What is Orthopedic Massage?
What comes to your mind when you think of massage? If you imagine an assessment based clinical setting that is uniquely suited for musculoskeletal conditions…you might not need to read this!
If, when you think of massage, you can only imagine a relaxation setting with whale sounds and flutes playing in the background, there is so much more to know about Massage Therapists. Unfortunately, many MTs learn anatomy and physiology in school and then completely forget the names of each muscle and bone - and that is the foundation of our practice.
If you were to go to a surgeon who, when asked, couldn’t remember the names of each organ, would you allow them to operate on you? Probably not. Yet our industry has lost a standard of knowledge and MTs often forget the very structures they work with every day.
Orthopedic Massage is an approach and mindset rather than a set of techniques. The foundation is anatomical knowledge - understanding each structure, how it works, and what happens when things go wrong.
Let’s say you want your car fixed. If your mechanic said they knew the techniques and sequences to replace your engine, but couldn’t describe what the engine does or how it works, would you feel confident they would do the best job? An orthopedic MT studies how the body works and some extra techniques as a bonus.
Your appointment will start with joint assessment to find restrictions in movement, neurological (nervous system) involvement, and other soft tissue dysfunction that could be helped by Manual Therapy. Then, we use years of clinical experience to find innovative techniques to help address that dysfunction.
Our treatments help clients feel better in their bodies and move better through their lives. We are soft tissue experts, and would love to help you with pain.
When should you see an Orthopedic MT?
When you have pain: Outside of emergency situations, Orthopedic MT is best used for repetitive use injuries or surgery recovery.
When you need more mobility/function: Orthopedic massage can help improve mobility and athletic performance.
When you see a chiropractor/PT: Our work is very effective in addition to other wellness practices like Physical Therapy and Chiropractic.