MASSAGE THERAPY

• Introduction to our massage therapist, Maria Ivanoa.

• What is massage therapy, and what are the types of massage?

• What does our massage therapist do in treating patients?

• What are side effects and risks of massage therapy?

• What are some other points to consider about massage therapy as complementary medicine?

• What are the health benefits of massage therapy?

• Massage therapy pricing.

Maria Ivanoa, Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is a practice that dates back thousands of years. There are many types of massage therapy; all involve manipulating the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. Our Massage Therapist, Mariana Ivanova, is a Licensed massage therapist who attended European Healing and Massage Therapy School in Skokie IL. Maraina is a member of Associated Body & Massage Professionals (ABMP) which means she follows a strict code of ethics. Mariana holds a certificate from the Skin Care and Spa Institute and is certified in Bio-electrical technology, Reflexology, Lymphatic Drainage, and Myofascial Release techniques. Mariana also attended the prestigious Benjamin Institute of Advanced Studies and holds certificates in Neck Injuries, Shoulder and Elbow Injuries, Wrist, Hand, Low Back and Common Injuries. The Benjamin Institute is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). Mariana also studied at the Chinese Chignon Medicine Academy and is a certified Chignon therapist trained in Minzy Shiatzu massage. In September 2008, Mariana became certified in Applied Vitaflex (the use of essential oils on reflexology points on the body) from The Center for Aromatherapy Research and Education. Mariana also achieved certification in Raindrop technique and Emotional Release with Essential Oils in March 2009.

• A therapist giving a deep tissue massage uses patterns of strokes and deep finger pressure on parts of the body where muscles are tight or knotted, focusing on layers of muscle deep under the skin.
   
• In trigger point massage (also called pressure point massage), the therapist uses a variety of strokes but applies deeper, more focused pressure on myofascial trigger points--"knots" that can form in the muscles, are painful when pressed, and cause symptoms elsewhere in the body as well.
   
• In shiatsu massage, the therapist applies varying, rhythmic pressure from the fingers on parts of the body that are believed to be important for the flow of a vital energy called qi.

Massage therapy (and, in general, the laying on of hands for health purposes) dates back thousands of years. References to massage have been found in ancient writings from many cultures, including those of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Japan, China, Egypt, and the Indian subcontinent.

In the United States, massage therapy first became popular and was promoted for a variety of health purposes starting in the mid-1800s. In the 1930s and 1940s, however, massage fell out of favor, mostly because of scientific and technological advances in medical treatments. Interest in massage revived in the 1970s, especially among athletes.

More recently, a 2002 national survey on Americans' use of CAM (published in 2004) found that 5 percent of the 31,000 participants had used massage therapy in the preceding 12 months, and 9.3 percent had ever used it. According to recent reviews, people use massage for a wide variety of health-related intents: for example, to relieve pain (often from musculoskeletal conditions, but from other conditions as well); rehabilitate sports injuries; reduce stress; increase relaxation; address feelings of anxiety and depression; and aid general wellness.

What Our Massage Therapist Do In Treating Patients

Massage therapy treatments usually last for 30 to 60 minutes; less often, they are as short as 15 minutes or as long as 1.5 to 2 hours. For some conditions (especially chronic ones), therapists often advise a series of appointments. Therapists usually try to provide an environment that is as calm and soothing as possible (for example, by using dim lighting, soft music, and fragrances).

At the first appointment, a massage therapist will discuss your symptoms, medical history, the results you (and your health care provider, if applicable) desire, and possibly other factors such as your work and levels of stress. She will likely perform some evaluations through touch. If she finds nothing that would make a massage inadvisable, she will proceed with the massage. At any time, you can bring up questions or concerns.

During treatment, you will lie on a special padded table or sit on a stool or chair. You might be fully clothed (for example, for a "chair massage") or partially or fully undressed (in which case you will be covered by a sheet or towel; only the parts of your body that the therapist is currently massaging are exposed). Oil or powder helps reduce friction on the skin. The therapist may use other aids, such as ice, heat, fragrances, or machines. He may also provide recommendations for self-care, such as drinking fluids, learning better movement, and developing an awareness of your body.

