Through the manipulation and movement of soft tissue, orthopedic massage treatment is designed to reduce pain and dysfunction due to injury or surgery. Muscle groups shorten, due to prolonged poor posture or repetitive motions, and shortened muscle groups need to be stretched out or they will pull bones onto nerves and blood vessels, and cause or contribute to all sorts of orthopedic conditions. Restoring structural balance throughout the body allows us to focus on both prevention and rehabilitation of muscle and joint dysfunctions.
For orthopedic massage therapy we must start with a health history interview.
However, unlike medical massage an orthopedic assessment is also conducted to better isolate the cause of your pain so that the treatment can be targeted most efficiently. There are functional assessment tests that can determine many orthopedic conditions and outline a treatment plan using multiple modalities. These orthopedic assessment skills better align you with other experts, including orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists and osteopaths. Another reason for an orthopedic assessment is because the same symptom may be caused by a medical or orthopedic condition, and understanding the cause is essential in determining the appropriate treatment direction.
Orthopedic massage therapy has been found to effectively address many conditions
Orthopedic massage therapy has been found effective in addressing conditions such as: sciatica, functional scoliosis, forward head posture, whiplash and cervical pain, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries, thoracic outlet syndrome, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel, trigger finger, plantar fasciitis, compartment syndrome, IT band issues, bursitis, tendinosis and many others.
Combining multiple disciplines allows better results.
My experience working with different body types as well as different conditions has taught me that combining multiple disciplines allows better results. One patient may respond better to CranioSacral Therapy, while another requires lymphatic drainage, and the next needs a combination of myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy and stretching.
Each person is going to respond to a particular technique in his or her own way.
Therefore even if people are coming in for the same complaint, the treatment need to be tailored to what their body best responds to. It could be someone needs to the slower work of myofascial release, the lighter touch of CranioSacral, or deeper work such as trigger point therapy or active engagement.
With orthopedic massage therapy we are working together to yield the best possible results.
You are actively involved in your own treatment. Not only while working together during your treatment sessions, but by becoming more aware of your everyday life and addressing things outside treatment that will aid your body in healing faster.
The primary goal of orthopedic massage therapy is to restore function and structural balance while reducing pain caused by injury or postural imbalances. Athletes benefit by orthopedic massage proactively. Orthopedic massage therapy is used not only to reduce the chance of injury but also to enhance performance.
Techniques employed may include myofascial release, integrative stretching, active engagement, nerve mobilization techniques, trigger point therapy, muscle energy techniques, manual lymphatic drainage, CranioSacral techniques, scar tissue mobilization and other advanced therapeutic techniques.