Patient Resources

 

 

 

What to Expect Before & After your Treatment

 

The initial visit for a Orthopedic/Medical Massage is a 3 part process:

 

 You will receive an assesment which will help the therapist identify the source of your pain and decide which technqiques will work best to get you out of pain and quick as possible.

 

The treatment portion is when you recieve the hands-on work. All the advanced techniques we use fall under the term Manual therapy.

 

 Recommendations for self-care will be given, specific to your condition. This self-care may include, stretches, self massage, anything the Medical Massage Therapist thinks is necessary to speed up healing and prolong results from each session.

 

 

What to expect after your treatement:

 

Most people feel relaxed and/or refreshed after a massage. Occasionally some people experience post massage soreness the day after a massage. This is nothing to worry about. Most people feel a great reduction of the original muscle tightness and/or pain after the delayed soreness resolves itself

 

There are several theories, none of them with universal support, about the exact cause of this delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). An old theory suggests that excess lactic acid in the muscle is the cause of this soreness. However studies conducted by exercise physiologist, Dr. George A Brooks, have concluded that “lactic acid does not cause muscle soreness, fatigue or the “burn” of intense exercise. Nor does it cause post-massage soreness. While excess lactic acid is typically present in sore muscles, it is not the cause of the soreness itself.

 

More research must be conducted before the exact mechanisms can be determined, but it is most commonly believed that post-massage muscle soreness is due to tight muscles having been stretched and realigned, adhesions and scar tissue having been broken apart so new tissue can form and lay down correctly, and / or deep pressure having been applied to an injured muscle to release spasm. All such procedures help muscles relax and heal. However; they can also cause soreness the next day. This delayed onset muscle soreness is not unlike what a person experiences after intense exercise.

 

Any time muscles tenderness occurs, place one cup of Epsom salts in hot bath water. Soak for 20 minutes and follow with a cool shower. (This soak/bath is contraindicated for anyone with cardiovascular problems or any other condition that might respond negatively to forms of heat therapy)

 

Primary Benefits of Orthopedic/Medical Massage Therapy:

 

• Enhanced blood circulation: Therapy helps to increase blood circulation, healing injuries faster.

• Minimizes pain: The massage can work wonders when it comes to reducing pain from the injury.

• Provide relax: Therapy is powerful enough to provide immense relaxation to the muscles adjacent to the injured area.

• Strength: Therapy provides strength to the body's muscles that have been weakened due to the injury.

• Realignment of tissues: Therapy is powerful when it comes to realigning damaged and dislocated tissues, preventing further damage or injury.

• Releases adhesions: This is known as scar tissue that can form due to an injury and stick itself to adjacent muscles or other tissues.

• Minimizes tension: Therapy is extremely beneficial when it comes to minimizing tension in sprains and other injuries.

• Performance enhancements: Therapy is the top choice for athletes, enhancing overall sports performance.

• Stress reduction: We experience stress in our daily lives. Massage therapy alleviates that stress and tension our bodies experience.

• Rejuvenates body: After all the stress, tension and hard work we face; therapy is recommended to rejuvenate our body; Prepare, Prevent!