Medical massage in Broward County
“LET THEIR HANDS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES”
Manual therapy has been used not only throughout history but all over the world. It was designed to help a variety of neuromuscular problems from minor to severe. Manual therapy is specifically designed to use a hands-on approach to assess, diagnose, and resolve conditions that have been prescribed by the physician or a professional manual therapist. These conditions can vary in stages from acute to chronic. Some common ailments that manual therapy aids in are neck pain, lower back pain, recovery from injury or surgery, headaches, TMJ, fibromyalgia, and much more.
How Does Manual Therapy Work?
Acute pain might be caused by many events or circumstances. Over time, unrelieved acute pain can lead to chronic pain despite the fact that the injury may have healed. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or years. Furthermore, chronic pain from an injury can be found in areas other than where the trauma occurred. This happens as your body changes its biomechanics in order to protect and compensate for the injury.
Our therapists have extensive training in correct body biomechanics and understand how important it is to keep the body in balance through manual therapy. This includes stretching and good posture not only during treatment but post-treatment as well. Whether your pain is acute or chronic our therapists are equipped with the proper tools to rectify and alleviate your particular discomfort.
Manual Therapy Modalities in Broward County
Trigger point therapy
Trigger points are areas of pain that refer to other parts of the body.
What to expect: The therapist will use compressions, intuition, and knowledge of the body as well as pressure to identify a trigger point. Upon their findings they will use finger or thumb pressure to press down on the point anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, or until they feel the point release. You can expect some discomfort with this therapy but long-term major pain relief and improved range of motion prior to treatment.
Who to request: Clarissa Pierce, LMT, Andrea Coletti, LMT, Jennifer Reaves, LMT
Neuromuscular therapy
Neuromuscular therapy focuses on specific problems in the body and provides pain relief.
What to expect: Your advanced therapist will evaluate and assess any structural and postural imbalances happening in the body. They’ll do this by observing the way you walk, stand, and sit, as well as by compressions on the body to identify any distortions, trigger points, areas of sensitivity, tightness, etc. You can expect a fair amount of pressure to be applied with the fingers, knuckles, and elbows to relieve and release the pain.
Who to request: Clarissa Pierce, LMT, Andrea Coletti, LMT, Jennifer Reaves, LMT
Myofascial release
Myofascial release is a manual therapy technique that focuses on pain relief that stems from the myofascial tissues.
What to expect: The specialist will locate the myofascial areas that feel stiff and stagnant. This includes knots that hinder your day-to-day. Stretching and pressure are used to release the tension and make your muscles and joints more elastic. In return, this reduces pain and improves flexibility, and range of motion by the end of the treatment.
Who to request: Clarissa Pierce, LMT, Andrea Coletti, LMT, Jennifer Reaves, LMT
Reflexology
Reflexology is a modality that applies different amounts of pressure to areas on the hands and feet that correlate to different areas, organs, and systems in the body.
What to expect: The trained reflexologists will use a hand/foot chart to guide them along with areas of each foot and hand. They’ll recognize areas of congestion and apply an adequate amount of pressure to clear the area of stagnation. This will help with relaxation, stress, anxiety, as well as pain throughout the whole body.
Who to request: Clarissa Pierce, LMT, Jennifer Reaves, LMT
Prenatal therapy
Prenatal Therapy is given during pregnancy, safe, and effectively – after the first trimester – to help the mother get through the aches and pains of a changing body.
What to expect: The therapist, or even doula, will place you in a sideline position or face down, making you as comfortable as possible with pillows and bolsters. Being face down with a belly is very uncomfortable so in ideal cases, a special table will be used with a hole in the belly for you to lie without discomfort. Your trained professional will use light strokes to move blood and release tension. Prenatal therapy can reduce back pain, and joint pain, reduce edema, as well as headaches, and stress and anxiety associated with not only pregnancy but everyday life.
Who to request: Tawana Jones, LMT
Orthopedic therapy
Orthopedic therapy focuses on rehabilitation from injury as well as treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain.
What to expect: The expectations of this therapy are to reduce pain, increase range of motion, and get the body ready to return to homeostasis. Your therapist does this by using a combination of trigger points, myofascial release, stretching, and muscle energy techniques.
Who to request: Clarissa Pierce, LMT, Tawana Jones, LMT, Andrea Coletti, LMT, Jennifer Reaves, LMT
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is therapeutic bodywork that was developed in Japan that utilizes the use of acupressure and unique stretches to open up the channels in the body.
What to expect: Shiatsu is primarily done with the patient keeping their clothes on. The therapist will start by using compressions to recognize areas of stagnation. Finger pressure will follow to move from one point to another on the body in a specific sequence. Not only finger pressure but utilization of the therapist’s elbows, knees, and even feet to give the correct amount of pressure needed. Shiatsu helps the body activate its self-healing properties, and the energy released opens up the mind/body connection
Who to request: Andrea Colleti, LMT, Clarissa Pierce, LMT, Jennifer Reaves, LMT
Deep tissue massage
Deep Tissue Massage is a therapy that specializes in using techniques that treat sprains, sports injuries, long-term stress build-up, musculoskeletal issues, etc.
What to expect: Your manual therapist will use deep and long strokes to relieve areas of lactic acid buildup. This aids in breaking up scar tissue and reducing tension in the muscles and tissues.
Who to request: Clarissa Pierce, LMT, Andrea Coletti, LMT, Tawana Jones, LMT, Jennifer Reaves, LMT
Pair your manual therapy session in our Broward COUNTY offices with these add-ons
Aromatherapy – Scents are used to add the benefit of reducing stress and anxiety, increasing relaxation, decreasing muscle tension, and can even reduce the stuffiness individuals experience while being face down on the table.
Who to request: Any of our manual therapists can add on aromatherapy. Jennifer Reaves, LMT, specifically enjoys incorporating aromatherapy and can customize a treatment based on it.
Cupping – Helps increase blood circulation where the cups are placed and brings blood flow to the area. Cupping activates the lymphatic system and helps to drain the fluid between the muscle and the skin
Who to request: Jennifer Reaves, LMT
All of our manual therapists here at Eastern Acupuncture and Wellness in Plantation and Wilton Manors, FL bring their own unique style of therapy to each session. With every assessment, they will specialize in a treatment protocol for the individual in front of them. Book your appointment today and “let our hands speak for themselves”.
