VMTC Services
Massage Therapy - General Swedish Massage (GSM)
Massage Therapy is the systemic manipulation of the soft tissues with the aim to normalize and improve your overall health. Massage therapists use a variety of physical methods including applying fixed or moveable pressure, holding a motion or causing movement to your body to achieve this. Although a single massage can be a fun, relaxing way to pass your time, the effects of a massage can help to prevent unnecessary strains and injuries.
Touch is the core element of massage therapy. Therapists learn specific techniques for massage and they use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to apply to each individual patient. Touch also can be used to locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems in your body. Touching conveys a sense of caring, an important component in the healing powers of massage.
When muscles are overwhelmed, waste products such as lactic acid, can accumulate in the muscle causing soreness, stiffness and even muscle spasms. Massage improves your body’s circulation, which in turn increases your blood flow and brings fresh oxygen to the body’s tissues. This can facilitate the elimination of waste products, speed up healing time after an injury and enhance your recovery from a disease.
Therapeutic massage can be used to promote wellbeing and enhance self-esteem while simultaneously boosting both the circulatory and immune systems. This can improve your blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion and even your skin tone! It has been incorporated into many health systems and different massage techniques have been developed and integrated into various contemporary therapies.
Touch is the core element of massage therapy. Therapists learn specific techniques for massage and they use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to apply to each individual patient. Touch also can be used to locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems in your body. Touching conveys a sense of caring, an important component in the healing powers of massage.
When muscles are overwhelmed, waste products such as lactic acid, can accumulate in the muscle causing soreness, stiffness and even muscle spasms. Massage improves your body’s circulation, which in turn increases your blood flow and brings fresh oxygen to the body’s tissues. This can facilitate the elimination of waste products, speed up healing time after an injury and enhance your recovery from a disease.
Therapeutic massage can be used to promote wellbeing and enhance self-esteem while simultaneously boosting both the circulatory and immune systems. This can improve your blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion and even your skin tone! It has been incorporated into many health systems and different massage techniques have been developed and integrated into various contemporary therapies.
Deep Tissue Massage (DTT)
Deep Tissue Therapy (DTT) is used to realign muscles and connective tissue with the application of deeper pressure and generally slower strokes. In general, deeper pressure works more effectively to break apart adhesions (tight and rigid tissue that act like glue to hold other tissues together) and decrease muscle tension. Adhesions can block circulation of blood, cause pain and inhibit movement. With DTT pain decreases and circulation and movement improves. During a deep tissue massage, discomfort and increased pain are common in the injured areas, however, as the area heals; the massage becomes less painful and quite relaxing.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Dr. Vodder’s Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) method was developed in 1936 by Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife, Estrid Vodder. The Vodders developed this method to help individuals who suffer from lymphedema (a protein rich swelling). Lymphedema can occur post-trauma or surgery, or from a malformed lymphatic system (the system that includes your lymph nodes and has a role in immune function). MLD is commonly used in North America for individuals who have lymphedema from mastectomy operations, and with individuals where their lymphatic system cannot handle the amount of excess fluid produced.
MLD consists of gentle, non-invasive, lotion free techniques that stimulate the lymphatic vessels to pick up excess fluid, proteins, dust, dyes, viruses, bacteria, dead cells, lactic acid, and fats that are in the tissues and extracellular space.
The techniques are sequential, repetitive, and relaxing. In some circumstances bandaging, exercises and skin care will also need to be performed, depending on the severity of the lymphedema.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage can also be used for general inflammation from orthopedic conditions, such as tendonitis, sprains and strains, fractures, headaches, migraines, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, jaw pain (TMD), and much more. The technique has also been beneficial with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, stress, depression, burns and detoxification.
MLD consists of gentle, non-invasive, lotion free techniques that stimulate the lymphatic vessels to pick up excess fluid, proteins, dust, dyes, viruses, bacteria, dead cells, lactic acid, and fats that are in the tissues and extracellular space.
