REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY

Massage Therapy

Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia are trained in the assessment and diagnosis of soft tissue and joints of the body, and the treatment and prevention of injury, pain and physical disorders. We have 6 experienced Registered Massage Therapists at our Victoria Massage clinic offering daytime and evening appointments. It is important to ensure that your Massage Therapist is registered, as only Registered Massage Therapists are regulated by the College of Massage Therapists of BC and have a sufficient educational and clinical background to provide you with the best available treatment. Insurance health care plans wil only cover Massage Therapy when performed by a Registered Massage Therapist. RMTs are healthcare professionals that are dedicated to treating your symptoms of pain and dysfunction, including the underlying causes. Massage Therapy involves many different manual treatment techniques which manipulate the soft tissues and joints of the body.

It is widely understood that Massage Therapy decreases stress and helps control pain. Perhaps less known is the effectiveness of Massage Therapy in treating deeper structures of the body such as ligaments, bones and joints, fascia, blood vessels, organs and other soft tissues of the body. Massage Therapy can provide relief for many common medical conditions such as migraine headaches, tendonitis, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft tissue sprains and strains. A Therapeutic Massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well being. Massage Therapy is designed to improve blood flow and the movement of  lymph throughout the body, stretch and loosen muscles, facilitate the removal of metabolic waste from exercise or inactivity and increase the flow of oxygen to the cells and tissue. Massage Therapy can also stimulate the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural pain killers.

A common misconception is that Massage Therapists provide only “hands on” therapy. Your Registered Massage Therapist is also well trained in rehabilitative exercises such as hydrotherapy, stretching, strengthening, posture and  exercise prescription. Your RMT is committed to providing the very best in one-on-one patient care.

A significant rise in medical referrals for Massage Therapy  in Victoria, BC can be attributed to higher educational standards, extensive research studies proving the efficacy of Massage Therapy, and an overall increase in public interest in non-surgical and drug-free treatment options. The most current research suggests that there is a direct link between our physical well-being and our mental or emotional state, which can be positively affected by Massage Therapy. Research also supports the use of Massage Therapy as an effective approach in injury management and rehabilitation, as well as part of a preventive care program.

Many people begin life with optimal posture and function which enables them to move effectively and efficiently. However, due to the years and years of exposure to our sedentary lifestyles, injuries, and improper movement patterns, our optimal posture has been lost. Do you ever wonder why you have more Chronic Pain as you age? Treatment by a qualified professional can reverses this breakdown by changing your alignment. You will gain rapid decreases in pain and eventually elimination. Along with the treatment, you also get an easy home-self care program for you to follow to help develop an active Pain-Free life.

Is Massage Therapy For You?

Our clients include professional athletes, collegiate athletes, amateur athletes, corporate business professionals, medical professionals, legal professionals, fire service, police service, nurses, teachers, retirees, homemakers, martial artist, dancers, actors, yoga practitioners,acrobats and manual trades people.

 SOME OF THE COMMON TYPES OF PAINS TREATED USING MASSAGE THERAPY:

Chronic pain, back pain (herniations, bulging discs), sciatica, scoliosis, neck pain, tension headaches, migraines, joint pain, arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, TMJ, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Fibromyalgia, Rotator Cuff Syndrome, shoulder pain, knee pain and hip pain.

Massage Therapy Education and Training

British Columbia’s Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) are among the most educated and highly trained professionals in the world. To become an RMT in B.C, students must complete at least 3,000 hours of training at an accredited Massage Therapy College. This can be compared to a university bachelor degree which typically averages 1,500 hours over four years. Victoria is lucky to have an accredited Massage Therapy School known as the West Coast College of Massage Therapy.

Standard educational requirements include comprehensive studies in medical health sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology and neuroanatomy. Other studies include clinical sciences such as manual skills, orthopedics, remedial exercise, hydrotherapy and patient education. The management of chronic diseases, injuries and the effects of long-term stress are also studied extensively. All of the Registered Massage Therapists at Shelbourne Physiotherapy have completed their 3000 hour training plus taken numerous post graduate courses and seminars.

Massage Therapy – A Regulated Health Care Profession

CMTBC

Massage therapy in BC has been a regulated health care profession since 1946 and is legislated by the government under the B.C. Health Profession Act. In 2001, the Health Professions Council (HPC) accepted a revised scope of practice definition proposed by the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC), the professions regulatory body. The proposed definition reads;

The practice of Massage Therapy is the assessment of soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders of the soft tissues and joints by manual and physical methods to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function to relieve pain and promote health.

British Columbians can be sure that they are receiving the highest quality of care available because RMTs in BC are governed by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC). The CMTBC is the Massage Therapy profession’s equivalent to the College of Physicians and Surgeons and is the regulatory body for all RMTs in BC. The CMTBC ensures that the public receives safe and ethical care by establishing and enforcing standards of education, qualifications and the quality of practice for all RMTs.

