What is Massage therapy?

Massage therapy treats specific conditions and affects the body as a whole, promoting a general sense of well-being. A variety of techniques and modalities may be used to achieve optimal effects, according to your specific needs and/or goals.

A massage therapist is trained to assess and treat the soft tissues of the human body (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and other connective tissue). A massage therapist will also provide advice and tools such as remedial exercises and stretches to decrease or eliminate the soft tissue problem.

What are the benefits of massage therapy and who can benefit from treatment?

The therapeutic effects of massage benefit persons all ages and both genders. It can provide relief and often recovery from a wide variety of conditions. Massage therapy has also been found to be beneficial as an adjunct to general stress reduction programs. Most benefits are linked to two physiological changes produced by massage therapy: an increase in the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids. These benefits include:

• Increased immune function
• Increased removal of toxins (cellular debris)
• Increased rate of healing (after injury or surgery)
• Increased range of motion (via optimal joint and muscle function)
• Decreased blood pressure (especially stress induced hypertension)
• Decreased levels of cortisol, a stress-inducing hormone.
• Decreased inflammation and/or edema
• Decreased scar tissue/adhesions
• Enhanced overall physical and mental health
  

One of the basic needs of life, touch, is often forgotten in the rush of our everyday lives. The communication of compassionate touch is recognized by health professionals worldwide as an adjunct to pain relief, whether physical or emotional – touch works.

If a person's physical or emotional health is compromised, massage therapy can produce benefits whether the situation is acute (recent) or chronic (long-term/recurring). Many people also use regular massage therapy as a form of body maintenance, receiving massage faithfully to maintain tissue and joint health and prevent stress related illnesses.

How long is a massage therapy session?

An hour is a common length of time for a massage therapy appointment however, depending on the treatment plan chosen, 30, 45 or 90 minute sessions may also be recommended.

How often should I go for massage therapy?

The frequency of your visits will depend on your condition and goals. For example, if you have been injured, it may be recommended you have two to three shorter sessions per week for several weeks and taper off from there as healing progresses. But if you are experiencing stress and tension headaches, it may be recommended that you come once weekly for several weeks and then move to a maintenance or preventative plan with visits every 4 to 8 weeks.

What should I expect on my initial massage treatment?

On your first visit, you will be asked to complete a written medical history form and your therapist will take a detailed account of your condition or injury. This is to ensure that the treatment plan designed for you will be safe and effective. Your health history also allows your therapist to ensure there are no contraindications to certain techniques or treatment in general. Your therapist will assess your problem area, perhaps by checking for restricted or painful movement, palpating for tenderness and carrying out a postural observation and functional orthopedic assessment. This information is used to plan the massage session and ongoing treatment plan. All information is protected under current NS Privacy Laws and will be held in the strictest of confidence. All treatments will be explained to you and will proceed only with your understanding and consent.

Is massage covered under insurance or MSI?

Massage therapy is not covered under the Nova Scotia Health Plan; however, many extended health care plans provide partial or full coverage for massage therapy and related services. Some plans require a physician's referral or other specific criteria for coverage. Check your policy to determine your individual and/or family coverage.

Notes:
Reiki is not yet covered under any insurance plans in NS.

If your insurance is utilized for the year, we cannot bill your insurance under another family member’s name for services you receive. We cannot write receipts for reimbursements unless payment is made, in full. To do either is fraud.

If I have insurance, do I have to pay anything for massage?

Direct billing is provided where permitted. If your plan has full coverage and allows for direct billing, there is no charge to you. If there is a co-payment where you are responsible for a portion of the payment, your are required to make these payments at your treatment session. Some insurance companies require you to pay in full and receive a reimbursement upon submission of proper insurance forms and paid receipts for services received.

Why should my therapist be registered?

Being registered with a provincial association provides a guarantee to the public that the individual doing therapeutic massage treatments has Professional and General Liability insurance coverage and is also regulated by a Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics by the Association. Your therapist must be registered in order for you to be reimbursed by third party health insurance providers.

What should I expect of a Reiki session?

Most Reiki sessions are one hour in length, though at times a longer treatment may be recommended. On arrival, you will be asked to complete a health questionnaire and discuss problem areas with your practitioner. All information will be held in the strictest of confidence. Reiki is done through the clothing, while lying down on a massage table. Heat, crystals or other modalities may be introduced into the session, with your consent. Most people feel a deep sense of relaxation and relief of pain during a session.

It is recommended that you receive 3 sessions, one week apart and then move to a maintenance/preventative plan specific to your needs.

What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)?

Lymph is part of the circulatory system. It acts as a waste filter and plays a role in your body’s immune system as well. After injury or surgery, swelling may build and persist. This is called edema. Using gentle motions in precise areas aids in mobilizing excess fluids in tissues to decrease swelling, pain and bruising. The fluid is directed toward groups of lymph nodes that filter the fluid and eliminate wastes. Common side effects of manual lymphatic drainage are increased urination and thirst. Less common side effects include mild headache and nausea. MLD may be used after strains, sprains, whiplash, and surgery, to decrease breast congestion, to eliminate constipation and in chronic pain cases.

