Massage Therapy

MASSAGE (ANATRIPSIS): The manipulation of muscle and connective tissue to enhance the function of those tissues and promote relaxation and well-being.

Soma Solutions offers multiple types of massage therapy to help you relax and realign your body. Our professional massage therapists will design a custom massage based on your needs. Each massage we offer provides specific benefits such as relieving muscle tension, reducing pain, and aiding in relaxation and stress reduction.

Types of Massage:

Therapeutic Massage: An increasing number of research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins. According to various studies, the American Massage Therapy Association shows that there are many therapeutic benefits of massage including managing the effectiveness of the following conditions:

• Cancer-related fatigue
• Low back pain
• Osteoarthritis of the knee
• Reducing post-operative pain
• Boosting the body's immune system functioning
• Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
• Lowering blood pressure
• Reducing headache frequency
• Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Decreasing pain in cancer patients

Deep Tissue Massage: Deep tissue massage is a technique that focuses on deep muscle tissues. It is used to relieve chronic stress and tension in deep muscle layers. It is done with slower strokes and more pressure across the grain of the muscle. There may be some discomfort during or after the massage, but within a day or two you should feel better than ever. Deep tissue massage can focus on specific areas compared to a full body relaxation massage. Each deep tissue massage will be catered to fit the client and their needs.

Sports Massage: Sports massage may be used before, during, or after an athletic event. The purpose of the massage is to prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Sports massage differs based on the sport and the athlete. Different muscle groups are used in various ways depending on the sport and level of participation. Each sport massage will be catered to the client and their needs.
Additional benefits to sports massage:

• Maintain the body generally in better condition.
• Prevent injuries and loss of mobility.
• Cure and restore mobility to injured muscle tissue.
• Boost performance.
• Extend the overall life of your sporting career

Swedish Massage: Swedish massage is probably the most commonly offered form of massage. It is characterized by smooth gliding strokes along with friction, kneading and occasional deep tissue manipulation if needed. The pressure of the massage can go from light to deep intensity depending on the comfort level and needs of particular areas.

The Swedish massage is the traditional 'relaxation' massage and as such is a good place for people to start if they have never had a massage. The various techniques used in Swedish massage are designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deep muscle tissue as well as bones. Swedish massage increases the oxygen flow in the blood and releases toxins such as lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes from the muscles. In addition, other benefits may include stimulation of circulation, and an increase in muscle tone. The therapist will design your massage based on your particular needs.

What to Expect: When you come to Soma Solutions for massage services you will receive a consultation based on your needs with your therapist. Your therapist will then leave you in your spa room to give you privacy to disrobe to your level of comfort. Some clients will choose to disrobe completely while others may stay partially clothed. You will then lie down under a sheet on the table and the massage therapist will reenter the room when you are ready. You will be covered completely during the massage except for the area of the body that is being actively treated. Your modesty and comfort are very important to us, please let us know if there is anything we can provide to make you more comfortable during your treatment.

During your treatment your therapist will focus on the needs you mentioned during your consultation. This may be a full body massage or focus more closely on certain muscle groups or parts of the body. After your massage is over your therapist will leave the room and you may take a moment to redress and gather your belongings.

References:
Fact Sheet 2009". American Massage Therapy Association. March 23, 2010.
1. Currin, J. Meister, E.A. (2008) A hospital-based intervention using massage to reduce distress among oncology patients. Cancer Nurs. 31(3):214-21.
2. Preyde M. (2003) Effectiveness of massage therapy for subacute low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Soft Tissue Manipulation, 8, 4 – 10.
3. Perlman AI, Sabina A, Williams AL, Njike VY, Katz DL. (2006) Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Arch Intern Med. 166(22):2533-8.
4. Piotrowski, M., Paterson, C., Mitchinson, A., Kim, H. M., Kirsh, M., Hinshaw, D. B. (2003) Massage as Adjuvant Therapy in the Management of Acute Postoperative Pain: A Preliminary Study in Men. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 197(6), 1037- 1046.
5. Zeitlin D, Keller SE, Shiflett SC, Schleifer SJ, Bartlett JA. (2000) Immunological Effects of Massage Therapy During Academic Stress. Psychosomatic Medicine. 62(1):83-87.
6. Field, T., Diego, Miguel, Cullen, Christy, Hartshorn, Kristin, Gruskin, Alan, ernandez-Reif, Maria, Sunshine, William. (2004). Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are lessened following massage. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 8:9-14.
7. Hernandez-Reif M, Field T, Krasnegor J, Theakston H, Hossain Z, Burman I (2000). High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 4, 31 – 38.
8. Quinn C, Chandler C, Moraska A. Massage Therapy & Frequency of Chronicension Headaches. (2002) American Journal of Public Health. 92(10):1657-61
9. Reader M, Young R, Connor JP. (2005) Massage therapy improves the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. J Altern Complement Med. 11(2):311-3. PMID: 15865498.
10. American College of Physicians. (2008) Massage Therapy May Have Immediate Positive Effect On Pain And Mood For Advanced Cancer Patients. Science Daily 16 September.