Therapeutic Massage

Lymphatic Facilitation, also called Lymph Massage or Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) massage is a massage technique used to promote the flow of lymph. Increased lymph flow removes harmful substances from the tissues and increases immune function. Lymph is the fluid that circulates throughout the body to assist the blood in distributing nutrients and collecting waste among all the body’s cells. The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to heal from injury and to ward off disease.

There are many health problems that may result from congested and stagnant lymph drainage. Here is a partial list of conditions that improve when lymph flow is increased:

• Arthritis

• Post-breast-cancer lymphedema

• Cellulite

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

• Depression

• Stress

• HIV

• Sinus problems

• Sluggishness

• Frequent colds and flu

• Respiratory congestion

• Vertigo

• Edema

• Toxin accumulation

• Migraine headaches

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Kidney problems

• Lupus

• Lymphedema

• Neck and shoulder stiffness

• Premenstrual syndrome

• Polyps

• Skin disorders

• Wrinkles

Some of the benefits of manual lymphatic drainage massage:

• Promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, strains, and sprains
• Reduces pain
• Promotes and accelerates healing of wounds and burns
• Improves the appearance of old scars
• Minimizes and reduces stretch marks
• Stimulates the immune system
• Improves the metabolism for healthy weight loss
• Relieves fluid pressure on nerve endings
• Relieves tension headache and migraine headache pain
• Minimizes connective tissue restrictions following surgery
• Relieves sinus and cold congestion
• Reduces symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndromes
• Reduces muscle hypertonicity
• Relieves some forms of gastrointestinal distress (constipation, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome)
• Improves relaxation to aid insomnia, stress and loss of vitality

Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Research shows prenatal massage therapy can help reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Prenatal massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage.

Swedish Massage aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts. A distinction should be made between therapeutic prenatal massage and perineal massage, the latter referring to the practice of manually stretching the tissues surrounding the birth canal to help reduce the risk of episiotomy or trauma associated with childbirth.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage:

• Reduced back pain

• Reduced joint pain

• Improved circulation

• Reduced edema

• Reduced muscle tension and headaches

• Reduced stress and anxiety

• Improved oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles

• Better sleep

_______________________________________________

Postpartum massage can be as important and beneficial as massage during pregnancy. Postpartum bodywork is an effective and holistic approach for the many adjustments to motherhood. You may be surprised to receive much more than a spa retreat. Massage is well known for relaxation, stress reduction, pain relief, and other health benefits. Unique postpartum benefits include hormone regulation, reduced swelling, better sleep, and improved breastfeeding. More advanced therapy helps restore your body to its pre-pregnancy condition, speeds healing and assists with C-section recovery.

Benefits of Postpartum Massage:

Postpartum massage has been shown to be effective for a quicker recovery and better health. Integration of maternal bodywork may add welcome value to your healing journey and transition to motherhood.

• Relaxation and Stress Reduction: Massage relaxes muscles, increases circulation and lowers stress hormones, bringing relaxation and stress relief. All body systems appreciate treatment after nine months of change, culminating with the delivery of the greatest miracle in life. Some women prefer lighter pampering massage while others enjoy deeper techniques to work out the knots. Adding myofascial release and craniosacral therapy reaches deeper into the body for more complete healing. Any of these massage styles will bring relaxation and stress reduction. Anxiety and depression respond very well to skilled therapy. About two-thirds of new moms experience temporary postpartum blues related to hormonal changes, new responsibilities, and adjustment frustrations. Emotional support and the other benefits of massage can help during this transition.

• Pain Relief: Residual body aches from pregnancy are normal. Adding breastfeeding and childcare can intensify arm, shoulder and back pain. Massage is an effective holistic approach that relaxes muscles and relieves pain without medication. A skilled therapist may also resolve even associated numbness and tingling. Chronic or severe pain may require multiple sessions for resolution.

• Hormone Regulation: Massage greatly improves postpartum hormone balance. Estrogen and progesterone hormone levels are very high during pregnancy and decrease after delivery. Prolactin and oxytocin hormone levels rise to facilitate breastfeeding. Studies indicate that massage reduces the stress hormone cortisol. Certain essential oils may also bring hormone and mood balance. Massage also reduces naturally occurring biochemicals associated with depression (dopamine and serotonin) and cardiovascular problems (norepinephrine), supporting Mom with the challenges of motherhood.

• Decreased Swelling: Body fluids need to find balance after pregnancy, in which there was an increase of about 50% in fluid volume. Massage increases circulation and lymphatic drainage to facilitate the elimination of excess fluids and waste products. Tissue stimulation assists your body to shift water to the right places. Swelling is also affected by hormones, which go through major changes after delivery. Massage helps hormone regulation, which also decreases swelling (see Hormone Regulation). Continue your high fluid intake for healing and lactation, even though you may still have swelling.

