deep tissue massage, myofascial massage, massage modality

Various massage modalities are used to describe an approach, method or system of massage technique. We will explain some of the more widely used modalities to help you better understand what these terms mean and what you should expect when asking for a specific modality of treatment.

At Massage Therapy St Louis MO, our philosophy and approach is treatment based rather than modality based. Relaxation and Therapeutic massage are used according to your needs. We believe there is no single approach or modality that has all the answers. Each client has different and often multiple issues that require the use of approaches and techniques from more than one modality and we focus on the treatment each client needs, not on fitting a modality to a client.

Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork addresses specific problems such as functional restrictions resulting in pain, headaches and lack of joint mobility resulting from muscle and myofascial (connective tissue) imbalance. Pain and restriction can be a result of imbalance in posture. These issues are often caused by a repetitive strain injury or symptoms left over from a past traumatic injury that resulted in a holding pattern caused by a change in posture or gait. The primary objective is to relieve the pain or restrictions and allow the body to achieve structural balance and normalize muscle function and joint mobility.

Therapeutic Massage can bring relief to repetitive strain injuries common to office work and amateur athletics and can restore mobility and balance in the neck, back, hips, shoulders, arms and feet as well as providing relief for headaches. Post surgical therapeutic massage can speed up your recovery and aid in normalization of movement affected by the surgery.

Relaxation massage is simply massage applied to achieve relaxation. Most often this is considered to be Swedish massage applied with light to moderate pressure. Myofascial massage can also be applied in a relaxing manner and when integrated with Swedish can be even more relaxing than either received alone.

Swedish
Classic Swedish massage consists of 5 strokes that are applied in various ways

Effleurage
Long gliding strokes, usually toward the heart
Petrissage (kneading)
Rhythmic stroke that lifts the muscle and compresses it with the hand
Friction
Linear Friction, Cross Fiber Friction, Circular Friction. A heat producing (rubbing) stroke applied deep or superficial
Vibration
A pulsating or oscillating stroke
Tapotement (percussion)
Rapid rhythmic drumming stroke with various hand formations
Joint Movements
Moving joints through range of motion in abduction, adduction, extension and flexion

Deep Tissue Massage

Requires a Therapist who understands the layers of the body and has the ability to work with tissue in these layers to relax, lengthen and release holding patterns effectively and efficiently. It is properly applied at oblique angles with little or no use of oil or lotion

Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release is a highly interactive stretching technique that requires feedback from the patient's body to determine the direction, force and duration of the stretch and to facilitate maximum relaxation of the tight or restricted tissues. Myofascial Release recognizes that a muscle cannot be isolated from the other structures of the body

The therapist using Myofascial Release works with the patient, not on the patient. The therapist waits for guidance from the patient's body to determine where the restriction is and apply treatment. Myofascial Release helps the patient to achieve the most efficient movement patterns that their body can maintain with the least amount of effort.

When using Myofascial Release techniques, the massage therapist monitors tissue tightness by developing a kinesthetic link with the patient through touch. This link senses the patient's inherent tissue movement, underlying neurophysiologic tissue tone and the more overt muscle tone. The therapist is able to detect subtle restrictions to efficient movement. While treating the patient's current problem with gentle localized stretching, other malalignments that may predispose the patient to future injury are eliminated.

Deep Tissue & Myofascial Release

This combination of two modalities is used by Structural Integration practitioners and Rolfers to remove restrictions and balance the body. When used with good assessment and the knowledge to apply correct techniques to the unbalanced tissue, it is ideal for reliving chronic pain and joint restrictions caused by repetitive strain injury, acute injury, surgery, and postural imbalance.