Massage
What is Massage Therapy?
Massage Therapy is the direct manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. It has been used for thousands of years to promote health. Massage Therapy can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including sports injuries, asthma, muscular conditions, PMS, lower back pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and stress.
Massage Therapy and Exercise
Massage is the perfect complement to a regular exercise regimen. Anyone who routinely stretches their physical limits through movements such as running, cycling, hiking, swimming, dancing, tennis, strength training or aerobics can benefit from Massage Therapy. These activities, while beneficial to our overall health, can have temporary negative results, such as muscle soreness. When done incorrectly, they can also result in injury.
Massage can help the body recover from normal exercise faster, improving your overall level of achievement. When you overdo it, or injure yourself while exercising, massage can help the body to heal itself.
Massage and Chiropractic
Massage Therapy can be used as a complement to Chiropractic services that are also available at The Marino Center. Both services are holistic in nature, and are based in the belief that the body, when given the chance, will heal itself.
Chiropractic manipulates the spine to correct health problems, and massage is often helpful before or after the adjustment. Before an adjustment, massage relieves muscle tension and warms the soft tissues, making the joints more pliable and easily adjusted. Following an adjustment, massage can be used to further relax the patient, allowing the chiropractic adjustment to be more effective. Together, massage and chiropractic work to treat patients naturally and holistically.
Massage and Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be extremely frustrating to diagnose and treat. Massage has proven effective in treating chronic pain, mostly because it breaks the pain cycle. The pain cycle is a complex chain of events which reinforce each other. It often begins with injury or illness, but each element, particularly stress, can add to or start the pain cycle.
Massage Therapy is used to break this cycle, by stretching tight muscles and stimulating the nervous system to relax muscle tension. Massage increases circulation, softening connective tissue. Finally, massage allows a patient to move more freely, which helps to end the pain cycle.
Guidelines and Recommendations
- Please do not eat or drink (especially alcohol) one to two hours prior to a session; it may result in nausea or an upset stomach.
- Please reschedule your session if you have a cold or flu. A massage can make it worse.
- Acute inflammation of skin, joints, or muscles will be cared for with alternative modalities when appropriate. Otherwise please check with your physician for approval if it is severe.
- You should consult your physician before having a massage if you are being treated for a medical (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, varicose veins) or skin condition (e.g. rashes, boils, wounds).
- Warning: certain herbal and/or essential oils may stain clothing.
- Wear loose clothing for stretching exercise sessions to provide better comfort and freedom.
- Please shower or bathe prior to your appointment.
- You may experience some muscle soreness 24 hours after your initial session. Gentle stretching will alleviate this condition.
Massage at The Marino Center
Neuromuscular, myofacial release and craniosacral therapy are generally practiced at The Marino Center. Massage Therapy is utilized both for relaxation and clinical use. Many patients who deal with stress, pain or injuries use massage to help them to deal with and treat their conditions.