Edmonton Acupuncture Center  
Edmonton Acupuncture Center
Phone: 780-416-2828
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Acupuncture Benefits
  Massage Therapy

   Jump to:  Relaxation Therapy  |  Deep Tissue  |  Trigger Point Massage

Relaxation Massage:

Generally regarded as the most common form of massage, Swedish relaxation massage involves a combination of five basic strokes applied to the body in a slow, rhythmical, and repetitive manner. The techniques concentrate on the muscles and connective tissues of the body for improved circulation, relaxation, pain relief, decreased sympathetic nervous system firing, stress reduction, and overall health maintenance and well-being. Diaphragmatic breathing is incorporated during the treatment. Lubricants such as oils, gels, lotions, and creams are used to reduce friction between the patient’s tissues. The treatment is generally pain free and performed on a dim lit, calm treatment room. Expect to leave feeling balanced, rejuvenated, relaxed, and overall great with less muscular pain. It is recommended to relax and hydrate following the massage. A patient can expect a great sleep following a relaxation massage.

Deep Tissue:

Deep tissue massage focuses beyond relaxation, using a variety of techniques interchangeably, engaging the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, geared towards aiding in the healing process. Deep tissue massage enhances muscle performance and function, while decreasing muscle tension. Deep compressions are applied to tendons and trigger points within the muscle, in order to decrease muscle tone. Repetitive pressure also reduces hyper tonicity while flushing waste products and increasing healthy circulation. Cross fiber frictions are used to break apart scar tissue and adhesions, allowing for greater movement between tissues. Specific techniques work with the receptors within tendons and muscles to basically trick them into decreasing tension. Myofascial techniques are applied to superficial and deep fascial layers, breaking down bonds between connective tissue fibers, allowing for greater range of motion and freedom of movement in joints and between the muscle and fascia. Note: fascia are structures of connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding some structures together, while permitting others to slide smoothly over each other

Overall, deep tissue massages generally increases range of motion of the body’s joints, reduces soft tissue pain, and improves circulation within soft tissue. This aids in the healing process and overall health of tissues, which leads to enhanced mental and physical function.


Trigger point massage:

A trigger point is a hyperirritable spot, usually within a taut band of skeletal muscle or its fascia. It is point tender on site, often exhibits a predictable pain referral pattern and causes a shortening of the affected muscle. They can be active (is painful at rest or with movement of the muscle containing it), or latent (produces pain only when palpated <touched>). Trigger points can be caused by direct trauma such as a muscle strain or contusion, direct stimuli such as overwork, stress, and fatigue, or allowing a muscle to be left in a shortened position for several hours.

Symptoms include:

  • pain or tenderness at rest or when palpated
  • pain when stretching affected muscle
  • contraction of the affected muscle
  • referred pain
  • muscle weakness
  • hyper tonicity

The good news is that massage is a great therapy for treating trigger points. RMT's are trained in locating and recognizing trigger points, and effectively treating the cause, not just the symptoms. The treatment is generally incorporated within a deep tissue massage because techniques are initially used to prepare the tissues and after to flush the tissue and apply a gentle stretch. Expect minor discomfort while applying compression directly to the trigger point until it releases. Most people describe the discomfort as a "good hurt." After the treatment, clients should expect to feel a great reduction in muscular pain and ease of movement.

 

 
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