Soft tissue release is a system of neuromuscular retraining based on the concepts of Swedish osteopathy. The method, employed by a specially trained massage therapist, involves compression of a muscle while the patient performs precise stretches in various planes. The effects are fast and permanent reorganization of scar tissue, a return of injured muscle to its proper length, restoration of blood flow, and rapid elimination of pain.

Soft Tissue Release (STR) was developed by British Sports Rehabilitation Therapist, Stuart Taws. Taws had used the technique in his work with Olympic Gold Medalists and world record holders in track and field more than a 10-year period. He then refined the technique in order to broaden its applicability to chronic painful conditions. STR is so successful that 90% of all patients with low back pain, for example - regardless of the cause - can experience complete pain relief in just 3 - 4 weeks.

Benefits of Soft Tissue Release:

• Promotes optimal health and functioning of muscles
• Fast and permanent reorganization of scar tissue
• Reduces tightness that may contribute to pain, spasm, or cramping
• Improves circulation of blood to muscles, restoring the supply of oxygen and other nutrients
• Rapid elimination of pain
• Restores injured muscle to its proper length
• Clears toxins (end products of metabolism) away from cells via the lymph system

Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy is a highly refined approach to correcting damaged muscles and soft tissue throughout the body. This unique system utilizes a cross fiber technique, which is quite different from Swedish massage, in which the strokes flow along the fiber of the muscle. The Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapist concentrates on working across all layers of muscle that have become depleted of their normal blood and lymph flow. The result is a restoration of blood and lymph to the injured or damaged area. Blood carries the oxygen and nutrients the body needs to heal itself; lymph acts as a lubricant to tight or adhered muscles and carries away toxins that can contribute to pain when they accumulate in muscles.

The Pfrimmer Technique was developed by Therese C. Pfrimmer in the 1940s. Pfrimmer was a practicing muscle therapist in Ontario, Canada, when she became paralyzed. Her discovery of this method reversed her paralysis and she dedicated the rest of her life to helping others with severe disabilities and muscle conditions.

Benefits of Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy:

• Provides access to the deeper layers of muscle without causing pain
• Improves blood flow and flow of oxygen and nutrients to all the cells of the body,
• Especially the muscles, and thereby relieves pain
• Enhances the lymph system's ability to remove toxins from the muscles
• Reduces inflammation and congestion-corrects damaged, adherent muscle fibers
• Releases entrapment of nerves and blood vessels, thereby alleviating nerve pain
• Restores muscles and soft tissues after injury or overuse-provides a deep sense of relaxation

Myofascial Massage is a form of bodywork, which affects both the muscle ("myo") and fascia of the body. Fascia is a connective tissue membrane that covers over the muscles and each individual muscle fiber. Fascia is continuous throughout the body from head to toe. It can be likened to the clear membrane covering a raw (skinless) chicken breast. Damage to the fascia as a result of repetitive use, stress, injury, tension, poor posture, etc. can result in the fascia becoming "glued down" onto the underlying muscle. Such a condition can impair blood flow to the muscle. The muscle thus becomes deprived of oxygen resulting in pain. Additionally, nerves that normally penetrate the fascia to stimulate the muscle may become entrapped in the fascia, representing another cause of pain.

The indications for Myofascial Massage include:

• Any condition involving lack of mobility in soft tissue structures
• Chronic pain
• Loss of range of motion
• Distortions in posture or gait

The client is an active participant is sessions where Myofascial Massage is utilized. This participation enhances both the results of the work and the client's sense of empowerment. Fascia can be affected in several ways— pressure, warmth, breathing, and other movements including stretching. At times, the therapist applies pressure and, in doing so, warmth is created. The client is instructed in breathing techniques and other movements are incorporated simultaneously in the process of releasing the "stuck" fascia.

Benefits of Myofascial Massage Therapy:

• Improves posture
• Reduces chronic pain
• Improves respiratory function
• Helps prevent/treat overuse injuries
• Increases range of motion
• Reduces patterns of strain

Specific stretches are taught in the session to help to maintain what is achieved in the session. This is a technique in which maximum effort yields maximum results. The harder the person in charge works during the session, the better the results will be!

Benefits of the Rossiter System:

• Person in charge lies fully clothed on the floor on a mat
• Great for those who want fast pain relief and are willing to work for it
• Ideal for some who do not necessarily like the touch associated with more traditional massage
• Very expedient way to release both fascia and muscle
• Complete pain relief can be achieved for many conditions in 1 session and sometimes in less than one hour

Orthopedic Massage is an advanced method of therapy that facilitates the body’s potential to heal. Painful conditions usually arise from muscles or fascia that are tight or adhered, restricting normal movements and pulling bones out of their anatomical position. Structural imbalances occur as muscles become tight due to poor posture, improper positioning of the body, injuries, and repetitive use of muscles.

In order to address the structural imbalances that can occur in the body and contribute to chronic painful conditions, Orthopedic Massage provides a unique multidisciplinary approach to restore structural balance throughout the body. The method includes therapeutic assessment as well as manipulation and stretches of muscles and soft tissues to reduce or eliminate pain and dysfunction. Included in the technique are myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, scar tissue mobilization, neuromuscular re-education, PNF stretching, and specific stretches taught to the patient to maintain proper structural balance.

Benefits of Orthopedic Massage:

• Ensures pelvic stabilization which corrects many imbalances with profound effects elsewhere in the body.
• Restores balance between tight muscles and those which are overstretched and strained.
• Enhances blood flow to the muscles through a variety of interventions.
• Eliminates trigger points, tight bands, and scar tissue within muscles.
• Treats most painful musculoskeletal conditions by addressing the cause rather than just the symptoms, giving permanent relief.
• Improves flexibility and movement through use of stretches both in the session and at home.

Conditions Treatable With Orthopedic Massage