Conditions Treated

In Victoria, British Columbia, over 75 percent of medical physicians regularly refer their patients to a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) – and they make these referrals because massage therapy is both accessible and effective in the treatment of their patients’ conditions. Today, RMTs use a blend of modern science and ancient philosophies, utilizing specific techniques and modalities to treat many conditions that may include, but are not limited to:

Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release Therapy

Myofascial Release is a type of soft tissue massage which incorporates stretching and massage of the connective tissues, or fascia.

Myofascial release incorporates manual massage techniques to stretch the fascia and release bonds between fascia, muscles and bones. It is a direct or indirect manipulation of the body’s tissues that allows the connective tissue fibres of fascia to re-organize themselves in a more flexible, functional fashion. The goal of myofascial release is to release fascial restrictions and restore tissue health, often resulting in increased range of motion and the elimination of pain. This is typically performed with no lotion or oil. The techniques may be static or with movement.

Fascia is an uninterrupted 3 dimensional web of tissue that extends from head to toe, front to back. Fascia is located between the skin and the underlying muscles and bones and connects the muscles, organs and skeletal structures in our body. Fascia is a highly adaptable tissue due to its elastic properties.

Myofascial release usually begins with a gentle massage which is designed to warm and loosen muscles. As the work progresses the therapist identifies areas of tension which require further attention, and will return to those areas to stretch and work the fascia. Sometimes myofascial release can be quite intense, especially in the case of muscles which are holding a great deal of tension and stress. After the session, some clients experience slight stiffness and soreness, which will usually vanish over the next few days, leaving behind a sense of well-being.

Regular myofascial release can improve posture, ease areas of muscle soreness, and improve flexibility. The release of myofascial adhesions through proper massage techniques is often the starting point for effective long term pain relief.

Sports Massage

Sports Massage Therapy

Sports Massage is a special form of massage and is typically used before, during, and after athletic events. It differs from conventional Massage Therapy in both the techniques used and the goals of treatment. The primary goals of sports massage therapy are to rehabilitate current injuries and prevent new injuries from happening which will enhance athletic performance.

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. Treatment often involves identifying  and treating soft tissue and joint restrictions, areas of hypertonus (tight muscles or muscle spasms), neuromuscular firing problems as well as circulation and lymphatic drainage issues. Having a sports massage before an event can help accelerate blood flow and warm up the muscles. A sports massage after an event can help the body get rid of toxins and waste products, thereby reducing recovery time and allowing an athlete to resume training much sooner.

Sports Massage helps maintain the body in generally better condition. Your Massage Therapist will give you specific techniques and instructions in therapeutic exercises that will help enhance your athletic performance and prevent overuse problems. Your RMT will also focus on the biomechanics of your sport and how they affect the body in order to prevent future sports related injuries.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

Deep Tissue Massage is an advanced form of massage that can really benefit chronic pain sufferers. Deep Tissue Massage is used to release chronic muscular tension using slow strokes, direct compression, trigger point techniques or friction on a focused problem area. Often the movements are directed across the grain of the muscles (cross-fibre) using the fingers, thumbs, or elbows. This is applied with greater pressure and at deeper layers of the muscle than Swedish massage, hence the name Deep Tissue Massage. These techniques reach and release the sub layer of musculature and fascia.Deep Tissue Massage helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation. It helps reduce inflammation related pain caused by arthritis and tendonitis.

This technique is often used for athletes. However, it is not just sports people who can reap the benefits of this advanced massage style. If you work in an office, sitting at a desk day after day, or if your work or lifestyle involves you doing many repetitive movements (causing RSI or repetitive strain injuries), then you may also suffer deep tissue injuries.

Massage therapy is also remarkably effective when used as part of a preventive care program. Some examples of general wellness care include pre or post-natal care (pregnancy), infant massage, stress management, sports training, injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage is a system of long strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, percussion, vibration and shaking motions that apply pressure between muscles and bones, rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. Swedish Massage feels good, is relaxing and invigorating.

The main purpose of Swedish Massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Some other benefits include shortening recovery time from muscular strain, increased circulation without increased heart load, stretching of ligaments and tendons, skin stimulation and soothing of the nervous system. It reduces stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested as part of a regular program for stress management.

The sequence of techniques usually used in a session of Swedish Massage are:

• Effleurage: gliding strokes with the palms, thumbs and/or fingertips.
• Petrissage: kneading movements with the hands, thumbs and/or fingertips.
• Friction: circular pressures with the palms of hands, thumbs and/or fingertips.
• Vibration: oscillatory movements that shake or vibrate the body.
• Percussion: brisk hacking or tapping.
• Passive and Active Movements: bending and stretching.

Reflexology