What is Manual Therapy?

Manual therapy is a hands-on technique designed to regain movement, activate muscles, and reduce inflammation. 

Evaluation to assess a client's condition and determine which manual therapy techniques will help the client to regain function, enhance the healing process, and increase the range of motion in joints. Manual therapy can drastically reduce pain and inflammation by targeting affected areas of the body to improve overall muscle function by relieving muscle tension and increasing circulation to the surrounding area. Manual therapy is often used in the treatment of chronic back pain, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. Along with nerve compressions, issues with joint mobility, headaches and migraines.

There are several types of manual therapy..

Neuromuscular massage therapy is a specialized manual massage in which digital pressure and friction are used to release areas of strain in a muscle. Strain areas are called tender or trigger points, and they tend to be the cause of ongoing muscular pain symptoms. These trigger points are small areas of the muscle in which there is a contracture of tissue, and the lack of blood and nutrients in that area causes an inability for that muscle to relax. The area is hypersensitive and can cause pain, fatigue, and weakness in the muscle. Trigger points can lead to referral pain, which refers to a phenomenon in which areas far away from the trigger point experience sensations of pain, tingling or numbness.

 

One of the most effective techniques to help muscle, joint dysfunction and improve Range Of Motion (ROM) is the Muscle Energy Technique (MET) Uses the clients own strength to enhance the stretch of the muscle, by reducing the neural protection response to overstretching. It is done in a very controlled manner, taking the muscle affected into a mild stretch, which the patient then resists with a small contraction. This allows the nervous system to “reset” the normal length of the muscle, allowing for greater stretch each time. The technique can be repeated around three times in the treatment for optimal results.

Myofascial Release:  is a hands-on technique used to manage myofascial pain. “Myo” means muscle. “Fascial” refers to the connective tissue that covers and supports the muscles throughout your entire body. During myofascial release therapy, your therapist doesn’t focus specifically on your muscles. They focus on releasing tension in your fascial tissues.

What is fascia?

You can think of fascia like a spider web. The stringy tissue is densely woven throughout your muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, veins and organs. Your fascia is one continuous structure throughout your body. Each part of your body is connected to it in some way. That’s why if there’s a snag in the tissue in one part of your body, it can cause pain in another part of your body

Normally, fascia is flexible and stretchy. But it’s strong. It provides structural support to your body and protects your muscles. Fascia is usually able to move without any restrictions. When your body experiences any kind of trauma, your fascia loses its flexibility. It becomes tightened and more rigid. The tightness can lead to pain and loss of motion, which can affect your quality of life.

This technique involves gentle sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissues to restore fascial elasticity, blood flow.

 

Neuromuscular Massage vs. Deep Tissue Massage

A deep tissue massage is a form of massage that is generally used to address muscle aches and pains associated with daily stress. Deep tissue massage is usually administered on an on-off basis whenever a client decides they need a bit of relaxation to relieve achy muscles.

 

Neuromuscular massage techniques, on the other hand, are medical in nature. The manual therapy techniques are highly-specialized and are designed to correct pain and movement dysfunction by treating trigger points, muscle adhesions, and connective tissue patterns. The problems are normally caused by a specific trauma, repetitive movements or even bad posture. Neuromuscular massage is considered an ongoing treatment – not just something a person does whenever they feel a bit achy. It is mainly used to fix trigger points, circulation, nerve compression, postural problems and repetitive movement injuries. The aim of a neuromuscular massage is to go straight to the source of your pain and alleviate it.

 

What Does Neuromuscular

- Manual Therapy Treat?

Some of the medical issues for which neuromuscular massage can be an appropriate treatment include:

Low back pain

Upper back pain

Carpal tunnel-like symptoms

Sciatica-like symptom 

Nerve compression

Calf cramps

Plantar fasciitis

Tendonitis

Knee pain

Jaw pain

Tempomandibular joint pain (TMJ disorders)

Hip pain

Headaches

Iliotibial band friction syndrome

 

Is Sports Massage the Same as Deep Tissue Massage?

Sports massage and deep tissue massage are, on the surface, fairly similar, and both are used for rehabilitative purposes, but they are two different interventions. two therapies use similar techniques to achieve similar results, however, one is more focused on a specific isolated area, whilst the other is more general.

Deep Tissue Massage

If you have muscle soreness, tightness, trigger points, or injury, the slow strokes and deep finger pressure reach the deepest layers of your muscles and tissue to relieve chronic pain.

What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage is, typically, used to treat sports injuries or injuries that are located in an isolated part of the body. Often, such concerns are long-term as a result of over-training, trauma, muscle imbalance, or poor biomechanics.

Sports massage aims to aid recovery, reduce the risk of recurrence, or assist with performance ahead of an event.

 

Benefits of sports massage can be both mental and physical, and include:

Increased range of motion

Increased flexibility

Increased sense of wellbeing

Decreases recovery time

Decreased muscle tension

Decreased muscle spasms

Better sleep

 

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

The benefits of a deep tissue massage can be similar to those of sports massage, but they are less focused on athletic performance.

Stress relief

Reduces pain

Lowers blood pressure and heart rate

Breaks up scar tissue

Increases range of motion

Reduces the symptoms of arthritis

Rehabilitates injured muscles

 

Deep Tissue Massage Techniques

Some Techniques used in deep tissue massage include:

Cross fiber friction

Active release tension

Muscle energy technique

Trigger point

Myofascial release

Effleurage

Petrissage

Tapotement

 

Are Sports Massages Only for Athletes?

Sports massage, despite the name, is not just for athletes. It can be used for any number of sport-related muscle injuries, no matter how often or how intense a client exercises, as well as non-sports-related injuries. The techniques used in sports massage can be hugely beneficial to non-sport-related muscle injuries that are isolated to a specific region. Although, deep tissue massage is also beneficial for such conditions.

When to Use Sports Massage or Deep Tissue Massage..

The key considerations  which massage therapy is most suitable for your  condition, how isolated the injury is. Sports massage and deep tissue massage are fairly similar in terms of techniques and benefits to manual therapy. Sports massage should be used where injuries are isolated to a small area. Otherwise, a broad deep tissue massage may be more beneficial. 

Every client has their unique individual needs and we will cater each session to come up with a great treatment plan!

 

Manual Therapy -Neuromuscular- Sports Massage & Deep Tissue can be beneficial for relieving pain, restoring mobility and preventing injury. The key to determining which will work best for you is understanding your personal needs.

Consider what type of pain or discomfort you’re dealing with, as well as any possible underlying causes. If something doesn’t feel right while receiving either treatment, speak up!

Your therapist will be able to adjust their approach accordingly so that it’s tailored to meet your individual needs.

Ultimately, taking the time to understand the differences between these techniques can help ensure that you receive the most effective care possible.

 

 

Individuals who should avoid a deep tissue massage or at least consult with a doctor before receiving one include:

Pregnant women.

People with a history of blood clots.

Anyone taking blood thinners.

Those with a skin disease.

Those with a fever.

Cancer patients or anyone undergoing cancer treatment.

 

 

Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress, which translates into:

• Decreased anxiety.
• Enhanced sleep quality.
• Greater energy.
• Improved concentration.
• Increased circulation.
• Reduced fatigue.

Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues. Bodywork can:

• Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
• Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
• Ease medication dependence.
• Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body\'s natural defense system.
• Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
• Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
• Improve the condition of the body\'s largest organ—the skin.
• Increase joint flexibility.
• Lessen depression and anxiety.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
• Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body\'s natural painkiller.
• Relieve migraine pain.