Massage Therapy at Seneca Physical Therapy & Wellness
What is a Massage Therapist?
A massage therapist is a professional who uses
specific manual techniques to normalize soft
tissues (such as muscle) that have been affected
by stress, injury, and illness.
These manual techniques are designed to improve
circulation, enhance muscular relaxation, relieve
pain, reduce stress, enhance immune function,
as well as promote health and well-being.
What are the Benefits?
Physical
Benefits
Massage can relieve the painful muscle tension
that inevitably erodes your energy level. A
massage therapist may use a variety of techniques
to loosen and relax muscles and the surrounding
connective tissue coverings.
Massage stimulates the release of endorphins,
your bodys natural pain killers. This can give
you a break from the pain cycle to create a
renewed sense of well-being.
Massage also increases circulation, clearing
out accumulated stress hormones and waste products
that can make you feel tired and sore. By increasing
blood flow in this manner, your cells can better
receive the nutrients that are vital for tissue
repair.
Psychological Benefits
Massage therapy can stimulate a short-term increase
in oxygen to your brain which helps reduce mental
fatigue and improve your ability to concentrate.
The quality of restful sleep often improves
in the days following a massage, giving your
body a chance to further repair and restore
your energy levels.
What Conditions May be Helped by
Massage Therapy?
An increasing number of research studies show
massage therapy reduces heart rate, lowers blood
pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph
flow, relaxes muscles and improves range of
motion. It may also lead to a more complete
recovery from exercise or injury.
People with the following conditions have
reported that therapeutic massage has lessened
or relieved many of their symptoms:
- Myofascial pain
- Chronic and acute pain
- Sports injuries (including pulled
or strained muscles and ligaments)
- Stress Headache
- Arthritis
- Reduced range of motion
- Circulatory problems
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
dysfunction
Though the effects of a single session may be
temporary, a well-spaced series of massage therapy
sessions can actually reverse chronic muscle
spasm, thereby breaking the pain cycle.
When Shouldn't I try Massage Therapy?
Some conditions exist that could be exacerbated
by massage therapy.
- Certain forms of cancer
- Phlebitis
- Some cardiac problems
- Some skin conditions
- Infectious diseases
Check with your physician if you have questions
as to whether massage therapy would be right
for you.
What does a massage therapist do
that a physical therapist doesn't do?
While the goals of massage therapy
and physical therapy are often the same (normalizing
soft tissues such as muscle), the methods and
techniques of each differ significantly.
Massage therapists specialize in the use
and application of therapeutic massage techniques
such as rolfing, stroking, kneading, Swedish
massage, rocking, vibration and deep tissue.
Physical therapists are not trained heavily
in the use of massage therapy techniques and
instead concentrate on rehabilitation using
techniques such as exercise. Manual techniques
utilized by physical therapists are very different
than those employed by massage therapists.
Rates:
Seated Massage:
20 Minute:
50 Minute: |
$2.00/minute
(20 minute minimum)
$50.00
$85.00 |
Appointment Times:
Please call to set up an appointment.
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