OrthoMed Massage Clinic- Types of Massage Offered- Northborough MA

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Orthomed Massage Clinic

What is a clinical massage?
Clinical massage is a generalized term for treatment approached style massage. It combines a combination of styles including deep
tissue to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas,
either following or going across the fiber's of the muscles, tendons and fascia. Deep tissue massage is used to release chronic muscle
tension through slower strokes and more direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles not with the grain.
Deep tissue massage helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue. Deep tissue massage usually focuses on more specific areas. Deep
tissue massage may cause some soreness during or right after the massage. However, if the massage is done correctly you should
feel better than ever within a day or two.

Why get a Massage?
It feels good and it is beneficial to your health. When muscles are stressed, they block oxygen and nutrients, leading to inflammation
that builds up toxins in the muscle tissue. A deep-tissue massage helps loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles and get
blood and oxygen circulating properly.

What is the purpose of Massage?
The purpose is to "un-stick" the fibers of a muscle while releasing deeply-held patterns of tension, removing toxins, helping to reset
negative muscle memory, while relaxing and soothing the muscle. It is both corrective and therapeutic.

Clinical Massage:
Clinical massage has a specific treatment program that is outcome based, with a specific goal for improvement, in a specific time
frame. We often work with your Physician, Chiropractor, or PT, utilizing their diagnosis and treatment plan, to assist you in achieving
maximum improvement for your specific soft tissue injury.

There are various reasons why a person seeks Clinical Massage. A specific event such as an injury from an automobile accident or a
work related accident, physical trauma due to sporting activity, repetitive stress injuries, postural distortions that has become
traumatic to your body or chronic pain that remains long after an injury or surgery has healed. Working to realign soft tissue and
improve range of motion is a primary goal of any rehabilitation program. Clinical massage can help you achieve these goals.

While clinical massage therapy is not intended to replace appropriate medical care, there are a number of conditions in which Clinical
Massage is helpful as a form of treatment.

Common Injuries:

•        Headaches
•        Temporomandibular sprain/strain
•        Cervical Pain
•        Whiplash (Cervical Sprain/Strain)
•        Upper, Mid and Low Back Pain
•        Shoulder, Arm, Elbow, Wrist and Hand Pain
•        Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
•        Sciatica
•        Leg, Knee, Ankle and Foot Pain
•        Postural Distortions
•        Chronic Pain
•        Sprains and Strains
•        Tendonitis
•        Neuritis (Nerve Inflammation)
•        Neuralgia (Nerve Pain)
•        Radiculitis (Radiating Pain)

Orthopedic Massage:

The goal of Orthopedic Massage is to induce a change in the structure and function of the neuromusculoskeletal soft tissue to promote
healing of injury or pain patterns. Orthopedic Massage combines elements of myofascial release, neuromuscular reeducation, soft
tissue mobilization and muscle energy techniques taken from the world of osteopathic medicine. One of the unique concepts at the
heart of Orthopedic Massage is that muscles, tendons and ligaments have a normal position relative to the neighboring soft tissue and
the joint they affect. If soft tissue has a normal, specific alignment and placement within the body, relative to the surrounding tissue,
then injury, either as a result of accidents, sudden impacts or strains, chronic postural problems or repetitive stresses, can cause the
soft tissues to fall out of correct placement and alignment. Orthopedic Massage aims to correct alignment through the use of specific
directional soft tissue mobilization, active resisted contractions of the affected muscles (Muscle Energy Technique) and joint
mobilization.
When receiving a treatment using Orthopedic Massage, the client receiving the treatment is not completely passive, as would be the
case in more traditional deep tissue massage. Instead, the therapist works with the client in performing specific isometric contractions
of the affected muscles, a system known as Muscle Energy Technique. Since these assisted contractions are in a specific direction,
habitual patterns of holding and involuntary spasms can more easily be released. Having the client become aware of the contractions
allows strengthening of weak muscles that have been endorsed due to the overly tight muscles that oppose their motion. Combining
release of overly tight (hypertonic) muscles and strengthening of weak muscles, the muscular tensions around a specific joint are
normalized, thus reducing pain and increasing awareness, both conscious and unconscious.
When doing soft tissue mobilization and myofascial release, the therapist will work each muscle in the particular direction needed in
order to correct the positional dysfunction that is creating pain. For example, when the big muscles along the spine in the back, the
erectors, become very tight, they also shorten, moving closer to the spine itself. Using Orthopedic Massage techniques, the therapist
would work to release this dysfunction by moving the muscle gently away from the spine, freeing up the joints to move in a wider
range of motion, without pain. Often after a treatment, clients will report feeling "lighter" as the joints no longer having irregular
compressive forces on them, allowing them to feel freer.
Along with work on the table, it is often very helpful to have the therapist work with the client on stretches and exercises that can be
done at home or at work in order to help the client strengthen and release the muscles around the tight and painful joints. In order to
truly get all the benefit possible out of your treatment time, home exercises and stretches are a must. The client needs to be actively
involved in their own recovery, reversing the affects of poor posture or repetitive stresses created in the work environment. The
combination of massage and home stretching/strengthening is the core of the neuromuscular reeducation. If you have an injury or
chronic pain in any joint or muscle, caused by an accident, or repetitive stresses, please call us to schedule an initial evaluation and a
series of treatments to relieve yourself of these pains.

Relaxation Massage

This type of massage is Wellness/relaxation massage.
This services works well for those with:
•        Insomnia
•        Increased stress

Types of Massage