Services

Active Healing Centre

Massage Therapy

Pain and Stress Relief
Active Healing Centre registered massage therapy
Overview

Massage therapy is the most frequently used therapy for muscular problems and is especially useful for managing pain and stress. It encompasses a wide variety of techniques, but generally involves hands-on manipulation of muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments and can be used for prevention, rehabilitation, restoration or maintenance.

After treatment, many patients feel relaxed and relief from the aches and pains that have built up from months of stress. An initial period of feeling slower than normal is not uncommon, but it is followed by an energized calm lasting days.

Massage therapy can help with:
  • Stress, by reducing anxiety levels
  • Stiffness, by stretching and kneading muscles and enhancing joint flexibility
  • Delayed muscle soreness, by increasing circulation to remove waste products
  • General health, by improving energy flow
  • Tingling in limbs, by releasing muscle spasms
  • Injuries, by reducing inflammation
  • Posture, by reducing restrictions in the muscles, joints and surrounding fascia
Active Healing Centre physiotherapy
Massage Therapy Techniques at Active Healing Centre:
Insurance coverage

Massage therapy is not covered by OHIP, but many private insurance companies cover treatment from a massage therapist as part of their employee health benefit plan.  Please consult your policy.

Deep Tissue Massage

Reaching the Inner Layers
Overview

One of the more popular forms of massage therapy at Active Healing Centre, deep tissue massage targets the deeper muscles of the body to provide relief from muscle aches and pains.  It is similar to classic Swedish massage, but the massage strokes are slower, the pressure is deeper, and the focus is on loosening and releasing tension from the deeper layers of muscle, including tendons and fascia, that are “knotted” or tight.  Treatment of these areas of pain is coupled with relaxation techniques to enhance the nervous system and induce a state of calmness and relaxation.

Deep tissue massage is recommended for:
  • Generalized muscle tension
  • Lower back tightness
  • Neck stiffness
  • Recovery from injuries
  • Shoulder discomfort
  • Sports injuries
  • Tension headaches

Deep tissue massage can be used for relaxation, rehabilitation and restoration. All the Registered Massage Therapists at Active Healing Centre are highly-trained in providing deep tissue massage, and can quickly isolate and massage the areas of pain and discomfort.

Insurance coverage

Deep tissue massage therapy is not covered by OHIP, but many private insurance companies cover treatment from a massage therapist as part of their employee health benefit plan. Please consult your policy.

Sports Massage

For the Athlete
Overview

Sports massage is an important part of serious athletic training programs.  Specific massage techniques are used before, during and after training to enhance performance and recovery, prevent overuse, and help rehabilitate injuries.

Benefits
  • Increases circulation, waste removal
  • Enhances performance
  • Reduces muscle fatigue, helps flush waste
  • Promotes lymphatic drainage
  • Decreases recovery time
  • Increases flexibility and range of motion
  • Improves muscle tone
  • Reduces tension in joints and ligaments
  • Relieves muscle soreness and inflammation
  • Prevents or enhances recover from injury
  • Retains balance in body’s systems
  • Increases mental alertness
  • Decreases anxiety
Usage

Training: Used regularly during training, it can improve flexibility, lengthen shortened muscles, reduce spasms and address any muscle issues before they impair performance. Helps prevent injury, enhance performance, reduce recovery time and lets your muscles work more efficiently.

Pre-event (15 – 20 minutes): Warms up muscles and tendons through the use of invigorating techniques (rocking, shaking, compressions strokes into the muscle belly in a fast, repetitive motion) in preparation for intensive use. Used immediately prior to starting an event, pre-event work also gives athletes the chance to prepare mentally for maximal performance.

Post-event (15 – 20 minutes): After cooling down, post-event massage techniques (slow, calming, relaxing strokes) can help to relax tight muscles, relieve cramping, reduce recovery time, remove metabolic waste and decrease muscle soreness.

Pre-race: A pre-race massage should be done 5 – 6 days before the race to help increase circulation.

Post-race: The day after a race, walk for a few minutes then jog easily for a kilometre. Gently stretch after your jog and have your massage soon afterwards while the muscles are still warm. This will jump start your recovery.

Remedial exercise: Range of motion exercises for 2 minutes, core strengthening, and athletic taping (for injuries or injury prevention).

Insurance coverage

Sports massage therapy is not covered by OHIP, but many private insurance companies cover treatment from a massage therapist as part of their employee health benefit plan. Please consult your policy.

Stress Relief Massage

Managing Life
Overview

Stress, both positive (eustress) and negative (distress), is a natural part of life, a reaction to the demands on our physical and mental energy. The unhealthy effects of stress can show up all over the body — from the skin to the internal organs — and left unabated, it can depress the immune system, making us susceptible to colds and flu. The happiest people are not those who try to avoid stress (since stress is unavoidable), but those that respond successfully to it.

Signs of stress
  • Exhaustion, fatigue, tired all the time
  • Sleepless nights
  • Chronic headaches, backaches, neck pain
  • Repetitive injuries such as tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Digestive disorders (contributing factors in IBS, diarrhea, cramps, heartburn)
  • Heart disease (high blood pressure)
  • Dental problems (grinding or clenching your teeth)
  • Mental distress (lack of concentration, memory loss, moodiness, anxiety, irritability, anger)
  • Nervousness, depression, dizziness
  • Decreased resistance to colds, infection
  • Poor job performance at work, burnout
Stress Management
  • Examine your lifestyle and make necessary changes
  • Get sufficient rest and sleep
  • Identify the source of stress
  • Practice mental and physical relaxation techniques
  • Follow a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water
  • Reduce caffeine intake
  • Avoid reliance on drugs and alcohol
  • Maintain good posture and get regular exercise

Massage therapy is a simple but effective coping strategy for stress, as it provides immediate relief. A full body treatment, massage therapy treats the symptoms of stress by helping to lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, slow breathing, normalize digestion, relax muscles, and relieve painful trigger points. Massage therapy gives you back control and a sense of well-being.

Insurance coverage

Stress relief massage therapy is not covered by OHIP, but many private insurance companies cover treatment from a massage therapist as part of their employee health benefit plan. Please consult your policy.

Swedish Massage

Mother of All Methods
Overview

Swedish massage therapy is the best-known type of massage and the foundation of many other massage techniques. It uses long gliding strokes, rocking, friction, lifting, kneading, percussion, mobilization, vibration, and lengthening to stretch and loosen tissues and muscles, aid with the range of motion of joints, improve function, and reduce tension.  When the session is finished, the therapist might use gentle exercises to increase flexibility, press on trigger points or apply ice/heat to alleviate any discomfort.

Swedish massage can be used in the acute and chronic stages of treatment and help with a variety of conditions. It is ideal for relaxing tense muscles, alleviating stress and tension, relieving pain and improving sleep.  One hour sessions are recommended to get the full benefit of this type of massage.

Swedish massage is recommended for:
  • Sports injuries
  • Muscle sprain, strain, spasm
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Tendinitis (such as golfer’s or tennis elbow)
  • Arthritis, bursitis
  • Headaches, migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Whiplash
  • Stress and stress-related conditions
Insurance coverage

Swedish massage therapy is not covered by OHIP, but many private insurance companies cover treatment from a massage therapist as part of their employee health benefit plan. Please consult your policy.