Registered
Massage Therapy (RMT)
Is your movement
restricted because of pain? Injuries due to sports, household activities,
repeated actions at work, and everyday tensions from stress can cause
problems that all too soon become permanent residents in our bodies.
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Massage Therapy can help. Massage is a gentle therapy that
relieves pain, decreases inflammation, decrease stress and
increases the client's overall feeling of well being. Massage
Therapy can help, in concert with other health professions,
to optimize the clients health and wellbeing.
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How can
it help you?
Stress Management
Massage is a well known reliever of stress. Massage can
increase your energy, improve your outlook on life, and in turn
decrease the likelihood of further injuries. Massage can also play
a part in the relief of symptoms of such conditions as asthma and
insomnia, which can be aggravated by anxiousness. Due to its powerful
role in stress reduction, massage has become a complementary therapy
for individual in psychological counseling or addiction therapy.
Painful or tight muscles
Massage helps relieve many forms of muscles tension,
from muscle cramping to habitual jaw clenching or shoulder tightness.
Through stretching and kneading motions, massage directly affects
muscles. It also encourages the nervous system to relax muscles
indirectly.
Delayed muscle soreness
Massage therapy also helps muscles release internal waste
which can cause soreness following exercises using hydrotherapy
and flushing techniques. Massage can be very beneficial before,
during, and after physical activity.
Pain or tingling in arms or legs
Muscles can become so tight that they can press on nerves
in the arms, hands, & legs. This can be due to chronic poor
posture, overuse, or muscle imbalances. These can lead to chronic
conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
and Sciatica. Your Massage Therapist can identify and treat the
specific muscles that are causing this tightness and help relive
the nerve compression.
Injuries
Massage can assist in the healing of acute and chronic
injuries, such as tendonitis that can develop overtime, as well
as ligament sprains or muscle strains caused by an accident. Massage
decreases inflammation by increasing circulation, which helps bring
nutrients to and dispose of wastes from injured cells. Certain massage
techniques can limit scar formation in new injuries and can reduce
or make scar tissues more pliable around old injury sites.
Secondary pain
Massage can aid in the relief of secondary pains which
can outlast the origin of its cause. Such secondary pains include,
but are not limited to, headaches from eyestrain, low backache during
pregnancy, and protective tightening of healthy muscles around an
injury.
Pain or restriction in joints
Besides the relaxing of tight muscles that can restrict
joint movement, massage works directly on your joints to improve
circulation, stimulates production of natural lubrication, and relieves
pain from condition such as osteoarthritis.
Posture
Massage releases limitations in muscles, joints and facia, the muscles'
tough connective tissue covering, and enables your body to return
to a natural posture. Massage can also relax aching muscles caused
by abnormal curvatures in the spine, and brings relief to such conditions
as scoliosis. Your Massage Therapist will work with you to correct
postural imbalances which may be the cause of your pain and discomfort.
The effects of forced inactivity
There are numerous reasons for you to be in a state of
inactivity, such reasons include a lengthy hospital stay due to
injury or surgery, paralysis and even normal aging. When this takes
place, massage is important in bringing relief to your aches and
in improving the health of your skin, muscles and connective tissue
by increasing circulation.
Fluid retention
Massage enhances blood circulation by draining tissues
of excess fluid caused by recent injury, surgery or pregnancy.
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How will a massage feel?
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Massage on normal tissue is usually a pleasant
sensation. Massage in an area of injury or chronic pain may
first cause discomfort, the level of which lessens as the massage
session progresses. Your therapist is familiar with ways to
reduce pain, and will work within your pain tolerance. It is
a good idea to communicate how you feel to your therapist so
they can make adjustments to better meet your needs.
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Personalizing Your
Plan
On your first visit, your massage therapist will ask
general health questions and review any referring practitioner's
recommendations. Your massage therapist will assess your concerns
to determine how best to approach it, by checking any restricted
or painful movements, feeling for tone, tenderness and pain, and
observing your posture. Your massage therapist will then work with
you to create a personalized treatment plan to help you regain a
feeling of wellness. This plan may include massage, hydrotherapy,
homecare exercises, and stretching.
Is massage therapy always appropriate?
There are some instances where massage is not appropriate, so always
tell your Massage Therapist about your existing medical conditions,
even if it is a minor one. Some conditions require close communication
between your massage therapist and your practitioner. Your massage therapist
at Sanjiu will gladly provided them with regular updates on your
progress if you request.
Self-care techniques
Your greatest benefit from massage is to learn ways to
release tension or to speed up healing process of an injury outside
of your massage sessions. Your massage therapist will share with
you techniques and easy exercises for effective movements of the
muscles.
Your Massage Therapist
Massage therapists (RMTs or MTs) have received intensive training
that includes massage techniques, hydrotherapy, anatomy and physiology,
and knowledge of when massage is or is not indicated. A growing
number of provincial associations license massage therapists. In
Ontario, Massage Therapists are licensed by the College of Massage
Therapists of Ontario (CMTO). Therapists must adhere to a strict
code of conduct which governs their profession. To learn more about
these regulations or about the profession of Massage Therapy please
visit the College's website at www.cmto.com .
Insurance coverage
Personal injury protection and/or primarily car insurance,
will sometimes cover massage in aid to recovery from and accident.
With a practitioner's prescription, worker's compensation plans may also
cover massage for on-the-job injuries. Also your extended health
insurance may cover Massage Therapy, check your policy for current
coverage restrictions.
Please call for an appointment today. 416-497-6339
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