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Massage Therapy

At Alliance our Massage Therapists are a Regulated Healthcare discipline who work with the soft tissues and joints of the body. They use various massage and soft tissue release techniques, hydrotherapy applications and stretches during the treatment which are appropriate to the stage and severity of the patients condition. They may also prescribe home exercise and hydrotherapy to do between treatments.

Massage can affect the local and systemic systems of the body. For this reason modifying techniques and modalities appropriately to the patient is an integral part of massage therapy.

Massage Therapy is the assessment and physical manipulation of the soft tissue and joints of the body. These include skin, muscles, tendons, fascia, ligaments, and joint capsules. During your treatment, the therapist uses their hands and arms to perform the treatment. The treatment is a combination of techniques, hydrotherapy and remedial exercise that are appropriate to the client and their ailment.

The massage therapist uses a vegetable oil or cream that helps to decrease tissue drag. If you have any allergies to oils or lotions, please let your therapist know as other products may be used instead.

SHORT TERM GOALS OF MASSAGE THERAPY are to:
decrease pain, inflammation, swelling, spasms and trigger points with techniques and hydrotherapy appropriate to the degree and stage of healing (acute, sub acute, chronic)
maintain range of motion in cervical spine
prevent adhesions

LONG TERM GOALS OF MASSAGE THERAPY are to:
eliminate adhesions
increase range of motion of restricted joints
strengthen weakened muscles
address compensatory changes
address accompanying signs and symptoms

COMMONLY TREATED CONDITIONS INCLUDE:

stress and anxiety management
headaches
strains and sprains
adhesive capsulitis and frozen shoulder
Repetitive strain injuries and tendonitis
Nerve entrapment (CTS, TOS, Piriformis syndrome)

Arthritis (RA, OA)
Whiplash
Low back pain
Pregnancy massage
TMJ Disorder

MASSAGE TECHNIQUES THAT MAY BE USED DURING TREATMENT:

Swedish massage
Manual lymph drainage
Muscle energy

Trigger point release
Joint Play
Cranial sacral

Myofascial release
Rhythmic mobilizations

Massage Therapy increases relaxation, decreases stress and gives an all over increase in energy and sense of wellbeing.

WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS AND RISKS OF MASSAGE THERAPY?
Like any activity involving the soft tissues, there are risks as well as benefits of receiving a massage. Some possible risks include:

muscle soreness the next day
muscle stiffness the next day
discomfort during or after the treatment
may aggravate symptoms
may imbalance medications (i.e. insulin)
Self care prescribed by the therapist may assist between treatments with pain and increase range of motion.

Some possible benefits of massage therapy include:
increased relaxation
decreased pain
increased range of motion
increased/improved circulation
may alleviated symptoms

WHO IS INVOLVED IN TREATMENT PLANNING?

Both the client and therapist are equal partners in planning the treatment that is best suited for the individual. This involves the client filling out a case history form which details current or past medical history that will aid the therapist in ensuring a safe, effective treatment, or so that the therapist may refer to other health care practitioners if massage is not an appropriate therapy for them. All information given to the therapist before, during, or after a treatment is held in strict confidence, as per the regulated health professional act. Only with your written consent, or as required by law, is the therapist allowed to reveal the client's information.

DRAPING
During the massage, the client is draped at all times except for the part being worked upon (i.e. back). The therapist will ask, once they have left the room, that the client undress down to their underpants and to get in between the two sheets that cover the massage table. The reason the therapist requests the client to undress to their underpants is that it allows the therapist maximum access to the skin and muscles. However, the client may wear as much or as little clothing as they feel comfortable with and the massage can be performed through the sheets or clothing if the client is mort comfortable with that.

USE OF HYDROTHERAPY IN THE CLINIC

Hydrotherapy is the use of water, in it's various forms, internally or externally, for it's therapeutic effects. It can be applied locally, or as a full body treatment. Hot, cold, and a combination of both temperatures are used depending on stage of injury.

USE OF HYDROTHERAPY AT HOME AS SELF CARE

Your therapist may give you hydrotherapy to use at home. This can range from full body hydrotherapy (i.e. Epson salt bath), or a locally applied therapy (i.e. heating pad or ice). This self care supports the soft tissue work done by your therapist and may help to alleviate pain or discomfort due to your injury.

REMEDIAL EXERCISE

Remedial exercise is another form of self care for the client to use at home to aid in their recovery. These remedial exercises can include stretches or strengthening exercises for the muscles. It is important that clients become active participants in their own health and recovery, and doing these prescribed remedial exercises can help to quicken the client's recovery time.

DOES OHIP COVER MASSAGE THERAPY?

Massage therapy is not currently covered by OHIP. Some extended health care plans do give full or partial coverage for massage therapy by a Registered Massage Therapist. Check with your health plan provider regarding coverage.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY A REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST?

To become a registered massage therapist in the province of Ontario, the massage therapist must first graduate from a recognized institution of learning from the 2200 hour massage therapy program. The program includes practical and theoretical courses in:

anatomy
pathology
physiology
neurology
clinical assessment
treatments
remedial exercise
hydrotherapy

As well, the students participate in various clinics and outreach programs within the community, in order to gain practical skills.

Once the student has graduated, they must successfully complete their Ontario Board exams in order to become registered. These exams are both practical and written.
A registered massage therapist is required by the College of Massage Therapists to maintain at least 30 continuing education credits over a three year period.

MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT

Myofascial trigger points reduce full range of motion by preventing full lengthening of the muscle. A trigger point is defined by Travel and Simons as a hyperirritable spot within a taut band of skeletal muscle or it's fascia, that is painful on compression. It can refer to pain to other areas of the body. If it is painful within a referral zone, it is known as active. If it refers to pain only when it is compressed, it is known as latent.

STAGES OF INJURY
ACUTE:
Within the first four days of injury. Symptoms seen may include one or all of the following: pain, swelling, an increase in temperature at the injury site, redness, loss of movement, muscle spasming.

SUB ACUTE:

Within the fourth and fourteenth day after the injury. Symptoms seen may include one or all of the following: some decrease in pain, some decrease in swelling, increased muscle weakness, decreased range of motion due to adhesion formation.

CHRONIC:
Fourteen to twenty-one days after the injury. There may be restriction of movement due to scar and adhesions, pain and muscle weakness can be present but inflammation is absent. Although chronic inflammation can last for weeks or years, especially after reoccurring flare-ups of acute inflammation (i.e. tendonitis).

232 South Service Road
Oakville, Ontario L6J 2X5 Canada
905-845-2291
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