The techniques are sequential, repetitive, and relaxing. In some circumstances bandaging, exercises and skin care will also need to be performed, depending on the severity of the lymphedema.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage can also be used for general inflammation from orthopedic conditions, such as tendonitis, sprains and strains, fractures, headaches, migraines, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, jaw pain (TMD), and much more. The technique has also been beneficial with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, stress, depression, burns and detoxification.
TMJ Dysfunction Massage
Many people suffer from jaw pain, or Temperomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction. This can be caused by repetitive chewing, grinding, clenching, mal-alignment of the mandible and maxilla, myofascial trigger points (MTP), whiplash, or arthritis. In a large percentage of TMD cases there are no joint issues, such as arthritis or disc slippage. However, these clients tend to present with forward head posture that creates a retraction of the mandible causing jaw discomfort.
During a TMJ massage, an assessment will be performed and consent will be attained before proceeding further. The treatment will begin with a back massage to help decrease any tension in the upper back muscles and/or mal-alignment throughout the spine. A neck massage will then be performed along with extra-and intra-oral massage to aid in decreasing tension in the neck and mastication muscles. Sometimes a Manual Lymphatic Drainage treatment might be performed instead of the Swedish Massage to decrease any present inflammation. Home care exercises will be given to help you maintain and improve the results.
During a TMJ massage, an assessment will be performed and consent will be attained before proceeding further. The treatment will begin with a back massage to help decrease any tension in the upper back muscles and/or mal-alignment throughout the spine. A neck massage will then be performed along with extra-and intra-oral massage to aid in decreasing tension in the neck and mastication muscles. Sometimes a Manual Lymphatic Drainage treatment might be performed instead of the Swedish Massage to decrease any present inflammation. Home care exercises will be given to help you maintain and improve the results.
Myofascial Release (MFR)
Myofascial techniques address the underlying restriction and scar tissue build up in one's connective tissue. The therapist can assess the chronically impaired area for adhesions in the connective layers, then manipulate the areas and manually break the bonds of the restrictions or excessive scar tissue deposit. These techniques offer many benefits to the proper performance of muscles and soft tissues; realigning muscle fibers and reintroducing blood supply to the area. Fascial work can help restore health and vitality in muscle movements, as well as assisting in recovery of postural stability.
Cupping
Cupping is an ancient therapy used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), but is becoming more frequently used by massage therapists. This wonderful technique helps decrease tissue tension, connective tissue restrictions, blood stasis, inflammation, toxins, congestion, and pain.
Cupping stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, causing a sedative effect. This modality involves placing ‘suction cups’ on the skin and using a pumping action from a rubber bulbous, a hand held pump, or heat that causes a negative pressure. This pressure causes a suction action that brings the tissue into the cup. Redness, or hyperemia occurs indicating good blood flow to the area. Cupping can be used in two main ways: stationary or massage (moving). Stationary, or dry cupping is when the therapist leaves the cups in a spot for up to 15 minutes. Massage cupping is when lotion is applied to the tissue before the cups are placed. The cups are then applied and moved over the skin while the patient is lying still or moving one of their body parts.
Cupping stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, causing a sedative effect. This modality involves placing ‘suction cups’ on the skin and using a pumping action from a rubber bulbous, a hand held pump, or heat that causes a negative pressure. This pressure causes a suction action that brings the tissue into the cup. Redness, or hyperemia occurs indicating good blood flow to the area. Cupping can be used in two main ways: stationary or massage (moving). Stationary, or dry cupping is when the therapist leaves the cups in a spot for up to 15 minutes. Massage cupping is when lotion is applied to the tissue before the cups are placed. The cups are then applied and moved over the skin while the patient is lying still or moving one of their body parts.
Prenatal Massage
Massage Therapy during pregnancy can offer one's body much needed relief. As pregnancy progresses, it presents postural changes and balance challenges accompanied by rapid weight gain and loosening of ligaments- leaving one's hips and back muscles to adjust. Due to these changes, 88% of women report back pain at least once during their pregnancy. Massage can decrease soreness, muscular fatigue and spasm and deter leg cramping; while promoting fluid return from hands and feet. Abdominal massage may also assist with abdominal discomfort and ease from symptoms of constipation. Regular massage promotes bodily awareness, connectedness, and relaxation; having a positive affect on resting blood pressure and calming the sympathetic nervous system, further promoting a sense of overall well-being.
