Fascia is a tough connective tissue enveloping every cell from head to toe like a three-dimensional spider web. It flexibly supports all structures of the body. Injury, trauma, muscle imbalances and poor posture can cause these fascial fibers to tighten, shorten, thicken and adhere, putting inappropriate pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels, bones, organs and [...]

I’m planning to have surgery on my left shoulder and I’m anxious about my recovery impeding my ball season.  Is massage safe?  Can it speed my recovery? Yes, massage can definitely help you!  Most shoulder surgeries are performed arthroscopically which mean that instruments are inserted through small (1 cm) incisions in the skin instead of [...]

Vicky, an executive assistant, used to spend hours on the telephone, cradling the receiver on her shoulder while she took messages.  She wanted to share her experience: “I was getting headaches and generally feeling very stressed, with constant aches in my neck and chronic pain in my shoulders.  A friend suggested massage, though it seemed [...]

Is the “no pain, no gain” therapeutic massage really that therapeutic? Our Central Nervous System has two components: the Sympathetic “Fight & Flight” stress response; and the Parasympathetic “Rest & Digest” healing response.  These systems respond like a toggle switch, meaning that you can either be in a stressed response or a healing response, but [...]

How does massage therapy fit into my son’s pre-competition training schedule? Sport Massage Therapy can be extremely effective at helping athletes recover quickly from rigorous training schedules by draining wastes, reducing stress/tension, and encouraging healthy muscle repairs.  The frequency of a given type of treatment is in direct relation to the type of sport and [...]

What are your thoughts about using Chiropractor treatments along with massage therapy? It is no secret that we have building blocks called bones which support a structure of elastic bands called muscles that give us movement.  Bones and muscles work in tandem so I believe we are remiss if we do not treat them both [...]

My 14-year-old daughter suffers from headaches and has just been diagnosed with scoliosis.  What is it and can you help? Scoliosis is a lateral rotary deviation of the spine which means that there is a left-right spinal shift from the body’s midline including rib rotation & pelvic misalignment resulting in a simple C-curve or complex [...]

My doctor has diagnosed me with tension headaches.  I don’t like taking medication, so I am looking for alternatives. Can massage help me? Tension headaches have muscular origins and are associated with trigger points & other myofascial pain syndromes (Travell, Simons, 1983).  Many sources recommend massage therapy for the treatment of tension headaches (Travell, Simons, [...]

I have numbness & tingling in the 4th & 5th digits of my hand so I think I may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  Can massage help me? Without examining you it is difficult to say for sure, however there is a good chance that massage may help you.  Firstly, exclusive numbness & tingling in the [...]

I’ve been seeing a massage therapist for treatment on a bad shoulder. It seems to be taking a long time to get better.  How long should this take? That is the million dollar question!  I maintain that much of a client’s recovery is determined not only by what happens in my office, but more importantly [...]

I find I benefit greatly from regular massage and would love to go for treatment more often, but have difficulty with the cost.  Are there any rebates through Alberta Health Care (AHC) or other providers? Sadly AHC does not subsidize massage therapy sessions though most Employee Extended Healthcare Benefit Packages do.  It is best to [...]

I was walking through the airport and saw someone getting a massage on a funky looking contraption. What was it and why were they using it? Equipment designed for seated massage can be used instead of a traditional  massage table. What you likely saw was a special massage chair designed with an ergonomic flair to [...]