Therapeutic Massage Can Relieve Upper Extremity Pain
Have you have a rotator cuff injury? Do you have a problem with shoulder impingement? Maybe you’re coming back from a sports injury like tennis or golfer’s elbow. You just can’t find relief no matter which direction you turn, and quite frankly, it’s getting pretty old!
Did you know that physical and occupational therapy can help people recover from upper extremity injuries? Regardless of the situation, therapeutic massage from one of our physical or occupational therapists may be the pain relief solution you’ve been looking for!
Make an appointment with Wise Physical Therapy in Anchorage, AK today to learn more about our therapeutic massage services and how they may help you with upper extremity pain.
Is therapeutic massage right for me?
Therapeutic massage can help patients with adhesions, scar tissue, edema, and inflammation, as well as those who are stressed out.
It can also help people recuperate from injuries like fibromyalgia and edema. You may suffer heightened degrees of tightness depending on where you store your stress, such as your shoulders or back, necessitating the touch of a trained massage therapist.
Consider pursuing massage therapy if you are looking to gain the following benefits:
- Accelerated healing
- Improved range of motion
- Reduced pain
- Improved mood
- Improved circulation and lymphatic drainage
How does therapeutic massage work?
You may associate the word “massage,” with images of a relaxing day at a spa. Therapeutic massage, however, is a method used in occupational therapy that promotes tissue healing and helps to relax tight muscles that have become painful due to periods of overuse.
Athletes and anyone who needs to relieve tension in their deep musculature will benefit from deep tissue massage. This type of massage relaxes your muscles and connective tissues.
Therapeutic massage comes in a variety of forms. Swedish massage is more gentle and focuses on the superficial tissues, making it great for anyone wishing to unwind and reduce mental and physical tension. This type of massage helps to relax any stiff or tense muscles, allowing for better blood flow and drainage of inflamed areas.
Tender areas in the fascial tissue of the body can be relieved using pressure point massage (which protects connective tissue).
Tissues that are restricted owing to deformities or fascial adhesions are released using the myofascial release technique.
An occupational or hand therapist can analyze your upper extremity pain and determine which of these therapeutic massages is best for you.
What is a typical therapeutic massage like?
You can expect a comprehensive assessment as well as questions about your medical history when you come to our clinic for a therapeutic massage treatment. Also, ensure that you’re dressed comfortably.
We’ll make sure you’re seated or lying down in a comfortable posture if massage therapy is part of your treatment plan (depending on the target treatment area).
Because we value our patients’ dignity and privacy, you can rest assured that you will always be appropriately covered if certain articles of clothing must be relocated to allow our therapists access to the target tissue (whether on the spine or limbs).
Your therapist may use essential oils or specific lotions during your massage. Aromatic essential oils stimulate the sense of smell and increase neurological activation, enhancing the advantages of massage. Aromatherapy, gentle touch, and fluid motions can all be combined to boost the effectiveness of each session.
Our therapists can talk with you about any discomfort you’re having and work with you to encourage overall healing. We want to help you learn more about your body and the pain you’re feeling.
We aren’t just interested in symptom relief; we want to identify and treat the underlying cause (or causes) of your symptoms so that your recovery is more complete and long-lasting!
Request an appointment with Wise Physical Therapy to get started on your recovery!
If you’re suffering from upper extremity pain as a result of an injury or a chronic condition that you’ve been dealing with for a while, know that there are treatment options available to you.
Our Anchorage, AK clinic employs skilled and knowledgeable physical and occupational therapists who know how to locate areas of pain in your body while also teaching you how to manage your discomfort in the future. If you think therapeutic massage might be a good fit for you, please contact Wise Physical Therapy right away to schedule an appointment!
Sources
- Edema – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinichttps://www.mayoclinic.org › edema › syc-20366493
- Lymphatic drainage massage: How-to guide and benefitshttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com › articles