The Traditional Indian Head Massage
The Traditional Indian Head Massage was practiced for over 1,000 years in India. It is a form of relaxation massage that focuses on the face, head, neck, shoulder, upper back and upper arms. It helps release stress and tension, creating a sense of well-being.
The Benefits of Indian Head Massage: Relief from eye strain and headaches, Helps Insomnia and Disturbed Sleep, Helps Relieve Tiredness and Edginess, Improves Concentration and Memory, Relieves Stress and Anxiety, Relieves Built-Up Tension in Muscles, Breaks Down Fibrous Adhesions, Increases Oxygen to the Brain, Clears Sinusitis and Mental Fatigue, Helps with Migraines and Tinnitus, Helps with Nightmares and T.M.J., Promotes A Sense of Calmness, Increases Energy and Motivation, Improves Productivity, Toxins are Dispersed.
The Benefits of Indian Head Massage: Relief from eye strain and headaches, Helps Insomnia and Disturbed Sleep, Helps Relieve Tiredness and Edginess, Improves Concentration and Memory, Relieves Stress and Anxiety, Relieves Built-Up Tension in Muscles, Breaks Down Fibrous Adhesions, Increases Oxygen to the Brain, Clears Sinusitis and Mental Fatigue, Helps with Migraines and Tinnitus, Helps with Nightmares and T.M.J., Promotes A Sense of Calmness, Increases Energy and Motivation, Improves Productivity, Toxins are Dispersed.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) involves the use of a stainless steel instrument (M2T Blade) to assess, detect and treat scar tissue, adhesions and muscle dysfunction.
What to expect when using Soft Tissue Instruments during your treatment:
Treatment with Soft Tissue Instruments Shouldn't Cause Extreme Bruising And Irritated Skin. Microtrauma does occur to start the healing process and is expected to produce a very reddened and warm reaction. Any bruising should be minimal at best. Using any Soft Tissue Instrument is not about being so aggressive that you leave large purple marks. Some redness and petechia is OK, black and blue is not needed for desired treatment outcome.
Soft Tissue Tools enhance and add as an aid for assessment and treatment of soft tissue, they do not replace a practitioner's hands. Palpation is done first then the instrument is used.
You Don't Need Extreme Force While Using Instruments. It's not about using a lot of force or that it must cause pain to be working. Deep Tissue work isn't about the amount of pressure used or in causing pain.
Soft Tissue Instruments are just tools, and not a treatment program Manual Therapy is putting your hands on the patient and manipulating tissue. The practitioner can feel tissue density through their hands, tools are simply extensions of their hands. They can identify different dysfunctions, locate adhesions, and apply a different force
then their hands.
Patients can be active and play sports after receiving treatment using soft tissue instruments. Patients should be able to go about their normal activities including sports and work. There may be some associated discomfort but it should not be limiting.
What to expect when using Soft Tissue Instruments during your treatment:
Treatment with Soft Tissue Instruments Shouldn't Cause Extreme Bruising And Irritated Skin. Microtrauma does occur to start the healing process and is expected to produce a very reddened and warm reaction. Any bruising should be minimal at best. Using any Soft Tissue Instrument is not about being so aggressive that you leave large purple marks. Some redness and petechia is OK, black and blue is not needed for desired treatment outcome.
Soft Tissue Tools enhance and add as an aid for assessment and treatment of soft tissue, they do not replace a practitioner's hands. Palpation is done first then the instrument is used.
You Don't Need Extreme Force While Using Instruments. It's not about using a lot of force or that it must cause pain to be working. Deep Tissue work isn't about the amount of pressure used or in causing pain.
Soft Tissue Instruments are just tools, and not a treatment program Manual Therapy is putting your hands on the patient and manipulating tissue. The practitioner can feel tissue density through their hands, tools are simply extensions of their hands. They can identify different dysfunctions, locate adhesions, and apply a different force
then their hands.
