Massage Therapy

By Tim Wall MS/ATC

Massage Therapy

We are looking to grow our Massage Therapy Program, if you are a licensed massage therapist, please apply here.

Research studies have shown that Medical Massage Therapy is beneficial in the treatment of multiple medical conditions.   A Massage Therapist is the name of the professional who performs Medical Massage Therapy. JOI Medical Massage Therapy specifically focuses on a specific diagnosis or sports-related injury. Our Therapists work directly with Physical Therapists and Physicians in coordinating a patient’s care. Watch this VIDEO to learn about Medical Massage Therapy at JOI.

 

Conditions Medical Massage Therapy Can Treat

Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder Syndrome

Massage helps relieve the pain that may occur with Frozen Shoulder Syndrome. It helps by targeting and loosening tight rotator cuff muscles.  These muscles can contribute to “locking” the shoulder joint down and making it a challenge to move. Massage, with physical therapy, is one of the most effective treatments for Frozen Shoulder Syndrome.

Anxiety

Massage is shown to promote relaxation and alleviate pain and anxiety throughout the body.

Arthritis

Massage helps treat Arthritis by increasing blood flow, warming the tissue, and increasing joint mobility.

Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa or fluid-filled sacs.  The bursa act like a surface cushion for comfortable and healthy joint mobility. When this occurs, limited joint mobility can occur due to pain. Medical massage therapy can relieve pain and increase flexibility while the bursa heals.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Massage can effectively help treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  It can reduce inflammation, adhesions and relaxing muscles throughout the wrist joint.

Cervical Strains  or Torticollis or Whiplash

Torticollis and Whiplash affect the hypertonicity and shortening of the anterior and posterior cervical muscles. Using medical massage modalities, you can elongate and relieve pain in the musculature and restore a full range of motion throughout the neck.

Chronic Muscle Pain /Tension

Massage causes a natural relaxation response throughout the body.  Therefore, it can effectively change the overall tension and pain throughout a musculature area.

Headaches (Tension, Migraine, Sinus)

Massage helps treat headaches by increasing relaxation and thereby decreasing blood pressure. Additionally, it increases the output of analgesic or “painkilling” endorphins. It also warms and loosens tight muscles connected to the cervical spine.

Joint Stiffness

Massage Therapy may provide relief to joint pain. As the joints’ muscles relax from different massage techniques, joint stiffness decreases and allows a better range of motion.

Mild Soft Tissue Injuries

Athletes and patients commonly experience mild soft tissue injuries and strains.  A muscular strain is when excessive stretching of the muscle occurs, or it is mildly torn. Medical massage therapists are effective at correcting compensation patterns that ensue due to these mild injuries.  We can help the healing process by relieving pain with massage.  Muscular Spasms are quite the opposite and occur when a muscle contraction occurs and will not release. In these cases, massage therapy is THE most effective treatment for this injury. Medical massage therapy is outcome-based and follows a protocol that our entire PT department follows. This treatment is effective in the relief of spasms and the healing of strains.

Nerve Impingement / Entrapment

Muscle tension can often cause sharp pains that are sudden and uncomfortable. These sharp sensations happen when muscle tension occurs.  It hinders the regular pathway of a nerve, triggering a pain response that is sharp or unexpected. Like treatment for muscle spasms, medical massage utilizes modalities that relax and reset the tense muscle and surrounding tissue to their correct pattern, releasing nerve compression and relieving symptoms.

Plantar Fasciitis

Massage helps treat Plantar Fasciitis by loosening tight calf muscles, often the root cause of Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis occurs when the connective tissue located on the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed.

Postural Distortion / Deviation

Massage can relax and loosen the musculature made sore by bad posture, allowing your body to position itself in its natural and pain-free position.

Range of Motion Deficits / Painful Range of Motion

By working on muscles, tendons, connective tissues, ligaments, and joints, regular massage can improve your flexibility and range of motion, keeping your joints more fluid and less prone to injury.

Repetitive Overuse Injuries

Repetitive overuse injuries occur from simple and repetitive daily tasks. They can affect your muscles in the same way that a sudden injury would cause long-term symptoms. Medical massage can be very effective in assisting in the identification of the soft tissue impairment and helping to correct it within your Orthopedic and Physical Therapist’s Plan of Care.

Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are typically sudden and occur with overexertion or overextension, disrupting the soft tissue. At times, these injuries may not require surgical intervention but still require therapy.  Your Physical Therapist may advise that soft tissue work is necessary for a good outcome.  In these cases, medical massage modalities effectively treat the affected area with focused modalities within your PT’s visit.

Stress-Induced Insomnia

Insomnia is often associated with a lack of serotonin. Medical massage therapy is a natural remedy to increase serotonin levels for sleep-deprived people.

TMJ Disorder

Massage helps treat TMJ Disorder by loosening the “muscles of mastication” (muscles used to chew food, clench teeth, or grind the jaw).  As well as the connected facial muscles or “muscles of expression.” These can become tight and therefore may prohibit proper function and range of motion of the Temporomandibular Joint.

JOI Rehab is always looking for Massage Therapists with a passion for their craft. Do you want to join the team behind the teams? Send your resume to [email protected] today!

Related Links: Massage Therapy for Chronic Pain and Direct Access to JOI Physical Therapy. 

To schedule an appointment for massage therapy, please call 904-858-7045.  JOI offers massage therapy at San Marco, South, Beaches, Fleming Island, and Nassau.