Massage Therapy
Inova Physical Therapy Centers offer medical massage therapy by licensed therapists with a special interest and experience in treating disease, assisting in recovery from injury, and decreasing pain from chronic conditions.
A variety of massage techniques are available to provide a customized approach to a patient's needs. (Please note: available massage therapy techniques vary by location.)
Meet our medical massage therapists
Massage techniques
Myofascial release
Myofascial release is the application of sustained, gentle pressure and movement into the fascial system to ease pain and discomfort. This therapy is especially effective in relieving cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain and headaches.
Neuromuscular therapy
This comprehensive program of soft-tissue manipulation balances the central nervous system with the musculoskeletal system by locating and releasing spasms. Trigger points are eliminated, decreasing pain and helping to strengthen injured tissues, improving blood flow and restoring proper alignment.
Sports massage
Sports massage enhances athletic performance and recovery and is effective used before or after an athletic event, or to treat an injury. Pre-event massage is stimulating to get the blood moving and muscles warmed up. Post-event massage helps calm the nervous system, flushes toxins and waste out of the body and can reduce recovery time, enabling an athlete to resume training sooner than rest alone would allow. When an athlete sustains an injury, skillful massage therapy can often speed and improve the quality of healing.
Trigger point myotherapy
A noninvasive therapeutic modality that relieves and controls myofascial pain and dysfunction with trigger point compression, massage, passive stretching and corrective exercises.
BRT tapping therapy
BRT tapping therapy is a form of acupressure that helps unlock the body's own healing qualities through a series of low-impact tapping techniques. BRT promotes the flow of vital energy and increases blood circulation to help with healing from many illnesses, aches, strains, chronic pains, and spinal injuries.
Tui na
Tui na (pronounced t-weigh na) is an ancient Chinese system of manual therapeutic hand movements, including pushing, lifting and squeezing techniques, to regulate the circulation of blood and qi (vital energy). Tui na helps facilitate healing and enhances resistance to disease.
Reflexology
Reflexology, sometimes referred to as zone therapy, involves application of pressure to specific areas in the foot, hands and ears that correspond to other parts of the body therapy. Reflexology stimulates the body's organs and relieves congestion, resulting in reduced pain and increased relaxation and circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids. Reflexology is especially useful in stress-related illness and emotional disorders and is convenient when an area of the body is traumatized or diseased to the extent that direct manipulation is not appropriate.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is the application of pressure similar to acupressure that helps unblock the flow of life energy and restores balance in the meridians and organs in order to promote self-healing. Using pressure with the finger, thumb, palm, elbow or knee, the treatment brings about a sense of relaxation while stimulating blood and lymphatic flow. The benefits of this treatment may include pain relief and a strengthening of the body’s resistance to disease and disorder.
Swedish massage
Swedish massage is a vigorous system of five basic strokes – kneading, rolling, vibrational, percussive and tapping movements with the hands – to manipulate the soft tissues of the body to energize and stimulate circulation. Oil or lotion may be applied to reduce friction of the skin. The benefits of Swedish massage are numerous, including generalized relaxation, dissolution of scar tissue adhesions and improved circulation, which may speed healing and reduce swelling from injury.
Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. In the process, muscular tension is released and the body's life force (known as qi or chi) circulates more freely to aid healing. Acupressure can be effective in helping relieve headaches, eye strain, sinus problems, neck pain, backaches, arthritis, muscle aches, tension due to stress, ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, lower backaches, constipation, and indigestion.
Deep tissue massage
Massage to the deep tissues and muscles affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia to help with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation. Deep tissue massage can reduce inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis. It is generally integrated with other massage techniques.
Prenatal and pregnancy massage
Prenatal massage can reduce pregnancy discomforts and enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and fetus. Skilled, appropriate touch may facilitate and shorten labor and ease pain and anxiety. Specialized postpartum techniques balance structure, physiology and emotions of the new mother and may help her to bond with and care for her infant.