Massage Therapy
There are many symptoms that are warning signs of a problem or injury to muscles, joints, nerves, or other systems. If you are experiencing any of the following it requires attention:
- Pain and aches in the neck, back, arms or legs
- Stiffness in the neck, back, arms or legs
- Headaches (front or back of the head)
- Fatigue and weakness in these areas
- Tingling in the hands or feet
- Difficulty sleeping and concentrating
These symptoms have a negative impact on your life:
- You become frustrated, tired, and less ambitious
- You are missing what you love for recreation
- A vicious cycle starts. Pain causes less activity which causes more stiffness and weakness, which causes more pain and less activity. This delays healing.
- These problems get worse if you do not take steps to solve them
Along with your Doctor and Physiotherapist a Massage Therapist will determine if massage therapy will help you.
What is Massage Therapy?
A remedial or therapeutic massage therapist is a dedicated professional that has a specific two year college degree. They are trained and tested to assess and determine the nature of a problem and if massage therapy will help. They will check posture, movement, and imbalance. Hands on techniques are used to address each person’s condition. Massage therapists work along with physiotherapists and doctors in a team approach to solve a person’s condition.
Massage has been a part of medicine for thousands of years. From ancient Greece to most parts of the world, massage has always been important in healing, medicine, and optimum health.
Massage Therapy is the hands on movement and manipulation of soft tissue like muscles.
It is used to help:
- Relieve pain
- To cure the stress/ tension / and pain cycle
- The muscle and skeletal systems:
- Relaxes tense muscles and muscle spasm
- Reduces scar tissue and adhesions in muscles and soft tissue
- Relieves soreness, tension and stiffness
- Improves body alignment
- Relieves joint stiffness
- The circulatory system
- Improve oxygen and nutrient supply to cells
- Decreases blood pressure
- Improves tissue health
- The nervous system
- Relieves or stimulates nerve point for pain relief
- Reduces pressure on nerves
- Promotes relaxation and improved sleep
- Promotes a sense of well-being
- The lymphatic system
- Increases circulation of the lymph.
- Cleanses the body of inflammatory waste chemicals.
Massage therapists also educate people on therapeutic exercises, posture and learning long term solutions for their problem.
Some common conditions helped by massage therapy are:
- Neck and back injury, pain and stiffness
- Headaches due to neck or jaw problems and tension
- Sciatica
- Anxiety and stress
- Arthritis
- Jaw (TMJ) pain and disorders
- Sports injuries
- Fibromyalgia
- Repetitive strain injuries like tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome
- Prenatal back pain
- Strokes and nervous system disorders
Enjoy all the benefits of Massage Therapy and get back to your pursuits in life!
Common Questions about Massage Therapy:
What happens on my first visit?
Please arrive 10 minutes early to complete a short case-history form. We will begin the appointment by discussing the items on a history form and assessing muscle and skeletal motion and function. Together with the patient a plan of treatment is made to best meet the needs and goals of each patient.
A one-hour appointment is required for all first visits. This ensures that a safe and effective treatment is planned for each individual. Future appointments are available in 45 minute or 30 minute slots as appropriate.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have as they come up, before, during or after your treatment.
What is worn for the appointment?
Proper attire for treatment is shorts, bathing suit or under garments. During treatment, every consideration is taken to ensure that you are comfortable and that your modesty is taken into account. Only the area of the body that is being worked on is uncovered.
What about insurance coverage?
Many health insurance plans have Massage Therapy coverage such as Blue Cross or Great West Life. You may also be covered under a spouse’s plan or parent’s plan. Most plans require a Doctor’s referral to massage therapy. You may speak to your Doctor about the benefits of massage therapy and ask him or her for a referral. Another option is to pay for massage therapy services directly.
We can directly bill a private insurance company on a person’s behalf. Our receptionist will require a Doctor’s referral in order to bill an insurance company. We also require details about your health plan like the contract numbers, in order to assist in the billing process. Please ask our receptionist about our fees for massage therapy.
It is to your advantage to contact your provider and find out if you have coverage for:
“Massage Therapy by a Licensed or Registered Massage Therapist”
Patient Information Form
In order to save time you may download the patient information form fill it out and bring it to your first appointment. Click here to download the patient information form.