Pain Relief Therapy in Chester Country, PA
Structural Balancing Therapy for Pain Relief
Structural Balancing Massage is a combination of several massage therapy techniques that address the root causes of chronic pain and muscle tension. Structural Balancing Massage focuses on various parts of your body including muscles, fascia (connective tissue), tendons and joints. Consider structural balancing massage therapy if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Chronic pain
- Hip pain
- Low back pain
- Sciatica
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Knee pain
- Poor posture
- Scoliosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Injury
- Accidents
- Scar tissue
- Tingling or numbness
Chronic pain usually develops over a long period of time due to postural imbalances and overuse of certain muscles. Postural imbalances cause pain by pulling on distal and adjacent muscles and bones, creating abnormal tension on joints and muscles. Chronically tense muscles can also cause pain in nearby organs or tissues - such as eye pain and headaches.
Structural Balancing Massage Therapy is the therapy of choice when your pain is due to accidents or injuries because any type of traumatic impact has a negative effect on the posture. Sufferers of whiplash often experience pain relief and elimination of vertigo or dizziness through Structural Balancing Massage Therapy. People with varying degrees of postural imbalances and scoliosis ranging from mild to severe have benefited from structural balancing massage therapy. Those with fibromyalgia experience relief from trigger points through knowledgeable application of these therapeutic massage techniques. Realigning your posture allows joints and muscles to work more efficiently with less strain, improving blood flow, creating pain free movement, and restoring normal muscle function..
How Does Structural Balancing Massage Therapy Work?
In all postural imbalances, key skeletal muscles shorten while others become overstretched. Every muscle has another muscle that opposes it called an ‘antagonist’. These two muscles work together to keep the body balanced and upright. Short muscles on one side cause elongation in their opposing muscles or antagonists. The elongated muscles are overstretched and then contract to lock against the force of being overstretched. This is called a ‘locked-long’ contraction. The overall result of imbalances between long and short muscles is postural stress and pain.
Any type of muscle contraction causes a decrease in blood circulation and oxygen which can result in pain. But a ‘locked-long’ muscle usually causes more pain than a short muscle. It is a common mistake of massage therapists to treat the more painful 'locked-long' muscles - not understanding the underlying cause of the pain: the shortened muscle. Shoulder muscles are often 'locked long'. One of these muscles, the levator scapula, usually develops a knot that therapists often try to 'dig out'. If you receive therapeutic massage therapy on a long, overstretched muscle, you may experience temporary pain relief because the overstretched muscle received some fresh blood and oxygen. However, the problem will soon return because the muscle imbalance has not been corrected and the short muscle on the opposing side is still pulling the body to overstretch its counterpart. In fact, by receiving too much massage therapy on an overstretched muscle group, you could actually be further stretching the overstretched muscle - making your pain worse!
What is a Structural Balancing Massage Therapy session like?
In a Structural Balancing Massage Therapy session I will perform a thorough postural analysis, noting the relationship between various structures of your body and areas of pain. You will be asked about scars, surgeries, accidents, and injuries that may have contributed to your current posture and pain condition. Then I will determine which combination of the structural balancing massage modalities will be most effective for you based on your history and postural findings.
In a structural massage therapy session, you will lie on the massage table where I may further assess your muscle and joint function and apply myofascial, myoskeletal and trigger point technique to key muscles. During the application of one or more structural balancing massage therapy techniques, key muscle groups that have become chronically short will be lengthened while overstretched, weak muscles are strengthened. The result is effective pain relief that will last for long periods of time. With successive treatments, the underlying cause of the pain can be completely removed.
Self care techniques will also be discussed and we will create a stretching and strengthening plan that fits your lifestyle to help you keep the therapeutic results achieved in your structural balancing massage therapy sessions. By creating balance and symmetry to your structure through appropriate therapeutic massage, proper functioning and ease of movement are restored. This means freedom from pain for you!
What types of Structural Balancing Massage Therapy can I receive?
I have received advanced training and am proficient in three structural massage therapies which can be combined or performed as stand alone healing therapies to address your specific needs.
St. John Neuromuscular Massage Therapy
St. John Neuromuscular Massage Therapy utilizes trigger point therapy and deep tissue neuromuscular massage to correct postural distortion and relieve pain.
Neuromuscular massage therapy is similar to a therapeutic massage and requires the use of a massage lotion. You remain properly draped throughout the session.
- Relieves chronic pain
- Relieves referred pain
- Relieves trigger points (painful knots in tissue)
- Corrects posture
- Restores pain free movement
Myofascial Release Massage Therapy
Myofascial Release Massage Therapy loosens adhered connective tissue (fascia) restoring grace and ease of movement and correcting posture.
Myofascial release uses no massage oil or cream and is done prior to any other therapies.
- Releases scar tissue
- Corrects posture
- Releases adherences
- Stops pain
Myoskeletal Alignment Technique
Myoskeletal Alignment Technique (MAT) is a deep tissue combination of fascial release, joint mobilization, and muscle release massage therapy techniques to restore freedom of movement and freedom from pain.
MAT is a client-participation, active-resisted stretch modality. It mobilizes joints through soft tissue manipulation while you, the client, move the muscles. It can be incorporated into any type of massage therapy session.
A MAT session requires a bathing suit or shorts and sports bra for women as it requires several client position changes, range of motion testing, and muscle movement.
- Restores pain free movement
- Realigns skeletal structure
- Frees the joints
How will I feel afterwards?
After a structural balancing session, people are amazed when they step off the table and notice they stand and walk differently. There is more fluidity and grace in their movement. Pain is reduced and usually subsides completely as body structures are used in a more efficient and balanced way.
Click here for a map and directions to my Downingtown office.
Contact Inner Light Wellness today for fast and effective pain relief!
