Massage styles by Utopian Hands
Post Operative Massage
This is massage designed for massage work after surgery. It must be OK’d by your Doctor. Once your Dr. OK’s it you can start general massage roughly in the area that had the surgery at 6 weeks (there is no direct contact with surgical area at this point EX: if you have a knee replacement I can start work in your hip and ankle at week 6) then as your Dr OK’s it we can start working directly in the area between week 12-20 depending on how quickly you are healing. This is a must have after surgery to help minimize the amount of scar tissue you develop post operatively.
Swedish Massage
The most known style of massage.
It involves the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration and may provide relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. One of the purposes of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and to help with muscle balance.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, decrease muscle reflex activity, inhibit motor-neuron excitability, promote relaxation and well-being. Similar to Swedish massage just goes to a deeper level than Swedish typically does.
Myofascial Release
The direct myofascial release (or deep tissue work) method engages the myofascial tissue “restrictive barrier” (tension). The tissue is loaded with a constant force until release occurs. Practitioners use knuckles, elbows, or other tools to slowly stretch the restricted fascia by applying slow consistent pressure. Direct myofascial release is an attempt to bring about changes in the myofascial structures by stretching or elongation of fascia, or mobilizing tissues that are adhered onto themselves or surrounding tissues. The practitioner moves slowly through the layers of the fascia until the deep tissues are reached and either relief from pain or mobility is achieved.
Myokinesthetics
Is a fully clothed, fairly short (30-50 minutes) very unique style of bodywork that is only looking at pain which is coming from nerve pain and presenting itself in the muscles of the body.
It does not work on the muscles in the traditional method as we are not focused on the muscles or the fascia. It is focused on nerves. It focuses on which nerve root is sending out pain signals into and along nerve pathways. It does this by getting all the muscles along the issue nerve root to “fire” one at a time sending a signal to the brain.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a therapeutic method of relieving pain by stimulating predefined pressure points on the feet and hands. This controlled pressure can help to relieve the source of the discomfort. In the absence of any particular malady or abnormality, reflexology may be as effective for promoting good health and for preventing illness as it may be for relieving symptoms of stress, injury, and illness. We only offer foot reflexology here at Utopian Hands Massage Therapy.
Pregnancy Massage
A style of swedish massage that is specifically tailored to the needs of the pregnant woman. Pregnancy is hard on our woman’s bodies and this helps for a short time decrease the pain we have in our backs and legs due to the small wonder growing inside us.
Hot Stone Massage
The style of hot stone massage offered here at Utopian Hands Massage Therapy not only has stones that are placed at specific locations on the body they are also used during and for the actual massage as well. There is not much if any hands on work during this treatment, but is all hot stones being used to help facilitate the “melting” of fascia and muscle tissue that is glued onto itself.