What is Massage Therapy?

Massage was once primarily connected to day spas, which offered local massage services for those seeking a little luxurious pampering! While a massage from a professional massage therapist can certainly feel luxurious, massage therapy is now an essential part of integrative medicine. There are many different situations and emotional and physical health conditions where a qualified, professional massage therapist can be a key part of your wellness team. For those seeking local massage therapy, Idaho Falls is home to the distinguished Physical Therapy Department of Family First Medical Center where two very skilled massage therapists are a key part of the health and well-being of their patients. At Family First Medical Center, we understand the many health benefits of therapeutic massage and feel that it is essential to provide high-quality local massage therapy services for our patients and for our community at large.

 

Physical Health Benefits of Massage

There are many physical benefits, which is why therapeutic massage is often prescribed in conjunction with physical therapy and other medical treatment. Massage can be extremely beneficial following joint replacement surgeries or injuries and other post-operative care. However, many people do not realize that massage therapy can also promote healing and improved wellness in many other areas as well including:

● Soft tissue injuries

● Sports injuries

● Nerve pain

● Digestive disorders

● Headaches

● Insomnia

● Scar tissue treatment

● Temporomandibular (commonly referred to as TMJ) disorders

● Joint pain

● Improved immune function

● Lower heart rate

● Fibromyalgia

● Chronic neck or back pain

The health benefits of improved circulation and flexibility, decreased muscle stiffness and soreness, and decreased inflammation and pain are well known in the medical community and are reported almost universally by our clients! It’s no surprise then, that after experiencing an appointment with one of our highly skilled local massage therapists, clients of all ages and physical conditions choose to return for regular massage treatments.

Mental Health Benefits of Massage

Massage therapy promotes the overall well-being of our clients, including emotional and mental health. If you have ever experienced a really good massage, this probably comes as no surprise! Massage clients experience improved relaxation and mood, lower stress levels and decreased anxiety. This makes sense intuitively, but there are also clear biological reasons for these results. You just feel better when tension that has been building up in your muscles is released through massage, but there is much more to it than that.

When we are experiencing stress or anxiety, a hormone called cortisol is released and accumulates. Massage therapy demonstrably reduces cortisol levels. At the same time, massage can also increase oxytocin levels. Oxytocin is the hormone connected to human touch and connectedness. Increased oxytocin decreases the sense of isolation or separateness that is very common in people who are experiencing physical and emotional challenges. Oxytocin levels as well as levels of the “happy hormones” serotonin and dopamine are often increased with massage treatments, significantly impacting feelings of well-being and emotional and mental health.

Insomnia Treatment

Regular visits to a massage therapist can be instrumental in the treatment of insomnia. We have all been there, but insomnia can sometimes be chronic, and it is so much more than an inconvenience! Even in the short term, insomnia has been found to increase the risk of accidents due to slower reaction time, and the development of mental health disorders such as depression and generalized anxiety disorder. In the long term, insomnia is linked to hypertension, strokes, heart attack, diabetes, weakened immune system, and many psychiatric disorders. Therapeutic massage is one of the best non-pharmaceutical treatments for insomnia. Not only can massage decrease pain and increase relaxation, but it also naturally increases the chemicals and hormones that contribute to improved mood and happiness. All of these things can impact the quality and duration of sleep. If insomnia is a familiar struggle for you, please consider taking advantage of massage therapy right here in Idaho Falls, at Family First Medical Center.

Massage Services

Our massage therapists have a wealth of experience and training in a wide range of essential therapeutic massage techniques. Your massage experience will be specifically suited to your specific needs and preferences.

 

  • Focuses on localized knots or spasms in muscle tissue that may be causing pain elsewhere (referred pain)

  • Slow strokes and deep finger pressure used to work on deeper layers of muscle, tendons and connective tissue.

  • Used to treat muscle aches and joint pain that can be exacerbated by pregnancy. Manipulating the soft tissues of the body can help to reduce painful water retention.

  • Focuses on areas of the body affected when a medical condition blocks the lymphatic system, causing swelling and fatigue.

  • Gentle technique focusing on relieving tension in the central nervous system and improving mental/emotional state.

  • Helps to relieve pain by decreasing muscle tension, increasing blood flow and releasing endorphins.

  • Similar to deep tissue massage, but focused on a specific area of the body that needs healing and relief. May use a combination of light and deep techniques or modalities to provide relief and promote healing, and promote optimal athletic performance.

  • A soft tissue approach to address the negative effects induced by a traumatic accident such as a fall or a car accident. This is also an effective technique to be utilized with chronic pain that stems from a chronic condition.

  • Visceral manipulation is a gentle, hands-on manual therapy used to help your internal organs (viscera) glide smoothly within your body according to their natural movement patterns. This is especially important if these small but significant movements are restricted by scar tissue from abdominal surgeries or congestion/inflammation in the connective tissues that surround your abdominal organs. Your massage therapist can use these techniques to treat abdominal pain, constipation, cramps, indigestion, and much more.

 

Sports Therapy Massage

Elite athletic programs have long understood and enjoyed the benefits of therapeutic sports massage, and in more recent years athletes of all ages and competition levels have increasingly taken advantage of these same benefits. Local high school athletes, collegiate athletes, and many weekend warriors have all employed the services of our local massage therapists for their sports therapy needs. Since massage promotes increased blood flow, it is pretty obvious that massage can help promote faster healing with sports injuries. However, there are many other ways that massage can be used to benefit athletes.

 

  • Many studies concur that sports massage helps to reduce muscle soreness and reduces healing time. This includes decreasing the likelihood of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) which, for many athletes, is the bane of the type of high-level physical activity that is required in their sport. There are multiple reasons for the undeniable efficacy of sports massage in this area.

    1. Sports massage therapy employs both light and deep tissue techniques to release tight muscles, soothe aches and pains, and relax connective tissue.

    2. Sports massage helps reduce a buildup of lactic acid in muscles, as well as flushing toxins that tend to build up around the joints. This not only can reduce soreness, but can aid in the prevention of oedema.

    3. Sports massage encourages increased blood flow and improved circulation, which aids in the healing of both superficial or chronic sports-related injury and pain.

  • Sports massages can have a real impact on an athlete's performance and generally fall into three categories.

    1. Pre-event sports massage: focuses on relaxation, flexibility and joint mobility.

    2. Post-event sports massage: can include deep tissue massage and focuses on healing and recovery of specific muscle groups.

    3. Maintenance sports massage: Employed by many athletes. These are regularly scheduled massages (often once a week) ensuring optimal benefits and optimal performance during a sports season and beyond.

    4. Sports massage therapy helps to improve flexibility and increases the efficacy of stretching exercises which are important to improve or maintain appropriate flexibility. Flexibility is crucial in order to reduce the risk of injury while participating in athletic activity.

  • Athletes are prime candidates for heightened stress, performance anxiety, and insomnia. Therapeutic massage can be a key component in the treatment of these conditions.

 

Patient Testimonials

Our Commitment to You

At Family First Medical center, we understand that while many people regularly enjoy the benefits of massage, for some clients, getting a massage may be a new experience. Our massage therapists are committed to doing everything possible to make each client comfortable and are always attentive and responsive to individual needs and preferences. For your physical and mental health, or even just to experience some well-deserved pampering, call for an appointment today!