Other Modalities

In addition to her basic massage training, Deb has taken hundreds of hours of introductory workshops and finds that portions of these modalities incorporate well into either her wellness/relaxation sessions or clinical sessions.

Kinesiology Taping
K-Tape, a stretchy tape applied to the skin, enhances, not restricts, joint movement. According to RockTape, a K-tape provider, the tape is used in a variety of ways: pain reduction, fluid management (reduces lymphedema, swelling, and bruising), as a postural reminder between sessions, and scar tissue treatment. The theory (not proven) is that the tape lifts the skin and creates space between the layers creating less pressure on some nerve endings as well as allowing for more fluid flow. In addition, when the tape is applied with a stretch, the tissue is pulled in a way that can affect scar tissue.

Swedish-based Techniques
Swedish Massage refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles using five basic strokes: Effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration, and percussion. These techniques lend well to a relaxation massage, as most of the strokes are typically long and flowing.

Deep Tissue
Deep tissue work penetrates beyond the superficial musculature and skin. However, deep tissue work is relative, as working very lightly can feel like deep work depending on the client.

NMT can also be considered deep. A deep tissue massage is performed on the full body with no attention made to address postural imbalances. NMT is performed on only a portion of the body in a manner that does address the postural imbalances.

Note: No massage should go beyond "hurts so good" and cause excruciating pain. There is no gain in pain.

Hot and Cold Packs (Hydrotherapy)
Moist hot packs are available in the office. With chronic issues, heat aids in the healing process by warming up the tissues to allow deeper work. While Deb doesn’t have cold packs available, she can explain how best to use both hot and cold hydrotherapy as part of a self-care program.

Cranial-Sacral Therapy (CST)
This energetic bodywork is performed by lightly touching the body to influence what is called the cranio-sacral system. The cranial pulse is the rhythmic pumping of the cerebral spinal fluid as it moves through the body. This technique can bring about a deep state of relaxation to the nervous system. This technique is particularly helpful when the client cannot tolerate other work.

For those of you familiar with CST, Deborah does not perform the somato-emotional release (SER) techniques.

Myofascial Release (MFR)
The fascia is a connective tissue that permeates from skin to bone. It wraps around all the fibers that make up a muscle and surrounds the muscles themselves. The basic technique includes tractioning the tissues with gentle and sustained pressure until the fascia releases.

Scar Tissue Release
Scar tissue is fascia that has laid down fibers in a chaotic fashion. Scar tissue can impede the fabric of the body and keep it from moving properly. It can also cause postural imbalances in other parts of the body. Recent research has shown that addressing scar tissue is a two-step process: Softening the tissue and performing specific movements that realign the tissue.

Sports Massage
Sports massage is typically performed on athletes but has its uses with other populations. It is used to prevent injuries, prepare the body for athletic performance, and recover from workouts and injuries.

Positional Release Techniques
For this technique, the client is placed in a position that brings the muscle ends closer together. This interrupts the neurological firing that is causing the muscle to spasm, thus allowing the muscle to relax.

Bowen Technique
Bowen Technique is very unlike massage. The therapist strokes over specific points to stimulate the body's self-healing mechanisms. Then the client is left to rest for about two minutes to allow the body to integrate the stimulation. This process is repeated on different sets of points throughout the body.

Note: While Deb doesn’t claim to be an expert in the above therapies, she is an expert in St. John NMT and Practical Movement.