Osteopathy & Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic massages are administered by Registered Massage Therapists. The intent is to assess the soft tissue and joints of the body for the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain. Through various types of manipulations and techniques, massage therapists can develop, maintain, rehabilitate, or augment physical function, or relieve pain while improving circulation and the immune system. There are many variations of massage and several different techniques used to treat clients.

In Canada, Osteopathy is a form of integrative manual therapy that view the body through a holistic (whole body) lens. It uses the idea that the body functions as a unit and not as individual parts alone. In other words your body is a complex machine with many parts and systems that interact and affect each other’s functioning in a reciprocal fashion. Problems in any one part of the body can affect other parts and cause a pattern of symptoms that Osteopathic Practitioners understand. Osteopathy seeks to identify the underlying cause of your current complaint, which might be due to the interaction of several systems malfunctioning within your body, both close to the painful area as well as further away.

Pinewood’s therapeutic massage and osteopathy treatments can work in harmony with the other services offered by Pinewood’s practitioners. Therapeutic massage and osteopathy can address a variety of medical issues and dysfunctions including:

Sciatica
Lymphatic disorders
Recurring headaches & migraines
Vertigo & chronic sinusitis
MyoFascial disorders / restrictions
Postural misalignment
Anxiety and PTSD
Chronic stress
Pre and post operation
Menstrual pain
Muscular & skeletal dysfunctions: back, neck, shoulder, elbow, hand, knee, ankle, & foot
Respiratory problems
Digestive problems
Arthritis pain management
Sports injuries
Pelvic dysfunction
Pediatric issues: infants reflux colic, hyperactivity, torticolis, etc.
Pregnancy discomforts
Jaw pain and TMJ

Children and Adolescents can benefit from massage and osteopathy as well. Anxiety, stress, birth traumas, ADHD, dura tension, torticollis, respiratory dysfunctions, ear problems, and growing pains are just some of the dysfunctions that can be helped. Bodywork can also help with self-esteem, body awareness and prevention of future ailments as they grow.

Christianne James, is a Registered Massage Therapist, Osteopathic Practitioner, and Medical Acupuncture Provider works with patients to address medical issues and ailments by creating an individual and personalized treatment plan. She also offers event, workshops, and corporate talks on various health, ergonomics, bodywork, and movement topics.

Below is a list of available techniques Christianne may incorporate into her treatment plan.

Lymphatic Activation & Drainage

Lymphatic Activation is a technique that “wakes up” sluggish lymph nodes and the lymphatic system, helping the immune system to stay at an optimal level of function to fight infections, colds, and flus. Seasonal Activation is a great way to help keep your immune system functioning at an optimal level. Lymphatic drainage can assist in moving areas that have become congested, swollen or puffy. It helps increase the flow of the lymph and aids in immune support. Lymphatic Drainage is excellent for Edema and Post-Operative Rehabilitation.

Cranial Sacral Therapy

Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle technique. It releases tensions and pain in the body through therapeutic touch on the tissues that surround the central nervous system from sacrum to cranium. Cranial-Sacral Therapy (CST) addresses a range of medical issues including pain management and can also be used as a preventative health technique.

Visceral Mobilizations & Motility

Visceral mobilization and motility is the gentle manipulation of the organs either superficially or deeply to provide relief from pain, increase organ movement, improve posture, and balance organ function. By observing a client’s abdominal rhythms, movement, gait, and more, a treatment plan can be created to help clients move more freely by gently adjusting the position, rhythm, and freeing restrictions of the internal organs.

Acute & Chronic Pain Management

Acute and chronic pain can occur after an initial trauma or infection, or it can be caused by ongoing disease or illness. However, some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage. Depending upon its severity, pain can be treated in a number of ways and can develop a personalized treatment plan.

Trigger Point Therapy

TPT is used when there is a muscle knot or hyperirritable spot in the muscle. This spot can cause pain locally, cause the muscle to twitch, and can weaken a muscle. Using a pressure-holding, or ischemic technique, the knot can be released, decreasing pain and increasing motility of the muscle.

Myofascial Release

Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around all joints, tissues, organs and the entire body. This connective tissue can become tight, creating tension and restriction of movement for all structures within the body. Myofascial Release therapy can relax these restrictions, treating muscular tightness, pain, and restore movement within joints and muscles. In addition, restricted fascia around the organs can contribute to many abdominal and pelvic dysfunctions.
Clients seeking treatment might have an injury that causes excessive pressure and pain, tightness of tissues that restrict movement such as temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, headaches, sacral and pelvic restrictions, or tightness from scars from injury or surgery.

Scar Therapy

Scar massage is called cross friction or transverse friction massage. This massage technique helps to remodel the scar. Friction massage is commonly used in the treatment of tendonitis and muscle strains or ligament sprains. Christianne will ensure that proper healing must take place before scar tissue massage can be applied.

Massage for Pregnancy & Pediatrics

Gentle Massage and Osteopathic techniques can provide much needed structural alignment and relief from swollen ankles and muscular tension release for both mom and baby during and post pregnancy.

Visualization Techniques

These techniques are great for anxiety, stress, depression, goal achievement, tackling difficult tasks, self-esteem, body awareness, precision, and clarity. A variety of audio, visual, mindful, energetic, meditative, and respiratory techniques are used.

Treatment of Sport Specific Conditions

Using an in-depth assessment process and a variety of techniques, massage and osteopathy can help aid in a multitude of sports injuries and conditions. Sprains, strains, muscle weakness, nerve impingements, structural and facial compensations, and alignments can all be helped. Of course exercises to stabilize, stretch, and strengthen are a crucial part of any rehabilitation program. Christianne can provide take-home exercises and tips to aid in your rehabilitation can be provided.