Conditions

Massage therapy, although it is often thought of for relaxation purposes, can be a valuable tool used to relieve symptoms associated with a variety of different medical conditions. For example, you may benefit from regular massages if you struggle with acid reflux, arthritis, bad posture, chronic pain, headaches, or Parkinson’s disease.

At Bellesmere Massage Therapy, we have helped many people who live with a variety of debilitating conditions at our massage therapy clinic. We are confident that we will be able to help you when you make a massage appointment with us.

We provide several specialized massage services to treat patients who struggle with a wide variety of different conditions, as well as relaxation massage. These specialized treatments include matrix repatterning, craniosacral therapy, structural integration, visceral therapy, myofascial release, reiki, and concussion management.

We realize that every massage we give or service we provide must account for the unique needs of our patients. When you come to our clinic, we will take the time to get to know you better to ensure we are able to make massage recommendations based on your particular condition and circumstances.

If you would like to know more about the many conditions massage therapy can help with, contact us at Bellesmere Massage Therapy today. Remember, we are committed to your recovery and comfort and will do everything we can to ensure that the time you spend with us is mentally and physically beneficial.

Massage therapy is a very effective tool for breaking this chronic pain cycle.

Chronic Pain: Is it Just Part of Aging?

Contrary to what many believe, our bodies do not just start hurting because we are aging, nor do we have to live with aches and pains just because of our age. Pain is your body’s alarm system telling you that something is wrong.

Chronic pain is often a result of years of occupational and postural strain, resulting in injured tissues. Injured tissues lose flexibility, which leads to restricted mobility and weakness. Restricted mobility puts pressure on your joints and can lead to further damage, such as arthritis and degenerative disc disease, which in turn, puts further strain on muscles. The vicious cycle begins: pain causes restricted mobility; restricted mobility causes pain.

Massage therapy is a very effective tool for breaking this chronic pain cycle. At Bellesmere Massage Therapy clinic our therapeutic treatments can:

• Reduce injured tissues (adhesions / scar tissue)
• Stretch muscles and to help restore strength
• Restore joint function and mobility
• Reduce pressure on joints, preventing or reducing arthritic changes

The less mobile we are, the less we do… the less we do, the less we can do.

A 76-year-old man who drove a bus for 35 years came to our clinic for treatment. His leg muscles had become so tight that he had to rely on his wife to help him out of a chair. Through massage therapy treatments, he was able to stretch out his muscles and restore strength to his legs, which enabled him to get out of a chair on his own. Maintaining mobility maintains independence.

Not all massages are created equal. There is a significant difference between a relaxation spa massage and a therapeutic massage. When looking for a massage therapist to help correct a specific problem, be sure to ask for a registered massage therapist who specializes in deep tissue and therapeutic treatments.

Our registered massage therapists can help you find relief from arthritis.

Arthritis: Pain You Can Live Without!

Arthritis is an all-too-common disease; according to the Arthritis Society, it affects more than 85% of people over seventy. However, not all the pain of arthritis is from joint degeneration, nor do you have to just live with it. As it is possible to have pain without arthritis, it is also possible to have arthritis without pain. Often what we think is arthritic pain is actually muscle or soft tissue pain. Massage therapy can be very effective in relieving such discomfort.

When a joint becomes arthritic, it also affects the surrounding tissues. Muscles that cross the joint will spasm in an effort to act as a natural splint and protect the joint. These muscle spasms are often the true source of what is perceived as arthritic pain. As muscles tighten and the ligaments surrounding the joints thicken, pressure is exerted on the joint. This pressure causes decreased mobility and further increases pain, and this speeds the rate of joint degeneration.

Massage therapy can:

• Reduce damaged tissue
• Increase flexibility
• Restore mobility
• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Improve circulation and tissue health
• Prevent or reduce further joint deterioration

Although massage therapy cannot repair a fused joint, it can, even in extreme cases, reduce soft tissue damage and lessen pain. A 71-year-old man came to us with such severe arthritic damage to his fingers that even the simple task of buttoning a shirt was very difficult. Massage therapy helped to reduce tissue damage and increase mobility of his fingers, allowing him to make a fist. His dexterity improved dramatically; simple tasks became simple again.

Therapeutic massage is very different from relaxing, spa-type massage, as the focus is on correcting injured tissues and making long-term changes. When seeking treatment for arthritis or another medical condition, it is important to ensure that the therapist is registered with the College of Massage Therapy, that they specialize in therapeutic treatments and have experience in treating your type of condition.

While more and more studies show harmful side effects of long-term use of painkillers, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories, massage therapy offers relief without harmful side effects.