Luckygirl Bodywork

A therapeutic healing massage is tailored to relieve pain, release muscle tightness, and support recovery from injuries or chronic conditions. It is increasingly seen as a real part of people's healthcare routines and typically employs an outcome-based approach. Therapeutic massage is a targeted form of bodywork designed to address specific health concerns like pain relief, soreness, stiffness, injury recovery, migraines. Research supports its efficacy in reducing inflammation and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis after exercise-induced muscle damage. I use a range of massage techniques to help promote therapeutic change. There is often light communication during the treatment to get client feedback.

A relaxing spa massage, on the other hand, is focused on stress relief and overall relaxation, using lighter pressure and rhythmic techniques for a calming experience. A spa-style massage is relaxation-focused. It typically includes long, flowing strokes with gentle pressure and a calming environment to reduce stress and encourage deep relaxation. There is no talking during this treatment.

Finding a professional massage therapist who can meet your specific needs will result in a positive massage experience. Look for therapists who are members of reputable organizations like the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). A qualified therapist will have:

• Demonstrated ability through education and/or testing. For example, in Nevada, applicants need a minimum of 625 hours of supervised classroom and clinical instruction and they must pass exams like the MBLEx.

• Adherence to a code of ethics and standards of practice. Ethical conduct ensures order and respect in the profession.

• Continuing education requirements. Therapists need regular advanced training to hone their craft and compete in the market.

• Clear communication skills. They should be able to effectively explain their professional policies, fees, approach, and treatments.

• Client rapport should include professionalism, empathy for client conditions, respect for boundaries, confidence within their Scope of Work, coupled with a calm demeanor.

• Adeptness at educating clients and teaching them self-treatments at home.

A therapeutic massage session typically begins with an intake interview, which can last around 15 minutes. We will discuss your concerns, recent injuries or surgeries, medications, and any areas you'd like them to focus on or avoid. Following the intake, there will be a brief period for observations, assessments, and planning the treatment, including determining expected outcomes like reducing pain or stress. The goal of the session will be communicated and agreed upon at the beginning of treatment. After a few minutes to change clothes, the hands-on treatment itself involves integrating techniques from multiple massage styles to support your healing, comfort, and well-being. During the treatment, I encourage active client participation, through focused, diaphragmatic breathing into the area being worked on to enhance blood flow and facilitate deeper release of tissues. The session is conducted in relative silence with low-level background music and a white noise machine, allowing for focus. I may ask about warmth, pressure, or comfort levels throughout. It's normal for emotional or physical signs of stress release to occur during a session. After the hands-on portion, you'll have 15 minutes to get dressed, stretch, discuss results, receive self-treatment instructions for home, as well as schedule your next appointment.

Therapeutic massage is widely practiced due to its effectiveness in treating various conditions. It is sought for pain reduction and management (both acute and chronic), being the most common reason people get massages. Research indicates its efficacy in reducing inflammation and promoting recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Beyond pain, clients seek therapeutic massage for:

• Soreness, stiffness, or muscle spasms.

• Injury recovery or rehabilitation.

• Migraines.

• Improving flexibility and range of motion, which is why many athletes work with massage therapists.

• Stress treatment and management, as it can reduce anxiety levels, and is seen as a powerful tool to enhance overall well-being. Many people struggle with stress and anxiety, and massage can serve as a holistic treatment option.

• General feelings of well-being by releasing endorphins.

• Easing pain due to arthritis by increasing circulation.

• Releasing physical and emotional tension, memories, or even grief, leading to a deeper sense of healing.

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The specific techniques chosen are based on a brief intake and customized to the client's current needs. Common modalities and techniques that I use include:

• Swedish Massage: This is a widely recognized technique for warming tissue and assessing for restrictions, and is often blended with other methods. It is what people usually think of when they think of traditional massage. Relaxing, light strokes are used for a spa-like, calming effect.

• Myofascial Release (MFR): A form of manual tissue therapy that involves applying gentle, sustained pressure to the tightened fascia until it becomes rehydrated and softens.

• Chair Massage: I use an ergonomic chair while you are fully clothed. This techniques is a popular choice for quick relaxation in workplaces, airports, poker tournaments, or events. Chair massage is a good option for people who may get light headed when they lie down for too long, are on blood pressure medication, or for people who need more postural support.

• Compression Techniques: These are applied to specific areas of the body, such as the arms, to address restrictions.

• Hot Stone Massage: Uses smooth basalt stones heated to about 110°F in order to release muscle tension and promote deep relaxation. I will place the warm stones on specific points of your body or use them to glide over your skin. The heat increases blood flow, which can help deliver oxygen and nutrients to your muscles to facilitate healing.

• Skin Rolling: This technique is used to reach deeper layers of tissue, for example, in the back.

• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF): This involves stretching techniques often combined with muscle contractions to improve flexibility and range of motion.

• Body Mobilization Techniques (BMT): Unlike static stretching, BMT uses movement to explore a joint's capabilities and restore its natural motion dynamically.

• Traction: A technique that uses gentle, controlled force to stretch your body very lightly. For example: soft tissues or to create space between spinal vertebrae, thus relieving pressure on pinched nerves or spinal discs. Often associated with conditions like sciatica to help reduce pain.

I prefer deep fascial soft tissue manual therapy. This is a hands-on therapy technique that gently stretches and releases restrictions in the deeper layers of fascia. It helps improve flexibility, reduce pain, and restore natural movement by targeting areas of tightness in the connective tissue. Unlike traditional deep tissue massage that primarily targets muscle hypertonicity, deeper manual therapy focuses on releasing fascial restrictions and restoring hydration to the connective tissue system.

There are different approaches, such as a softer approach vs. a deeper approach. You've probably heard of John Barnes's style, the Melt Method, or deep-MFR which is basically deep soft tissue manipulation. Read more about MFR here.

Fascia (FAH'-sha) is the thin layer of connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, bones, and organs in the body. Healthy fascia allows smooth movement, but when it becomes tight or restricted, it can cause pain and limit mobility. Your fasciae surround muscles, bones, and organs while connecting your tissues through a network of collagen fibers and ground substance. The continuous, interconnected web of fasciae provides structural support, helps reduce friction, and plays a vital role in movement and body-wide communication. Learn more about fascia by reading this blog post.