Massage Therapy involves acting on and manipulating the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows or forearms.
Massage Therapy can assist you with the following:
- Preparation for and recovery from strenuous physical workouts
- Reducing lower back pain and improving range of motion
- Reducing depression and anxiety
- Remodeling scar tissue and promoting tissue regeneration
- Remodeling post-surgery adhesions and swelling
- Reducing muscle spasms and cramping
- Releasing endorphins— the body’s natural painkillers
- Relieving migraine headache pain
- Reduction of stress and fatigue
- Improve circulation to various structures of the body
Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in B.C. are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of soft tissue and joints of the body, and the treatment and prevention of injury, pain and physical disorders. RMTs are dedicated to treating your symptoms of pain and dysfunction, including the underlying causes.
It is widely understood that massage therapy decreases stress and helps control pain. Perhaps less known is the effectiveness of massage therapy in treating deeper structures of the body such as nerves, ligaments, bones, joints, fascia, blood vessels, organs and other soft tissues of the body. Massage therapy can provide relief for many common conditions such as migraine headaches, tendonitis, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft tissue sprains and strains.
A common misconception is that massage therapists provide only "hands on" therapy. Your RMT is trained in rehabilitative exercise such as hydrotherapy, stretching, strengthening, and postural exercises. Your RMT is committed to providing the very best in one-on-one patient care.
A significant rise in massage therapy use in BC can be attributed to higher educational standards, extensive research studies proving the efficacy of massage therapy, and an overall increase in public interest in non-surgical and drug-free treatment options. The most current research suggests that there is a direct link between our physical well-being and our mental or emotional state, which can be positively affected by massage therapy. Research also supports the use of massage therapy as an effective approach in injury management and rehabilitation, as well as part of a preventive care program.
Peer-reviewed medical research has shown that the benefits of massage therapy include pain relief, reduced trait anxiety and depression, and temporarily reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and state anxiety. Theories behind benificial effects of massage therapy include blocking nociception (gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system which may stimulate the release of endorphins and serotonin, prevention of fibrosis or scar tissue by remodeling collagen fibers, increasing the flow of lymph, and improving sleep.
Single dose effects
Pain relief: Relief from pain due to musculoskeletal injuries and other causes is cited as a major benefit of massage. In one study, cancer patients self-reported symptomatic relief of pain.
State anxiety: Massage has been shown to reduce state anxiety, a transient measure of anxiety in a given situation.
Blood pressure and heart rate: Massage has been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate as temporary effects.
Attention: After massage, EEG patterns indicate enhanced performance and alertness on mathematical computations, with the effects perhaps being mediated by decreased stress hormones.
Multiple dose effects
Pain relief: When combined with education and exercises, massage therapy may help sub-acute, chronic and non-specific low back pain. Furthermore, massage therapy has been shown to reduce pain experienced in the days or weeks after treatment.
Trait anxiety: Massage Therapy has been shown to reduce trait anxiety; a person's general susceptibility to anxiety.
Depression: Massage Therapy has been shown to reduce subclinical depression.
North Surrey Massage Therapy Clinic offers a range of therapeutic treatments including:
- Postural Assessment
- Orthopedic Assessment
- Myofascial Release
- Neuromuscular Technique
- Muscle Balance & Function Development®
- Craniosacral Therapy
- End-range loading Technique
- Arthokinetic Therapy
- Sports Massage
Sports Massage can help athletes at any level to prepare for performance and prevent injuries. Sports Massage eliminates toxins embedded in muscle fibers, removes adhesions, and minimizes scar tissue buildup. Muscle lengthening in sports massage helps restore a range of motion and overall flexibility. Sports massage also leads to improved circulation for better cell nutrition, greater elasticity of muscle fiber, and reduced recovery time.
- Pre-Event sports massage helps warm up the muscles by stretching them and making them flexible for optimal athletic performance. A pre-event massage is best done up to two days in advance.
- Post-event massage relieves muscle soreness and swelling, maintains flexibility, promotes blood flow to remove lactic acid and waste build-up and reduces cramping.
- Preventive massage, done at least once a week as a regular part of athletic training programs, increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscle and helps repair small tears due to strenuous physical activity. It also keeps tissue loose so that different layers of muscle slide over each other.
Physical Fitness is the key to enjoyment of physical activity, general health, and a zest for life. Your personal fitness program, developed in consultation with you, will help you to be the best you can in the sport or physical activity of your choice.
RMTs at North Surrey Massage Therapy Clinic will help you reach your health and fitness goals by:
- Teaching you postural and alignment exercises to improve your function
- Providing you with personalized guidelines for resistance training
- Teaching you activity-related exercises for particular sports
- Reducing your risk for sports-related injuries
North Surrey Massage Therapy Clinic #100 - 10366 136A Street Surrey, BC V3T 5R3 (604) 930-8211
