Massage Therapy
Massage therapy, in the setting of outpatient physical therapy, can be used as an adjunct to manual techniques for specific dysfunction of the muscles and the joints. It can also be used to maintain general health, flexibility, and stress reduction. Techniques such as myofacial release, deep tissue, and joint mobility can assist in acheiving and maintaining a more active lifestyle.
The History and Background of Massage Therapy
Massage
therapy has been used for thousands of years for its therapeutic and
pleasurable benefits. There are depictions of therapeutic touch in cave
paintings that are over 10,000 years old. Hippocrates, the father of
western medicine, endorsed the therapeutic use of massage and it is
reported that Caesar received massage every day in order to control his
epilepsy.
Massage was practiced in hospitals along with
physical therapy until the 1950's when physical therapy became a
separate discipline. The increase in complimentary and preventative
healthcare in recent years has promoted both the physical and emotional
benefits of massage therapy in our daily lives.
Massage Therapy at Sport and Spine
At our
clinic injury specific massage techniques including deep tissue,
neuromuscular therapy, and myofascial release are used to increase
blood flow to injured tissue, relieve muscle soreness and tightness,
increase range of motion, and help to flush toxins. Massage also
increases body awareness, helps to maintain posture, shortens recovery
time after working out, relieves stress, and helps to prevent injury.
We
have had great success using massage therapy in conjunction with our
manual therapy techniques. We can also offer you massage after your
physical therapy treatment is complete, whether it be area specific or
a relaxing, full body Swedish massage, for continued body health and
just because it feels good.
Our massage therapists and
physical therapists work together to address tight and dysfunctional
muscles and will work together to form a program designed specifically
for the individual needs and conditions. Incorporating massage therapy
with physical therapy helps to lessen pain and shorten recovery time
for the patients.
