About massage therapy

Lael Evans LMP
Licensed Massage Practitioner

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Benefits of massage

Massage therapy can provide many health benefits:

reduce aches and pains in muscles and connective tissues that are related to many kinds of stress including regular physical work, sports or fitness training, pregnancy, overwork or injury, excessive tension, poor posture or ergonomics, emotional overload, or illness
reduce scar tissue adhesions and other tissue restrictions
speed up recovery from injury and illness
enhance your regular fitness workout or your sports routine
help you to move more freely and efficiently
boost your immune system
improve your energy level
help you be in a happier mood
relax your body, calm your mind and help increase mental clarity.

Common conditions that can benefit from massage include:

anxiety
arthritis
back pain
bursitis
carpel tunnel syndrome
chronic fatigue
degenerative disk disease
fibromyalgia
fracture
frozen shoulder
headaches
insomnia
plantar fascitis
sciatica
strain/sprain
thoracic outlet syndrome
stiff neck
tmj dysfunction

The following conditions require a physician's written permission for massage therapy

asthma, severe
Bell's palsy
cancer that is active and/or currently undergoing medical treatment
edema that is accompanied by pain, redness, and heat
epilepsy
heart condition or cardiovascular condition (high blood pressure, pacemaker, angina, fibrillation, thrombosis, phlebitis, collapsed veins)
neuritis or pinched or entrapped nerves
osteoporosis, advanced
psychosis
rheumatism, acute

Absolute contraindications for massage

In some cases, massage is not appropriate. Massage will not be provided if you have any of the following conditions:

infections of any kind including cold or flu
contageous diseases including cold or flu
fever
diseases such as staph, impetigo, shingles, chicken pox, ringworm
under influence of alcohol or recreational drugs

Local contraindications for massage

I will avoid massage in areas where there are cuts, abrasions, bruises, varicose veins, sunburn, inflamation or swelling, warts, boils, athlete's foot, undiagnosed lumps or rashes, or nerve pain.

Selecting the best massage techniques

Some massage techniques are inappropriate in certain situations. For example, techniques that move the circulation (classic Swedish, Russian) are contraindicated if you have heart or vascular impairment or systemic edema. Deep tissue massage may be contraindicated if you are taking a pain medication, or if you have osteoporosis, for example. A very relaxing massage could be unsafe if you have untreated diabetes. Always let me know about your health conditions and medications you are taking, so that I can choose the massage techniques that are the safest and most beneficial.