What is the difference and why is Axis Different?

Massage therapy involves using different pressures, movements and techniques to manipulate muscles and other soft tissues in the body. With a goal of slowing down your nervous system, massage therapy can be used to release stress and tension, provide relief from symptoms, heal injuries and support wellness.

Manual therapy is a hands-on technique designed to regain movement, activate muscles, and reduce inflammation. To perform manual therapy techniques therapists require significant training in human anatomy and physiology and understanding how manipulating tissues will impact physical function.

Our RMTs provide both massage and manual therapy in their treatments within their scope of practice. Manual therapy can drastically reduce pain and inflammation by targeting affected areas of the body to improve overall muscle function by relieving muscle tension and increasing circulation to the surrounding area. Manual therapy is often used in the treatment of chronic back pain, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, issues with joint mobility, and headaches and migraines.

There are several types of manual therapy that RMT's perform:

Soft tissue Mobilizations: This technique is used on your muscles, ligaments, and fascia to break down adhesions which can restrict movement and optimize muscle function using deep pressure and gentle stretching techniques.

Joint Mobilizations: This technique involves gentle movements that increase the range of motion slowly without aggravating sore or stiff joints. The therapist uses skilled, graded force to glide the joint to improve motion and normalize joint function.

Myofascial Release: This technique involves gentle sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissues to restore fascial elasticity, blood flow, and motion.

Muscle Energy Techniques: This technique is used to help lengthen muscles that have been shortened over time or that do not move well and address pelvic asymmetry.

Manual Traction: A technique in which the therapist uses the hands to exert controlled gentle force to the cervical spine, leg, or back to reduce pain and possible numbness in your extremities.

Strain-Counter-Strain: This technique involves mild stretching of muscles with periods of rest to relax a tight muscle and reduce muscle spasms.

Lymphedema: Treatment of lymphedema involves manual therapy using manual lymphatic drainage to remove excess fluid from an affected area.

Are you dealing with chronic pain and muscle tightness? Book in today to begin managing your pain and restoring function and mobility to your joints and muscles!