Very often there can be a fine line between medical and therapeutic massage therapy. For instance, general discomfort in an area usually responds very well to a therapeutic session. If pain or discomfort was due to a tight, over stimulated muscle, you can expect to feel better after the session. Often it is a terrific jumpstart to getting better.
However, very often, the muscle and soft tissue need to be re-educated. This will enable them to get and stay better. An example would be a short, contracted muscle being re-taught to stay properly lengthened, thereby allowing proper blood flow, nerve innervations, full range of motion and a decrease in pain or discomfort. Medical geared massage incorporates many of the same techniques as therapeutic massage, along with more advanced modalities.
The goal of medical techniques is to produce permanent changes or in some cases, such as paraplegia, to maintain the health of the tissue. We measure the results of medical massage by noting a reduction of pain or discomfort for longer periods of time between sessions. Below you will find a general guideline outlining the major differences between medical and therapeutic massage. However, I strongly recommend asking the advice of your therapist or if you have any reason to believe that medically geared massage would be more beneficial to you than therapeutic massage, please don’t hesitate to arrange for a consultation.
A consultation will consist of reviewing your medical history, a hands-on evaluation and a determination as to whether we believe that medical geared massage sessions would be in your best interest. We do not charge for consultations.
