Medical Massage & Bodywork
National Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (BCTMB) & Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
Massage therapy is the manipulation of tissues with the hand or an instrument for relaxation or therapeutic purposes. Manual therapy or bodywork utilize various hands-on techniques to identify and treat body structural imbalances or restrictions that cause pain or reduce function. Techniques include stretching, gentle pressure, resistance, or relaxation. The following is a list of techniques we use:
Relaxation & Traditional Swedish Massage
- Relaxation or Swedish massage is the most popular type of massage in the United States. It involves the use of hands, forearms, or elbows to manipulate the superficial layers of the muscles to promotes general relaxation, relieve muscular tension, improve circulation, and increase range of movement. Active or passive movement of the joints may also be part of the massage.
Myofascial Release
- Myofascial release is a safe and effective manipulative treatment that attempts to release tension in the fascia due to trauma, posture, or inflammation. It involves applying gentle sustained pressure to connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds the muscles, bones, nerves, and organs of the body. Fascia is even present at a cellular layer. Fascial restrictions can inhibit normal bodily function which can lead to chronic pain. The phrase “myofascial release” was coined Dr Robert Ward. Dr Ward, along with physical therapist John Barnes, are considered the two primary founders of Myofascial Release.
Fascial Counterstrain & Strain / Counterstrain
- Fascial Counterstrain was developed by osteopathic physical therapist Brian Tuckey and is an expansion of Strain/Counterstrain which was created by Lawrence Jones DO. Fascial Counterstrain is a systems dependent approach that gently treats soft tissue restriction and dysfunction throughout the entire body including skin, organs, nerves, vessels, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even bone. Areas of pain and dysfunction are identified and treated via moving tissue in a direction of comfort and ease.
System Independent Fascial Release (SIR)
- Combining Myofascial Release and Fascial Counterstrain, Alise Dobrot, a massage therapist, developed the System Independent Fascial Release technique. Since the body often gets injured as a whole across multiple systems at the same time, a system independent fascial restriction release is often necessary.
Muscle Energy & Strain Release
- Strain-release was developed by Alise Dobrot, a massage therapist, and is an expansion of Muscle Energy which was created by Dr Fred Mitchell, Sr. Muscle energy is a direct manipulative procedure where the patient voluntarily contracts their muscles against the therapist’s specifically controlled counter-force in a specific direction to relax muscles and restore normal joint motion. It is considered an active technique, as opposed to a passive technique where only the therapist does the work. Strain Release broadens muscle energy by identifying “lines” of restriction throughout the body. Either independently or as a group, a line is a connecting collection of fascia, bone, muscle, vessels, organs, nerves, or even scar tissue remnants. Once identified, “lines of restriction” are held for a specific time by the patient utilizing a resistance force followed by quick, patterned voluntary movement which releases the entire line.
Drop Release
- Drop Release created by Alise Dobrot, a massage therapist, is a passive way of doing Strain Release technique. It identifies “lines” of restriction throughout the body and uses a quick but gentle pressure, called a drop, to release soft tissue restrictions and reset tension patterns. Note, only soft tissues are manipulated.
Lymphatic Drainage
- Lymph Drainage Therapy is a hands-on method of improving lymph circulation developed by Bruno Chikly, MD, D.O. The manual therapist assesses the patient by palpating the specific rhythm, direction, depth, and quality of lymph flow throughout the body. The treatment is directed at enhancing overall circulation and determining the best alternate pathways for draining stagnant body fluid (lymph, interstitial, synovial fluid, etc…).
Visceral Manipulation
- Visceral Manipulation was developed by French Osteopath and Physical Therapist Jean-Pierre Barral. Visceral Manipulation assists functional and structural imbalances throughout the body including musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic dysfunction. It evaluates and treats the dynamics of motion and suspension in relation to organs, membranes, fascia and ligaments. Visceral Manipulation increases proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby revitalizing a person and relieving symptoms of pain, reducing dysfunction, and improving posture.
Neural Manipulation
- Neural Manipulation is a collaborative technique developed by French Osteopath Alain Croibier and Jean-Pierre Barral. Neural Manipulation examines mechanical relationships between skull, brain, and nerves. It identifies and releases local nerve restrictions as well as their effects on the rest of the body thereby helping to eliminate global patterns of dysfunction.
PNMT – Precision Neuromuscular Therapy
- Precision Neuromuscular Therapy was created by Douglas Nelson, a massage therapist, and is a form of massage therapy that specializes in problem solving muscular pain and discomfort. Assessment explores factors like the firmness of the tissue, sensitivity to pain, postural distortion, temperature, muscle tone, level of muscle contraction, and range of motion. Treatment targets specific problem muscles.
Trigger Point Therapy
- Trigger point therapy was developed by Dr. Janet Travell. It is a manual therapy that involves the application of pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body
Ortho-bionomy
- Ortho-Bionomy is a gentle, non-invasive, osteopathically-based form of body therapy which is highly effective in working with chronic stress, injuries, pain or problems associated with postural and structural imbalances. The manual therapist uses gentle movements and positions of the body to facilitate the change.
Classic Oscillatory Osteopathy
- Classical Oscillatory Osteopathy uses gentle oscillatory motions, throughout all joints, to correct structural and postural imbalances.
Clinical Acupressure
- Clinical Acupressure was developed and refined by Aminah Raheem, Ph.D. It was derived from traditional acupressure which uses touch on specific points to release and rebalance the way energy flows through the body. Specific point combinations are held with firm, gentle finger pressure as the body restores balance.
Reflexology
- Reflexology is the application of pressure to areas on the feet & hands. The theory behind reflexology is that areas of the foot correspond to organs and systems of the body. Pressure applied to the foot is believed to bring relaxation and healing to the corresponding area of the body