Massage & Bodywork Modalities - Alexandra Hamer, Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, Durham & Cary, NC

This is a form of therapeutic massage for treatment of both neuromuscular and mechanical soft-tissue pain and injury. We take a thorough health history and use orthopedic assessment as necessary to evaluate the condition. We then select from a wide range of massage techniques to provide effective treatment by matching the specific effects of the treatment technique to the physiological characteristics of the tissue complaint. We frequently work with physicians, physical therapists and acupuncturists as part of your healthcare team.

This work is primarily for the relief of muscular pain and discomfort. Trigger points are 'knots' in taut bands of muscle that are tender to touch and can cause pain to be referred to other areas of the body. They can cause sensations ranging from a dull ache to numbness, stiffness, tingling or sharp pain, and can often mimic nerve compression symptoms. Headaches are frequently caused by trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles. Trigger point therapy, also known as 'neuromuscular therapy', includes muscle-specific stretches to support the muscle release work and to encourage the tissue to relax and return to its normal resting length.

Sports massage is focused on the muscles. It uses a medium depth: deeper than Swedish 'relaxation' massage and not as deep as Deep Tissue massage. Sports massage helps to keep your muscles in good condition and prevent injuries by improving muscle tone and balancing out the muscles so they work well together. It helps to keep muscles strong (able to contract fully) and flexible (able to elongate fully). It also supports injury recovery and athletic training and it increases your body awareness so you can move more efficiently. Sports massage benefits anyone who uses their muscles for sports, work or recreation - and you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy it!

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a system of gentle, non-invasive techniques used to evaluate and release restrictions in the CranioSacral system and to enhance the body's innate healing abilities. Restrictions in the CranioSacral system can cause pain and dysfunction both structurally (skeletal alignment problems), in the nervous system (stress disorders) and in the viscera (internal organ dysfunction).

CST is especially helpful for stress disorders (insomnia, fatigue, headaches, poor digestion, high blood pressure, anxiety) and often benefits patients suffering from chronic pain symptoms that have not been relieved by allopathic approaches. Often used in conjunction with other therapies, CST can be beneficial to those who have head or neck injuries from car, sports or work accidents or falls.

Myofascial massage is designed to work with the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds and supports your muscles. Where the body has been injured, or where muscles are chronically contracted from tension or posture or the demands of work, the fascia can become thickened, stuck together and less hydrated. This results in reduced circulation and delivery of nutrients to the muscles, and restricted movement. Myofascial massage is slow and can be quite deep, but should not be painful, and it can be deeply relaxing. Less lubrication is used so that instead of sliding on the surface of the skin, we 'hook in' to the tacky layers of fascia and slowly release them. Areas of adhesion in and between the muscles become 'unstuck', allowing greater freedom of movement and range of motion.