Targeted Therapeutic Massage blends advanced massage techniques that address specific issues within the body. Our skilled therapists go through additional training in order to provide this service. They use a combination of techniques to target chronic pain and chronic illness. We can apply these techniques to help people manage chronic pain syndromes, pain flare-ups, sports injuries, repetitive motion injury– really any musculoskeletal pain that needs attention. These are often very specific protocols that focus on one or a few problem areas and not the whole body.
For people who have a complex medical history or chronic illness, we partner with you to help manage your symptoms. Although massage will not cure chronic illness, it can help ease many common symptoms such as pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression, stiffness, fatigue, etc… Our team receives training on a fair number of conditions and is willing to research things that are new to us. In most cases, massage will be only one part of a broader management strategy– we are happy to collaborate/share notes with other members of your care team.
We combine skills and years of experience to help you with the following:
Each therapist at Nimbus Massage has a unique set of skills, and they all have a passion for career development and learning. In most cases, the therapist will blend multiple techniques into your session based on your intake. Some common techniques that our therapists use include:
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT). This in itself could be called Targeted Therapeutic Massage. This technique involves working thoroughly through a muscle or muscle group to pinpoint and relieve tight/tender spots. It is typically applied with moderate pressure, but that can be increased or decreased based on client needs.
Trigger Point Therapy. Firm pressure applied to irritable spots or “knots” in the muscles to relieve them. Similar to Neuromuscular Therapy but a Trigger Point is a specific kind of knot that has a pain pattern that refers to another area of the body.
Myofascial Release. Slow sustained pressure applied to the fascia coaxes the tissue into relaxing. Fascia wraps all around your muscles and other tissues and can get tight just like a muscle.
Swedish Massage. Swedish Massage comprises gliding, kneading, and tapping in a rhythmic fashion to promote relaxation.
Stretching. Passive, assisted, and resisted stretching can all enhance a massage session and help unlock tension.
Cupping. We use massage cupping (manually applied silicone cups with no vacuum) when needed to help relax stubborn tension. Instead of pushing on the tissue, it brings relief by lifting the tissue and creating space.
Sports Massage. Sports Massage may incorporate any of the above techniques and some additional ones such as rocking, shaking, and pulsing. As an athlete, Targeted Therapeutic Massage would best be used for recovery or to help deal with a problem area, injury, or overtraining.
Deep Tissue Massage. All of the above techniques, and more, can be called Deep Tissue. This term refers to any massage that targets deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue instead of just gliding over the surface of the body.
Invest in yourself. Therapeutic Massage can enhance your physical and emotional health, improving your overall quality of life. Book a single session and see how the massage works for you! We offer phone consultations prior to the massage for free. You may also check the FAQs for more information.
Our Therapeutic Massage sessions cater to a wide range of needs, offering an array of benefits that extend beyond pain relief. Here are some of the key benefits you can expect:
Chronic Pain: Overly aggressive treatment can make chronic pain issues worse. A targeted, informed approach incorporating your feedback can (over time) lead to less pain, less fatigue, better understanding of your limits, and a better tolerance for activity.
Chronic Illness: Many chronic illnesses carry with them pain, anxiety, tension, and other symptoms that massage can help ease. We partner with our clients to learn about their unique case and apply our work as needed to help.
Recent Onset Pain: Sometimes even more recent pain needs a targeted approach to work the problem area and other contributing areas without spending valuable session time on non-target areas.
Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma: Therapeutic Massage may help mitigate the effects of anxiety, depression and past trauma, offering both physical and mental comfort. Studies show a strong correlation between chronic pain and these mental health challenges.
Athletic Training: Relieve tight, aching muscles after a strenuous workout or competition and expedite your return to training.
Prevention & Maintenance: Regular sessions can help you stay on top of or ahead of your issues. Many people start off with a series of sessions close together and then shift to less frequent sessions as they improve.
Have you decided to get a massage? Therapeutic Massage is not just a luxury but a vital component of self-care. Let’s help you lessen your stress and anxiety, even before we begin a session, by giving you a walkthrough on what to expect.
Fill out your intake form in advance and arrive a few minutes prior to your session so that we can review the information with you. If you have a complex medical history which requires a long intake process, some of your appointment time may be used reviewing your health history. Think about your goals, focus areas, and things that have/haven’t worked for you in the past. Oh, and drink water!
To learn more about therapeutic massage prices, check our pricing guide.
Insurance coverage for massage therapy can vary, so it’s a good idea to check with your insurance provider. Nimbus Massage does not currently accept insurance. However, we do accept HSA and FSA payments if your plan covers massage. We will also provide receipts for people who are seeking reimbursement from their insurance.
Anti-Tension is our go-to service for folks who want a therapeutic massage but who do not have a complex medical history or do not need very detailed spot-treatment work. Our Targeted Therapeutic Massage is designed for people who do have complex needs, tough cases, or who prefer very specific work on their problem areas over a “full-body” massage.
Deep Tissue Massage refers to massage that not only addresses the tissue right under the skin, but also targets muscles and fascia below the surface layers. Deep Tissue does not refer to pressure, in fact we have many therapists who can perform a gentle version of Deep Tissue (and those who can use lots of pressure!).
Swedish Massage refers to a style of massage developed in Sweden that applies rhythmic gliding, kneading, and tapping techniques. Swedish may also be gentle or firm. And can even be used as part of a Deep Tissue Massage.
Deep Tissue Massage can be intense and may cause discomfort, especially if you have tension or knots. However, it should not be excessively painful. Effective communication with your therapist is key; we can adjust the pressure and technique to your comfort level.
A Trigger Point is a tight area in the muscle that is usually sore, twitchy, and also sends a pain signal to other areas. Trigger Point Therapy uses focused firm pressure to relieve the tension and both local and referred pain. Trigger Point Therapy is one technique that may be used to target deep tissue structures in the body.
The rule of thumb for Trigger Point Therapy is for the recipient to feel like the intensity is about a 7 out of 10. This should be in the range of intense but not painful for most people. The pressure at each point should last about 10-12 seconds, followed by relief. Good communication with your therapist is essential. For those who respond better to less intensity, we usually recommend Neuromuscular Therapy.
With Neuromuscular Therapy, the therapist works thoroughly through all the muscles in a problem area to find and relieve tender and tight points. Some of these points might even be Trigger Points. Traditionally, the therapist may spend the entire session on one or a few areas instead of the whole body. NMT is another technique that may be used to target deep tissue structures in the body.
The rule of thumb for NMT is for the recipient to feel like the intensity is about a 4-5 out of 10. This should be in the range of tender but not painful for most people. The pressure at each point is sustained until the sensation eases. Sometimes the same area is revisited multiple times, with deeper work each time. This keeps the work from being overly intense. Good communication with your therapist is essential. For those who respond better to more intensity, the therapist can increase pressure.
Myofascial Release focuses on releasing tension in the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding muscles. It involves gentle, sustained pressure and stretching. This is another technique that may be used to target deep tissue structures in the body.
Myofascial Release may cause some discomfort as it targets the fascia. It’s typically not painful, but you may feel a stretching or pulling sensation. If it becomes overly uncomfortable, simply communicate with your therapist, and they can adjust their technique.