What Is A “Therapeutic Massage?”
What is a “Therapeutic Massage?” Like most terms in the bodywork genre, “therapeutic massage” is a phrase that attempts to be descriptive, but because everyone uses it differently, it ends up describing very little. Since I use the term in my practice, I thought I would explain what I mean by “therapeutic massage,” and, while I’m at it, explain why our other service options have the names they do. If nothing else, maybe it will pique your curiosity about the kind of massage we give here at Scottsdale Therapeutic & Sports Massage Clinical/Therapeutic Massage
On a broad level, I use the word “therapeutic” to indicate a massage with a purpose. The client has a specific muscular issue, and the purpose of the massage is to address that issue. Appropriate conditions for a therapeutic massage run the gamut from everyday complaints like stress-induced shoulder tension to athletic/overuse complaints like plantar fasciitis. I’ve worked on clients seeking relief from chronic headaches, clients with knee pain caused by IT band dysfunction, clients with nerve impingement caused by chronic muscle tension patterns, and clients with scoliosis struggling to maintain muscle balance along an asymmetric spine. I love to give a therapeutic massage because it is an opportunity to use different skills and bring a different approach to every session.
By contrast, a massage for relaxation, wellness, or circulation is designed to be general in focus. Often (though not always) there’s a routine that addresses the client’s body systematically and symmetrically. These massages tend to fall under the general heading of “Swedish Massage,” but again, there’s no standardization when it comes to massage terminology. I’ve heard people describe a relaxation massage as a—wait for it—”therapeutic massage.”
For this reason, I also throw in the term “clinical massage,” and that’s how I describe therapeutic massage on our booking site: “Therapeutic/Clinical Massage.” A client booking a Therapeutic/Clinical Massage can expect to start the session with a conversation in which we listen, ask questions, and make sure the session is geared toward providing relief of the symptoms the client is there to address. Ever had a therapist ignore the knots you came in complaining about? Yeah, me, too. We try really hard not to be those therapists.
Next up…what is Lomi Lomi/Myofascial Massage?
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