What to Expect During Your First Appointment

After a typical massage session, many people report feeling some level of pain relief. But how long does that relief last?  Ordinary massage therapists only touch the surface of chronic pain patterns, and your relief, although welcomed, is only temporary.

My approach to therapy is a bit different.

Pain relief is still my main goal, but in my experience, I’ve learned that muscle tension (or tightness) is often the result of underlying stability issues in the body. During your first appointment, we’ll spend time properly assessing your body and its movements in order to get to the root of your discomfort. Once we determine the source of your pain, we’ll develop a custom plan that will take you back to feeling your best. 

Assessment 

During your first appointment, we’ll go through several different types of movement assessments in order to determine where the root issue lies. Each assessment is thorough and gives me a full picture of how your body functions. 

Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate your body’s movement patterns. Using specific movements, I’ll be able to detect dysfunctional movement patterns that cause your pain. Dysfunctional patterns occur when the brain forgets which muscles to use during a certain movement. A Selective Functional Movement Assessment allows me to determine a customized treatment plan to get you back to doing what you love without the burden of pain and discomfort. This technique can also be used as a treatment method.

Anatomy In Motion (AIM)

The idea behind this assessment is simple. Discomfort and pain can develop from the base, a.k.a. your feet, even if you don’t experience any pain in your feet. We’ll observe how your body moves from your feet up. That way, I can determine how the way you walk affects the rest of your body. Together, we’ll assess how your feet are positioned, how your toes move (or don’t move), how you shift your weight, and how your feet strike the ground while walking and running (don’t worry, very minimal running is required). AIM can also be considered a treatment as it uses gentle movements that can help reset your body.

Treatment 

Everybody is different. So, each treatment plan that I develop is completely customized to you and your specific pain patterns. For each massage therapy client, my treatment plan includes a combination of manual therapy and custom exercises. I know, massage therapy isn’t supposed to involve a lot of work on your part, but if you’re looking for long-term pain relief, my approach will help you to achieve that goal. 

Active Release Technique® (ART)

This hands-on and non-invasive technique addresses muscles that are overused or injured. During the ART portion of our treatment session, you’ll actively move or extend the affected muscle while I apply pressure to feel how the muscle moves. From there, I’ll be able to determine how to use manual therapy to effectively treat those restricted areas. 

Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT)

Similar to ART, NKT is also a hands-on therapy. It’s a muscle-testing technique that allows me to determine why you’re experiencing pain in a certain area. Sometimes, when a muscle is weak, the surrounding muscles will overcompensate to make up for the weak muscle. This therapy helps to retrain your brain to use the correct muscles during movement which will restore muscular balance and reduce your pain. 

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)

DNS is a treatment technique used to restore proper muscular use and balance. When we’re very young, our brain teaches us how to properly move our bodies. As adults, we tend to compensate and develop muscular dysfunction. Using DNS, I can stimulate movement control centers in your brain to reteach your body how it was meant to move- pain free. This action restores proper movement and muscular balance. DNS focuses on the proper mechanics of the “core” muscles, through breathwork, which include the diaphragm, pelvic floor, and abdominal muscles. 

Anatomy In Motion (AIM)

The idea behind this assessment is simple. Discomfort and pain develop from the base, a.k.a. your feet, even if you don’t experience any pain in your feet. We’ll observe how your body moves from your feet up. That way, I can determine how the way you walk affects the rest of your body. Together, we’ll assess how your feet are positioned, how your toes move (or don’t move), how you shift your weight, and how your feet strike the ground while walking and running (don’t worry, very minimal running is required). 

Virtual appointments 

Obviously, the world is a different place than it was pre-pandemic. If you’re still hesitant to participate in in-person sessions, virtual sessions are always an option. I get it, you’re thinking, “how can a massage appointment be virtual?” But I promise it works! I’m still able to perform a full movement assessment virtually and provide you with tools and exercises to help you feel better. My custom exercises will retrain your motor control and recharge your body from afar. 

Still have questions about your first session? No problem. Feel free to reach out to me anytime, and I’ll be happy to address all of your concerns. Ready to schedule? Click here and let’s get you back to moving pain free.