TRANQUIL MOMENTS ADD'L INFORMATION

Swedish Massage

A massage technique designed to disperse physical tension from the body in a gentle way by loosening tight muscles and reducing stiffness, removing energy blockages within the body and increasing blood and lymph circulation. Relaxation/Swedish massage uses five soft tissue manipulation techniques: effleurage (long, gliding strokes), petrissage (kneading strokes), friction (deep, circular rubbing), tapotement (tapping) and vibration (fine, rapid shaking movements). The aim of the massage is to bring the body back into a balanced and relaxed state.

Deep Tissue Massage

Is a combination of massage that gets to the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia. It can release tension in the tissues, or have a psychological release. It will loosen bonds between the layers of connective tissues. Used to release chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. This invigorating experience is a process of detection of stiff or painful areas by determining the quality and texture of the deeper layers of musculature, and slowly working into the deep layers of muscle tissue. Specific hand positions and strokes are then used to respond to various tissue qualities. ...

The most effective type of massage therapy for lower back pain is neuromuscular therapy. Neuromuscular therapy is also called trigger point myotherapy. The American Academy of Pain Management recognizes this form of massage therapy as an effective treatment for back pain caused by soft tissue injury (such as a muscle strain).

Muscles that are in spasm will be painful to the touch. The pain is caused by ischemic muscle tissue. Ischemia means the muscle is lacking proper blood flow, usually due to the muscle spasm. This in turn creates the following undesirable process:

Because the muscle is not receiving enough blood, the muscle is also not receiving enough oxygen
The lack of oxygen causes the muscle to produce lactic acid
The lactic acid makes the muscle feel sore following physical activity.

After the muscle is relaxed through massage therapy, the lactic acid will be released from the muscle, and the muscle should start receiving enough blood and oxygen.

Neuromuscular therapy will feel painful at first, but the pressure of the massage should alleviate the muscle spasm. At this point, it is extremely important to communicate with the massage therapist regarding the pressure - whether the pressure is too much, too little, getting better, getting worse. The therapist should listen and respond accordingly. The massage therapy pressure should never be overly painful. In fact, most people describe the pressure as “good pain”.

What to expect after massage therapy
Following a neuromuscular therapy massage, any soreness that presents itself should fade after twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The muscles that were tight should remain noticeably more relaxed for four to fourteen days, depending on stress, activity level, and severity of back pain prior to beginning massage therapy.

Massage of foundation tissues directed specifically at the muscles used in athletic activities. This is a deep muscle massage often used around the joints. It combines classical Swedish style with trigger points, compression and electro-neuromuscular techniques to reduce soreness. Utilizes specific strokes and stretches to help obtain maximum performance and physical conditioning with less chance of injury or pain. It increases power, endurance, and flexibility both before and after an event or workout. Focuses on muscles relevant to a particular sport or event. For athletes who train continuously, the goal is to enhance endurance, lessen the chance of injury and shorten the time needed to recover from an event.