• Better Sleep: Most new moms feel exhausted after labor and delivery, complicated with around-the-clock baby care. Massage will ease the fatigue, promote relaxation and assist with sleep. Studies have shown an increase in delta brain waves (those that accompany deep sleep) with massage therapy. That is why it is very common to fall asleep during a massage. Getting enough sleep is key to postpartum recovery. Everything improves when you feel rested! Arrange some help and get regular massages for better rest and sleep. One study correlated better sleep with losing the baby fat on the tummy!

• Improved Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is a beautiful gift to your newborn, but can also be a challenge for some moms. Massage therapy relaxes the body, increases circulation and increases milk production. Studies show that massage increases prolactin levels, a lactation hormone. Relaxation in the chest muscles opens the shoulders and improves lactation. New research indicates that breast massage helps relieve breast pain, decreases breast milk sodium and improves newborn suckling. Consult with your therapist about this service as work directly on the breasts may not be legal in some areas.

Trigger point therapy is a form of manual therapy that focuses on on detecting and releasing trigger points. Located in the skeletal muscle, trigger points are spots that produce pain when compressed. In many cases, trigger points form as a result of trauma to the muscle fibers.

Surgery, fractures, sprains, and even cuts can lead to injured tissues that cause scar tissue. While this is part of the normal healing process, it can become an issue if the scar develops improperly and is left untreated. Many people are unaware of the problems associated with scar tissue and are led to believe they will have to live with the lumpy, unattractive scar for the rest of their lives. With targeted manual massage, scar tissue can be broken down.

When an injury to a muscle, tendon, skin, or ligament in the body occurs, the inflammatory system will begin to heal the injury site. During this process, old debris in the injured area is cleaned up before new cells are brought in that will eventually become healthy tissue. Some of the new cells are collagen cells, which is what causes scar tissue. Normally, collagen is aligned in specific ways that promote strength in the tissues. However, the body does not know how to arrange collagen cells after surgery or injury, causing them to clump together, lose their natural structure, and cause scar tissue. The good news is that this newly developed scar tissue is not inherently permanent and can be remodeled to look like normal, healthy tissue once more.

Once scar tissue develops, it’s essential to work on promoting healthy tissue as soon as possible before possible problems arise. Remodeling the scar makes it so the injured tissue can tolerate the stress and forces the body encounters every day from regular activity. Tissue remodeling can help in various ways:

• Decrease pain

• Improve range of motion in surrounding joints and muscles

• Restore normal mobility and function

Shiatsu, literally meaning “figure pressure,” is a Japanese massage modality that was invented by Tokujiro Namikoshi during the 1920s. It is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is considered a form of acupressure massage.

Shiatsu is unique from other forms of acupressure, in that it exclusively utilizes finger and thumb massage techniques to treat patient’s pain and health conditions by applying rhythmic pressure along the body’s acupressure points. Typically Shiatsu is used in conjunction with therapeutic massage, such as Swedish Massage.

Cranial sacral therapy (CST) is sometimes also referred to as craniosacral therapy. It’s a type of bodywork that relieves compression in the bones of the head, sacrum (a triangular bone in the lower back), and spinal column.

CST is noninvasive. It uses gentle pressure on the head, neck, and back to relieve the stress and pain caused by compression. It can, as a result, help to treat a number of conditions.

It’s thought that through the gentle manipulation of the bones in the skull, spine, and pelvis, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system can be normalized. This removes “blockages” from the normal flow, which enhances the body’s ability to heal.

CST is thought to relieve compression in the head, neck, and back. This can soothe pain and release both emotional and physical stress and tension. It’s also thought to help restore cranial mobility and ease or release restrictions of the head, neck, and nerves.

Cranial sacral therapy can be used for people of all ages. It may be part of your treatment for conditions like:

• migraines and headaches

• constipation

• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• disturbed sleep cycles and insomnia

• scoliosis

• sinus infections

• neck pain

• fibromyalgia

• recurrent ear infections or colic in infants

• TMJ

• trauma recovery, including trauma from whiplash

• mood disorders like anxiety or depression

• difficult pregnancies

Myofascial release is a type of physical therapy often used to treat myofascial pain syndrome. Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder caused by sensitivity and tightness in your myofascial tissues. These tissues surround and support the muscles throughout your body. The pain usually originates from specific points within your myofascial tissues called “trigger points.”

Myofascial release focuses on reducing pain by easing the tension and tightness in the trigger points. It’s not always easy to understand what trigger point is responsible for the pain. Localizing pain to a specific trigger point is very difficult. For that reason, myofascial release is often used over a broad area of muscle and tissue rather than at single points.