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Types of Massage
This
section is limited to the massage techniques I commonly
employ in assessment and treatment of soft tissue
pain.
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.
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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)
Cryotherapy can be used to decrease blood or fluid
accumulation (swelling) or it can be used to increase
blood flow. Depending on what you use it for and how
you use it, Ice can be one of the most helpful tools
in re-modeling adhered tissue. Apply ice if you have
pain or soreness to the touch after deep tissue massage.
Apply ice to the area for 7 minutes and repeat if
necessary. Stretch the part at least once after area
has warmed to the touch.
Ice can be used alternately with heat for treatment
of chronic pain by increasing circulation to tense
areas of holding.
More
Hot/Cold info
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
The
definitions of therapeutic technique may be showing
some overlap now and will continue to do so as your
knowledge of how the bodily systems work deepens.
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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.
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Lisa
Christine Alexander
Registered
Massage Therapist
Call or Text: 604-886-8880 |
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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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
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Therapies
that directly influence the nerve-muscle unit.
Muscle
Energy Technique |
Trigger
Point Therapy |
Myo
Fascial Release |
Cranial
Sacral Therapy 1 |
PNF |
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Other
Modalities used
Deep
Tissue Massage -used to treat deep layers
of muscle which force and angle of approach to physically
stretch muscle tissue, re-establishing Range of motion
and elasticity. |
Sports
Massage and Taping to help achieve performance
goals, sports related training cycles and injuries. |
Therapeutic
Exercise and Stretching |
Geothermal
Therapy- Hot and Cold Stone |
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