Side Effects & Risk

Massage therapy appears to have few serious risks if appropriate cautions are followed. A very small number of serious injuries have been reported, and they appear to have occurred mostly because cautions were not followed or a massage was given by a person who was not properly trained.

Our Health care providers recommend that patients not have massage therapy if they have one or more of the following conditions:

• Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs)
   

• A bleeding disorder or taking blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin

• Damaged blood vessels
   

• Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture, or cancer

• A fever
   

• Any of the following in an area that would be massaged:

  • An open or healing wound

  • A tumor

  • Damaged nerves

  • An infection or acute inflammation

  • Inflammation from radiation treatment

If you have one or more of the following conditions, be sure to consult your health care provider before having massage: 

• Pregnancy
   

• Cancer
   

• Fragile skin, as from diabetes or a healing scar
   

• Heart problems
   

• Dermatomyositis, a disease of the connective tissue
   

• A history of physical abuse

Side effects of massage therapy may include:

• Temporary pain or discomfort
   

• Bruising
   

• Swelling
   

• A sensitivity or allergy to massage oils

Other Points To Consider For Massage Therapy As Complementary Medicine

• Massage therapy should not be used to replace your regular medical care or to delay seeing a doctor about a medical problem.
   

• Before you decide about having massage therapy, ask the therapist about:

  • Her training, experience, and any licenses or credentials

  • Any medical conditions you have and whether she has had any specialized training or experience with them

  • The number of treatments that might be needed

  • Cost

  • Insurance coverage, if any
     

• If a massage therapist suggests using other CAM practices (herbs or other supplements, a special diet, etc.), discuss it first with your regular health care provider.
   

• For findings from research studies on massage therapy for various health conditions, see "For More Information." However, the available literature is limited, and more research is needed to make firm conclusions.

How Massage Therapy Might Work

Scientists are studying massage to understand what effects massage therapy has on patients, how it has those effects, and why. Some aspects of this are better understood than others. For example, it is known that:

• When certain forces are applied to the muscles, changes occur in the muscles (although those changes are not clearly understood or agreed upon).
   

• Massage therapy typically enhances relaxation and reduces stress. Stress makes some diseases and conditions worse.

There are many more aspects that are not yet known or well understood scientifically, however. Some of the proposed theories 3 are that massage:

• Might provide stimulation that may help block pain signals sent to the brain (the "gate control theory" of pain reduction).
   

• Might shift the patient's nervous system away from the sympathetic and toward the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system helps mobilize the body for action. When a person is under stress, it produces the fight-or-flight response (the heart rate and breathing rate go up, for example; the blood vessels narrow; and muscles tighten). The parasympathetic nervous system creates what some call the "rest and digest" response (the heart rate and breathing rate slow down, for example; the blood vessels dilate; and activity increases in many parts of the digestive tract).
   

• Might stimulate the release of certain chemicals in the body, such as serotonin or endorphins.
   

• Might cause beneficial mechanical changes in the body--for example, by preventing fibrosis (the formation of scar-like tissue) or increasing the flow of lymph (a fluid that travels through the body's lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight disease).
   

• Might improve sleep, which has a role in pain and healing.

Maria's Fee Schedule

• 1 hr Deep/Soft Tissue Massage- $90.00
            (Chiropractic patient discount- $40.00)
   

• 30 min - $50.00
            (Chiropractic patient discount- $20.00)
   

• Medical Massage (1 hour / 30 Minutes)

  • Neck/Shoulder = $90 / NA

  • Shoulder/Back = $100 / $50

  • Knee/Low Back = $100 / $50

  • Elbow/Wrist = $90 / NA

  • Ankle/Foot = $90 / NA

  • Headaches = $90 / NA

• 1 ½ hr Essential Oil Massage (Rain-Drop Technique)- $200.00
   

• 1 hr Abdominal message- $80.00
   

• 1 hr Auricular (Ear) Dysfunction Massage
            (Tinnius/Pain- $100.00)
   

• 1 hr Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)- $80.00
   

• 1 hr Erectile Dysfunction Massage- $100
   

• 1 hr Full Body Lymphatic Drainage Massage- $100.00
   

• 30 min Partial Body Lymphatic Drainage Massage- $50.00