3Cosas Massage

Types of Massage Therapy offered

Deep Tissue/Myofascial Release
When an individual experiences physical/emotional trauma, scarring, repetitive movements, postural distortions, and stress, the intricate fascial webbing becomes thick, fibrous and restricted, causing excessive joint compression, nerve compression, decreased range of motion, decreased muscle efficiency and chronic pain.

Generally, deep tissue massage will use slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, whether following or going across the grain of muscles, tendons, and fascia. It is called deep tissue, because it also focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue, not necessarily because of the amount of pressure used.

Myofascial release is a gentle mixture of stretches and massage techniques designed to restore balance to the body. Derived from the Latin words “myo” (meaning muscle) and “fascia” (meaning band), myofascial release seeks to free constrictions or blockages in the fibrous bands of connective tissue (or fascia), thereby alleviating problems with connective tissue scarring or injury.

NOTE: Deep Tissue Massage is the most incorrectly performed type of massage. Many massage therapists believe (erroneously) that they must use extreme pressure to reach deep tissues. Extreme pressure is not necessary and is likely result in pain to the client. It also has the potential for causing injury. If the pressure being used by the therapist is causing you severe pain, tell them to use less or stop the massage.

Sports
Sports massage therapy can be categorized into the following four types:
Pre-event Sports Massage – focused massage directly prior to the sport event that concentrates massage efforts on the muscle/muscle groups that will be exerted.
Post-event Sports Massage – typically performed 1-3 hours after the sport event to normalize the body tissue.
Restorative Sports Massage – performed during training to facilitate better training results and to maximize performance.
Rehabilitative Sports Massage – focuses on alleviating pain associated to sports related injuries and returning the body to normal health.

In reality it is not a specific type of massage but a combination of massage therapy and assessment techniques. The Sports Massage Therapist may use several different techniques such as trigger point, stretching, deep tissue, and Swedish in order to reduce soreness, lengthen muscles, restore range of motion, and decrease pain in a manner that “fits” the athlete’s needs in a particular sport. The general purpose of sports massage at 3 Cosas is to prepare the athlete for peak performance, minimize fatigue, relieve swelling, decrease muscle tension, increase flexibility and prevent injury.

Trigger Point Therapy
Also known as Myotherapy or Neuromuscular Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy applies concentrated finger pressure to “trigger points” (painful irritated areas in muscles) to break cycles of spasm and pain.

Swedish
Swedish massage is bodywork that will promote general relaxation, improve blood circulation, improve range of motion, and provide relief from muscle tension. It is effective for most ailments, because massaging the skin begins a chain reaction that produces a positive effect on all layers and systems of the body.

Hot Stone Massage
This treatment combines Swedish massage techniques with heated smooth river stones. The penetrating, conductive quality of the stones facilitates a deeper level of relaxation providing a nurturing effect and feeling of well-being. The therapist will massage with some stones and lay others on your body at particular points.

Prenatal/Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage has been found to reduce stress, decrease swelling in the arms and legs, and relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints. It’s a popular complementary therapy during pregnancy for back pain, when choices for pain relief, such as medication, are often limited.

Women with the following conditions should speak with a health care provider prior to receiving a massage:

High risk pregnancy
Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH)
Preeclampsia
Previous pre-term labor
Experiencing severe swelling, high blood pressure, or sudden, severe headaches
Recent birth

Infant Massage

Cecilia is a Trainer of Trainers for Bonding and Relaxation Techniques (BART), meaning that she works with parents to teach them how to massage their infants and children. In addition to promoting bonding between child and caregiver, infant massage can also help to improve relaxation, sleep patterns, respiratory and gastro-intestinal functioning, sensory integration and behavioral organization.

Infant massage is generally taught in the infants home to their caregivers. Please contact 3Cosas for more information and pricing.

Massage should not be considered a substitute for medical examination, diagnosis, or treatment.