Manual Therapy & Massage

Research shows that massage and manual therapy relieve muscular tension, reduce recovery time after exercise and injury, and alleviate symptoms in some chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis and fibromyalgia.

Laura will look at your form to assess how restrictions in muscle and connective tissue contribute to patterns of tension that affect your overall structure. She will review your medical history and identify massage and other bodywork techniques (described below) to release the restrictions so that you become better aligned in gravity and freer in your movements. She will also recommend and demonstrate exercises and stretches to help you maintain progress between sessions.

• Releasing Tight Myofascia
• Releasing Tight Muscles
• Pre- and Post-Natal Massage
• AIS and PNF 

Releasing Tight Fascia: Structural Integration, Myofascial & Craniosacral Techniques

Myofascia is the connective tissue specific to muscles that provides them their tensile structure, which in turn gives us the flexibility we need to move. It is continuous through the musculoskeletal system, linking muscles to one another across joints and attaching them to bones, creating something like a flexible chain when the muscles are in motion. An imbalance can occur to the myofascial chains through injury, poor posture, lack of movement, scoliosis, myofascial conditions, and more. The imbalance tightens the myofascia, restricts mobility and results in some muscles being overworked while others are underworked and become weak. This ultimately causes discomfort and may result in injury. 

Releasing Tight Muscles: Swedish, Sports, Orthopedic & Neuromuscular Techniques

The broad strokes used in Swedish massage help warm and lengthen muscle groups, while deep tissue massage techniques release painful areas within individual muscles. Sports massage is one of the following deep tissue techniques that involves gently freeing muscle fibers to remove wastes that accumulate during activity. If adhesions are found that restrict movement or cause pain, quick strokes across the muscle fibers are used to release them. Orthopedic massage also uses gentle cross fiber strokes to loosen healthy, but tight, tissue around an injury to encourage blood flow and faster healing. Neuromuscular therapy techniques release tender, trigger points, which are caused by tension or injury that can pinch nerves and refer pain to parts of the body farther down the nerve’s pathway. Corrective suggestions are offered so that you can support the improvements made during our session together.  

Pre- and Post-Natal Massage

Pregnancy is a special time for a woman, though the changes can be uncomfortable. Ligaments relax to allow your bones to accommodate your growing child, which in turn shifts your alignment and can stretch and stress your muscles. Swedish massage and the deeper techniques can relieve that tension and help you feel more at ease. Gentle exercises designed to help your body accommodate to these changes can also help.  

Active Isolated Stretching (AIS), Muscle Energy, and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) techniques

These techniques lengthen and relax your muscles by engaging stretch reflexes and gently increase your range of motion.

Manual therapy sessions:  70 minute  /  $150,  80 minute /  $165

Sessions include assessment, treatment, and discussion – contact us for info or an appointment.

 
Laura is an excellent massage therapy professional. . . Her sincere demeanor and respect for her patients is refreshing – not to mention her massage therapy dissolved my neck pain and headache completely!   – Lauren L

Laura’s been my massage therapist for several years. I can no longer go without her myofascial and deep tissue work after the hard workouts I put this old body through. She’s the best I’ve experienced. – Robert, DC