Massage increases circulation. Circulation creates better tissue metabolism, including a delivery of oxygen and nutrients and improves venous return of poorly oxygenated blood.
Myofascial release bodywork on the other hand will improve massage therapy techniques, by removing tissue restrictions that restrict normal tissue metabolism and circulation.
Myofascial Release Techniques are DIFFERENT From Massage in the Following Capacities
There is no repeated compression such as petrissage or tapotement
We are not directly increasing circulation or tissue metabolism
Myofascial release stretches and lengthens contracted tissues
Massage clients in a chair is a little different than providing service on a massage therapy table. A chair allows a practitioner to provide pressure in different directions than normally accessible on a table. The boney landmarks of the client's posterior body also require appropriate navigation when adjusting your hands-on skills for this new seated client position as well.
In this chair massage therapy instructor demonstration, we will provide a visual review of the different landmarks one should avoid while performing chair massage on the posterior body:
What are we trying to achieve with SPORTS MASSAGE? There are many sports massage benefits, but one of the MOST IMPORTANT benefits is an increase in blood circulation.
Research suggests that some sports massage could provide the following benefits[i]:
increase blood flow by increasing the arteriolar pressure
increase muscle compliance
increase range of joint motion
decrease active and passive muscle stiffness
increase muscle temperature from rubbing
induce a relaxation response (physiological mechanisms)
reduce anxiety
improve mood state
enhance performance
reduce injury risk
Ischemic Compression in Sports Massage
Ischemic compression is a proven stationary massage technique, commonly used in CPR during cardiac arrest to manually increase an individual’s blood circulation.
Ischemic compression can be defined as: manual, repetitive, stationary pressing over one area with one compression. The practitioner presses and releases on soft tissue.
The practitioner can then stay in the same place and repeat over and over, or the practitioner can travel to different areas with this same compress and release, ischemic compression technique.
Ischemic compression requires multiple compressions to increase blood circulation. Compressing once is not adequate to increase circulation.
In sports massage, we can use ischemic compression throughout the body over muscular soft tissues. Sports massage ischemic compression aids and increases overall blood circulation.
Sports massage practitioners should be LESS aggressive in their manual techniques in any area of injury, regardless of the athlete who is on the table. Pressing and manipulating soft tissues injuries, including sprains and strains, will usually cause greater damage and additional swelling which will adversely affect athletic performance.
As a sports massage therapist, you can perform any legitimate type of bodywork that helps the athlete and enhances their athletic performance. Some bodywork techniques are more commonly accepted as “sports massage”, but sports work is really about serving the athlete to the best of your licensed capabilities.
[i] Weerapong, P., Hume, P.A. & Kolt, G.S. The Mechanisms of Massage and Effects on Performance, Muscle Recovery and Injury Prevention. Sports Med 35, 235–256 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535030-00004
In this instructor video demonstration, you will view a gentle passive skin moisturizing session with easy successive strokes to create a relaxing and gentle massage that can be use with aromatherapy, geriatric and oncology bodywork service:
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is NOT A MASSAGE. In massage therapy, we primarily work with muscle and other soft tissue structures. In Manual Lymphatic Drainage, we primarily work with FLUID.
While the lymphatic and cardiovascular systems both transport fluid throughout the body, the lymphatic system is thought to be a “less robust” system than the cardiovascular system, in-part, because the lymphatic system does NOT have a PUMP. The cardiovascular system's pump is our human heart and cardiac muscle.
Interstitial Fluid
In manual lymphatic drainage, we are trying to absorb and propel a milky white and often colorless fluid that bathes the tissues and drains through the lymphatic system into the bloodstream. It contains: water, proteins, cells, toxins, fats, waste, bacteria, viruses, etc.[i]
“The only difference between lymph and interstitial fluid is its location. If the milky white fluid is found in the spaces between body tissues, it is called interstitial fluid. If it is found in the lymphatic system, it is called lymph.”[2]
Here is an instructor demonstration of belly pumping, which is thought to promote stagnant lymph to propel superiorly towards the subclavian veins to be "dumped" in the cardiovascular system for appropriate filtering and/or elimination:
[i] Reference.com IAC Publishing Labs Company, found online June 24, 2016,
https://www. reference. com/science/lymph-differ-interstitial-fluid-cbe413fad52593d
[2] Reference.com IAC Publishing Labs Company, found online June 24, 2016, https://www. reference. com/science/lymph-differ-interstitial-fluid-cbe413fad52593d
“…a web of connective tissue that spreads throughout the body and surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel and organ to the cellular level…”
Fascial Fact: There is no such thing as “isolation” of a joint or muscle. Everything is connected - tension on one area will affect other areas. The entire body is connected through fascia.
FASCIA TISSUE TYPES
3 Types of Fascia
Deep Fascia which includes Myofascia
Superficial Fascia
Visceral Fascia (aka “Subserous Fascia”)
The superficial and deep fascia is the fascia that we are trying to affect in our myofascial release bodywork.
