Whether targeting a specific complaint or as part of an overall wellness plan, massage therapy can be a powerful tool to address injury, relieve stress and promote overall health. At LaRose Muscular Therapy, our experienced and highly trained massage therapists will guide you to the right massage styles for your specific needs.
Our available massage styles include:
Swedish massage is a gentle type of full-body massage. It can help release muscle knots but is also useful if you want to fully relax during a massage. The therapist employs a series of long gliding strokes, kneading of the muscles, and vibrational taps – this style is what many people visualize when they think of a “traditional” massage.
Swedish massage is ideal for clients who:
Characterized by its firm, calming pressure, Swedish massage improves blood flow, eases muscle tension, and improves flexibility. Applying strokes in the direction of the heart encourages the body to disperse lactic acid and other waste that has built up in the body, making way for a fresh supply of blood and oxygen and promoting muscle health.
The therapist will typically use massage oils to reduce friction and facilitate the long, smooth, deep strokes necessary to relax muscles and enhance blood circulation. Essential oils may also be used, if the client wishes, to tap into the client’s olfactory senses (sense of smell).
Deep tissue massage borrows many techniques from traditional Swedish massage but the massage therapist applies more intense pressure and slower strokes in order to reach deeper layers of muscle. The therapist uses deep, intense strokes to help release tension from the deeper structures of muscles and fascia (a layer of connective tissue which encases and supports your muscles and joints). If the therapist encounters a chronic knot (also referred to as an adhesion), they may recommend some home exercises and lifestyle changes to address the underlying causes and complement your periodic massage sessions.
Deep tissue massage is also beneficial in that it helps to release restrictions in the fascial connective tissue and break up any restrictive scar tissue. Restoring the length and flexibility of the fascia tissue can help relieve chronic tension, increase your range of motion, and improve posture.
Although having a deep connective tissue massage should not cause you any pain, it is often less relaxing and less comfortable than a traditional Swedish massage. Our therapists will ask you to tell them immediately if the stroke pressure is too intense, so that they may adjust their technique accordingly.
Designed for recreational or professional athletes, sports massage is a direct descendant of Swedish massage, and can help heal injuries like muscle sprains and spasms. Many of the techniques of sports massage – such as applying strokes in the direction of the heart to improve circulation – are borrowed from Swedish massage. This technique is just as important for athletes as it is for relaxation – directing circulation in this way encourages the body to disperse lactic acid that has built up in overworked muscles, making way for a fresh supply of blood and oxygen and promoting muscle healing.
As with other massage styles, a sports massage can be done as a full-body massage or the therapist may focus on the parts of the body that need the most attention. Deep pressure may be alternated with soothing strokes depending on your needs.
Trigger point massage addresses areas of muscle tightness – known as trigger points – that can cause pain in other parts of the body. For patients with injuries, chronic pain, or other specific issues, relieving tension in these trigger points can help reduce pain.
Trigger point massage uses broad, flowing strokes that are gentle and relaxing, alternating with stronger, deeper pressure. The massage session may include work on your entire body but the therapist will focus on specific areas of your body that need to be released.
Pregnancy/prenatal massage encompasses specific massage techniques that have been shown to reduce discomfort during pregnancy and to enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and fetus.
Anyone who has been pregnant can sympathize with the mental and physical fatigue associated with pregnancy. Massage can help alleviate the aches and pains associated with pregnancy, such as sciatica, swelling, back and neck pain, and upset stomach. In addition, prenatal massage has been shown to improve circulation, thus reducing discomfort. Finally, by stretching muscles and joints to full range of motion, massage can also improve skin elasticity and body tone.
Using specialized massage techniques during the postpartum period, post-pregnancy massage can help new mothers get back in shape by improving muscle tone and skin elasticity. In addition, post-pregnancy massage can help psychologically, by easing postpartum depression and encouraging new moms to bond with their newborn.
We are leaders in the area of muscular therapy. We help and assist our clients to achieve optimal health, relief, and movement. Our facility is a clinical environment that is relaxed and therapeutic. Our employees strive to be masters in the craft of muscular therapy.
