In this section:

Types of Massage

Treatments Offered

Modalities Used

Types of Massage

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage uses manual techniques to loosen and stretch muscle tissue that has become tense and shortened from stress of simple use, overuse, sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents.

Swedish Massage works from the surface down toward the core of the body, loosening layer upon layer of muscle, restoring normal function of muscles and joints reducing swelling and recovery from injuries and relieving resultant muscle spasm.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage uses slower and deeper techniques to stretch the lower layers of muscle, the core spinal-stabilizers, ligaments, tendons and fascia.

Focusing on the actual lengthening of tissue, progressively deepening the Swedish technique. Deep Tissue is best used to work tissues and joints with reduced mobility due to previous trauma. This kind of rehab is applicable to areas of adhesion and may prove less painful than cross-fiber frictions. If you have restricted range of motion your therapist may need to perform deep tissue massage with the goal of re-establishing muscle or connective tissue length.

Cryotherapy (Ice)

More Hot/Cold info

Neuromuscular Therapies

This specific and scientific approach to muscular pain relief will help to bring about balance between the musculo-skeletal system and the nervous system. NMT enhances the function of joints, muscles and biomechanics (movement) and it releases endorphins, pain-killer produced by the body. It can be part of a comprehensive program, complementing all other health care modalities.

Neuromuscular Therapy examines 5 physiological factors which may create or intensify pain patterns.These five factors are:

1. Ischemia
2. Trigger Points
3. Nerve Entrapment/Compression
4. Postural Distortions
5. Diet-neural toxicity

Neuromuscular Therapy uses smart techniques to influence muscle relaxation using neurological reflexes located in the muscle, tendon and peripheral joints.

Massage Therapists use:

• PNF stretching to cause muscle lengthening
• Trigger Point Therapy to release muscles in local spasm
• Origin and Insertion technique releases muscles where they attach to the bones via tendons.

For a very in-depth description of the neurological pain reflex loop, explore the NMT Center website. The name of the article is Massage Helps Relieve Muscular Pain.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger Point Therapy is a form of neuromuscular therapy which effectively releases pain trapped in either the muscle, tendons, ligaments, or fascia.

By reducing spasm in local tissues, tissue regains functional length, allowing proper function and movement.

Myo Fascial Release Therapy

Addressing the fascial regions of the body, including the skin and superficial fascia, fascial diaphragms of the body, scars and adhesions affecting tendon, ligament and aponeurosis, spinal dura and meninges, joints, viscera and neural bodies.

Fascial Release uses the body’s fascial resistance patterns to define areas of treatment, and then passively and actively addresses the resistance with slow, superficial to deep holds and stretches which challenge the tissue in 3 directions of movement. Imagine pressing down, then across with a twist or shearing force, applied to an elastic tissue, to tissue resistance and then stretching away from tissue resistance, slowly. That is the key.

Fascial Release does not often include gliding movements over the surface of the skin and may be used to address certain tissues effectively.

Muscle Energy Technique

Using the muscles own force, MET re-aligns the skeleton using the intelligence of the nervous system to reset muscle tone and recruitment.

The absence of external force and joint manipulation makes it safe for the patient, ensuring reduced joint injury during manipulation. This is a patient moderated path to structural re-alignment that also incorporates PNF Stretching and Origin and Insertion technique and Positional Release Therapy. The MET technique is redefined and utilized by Active Release Therapy.

Cranial Sacral Therapy

CST is based on the subtle movement patterns of the cranial vault, spinal vertebrae, cerebrospinal fluid as well as the sacrum and occiput, pelvic and shoulder girdles, all peripheral joints and body diaphragms.

Cranial Sacral Therapy exists as a study unto itself yet is fully influenced in any hands on situation involving spinal traction, and Myo-Fascial Release and forms of compression and joint mobilization.

CST directly influences cerebrospinal fluid movement and neurological health. If you are very pain sensitive from a traumatic experience or injury, CST may be your first step for recovery. Myo-Fascial Release and CST are often used together.

Traction

Traction is applied to the body with the intention of creating a space between joint surfaces. Effectively stretching impinged soft tissue, including nerves. Traction may be applied manually, by inversion or with the use of slings and pulleys as you might expect to find at a physiotherapists office. Inversion Traction is a gravitational form of traction that is very healthy for the spine and reduces muscle tension and nerve pain.

Lisa Christine Alexander

Registered Massage Therapist
Call or Text: 604-886-8880

Inversion Traction Unit

Inverting is as easy as 1-2-3

Click here for details

In this section:

Types of Massage

Treatments Offered

Modalities Used

Welcome to Lisa Christine Alexander's Registered Massage Therapy Practice.

 

Lisa has been in practice since 1987 and offers a variety of techniques to assist her clients achieve wellness and a pain-free lifestyle.

 

Lisa integrates biomechanical modalities to re-establish dynamic balance of muscle, fascial tissues and skeletal alignment. Using a holistic yet biomechanical approach, Lisa incorporates years of specialized training. Massage Therapy, Neuromuscular Techniques, Hydrotherapy, Exercise and Stretching are all used in combination to achieve postural alignment and muscle balance. Through postural assessment and treatment with therapeutic exercise and massage therapy, we can achieve relief of chronic and acute pain syndromes.

Treatments Offered

General Therapeutic Massage

For maintenance of proper muscle balance, health and freedom of movement.

Chronic Pain Assessment and Treatment

For those with long term pain and conditions related to sports, motor vehicle accident, post injury or post surgical nerve pain.

Sports Massage and Treatment of Sports Related Injuries

Related to the cycles of training athletes, massage therapy can assist the development of an athletes flexibility and power by increasing range of motion, reducing scar tissue, strain patterns and fascial adhesions formed by progressive overload and the “adaptation” phase.

Deep Tissues Massage

Used to treat chronic pain, post surgical pain and to restore joint mobility. Systematically loosening deep layers of muscle and fascia, Deep tissue massage frees adhered and constricted tissues.

In this section:

Types of Massage

Treatments Offered

Modalities Used

Modalities used by Lisa Christine Alexander

at Gibsons Massage Therapy

All treatments include postural or movement screening, hydrotherapy, stretches and suggestions for aftercare.

NMT-Neuromuscular Therapies

Therapies that directly influence the nerve-muscle unit.