Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues of the body, and it often uses manual (hands-on) techniques, such as applying fixed and movable pressure, grabbing muscles, and moving them. In general, the purpose of massage is to improve the flow of blood and lymph, reduce muscular tension, stimulate or sedate the nervous system, and promote tissue healing. Massage can be helpful on a range of issues, from minor pain to some accidents.
If you take a deeper look into it, massage can help relax the muscles, which will improve sleep quality, reduce stress and anxiety and help the body heal naturally.
I have been a qualified massage therapist since 2015. I got into this industry because I want to help people who have other injuries and issues that I can help heal. My specialty is pregnancy massage, sports injuries as well as holistic treatments such as reflexology.
I have worked at various sporting events around the country to help get sportsmen and women ready for their upcoming events.
My practice started while I was still studying. We pride ourselves on providing affordable, professional treatment to help as many people as possible who are living in discomfort and need help.
My client’s wife had been seeing me for a few weeks. I was treated her for pregnancy pains. She told me that her husband fell off his mountain bike and injured his right shoulder over six months before our conversation. I told her to book an appointment with me so that I could try and help him.
He had torn his deltoid muscle, bruised his bicep, and traumatized his trapezium muscle. His accident left him with ongoing pain and I was confident massage could help him. There was a lot of work to be done, and scar tissue had already started to form.
I began by taking a detailed history of his injuries. Someone who rides mountain bikes often needs an adrenaline rush, so I thought that previous injuries might affect his current one.
I also needed to get as much information on his past treatment as possible to determine what has been done in the past. Once I got the details written down, I formulated a treatment plan for my client.
My client could not move his arm, so I needed first to reduce the spasm to regain full mobility. Before I started the massage, I would use a hot pad to warm up the muscle. This helped reduce the possibility of further trauma and injuries.
For his home care, I gave him a few stretching exercising to help get those muscles moving.
Once that was complete, I could then focus on fixing the surrounding areas. I started working on his ribs, upper back, and neck area, and I reduced the scar tissue. This helped him breathe better as well as he was able to move his arm without pain.
To reduce his scar tissue, I used crossed friction technique and a few massage tools. Specifically, I used a massage star to help break down the muscle fibers quickly and with less pain and discomfort.
After the first hour session, my client said he could move his arm without any pinching sensation on his shoulder. The muscle was red and hot from the cross friction and muscle manipulation.
Six months later, my client is able to move his arm without any pain and has regained full mobility.
Therapeutic massage therapy is more than just a muscle rub. In this case, massage helped my client significantly overcome the pain caused by the bike accident. It is a treatment that helps keep your body in a state of balance in a holistic way.
Ashlee Zlotnick
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