Liz is has earned her Advanced Certification in Orthopedic Massage
What is Medical/Orthopedic Massage?
Medical (orthopedic) massage addresses specific musculoskeletal injuries like whiplash, chronic use injuries, neck pain, back pain, headaches, structural imbalance, sprains/strains due to work, sports, motor vehicle accidents etc., both new and old. Some times pain does not seem to be associated with a specific incident or accident. In these cases, close observation often reveals structural imbalance, tight muscles or postural habits which can lead to chronic pain or occasional flare-ups of problem areas.
Orthopedic massage uses an assessment-treatment model to identify specifically what is involved with your injury or pain, and applies systematic clinical massage techniques to assist in your recovery. Treatment may include passive stretching, deep tissue massage, muscle energy technique, myofascial release, cross fiber friction, and other specific massage techniques to decrease pain, increase range of motion and prevent scar tissue and other myofascial adhesions from forming.
While treatment work is definitely not a "spa massage", appropriate clinical treatment frequently does include relaxation massage. Liz addresses specific injury treatment with an intuitive flow that is also nurturing and relaxing.
Orthopedic massage uses an assessment-treatment model to identify specifically what is involved with your injury or pain, and applies systematic clinical massage techniques to assist in your recovery. Treatment may include passive stretching, deep tissue massage, muscle energy technique, myofascial release, cross fiber friction, and other specific massage techniques to decrease pain, increase range of motion and prevent scar tissue and other myofascial adhesions from forming.
While treatment work is definitely not a "spa massage", appropriate clinical treatment frequently does include relaxation massage. Liz addresses specific injury treatment with an intuitive flow that is also nurturing and relaxing.
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Immediately after an injury, massage therapy can help you recover by helping to restore balance to your autonomic nervous system. In other words, the relaxation benefits of massage can help reverse the effects that the shock and trauma of an injury or an accident can have on your nervous system. The initial focus is on addressing the effects of trauma using gentle techniques like Swedish massage to promote circulation of both blood and lymph, which can help manage the swelling (edema) that usually comes with injuries.
During the sub-acute stage (a few days to a few weeks, or even longer, after an injury), sessions progress to involve a variety of more specific techniques to prevent the formation of scar tissue and other myofascial adhesions which can limit your range of motion. Massage by a skilled practitioner assists your body's natural healing process. In the long term, massage helps to improve and maintain freedom of movement, and bring awareness to your body to keep you active and pain free.
During the sub-acute stage (a few days to a few weeks, or even longer, after an injury), sessions progress to involve a variety of more specific techniques to prevent the formation of scar tissue and other myofascial adhesions which can limit your range of motion. Massage by a skilled practitioner assists your body's natural healing process. In the long term, massage helps to improve and maintain freedom of movement, and bring awareness to your body to keep you active and pain free.
Typically, the goals of massage therapy for injury recovery are to:
- reduce stress
- relieve tight muscles and muscle spasms
- reduce pain and swelling
- improve circulation
- reduce scar tissue and connective tissue adhesions
- improve range of motion
- restore balance and long term stability