Shiatsu

“Shiatsu” is the Japanese word for finger pressure; this treatment is done along the Chinese meridian pathways. These pathways fall between major muscle groups and housing the nerve endings. The nerve endings form something of a giant switchboard that feedback to the body’s organs and other systems. Similarly, the body’s organs and systems feedback to these acupoints – problems in the organ system reflexively affect the nerves, and vice versa. Western Medicine recognizes the existence of this phenomenon and refers to it as the “cutaneovisceral reflex”. Western Medicine has not yet discovered the cause of the reflex loop or exactly how it works on a structural level.

Who can benefit?

Shiatsu is a wonderful treatment for times when the body needs rebalancing and is particularly effective for stress, times of transition, and chronic illness conditions. People with spinal misalignments or joint issues may also experience benefit from work along the central line meridians of the spine: this work affects and loosens the system of small vertebral muscles along the spine.

Try a spinal shiatsu treatment before your adjustment of as a great compliment to acupuncture treatments!

Your shiatsu session

Wear loose comfortable clothing to your shiatsu session. Shiatsu sessions at HealthWise are performed on a low massage table. It involves acupoint finger and thumb pressure, and may also involve palm pressure and passive stretching.

Myofascial Release

Connective tissue injuries result in thickening and/or disorganized connective tissue. These injuries can “pull” or “twist” on joints and muscles. Myofascial release techniques help tissue to repair and reorganize for optimal performance.

How do I know if I need this treatment?
(Connective tissue primer and indications of myofascial system dysfunction.)

The connective tissue is a surprising and fascinating system that could command volumes of explanation. For the purposes of explaining myofascial release as a treatment modality, however, the most important aspects to understand are the tendons, reticulum, ligaments, and the fascia that interlaces the muscle system.

Problems in the fascia can result in a “binding” sensation, nerve pain or deadening, and in the angles between muscles and muscles and their attachments not functioning optimally – resulting in a situation of “grinding gears”: this type of issue can manifest as joint pain, increased repetitive stress patterns in the muscles, and “pulled” or “ropy” sensations in the muscles.

This work is particularly appropriate for chronic muscle problems and tendon and ligament issues. Indications that may indicate fascial issues: areas of nerve pain or deadening, areas of poor circulation (coldness and pale skin may be symptoms), joint pain, chronic muscles problems that do not respond as effectively as expected to massage treatments, the body not holding chiropractic adjustments as expected, scar tissue, postural alignment issues. Repetitive stress issues and persistent trigger often involve fascial issues and benefit from myofascial treatment. TMJ, forearm tendon pain, tennis elbow or football knee are all conditions that can show improvement by addressing issues in the fascial system.

Your Myofascial Release session

Your first session will focus on assessment and evaluation of issues using shiatsu techniques, and will also include some focused myofascial treatment. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

Consecutive sessions can be conducted with sheet draping or wearing shorts/tank/halter tops or with full draping as with traditional massage sessions.