What is Myofascial Release?

This refers to a group of techniques designed to release adhered sections of connective tissue called fascia. Fascia is a continuous sheath that surrounds all tissues of the body. Restriction in one area can therefore cause problems in another, seemingly unrelated area. The treatment aim is to restore postural alignment, range of motion, circulatory flow and to decrease pain.

What is chronic pain and can your services help manage it?

Chronic pain is a condition of pain and pain perception that is long lasting and shows little or slow progress in the reduction of symptoms. It may vary from mild to severe, person-to-person and even day-to-day. Chronic pain syndromes include conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, polymyalgia rheumatica and neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Carpal Tunnel. There are also related conditions which, when experienced long term, may lead to chronic pain: chronic fatigue, environmental illness, depression and anxiety.

Pain may initially arise due to inflammation, tissue injury or a disease process. However, it often spirals into a cycle of pain that perpetuates the symptoms and often leads to new symptoms and/or multiple conditions.

Massage therapy can be an integral part of chronic pain management. It increases circulation to flush toxins out of muscles and decreases fatigue by the application of invigorating techniques and hydrotherapy. Massage also increases the release of the body’s natural mood enhancers and decreases stress hormone levels that can aid in alleviating symptoms of related depression and anxiety.

Your therapist will provide you with exercise and home care tips that decrease stress, fatigue and muscle tension to help restore your quality of independent living.

Reiki and aromatherapy can also provide similar benefits. We encourage you to see what works best for you.

Meditation is also a useful tool in pain control and management.

What is hydrotherapy?

This is the use of water in its various forms to effect a therapeutic change in the tissues of the body. Water may be used as a vapour, hot or cold liquid, or ice. While hydrotherapy has many applications, it may not be appropriate for those with circulation problems, altered sensitivities of the skin and certain rheumatic conditions.

Examples of using water vapour include facial steams for conditions ranging from acne to sinusitis. The client leans over a bucket of boiled water, with a towel over their head to trap the steam for inhalation or skin hydration. Essential oils may be added to the water for specific conditions. Steams help clear sinuses and breathing pathways and remove bacteria from the pores of the skin.

Cold Hydrotherapy or cryotherapy is used to reduce inflammation from injury or overuse. It is most effective in the early (acute) stages after injury (24-72 hours). It may be applied as an ice application, a frozen towel, cold or cool compresses, gel packs, as a bath (i.e. foot bath) or as an ice massage. It is often accompanied by a homecare called RICE – rest, ice, compress the inflamed area, and elevate affected area. Cold applications reduce circulation to an injured area, decrease pain, swelling, bruising and muscle spasm. You will feel various symptoms during a cold application; these are referred to as CBAN – cold, then burning, followed by aching and numbness. All cold treatments should be removed after the area has reached the numbing stage. Most cold applications take 10-15 minutes.

Hot hydrotherapy is used to increase circulation to an area, reduce muscle tension, and to prepare muscles for stretching or activity. It is not appropriate for use in the early stages of healing (24-72 hours) and is primarily used with chronic conditions. It may be applied as hot towels/compresses, a hot water bottle, gel pack or magic bag. In your treatment, your therapist may use a clay-filled pack called a hydrocullator or a heating pad called a thermaphore. A common hot hydrotherapy is a bath with salt additives.

Salt Bath:
1. Fill tub with hot water and add ¼ cups of sea salts
2. Soak in the tub for 20-30 minutes, sipping on cold water to keep hydrated
3. Allow the tub to empty before standing up
4. Rinse off with cool water and rest for at least 20 minutes.
5. You may want to place a cool facecloth over the back of your neck or forehead to avoid becoming too warm.
6. The salt additives draw toxins out of the system to be eliminated.
7. Do not use salts if you are pregnant or have uncontrolled hypertension.

Contrast hydrotherapy is the use of hot and cold in combination. The cold decreases blood flow and the heat increases it so, when used together, the result is removal of wastes. This is referred to as a ‘vascular flush’. Contrast hydrotherapy is used during the sub-acute phase of healing, the stage between acute and chronic. Contrast may be applied as baths, contrast towels/compresses or using heat and ice applications.

Contrast hydrotherapy examples:

Contrast hand or foot bath:
1. Fill one bucket with hot water and the other with cold (ice may be added to water).
2. Place your hand/foot into the hot water for 3 minutes, then in the cold water for one minute.
3. Repeat 3-5 times, ALWAYS ENDING WITH COLD.

Vascular Flush Technique (for arms and legs)
1. Apply cold to the affected area (bath, ice, frozen towel)
2. At the same time, place heat on an area ABOVE the injury
(i.e. ankle injury: cold on ankle, heat on thigh)
3. Leave both cold and heat on for 10 minutes.