Massage Therapy

Definition

The official definition of Massage Therapy is as follows:

The practice of Massage Therapy is the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissue and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain.  (From Massage Therapy Act, 1991.)

Description

Forgo the notion that Massage Therapy is purely for relaxation purposes.  Think of Massage Therapists as “Manual Therapy Practitioners.”  That is, we have training in a diverse set of techniques to treat a wide variety of conditions, similar to Physiotherapists, although generally speaking, we tend to spend more time performing hands-on work, yet still recognize the importance of a self-care program for continued improvement in some cases.

When you work with me, you can expect me to:

• Assist you in achieving your goals, whether that is:
  • Regaining range of motion of a previously injured shoulder,
  • Improving functional movement of the low back to decrease or eliminate pain,
  • Assisting in the healing process of connective tissues like tendons (tendonitis) and ligaments (sprains), or other concerns.
• Help identify problem areas, discern the “root cause” of imbalances.
• Work collaboratively with your team of health professionals when necessary to ensure optimal recovery (I know when to refer to other professionals).
• Recommend remedial exercises to strengthen weak or injured tissues, like muscle strains, or ligament and/or tendon injuries (tendonitis).
• Apply the most appropriate amount of pressure, whether little or significant, depending on the type of tissue being worked on, in a safe, yet effective manner, always within your pain tolerance.

The benefits of massage, and the techniques I use in my practice, as well as the conditions I have successfully treated, are listed below.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Improve physical and athletic performance
• Decrease pain and sensitivity
• Improve flexibility and strength
• Improve function of muscles, joints and nerves
• Gently stimulate circulation and lymphatic flow
• Improve posture, sleep and quality of life

Treatment Styles & Techniques

• Myofascial Techniques
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Neuro-muscular Facilitation & Stretching Techniques
• Remedial Exercise & Posture Education
• Cupping Massage
• Deep Tissue Treatment
• Stress Reduction & Relaxation
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Conditions Treated

• Sports and athletic injuries, and improving performance for:  climbers, runners, cyclists, tennis players, rugby and football players
• Stress management, anxiety, depression, chronic headaches and migraines
• Whiplash, chronic neck and/or low back pain, neck and shoulder tightness, slips and falls
• Nerve compression pain: piriformis syndrome, sciatic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome 
• Arthritis, knee pain, meniscus tears, ankle sprains
• Scoliosis, pelvic dysfunction (sacroiliac joint dysfunction), frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears 
• Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer support

Ideal Patients

I actively seek patients that are involved in a sport or activity that has a tendency to cause repetitive stress on certain body areas, for example, rock climbers (shoulder, hip, forearm, elbow, hamstring), cyclists (lumbar, thigh, hip, calf), and long-distance runners (calf, ankle, knee, hip, lumbar).

Other patients I look out for to help include those with multiple sclerosis or nerve entrapment syndromes, and chronic pain (recurring lumbar and neck pain, for example).

If you feel I may be a good practitioner for you, I welcome you to get in touch with me, and experience the way I provide massage therapy treatment and care.

Fees & Billing

I offer direct billing to most Extended Health Plans, for convenience.  If your plan is provided by Manulife, make sure you register for their online services at their plan member site.

I accept cash/cheque, eTransfer, debit card, VISA and MasterCard at the clinic.

Location

Massage Therapy is offered at the Achieve Wellness Centre, located inside the Seagram Lofts in Uptown Waterloo.  Please click here for more information.