Massage Therapy Definitions
Swedish ("regular") Massage
The term "Swedish" massage often brings to mind a visual
picture of a large blonde ham-fisted she-male who looks like she
can twist, bend, thump, and seriously hurt you! But here's what
it really is … a group of techniques (effleurage, petrissage,
tapotement etc.) that were studied and categorized by a Swedish
physical education teacher in the 19th century, and are
collectively called Swedish massage. These classical
manipulations are performed on the skin with a cream based
lotion or oil lubricant. A relaxing or stimulating effect can be
achieved, depending on the direction and rhythm of movement,
pressure, duration, and the contact surface used by the
therapist.
Hydrotherapy
This is the use of water in solid, liquid or gas (steam)
forms to increase/decrease circulation locally or to relieve
pain. A typical application during a treatment can be a hot
pack, an ice pack, or a steam for the face and sinuses.
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Trigger Point Therapy
"Trigger points" defined: as an excessively irritated and
painful spot within a band of muscle or connective tissue, it
often exhibits a predictable pain referral pattern, and it
shortens the affected muscle (thus creating more pain and
dysfunction). Treatment utilizes a specific manual treatment,
stretching and heat to reduce or eliminate the trigger point,
and may take more than one session to resolve.
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Myofascial Release
"Fascia" defined: a sheet or band of tough fibrous connective
tissue, which acts like packaging or an anchoring substance.
Fascia covers muscles individually and as groups, and can become
shortened, thus making it difficult to stretch the muscle it
contains. Therapy usually involves an application of heat, a
manual technique in a horizontal plane, and very little to no
lubricant on the skin. Sometimes an active or passive movement
of a body part is utilized in order to maximize the effect and
normalize the area as much as possible.
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Hot Stone Massage
This is an offering at Solomon Massage that incorporates
heated basalt stones with massage and energy work au naturel.
The rocks and stones of the earth are millions of years old and
contain energy which people have been drawn to since the dawn of
time. In addition to the option of a full body hot stone
treatment, two heated stones are often incorporated into regular
massage treatments and clients love it because of the soothing
and therapeutic effects.
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Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Lymphatic flow is very slow to begin with in active muscles, but there is very little flow in resting muscles, and in areas with NO muscle (such as the breast). Direct massage techniques such as MLD can keep lymph flow continuous, increasing the velocity up to thirty times the normal rate. This light skin technique has a powerful effect in moving excess fluid out of the tissues, into the lymph vessels, through the lymph nodes and back to the venous system. MLD decreases swelling, pain, metabolic wastes from the inflammatory response and buildup of excess fibrin, which reduces the incidence and amount of scar tissue. MLD is more effective than machines designed to reduce edema and swelling. Many people enjoy having lymphatic drainage when they're going through a detox/cleansing phase. Lee-Ann has completed the Vodder Basic and Therapy One courses, being half way to a fully trained therapist.
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Breast Health Treatment
When is breast massage/MLD indicated? When there is
congestion, swelling or pain resulting from various conditions
such as pregnancy/breastfeeding, surgery/diagnostic procedures,
surgical scars, or discomfort related to cancer treatment.
Continuing education in this area is currently being undertaken
at Solomon Massage. Check back later for more details.
Read about the
Benefits of Massage Therapy or take a look at the
Massage Therapy
Scope of Practice.
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Fibromyalgia
What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia (pronounced
fy-bro-my-al-ja) is widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments
and tendons. Fibromyalgia also causes people to have trouble
sleeping and feel very tired all the time. A common disease, it
affects from 2% to almost 6% of all people. Women are much more
likely to develop fibromyalgia than men (by a ratio of 4 to 1).
The incidence of it increases with age, and it is most common in
women 50 years of age or older.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia If you have fibromyalgia
you may experience a number of symptoms. Common symptoms include
pain and swelling in many joints or soft tissues. As a result of
the pain you may have trouble sleeping, and be very fatigued and
feel weak throughout the day. Your memory may be poor and you
could have trouble concentrating. You might also feel stiff,
particularly in the morning. Some people also experience
numbness in joints or muscles. In addition, your eyes may be
dry. You may feel unable to stand the cold and might develop
sensitivities to certain foods, medications and/or allergens.
Some people also experience depression, tension and migraine
headaches, irritable bowel and bladder, chronic fatigue syndrome
and temperomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The heightened
experience of pain of people with fibromyalgia often causes them
to become less active in order to avoid pain. Decreased activity
then causes the muscles to weaken, making future activity more
difficult. Many people with fibromyalgia feel like they are on a
downward cycle. If you are in pain and not sleeping well, it
makes sense that you are going to be very tired or fatigued
during the day. Being in pain and having no energy makes it
difficult to manage normal activities such as maintaining a job
and housekeeping, as well as recreational and other leisure
pursuits. This can lead to stress and anxiety. Depression is
also common in people with fibromyalgia. These stresses are made
worse by the fact that people with fibromyalgia look "fine" to
others. Thus, it is often hard for them to get understanding and
support from family, friends and employers.
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known. A number of
factors might be involved, such as accidents and injuries,
surgery, other illnesses or infections, emotional trauma and
stress.
Every person is different and must be treated accordingly,
because every day can be different for a person with
fibromyalgia. With careful trigger point therapy, manual
lymphatic drainage, self care techniques, and good communication
with your therapist, FM can be manageable. Call Lee-Ann at (613)
302-3117 or
email
Lee-Ann today to book an appointment.
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