Body by Massage

Rehabilitative techniques are used when soft tissues of the body are causing pain and/or dysfunction. The focus of the session is to address the soft tissue pain and dysfunction. The client often feels more relaxed after the therapy due to elimination or diminishment of pain. Before the hands-on part of a rehabilitative session begins, a careful assessment of soft-tissue problems is needed.

Discussion between the client and therapist will help identify work needed. This part of the session frequently takes longer than the assessment phase of a relaxation session. Rehabilitative massage also differs from relaxation massage in several other ways.

One important difference is the amount of verbal exchange between therapist and client. During relaxation sessions there may be little or no verbal exchange between therapist and client or verbal exchange may take the form of chatting. During a rehabilitative session, on the other hand, verbal exchange is essential to assist the therapist in providing the most beneficial treatment. This verbal exchange may be information relayed from client to therapist about changes in tissue discomfort. Good communication is also needed during change of client position that is often needed to address a particular problem. The therapist may also request the client to use the muscle being treated in a very specific way.

Rehabilitative massage techniques are not painful to receive. A trained therapist will monitor the reactions of the client and modify techniques accordingly. The therapy does not have to hurt to help. Treatment manual therapies have precise protocols applied in specific ways to address particular dysfunction. They are not relaxation techniques applied with more pressure.