Massage Techniques
Sports Massage
Sports massage is a form of bodywork geared toward athletes. It is used to prepare the body for athletic activity and to maintain it in optimal condition, to help athletes recover from workouts and injuries, and to help prevent injuries. Depending on the client’s needs and preferences Tish uses some or all of the following massage techniques: percussion/drill massage, graston technique, cupping, deep tissue, and orthopedic massage.
Massage Cupping
Massage Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create a suction. This suction decompresses muscles and connective tissue. Cupping has many purposes, including helping with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being. Tish finds cupping beneficial when she is working to separate tissue that feels stuck and stagnant. The suction promotes blood flow to the compromised area, enhances circulation, and helps to accelerate the body's own healing processes.
Graston Technique
Graston Technique is a unique form of soft tissue mobilization that uses specially designed tools to do cross-fiber massage to break down collagen cross-links which are found in adhesions and scar tissue. Tish finds the Graston technique beneficial when working with old injuries which never healed or healed leaving scar tissue which inhibits full range of movement.
Massage Drill
Percussion massage with the massage drill is a breakthrough treatment for soft tissue pain and soreness through the use of a tool that provides rapid, short duration pulses deep into the soft tissues of the body. This innovative tool accelerates the growth and repair of tissues by heavily increasing blood flow to the area. Tish believes that incorporating the massage drill into a massage session can help speed up recovery time after a race or between training sessions. The massage drill is a lifesaver for massage therapists, helping with the cross fiber technique and saving the therapists fingers!
Deep Tissue
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage that uses deeper pressure to release chronic muscle tension. It focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscle tissue and connective tissue. The movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub layers of muscles and fascia. Tish tends to use deep tissue massage for preventative care.
Orthopedic Massage
In addition to treating specific injuries, orthopedic massage is used to increase range of motion, decrease and manage pain, and restore normal body movement and function. Orthopedic massage uses muscle energy techniques (MET) which is a manual therapy using gentle muscles contractions to relax and lengthen muscles and normalize joint mobilize motion. Many athletes use MET as a preventative measure to guard against future muscle and joint injury. It is mainly used by individuals who have a limited ROM or to treat chronic muscle pain, stiffness or injury.