What Is Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissue of the body, including muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments. The most common form of therapy, and the one used in our office, is known as Swedish massage.
How Can Massage Help?
On the initial visit, the massage therapist will take a thorough history and assess the patient in order to determine the patient’s needs and an individualized treatment plan will be prepared. The treatment will have a therapeutic effect by adjusting the resting tone of muscles to ease tension throughout the body. This in turn affects posture and produces self-sustaining change. When applied correctly, the movement of blood, the stimulation of nerves and the hands-on pressure to the muscles together cause the body to correct aberrant tension and decrease pain.
Massage therapy is safe and effective if used for stress management, but it is also widely used to obtain relief from many specific physical problems. Commonly, scar tissue from accidents, old injuries and surgeries can leave residual tension and cause contractures which can cause pain and decreased range of motion across joints. These conditions as well as tendinitis and ligament sprains and muscle strains are well suited to massage therapy treatment.
Massage can benefit people of all ages and stages of life, i.e. babies, children, pregnant women, athletes, labourers, the elderly, those in chronic care and those who need palliative care.
How Are Registered Massage Therapisits Trained and Registered?
A Registered Massage Therapist (R.M.T.) in Ontario has completed an extensive training program which includes 2,200 hours of instruction in anatomy, physiology, pathology, remedial exercises and clinical techniques of assessment. The R.M.T. is licensed through examination by the Ontario College of Massage Therapists and is registered under the Regulated Health Professionals Act.
Robert Cory Del Medico has been an R.M.T. since 1997 and has expertise in such varied techniques as Swedish Massage, Tui Na, Shiatsu, Thai and traditional Indian massage. He has also been a licenced acupuncturist since 1999 and has a particular affinity for chronic injury and dysfunction.