Traditional Hawaiian Lomi Massage does not address western diagnosis or disease. Much like Chinese medicine, lomi massage treats the body as one soul or unit.
Lomi Lomi Massage is an Energy Bodywork that uses touch communication. Our goal is simple: it’s to shift our client’s energyvia touch communication.
That goal includes taking any negativity in the body, and using touch communication to change it to positivity.
Here is our CE Institute LLC instructor demonstrating Ancient Temple Style Lomi Lomi strokes, using touch communication to create a positive within the client's body:
A massage stone heater is also known as a stone bath unit. Hot stone massage therapists are known to use turkey roasters, crock pots, kitchen griddles, hot towel cabins, kettles, heating pads and other types of heating devices, in addition to professional stone massage bath units, to heat their stones. For best practices during hot stone massage, all stones must be fully immersed in water within a heating unit prior to use. This is known as the "bath". Most stone bath units that have a built-in temperature gauge within a hot stone bath operating range are preferred.
Heating sources such as a hot towel cabi or kitchen griddle that do not include a total water immersion can create uneven stone surface temperatures. Unevenly heated stones are not reliable or safe to use, especially when working near maximum operating temperatures for hot stone massage.
Stone bath units must also have an adjustable temperature control. Practitioners must continually adjust the bath temperature as needed, especially if cooler stones are returned to the bath, to maintain a proper operating temperature.
Deep Tissue Massage can release soft tissue restrictions, increase circulation, promote body homeostasis, break-down scar tissue, etc. In such bodywork, the amount of pressure applied throughout the session is important. This applied pressure creates an “intensity” feeling for the client. Therapists need a way to gauge the amount of pressure applied for each client, and each client needs a way to provide feedback about how that pressure (or “intensity”) feels to them. This gauge of intensity (or pressure) not only varies from client to client, but can also vary in different areas of one client’s body.
To provide communication about how much pressure should be used between therapist and client, we will use an “Intensity Scale”. This is a verbal numeric scale between 1 to 10:
If the client rates the intensity of the massage as a “1”, this would mean that the client can barely feel the pressure. There is no discomfort. If the client rates the intensity of the massage as a “10”, this would mean that the client cannot tolerate this pressure, it is too much provoking an uncomfortable response beyond measure.
A customary goal in Deep Tissue Massage is to apply enough pressure where the client would reach a “7” on our Intensity Scale. Some clients will wish to work with a lower number or less pressure/less intensity. This is okay. Remember, our work may only be provided with client request/consent. We must never do anything that feels uncomfortable or unwanted by our client.
Some clients will want to work with greater intensity than a “7”. This is not recommended. Potential negative repercussions could occur with work that is too deep: inflammatory response, soreness, sensory overload, etc. If the client demands greater pressure/intensity than a therapist is comfortable applying, then the session should be terminated. Therapists must never do anything that makes them uncomfortable, or could cause harm to their client.
Suggested communication to teach how to use an Intensity Scale is as follows:
In your Massage Session today, I want to apply enough pressure for our work to be therapeutic, but not overwhelming. Throughout the session, I am going to use an Intensity Scale of 1 to 10 to check-in to see how my pressure feels to you. If the pressure is intolerable, then your number would be a 10. If you can barely feel the pressure, your number would be a 1. When I ask you what your number is, please let me know based upon this Intensity Scale what your number feels like to you. Any questions?
“Hedonic” Work. Many clients enjoy work that “hurts good”. This is okay by many (but not all) standards. Pressure and intensity must be individually determined by therapists and clients. Many therapists and clients will achieve a positive common goal; and, some therapists and clients will not be a good fit/match. Either outcome is okay. Just make sure to “Do No Harm”.
The following is a Trigger Point Therapy Definition by the American Family of Physicians[i]
We do not agree with this entire definition, but it's a great starting place to learn what a trigger point is:
Trigger points are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They produce pain locally and in a referred pattern and often accompany chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Acute trauma or repetitive microtrauma may lead to the development of stress on muscle fibers and the formation of trigger points. Patients may have regional, persistent pain resulting in a decreased range of motion in the affected muscles. These include muscles used to maintain body posture, such as those in the neck, shoulders, and pelvic girdle. Trigger points may also manifest as tension headache, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint pain, decreased range of motion in the legs, and low back pain. Palpation of a hypersensitive bundle or nodule of muscle fiber of harder than normal consistency is the physical finding typically associated with a trigger point. Palpation of the trigger point will elicit pain directly over the affected area and/or cause radiation of pain toward a zone of reference and a local twitch response. Various modalities, such as the Spray and Stretch technique, ultrasonography, manipulative therapy and injection, are used to inactivate trigger points. Trigger-point injection has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment modalities to inactivate trigger points and provide prompt relief of symptoms.
Sometimes accessing a trigger point can be a little difficult. When it comes to trigger points mastication, it can be a little more challenging.
[i] lvarez, David J., and Pamela G. Rockwell. “Trigger Points: Diagnosis and Management.” American Family Physician, 15 Feb. 2002, www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p653.html.