Patients can be active and play sports after receiving treatment using soft tissue instruments. Patients should be able to go about their normal activities including sports and work. There may be some associated discomfort but it should not be limiting.
Reflexology
Reflexologists believe the entire body is mirrored on the feet and hands. Foot and hand reflexology is a scientific art based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all body parts. The physical act of applying specific pressures using thumb, finger, and hand techniques, results in stress reduction, which causes physiological changes in the body. A primary benefit of reflexology is relaxation. Relaxation through reflexology may help the body to balance any kind of stress it is experiencing.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain, however, increasingly it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.
Traditional Chinese Medicine via acupuncture is a technique for balancing the flow of energy, or life force known as qi (chee). Qi flows through pathways called meridians in your body. By inserting acupuncture needles into specific points along these meridians, nerves, muscles and connective tissue get stimulated, therefore, stimulating your body's natural painkillers.
Learn More (Download PDF 67KB)
Traditional Chinese Medicine via acupuncture is a technique for balancing the flow of energy, or life force known as qi (chee). Qi flows through pathways called meridians in your body. By inserting acupuncture needles into specific points along these meridians, nerves, muscles and connective tissue get stimulated, therefore, stimulating your body's natural painkillers.
Learn More (Download PDF 67KB)
Traditional Chinese Gua sha
Myofascial Gua sha techniques create friction, breaking the bonds with rapid, heavy to moderate
pressure strokes. These techniques reduce restrictions that cause pain in muscles and joints, impair
movement, and functions of surrounding tissues.
Some of the conditions include lumbar disc herniation, facial paralysis (head and face neuralgia),
postherpetic neuralgia; shingles (preventative, if treatment is directly after lesions have disappeared),
COPD and other respiratory conditions, mastitis, migraine/headaches, sinusitis, sciatic, piriformis
syndrome, thermal dysregulation conditions (sun or heat stroke; fever), localized pain and injury.
Pediatric Gua sha is a gentle, mild treatment and is highly effective at venting heat and excess waste.
Illnesses treated are fevers, colds, coughs, respiratory conditions, sore throat, earaches, and digestive
problems.
Both forms of Gua sha allows your body’s own immune system to fight off illnesses as the fever
dissipates, and the lymphatic systems flushes out the bacteria and dead cells. As this happens, your
immune system is heightened causing an adverse reaction within the following 24 hours, until the body
has flushed away the results from the released stagnation.
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RAPID NeuroFascial Reset is a new soft tissue movement based, therapeutic technique that addresses the central nervous system's role in alleviating tension and restrictions within muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves.
These conditions all have one important thing in common: the pain caused is often a direct result of neurological hypersensitivity. This means that the nervous system has become hyper-vigilant and sensitized.
Neurological hypersensitivity is the direct cause of neurogenic inflammation caused by the chronic artifacts of inflammation.
This can happen in several important ways:
Each of these factors can cause the brain to lock down the tissues producing pain, loss of strength and decreased range of motion in the affected area. This neurological block bundles and glues down tissues. As this process continues, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension and friction on tendons can cause tendinitis, and nerves can become entrapped.
Some of the conditions include headaches/migraines, upper and lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder injuries, whiplash, shin splints, tennis/golfer’s elbow, TMJ, sciatica, knee problems, limited range of motion, and many more.
These conditions all have one important thing in common: the pain caused is often a direct result of neurological hypersensitivity. This means that the nervous system has become hyper-vigilant and sensitized.
Neurological hypersensitivity is the direct cause of neurogenic inflammation caused by the chronic artifacts of inflammation.
This can happen in several important ways:
- acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc.)
- accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
- old injuries (chronic inflammation)
- not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia).
Each of these factors can cause the brain to lock down the tissues producing pain, loss of strength and decreased range of motion in the affected area. This neurological block bundles and glues down tissues. As this process continues, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension and friction on tendons can cause tendinitis, and nerves can become entrapped.
Some of the conditions include headaches/migraines, upper and lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder injuries, whiplash, shin splints, tennis/golfer’s elbow, TMJ, sciatica, knee problems, limited range of motion, and many more.