Massage Therapy enhances therapeutic outcomes by acting directly upon the muscular, nervous, and circulatory systems to aid in rehabilitating physical injuries and various other conditions. Massage assists in maintaining muscle tone and flexibility and can interrupt potentially harmful repetitive strain patterns. There are tremendous benefits to be achieved through regular massage from a Registered Massage Therapist. Whether your need is to have a moment of relaxation, reduce muscle tension or attain relief, regular massage therapy can provide a sense of emotional and physical well-being as well as improve your quality of life. Massage therapy benefits people of all ages. While it aids the injured, the ill and the stressed, the strength of massage therapy in preventing illness and conditions before they develop cannot be overlooked. Massage therapy can be used in the treatment of both acute and chronic stages of conditions.

The following is a list of some conditions for which massage therapy, provided by a Registered Massage Therapist, can prove beneficial:

Circulatory System – Blood and Lymph

  • Increases circulation to all parts of the body
  • Improves the flow of nutrients to body tissues
  • Promotes elimination of waste products

Muscular System

  • Supports in healing from trauma and injury
  • Reduces muscular tension
  • Assists in maintaining proper body posture
  • Stimulates the muscles of the stomach and intestines, thereby aiding digestion

Nervous System

  • Relieves tension and promotes relaxation
  • Relieves pain

Respiratory System

  • Promotes deep breathing
  • Assists respiration for persons with chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema

Overall Wellbeing

  • Promotes relaxation
  • Provides safe nurturing touch
  • Improves body awareness

 

Massage Therapy supports patient compliance with rehabilitative programs. The Therapist can stress the importance of an individual’s participation in the stretch, exercise, and strength building programs that have been assigned by other healthcare professionals.

Massage Therapists use Different Designations to Identify Their Status

  • Certified indicates that the therapist has received a certificate of completion within a course of studies through a Massage Therapy College. In the case of our therapists, this is a Diploma program.
  • Licensed indicates that the Massage Therapist is certified and holds a Massage Therapist license to practice in the City of Winnipeg.
  • Remedial indicates that the course of massage studies in massage therapy focuses on correcting deficiencies, in this case, relative to the soft tissues of the body.

At Winnipeg Pain Treatment Centre, our therapists are registered and have achieved a 2-year full-time diploma through either the Massage Therapy College of Manitoba or Wellington College.

Graduates of registered massage therapy schools have knowledge in the fields of Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Pathology, Assessment & Treatment Techniques and Massage Theory. Often it is not realized that Massage Therapy is based upon studies in the Health Sciences. It is this foundation of Health Sciences studies that serve to validate and support Massage Therapy as a healthcare modality and a complementary therapy to other healthcare modalities that also possess a foundation in these studies.

These studies are important for a Massage Therapist because adequate training provides:

  • proper choice of treatment method;
  • recognition of risks to massage treatment;
  • recognition of the need to refer the patient to other health care practitioners;
  • adequate measurement of treatment progress, and the need for proper treatment modifications.

Everyone can benefit from Massage Therapy, especially:

  • athletes;
  • pregnant mothers and infants;
  • persons with whiplash injuries;
  • persons receiving palliative care;
  • persons in physically demanding jobs;
  • partially disabled, or incapacitated persons;
  • persons with neck, shoulder, head or low back pain;
  • persons with arthritis, stiff joints, and/or myofascial pain;
  • persons concerned about their overall health and well-being.

Some Conditions Treated with Massage Therapy

  • headaches/migraines
  • post-injury rehabilitation
  • sprains and strains
  • back pain
  • tendonitis/bursitis, neuritis, neuralgia, tenosynovitis, adhesive capsulitis
  • neck and shoulder tension
  • muscle spasm & muscle hypertonicity
  • myofascial trigger point syndrome
  • shortened and hypertonic muscles related to abnormal spinal curvatures, ie., hyperlordosis, hyperkyphosis, scoliosis
  • muscle and nerve lesions
  • arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis
  • whiplash and whiplash associated disorder (WAD)
  • sciatica
  • stroke
  • contusions (post-acute )
  • postural problems
  • pain due to pregnancy, labour & delivery
  • fibromyalgia
  • torticollis
  • degenerative disc disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • MS
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Muscular Dystrophies
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • thoracic outlet syndrome (particularly where musculoskeletal elements are causing the problem)
  • temporomandibular joint dysfunction
  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • stress-related disorders