MASSAGE THERAPY

The first thing you should expect when you come to visit our clinic for a massage therapy appointment is a thorough examination and patient history questionnaire.

 At our clinic, our therapists can talk to you about anything you may be experiencing and work with you in a coordinated way to encourage healing on all levels and help you gain a deeper understanding of your body and what’s happening with it. We’re not just concerned with symptom relief; we want to identify and resolve the underlying cause (or causes) of your symptoms so that your healing will be more complete and longer lasting.

General Swedish Massage is the standard set of modalities that are used in relaxation massage at spas. This includes effleurage (long strokes), petrissage (rhythmic tapping or pounding) and deep point pressure techniques such as muscle stripping. All massages must include some relaxation techniques in order to be effective. We strive to treat areas of dysfunction that may be tender or painful in a way where the patient remains as relaxed as possible.

Deep-Tissue Massage is a generic description for a treatment style that is not “spa”. The medical term is therapeutic massage. Therapeutic massage is intended to treat and correct pain and dysfunction in the body, and is the main focus in our clinic.

Cupping Therapy is a treatment where the therapist places suction cups, on the skin. By creating a vacuum,when placed on the skin, the tissue is drawn up into the cup. This increases the blood flow, loosens the fascia or connective tissue, to stimulate healing. It is similar to the way deep tissue massage can be used to break up scar tissue and reduce pain. The cups are often placed on the back, neck, and shoulders or the site of pain. Cupping may cause temporary bruising and soreness, depending upon the degree of suction and the stiffness/knot of the muscle. The cups are left on for around 10 minutes before being removed by releasing the pressure.

Myofascial techniques assess and treat the complex web of connective tissues (fascia) in the body. These tissues cover and intertwine within muscles, form tendons and ligaments, coat the surface of all your organs, provide barriers between different body cavities, and are the primary component of your skin. A myofascial treatment seeks to assess and treat the subtle lines of force that are created by connective tissues that have been under constant long-term strain. Myofascial work forms the foundation of most of our treatments.

Gua Sha also called scrapping, utilizes a specific technique where your practitioner will gently enhance blood flow to an area.
Rubbing the skin’s surface breaks any stagnation, bringing up a small mark, while reducing inflammation and promote healing in the tissues.

Joint Mobilization techniques are used to improve alignment or range of motion at a joint. There is a complex relationship between muscle tension and joint function in the body. Chronic overly tight muscles can bring joints out of alignment. Poorly aligned joints can overwork certain muscles and cause pain and inflammation in others. Long-term habits of body position (usually developed at work, the most common being head-forward posture from computer use) lead to impaired joint movement and specific patterns of muscular tension. Chronic problems such as low back pain and tension headaches often result. Joint mobilization techniques are small, gentle and slow stretches or oscillations, intended to improve joint health and to increase range of motion where it is limited.

TMJ techniques are specific to the temporomandibular joint, the jaw, one of the most complex joints in the human body. Every time we open our mouth the TMJ joint partly dislocates, with the mandible sliding halfway out of the joint on top of a disc of connective tissue. Problems with muscles and ligaments attached to the disc and surrounding bones can cause specific symptoms in the jaw such as clicking, locking, and reduced range of motion. In severe cases irreversible arthritis can result. Our therapists have taken specific training on TMJ treatment and can offer intraoral treatment (working outside the teeth but inside the cheek, wearing latex gloves).

Other modalities that are sometimes used in the clinic are Manual Lymph Drainage (helping reduce chronic swelling or fluid imbalances), Visceral Manipulation (gentle massage of organs in the abdominal cavity to promote healthier blood flow, better movement of intestinal contents).

Massage therapy is a very effective treatment for a wide variety of conditions. Just about everyone can benefit in some way from therapeutic massage.

Massage therapy can often effectively and completely resolve the following conditions:

• Tension headache.
• Low back pain or spasm.
• General muscular aches, tension, or spasm.
• Postural problems.
• Limited range of motion in joints.
• Sports injuries such as sprains, strains, or bruises.
• Overuse injuries such as tendinitis or bursitis.
• Pain or dysfunction caused by scar tissue from old injuries or surgeries.

Massage therapy can effectively treat more complex conditions, and is especially effective when combined with treatments by acupuncturists, naturopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists or medical specialists:

• Whiplash and other complications resulting from motor vehicle accidents.
• Neurological disorders involving nerve compression such as carpal tunnel or sciatica.
• Conditions involving damaged or misaligned spinal vertebrae or discs.
• Serious sports injuries such as shoulder dislocations, ligament or meniscus tears in the knee, torn Achilles tendons, etc.
• Recovery from hip or knee replacement.

Massage therapy can help reduce the severity, intensity and frequency of symptoms in conditions such as:

• Complex regional pain syndrome.
• Other conditions involving chronic pain such as migraines.
• Disorders involving excess swelling or inflammation, such as after surgeries removing lymph glands.
• Mood disorders especially those involving anxiety.

Although there are some chronic long term conditions that massage therapy cannot cure, we can often make a big difference in your quality of life by helping manage your symptoms:

• Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, lupus.
• Permanent neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, paralyzation.
• Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Parkinson’s disease.

Most extended medical/insurance plans cover Registered Massage Therapy treatment fees.

Please contact your insurance provider to check if they require a Doctor’s referral, to be able to claim or direct-bill Massage Therapy treatments.

Insurances that we can direct-bill:

• Bluecross
• Cinup
• Chamber of Commerce
• Cooperators
• Cowan
• Desjardins
• First Canadian
• GroupHealth
• Great-West-Life
• Industrial Alliance
• Johnson Insurance
• Johnston Group
• Manulife
• Maximum Benefit
• Sun Life Financial

If your insurance is not in the list, you will receive a receipt after the treatment that you can send to your insurance to get refunded of the portion covered.

Everyone expects pregnancy to bring an expanding waistline, but many women are surprised by the other body changes that arise. As your uterus expands with the weight of the growing baby, there is more stress on the body.

Most common body aches and pains occur in the lower back, but can also occur on your back, abdomen, groin area, thighs, joints, and near the pelvic bone. Our therapists will customize the massage to meet your individual needs.​

Talk to your doctor before you get a massage if:

• You have open wounds, bruises, or areas of weak skin.
• You have a blood clot in a vein.
• You have a bleeding disorder, have low blood platelet counts, or take a medicine (called a blood thinner) that prevents blood clots.
• Acute infectious diseases such as hepatitis, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), and bacillary dysentery.