has decided to purchase their series, payment is due in full at the first appointment, dates are set for all subsequent sessions, and a "Contract for better living" needs to be signed and dated.  Each client will be given a short packet of information about their condition and the goals that we are going to be trying to achive during the series.

DURING YOUR SERIES:  Goals will be set for each session based on the goals outlined in the consultation.  The work is designed to try to meet those goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Only work appropriate to the goals will be adminstered bearing in mind that everyone is different, so there is a bit of trial and error in this type of work until the correct strokes with the best results are found.  Many different modalities will be used, everything and anything from stretching, relaxation, circulation, agressive, light myofascial, trigger point therapy...etc or even Hot Rocks, Ice, or Tiger Balm could be utilized to get the desired results.

FEEDBACK:  It is extremely important for client's to give feedback thoughout the entire process.  I will e-mail and contact the client on a regular basis to find out the effects of the work.  I also like all clients to keep a "journal" to chart their pain and activity levels throughout the series so they can see the progress that is being made and to search for any anomolies that might occur in the work.

SELF CARE & HOMEWORK:  Homework or Self Care may be given to clients during days they are not in session.  This homework is part of the healing process.  It may be as easy as applying ice or heat, or it may be stretching or exercising.

WHAT DYSFUNCTIONS REQUIRE MEDICAL MASSAGE...

Any soft tissue dysfunction or injury will require a series of massage sessions.  My specialties are, but not limited to: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Whiplash, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Non-Lesion/Disc Related Sciatica, Tendinitis, Sprains/Strains, Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic Low Back Pain, Rotator Cuff Injuries, Scar Tissue Healing, and clients who wish to make drastic changes in their posture or flexibility.

WHAT DYSFUNCTIONS I DO NOT WORK ON...

Any systemic or disease related illness such as, but not limited to:  Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Cancer