 | Massage Therapy for Chronic Pain in South Tampa |
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Therapeutic Massage has grown in popularity, but there are still misconceptions in this field of health. At Massage Redefined we appreciate Therapeutic as a powerful tool to treat chronic pain and tension.
Although relaxation is a part of the process, pain and discomfort take first priority. Utilizing expertise of the body's movements I am able to unwind the muscular tension patterns causing pain.
I strive to be a recovery resource in South Tampa.
The Basics of Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic Massage 101 is that applied pressure to the body increases circulation, loosens muscle tissue, and induces relaxation.
When dealing with pain a Massage Therapist needs to systematically unwind groups of muscles that form tension patterns throughout the body, identify weak areas, find overly-tight areas, and suggest homework for each client to improve their recovery time after their session(s).
Overall many factors contribute to a 'good' Massage session. Only recently have we delved deeper into how to use anatomical knowledge to effectively ease pain. That knowledge paired with a customized regimen of Therapeutic Massage has been shown to dramatically reduce pain, tension, and discomfort. |
Why focus on Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain points to fundamental gaps in our understanding of our own bodies. As a Massage Therapist I have been there, I have experienced and recovered from chronic pain and have since dedicated my Massage Therapy practice to working with individuals who currently experience the same debilitation I once did.
When we experience pain our first instinct is to suppress it, move on, and ignore it when the opposite is needed. When pain happens it is our body's last effort to tell us something we are doing is not good for us.
This is an opportunity to listen and learn, if we don't listen and learn from what our bodies are saying then the pain never really goes away because the patterns that caused the pain have not been removed.
There is a certain type of person who knows how to handle chronic pain. Someone who has recovered from pain can empathetically guide you through the steps needed in keeping pain from coming back. I am here for that purpose. |
How many Sessions?
After each session there is a need to evaluate your Therapeutic Massage regimen. One session may give your body enough encouragement to break tension at the root, or it may take several sessions based on your lifestyle and level of connection you have with your body.
Your Massage Therapist will be your guide to re-discovering your body, after each session they should report improvements found and areas that still need work; after your pain lessens the number of sessions can be lessened based on this status report.
A healthy regimen for a well individual with moderate physical activity would be once a month for a muscular 'tune up.' Every suggestion your Massage Therapist gives should be weighed with your personal feelings of where you are with your body. If pain is still present, keep a more frequent regimen likewise feel free to lessen that number of sessions if your pain subsides quicker than you expected.
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After your Therapeutic Massage Session:
What you do outside your Therapeutic Massage sessions will dictate your need for future sessions, this relationship cannot be ignored. This is why Massage Redefined offers weekly classes on preventative methods of self-care.
Your level of self-care is the foundation of why pain becomes chronic and unmanageable. Your Massage Therapist should suggest what they personally use for self-care whether that is stretching, physical activity, or a combination of different methods.
AGAIN, what happens outside your Therapeutic Massage sessions is just as important as what happens during sessions, the minute you step outside of our door it will be up to you to develop healthy habits to further your recovery. |
Why Heat and Ice?
During each of our Therapeutic Massage sessions at Massage Redefined I have the ability to use therapeutic hot packs in our sessions. This adds to the results my sessions provide and also gives added value to my client's experience.
In some instances heat may be inappropriate based on the condition on your body so be sure to inform any therapist you work with of all the symptoms you are experiencing and keep a line of feedback open during your session.
On the other side of the thermal therapy spectrum is ice. I do not use ice at Massage Redefined because it is a more jarring therapy and does not contribute to the relaxation process of the body's tissues. However I always encourage my clients to use ice on their own for preventative health and recovery from chronic pain; I also have a video on Youtube about how to use ice for your personal reference.
Therapeutic grade heat is a wonderful compliment to Massage Therapy and ice can be a very useful tool in your preventative health regimen. Both can help put you back on the road of recovery. |
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