From the Healing Bridge Physical Therapy Summer 2002 Newsletter

Massage and physical therapy go hand in hand towards a holistic approach to healing. By integrating multiple techniques, your treatment session is customized and your healing accelerates. Techniques such as manual therapy , massage, Feldenkrais, and specific therapeutic exercises, will combine and complement each other to create the best possible treatment plan for you.

The integration of massage into the physical therapy treatment process is a valuable combination. By working with both your physical therapist and massage therapist, you benefit from two areas of expertise and the wonderful blend of knowledge and understanding created. A massage therapist's skills are enhanced by the advanced expertise of a physical therapist, tailoring his or her skills to be more specific and beneficial to your healing.

Massage helps your body feel better so you feel able and ready to go! Massage also reduces pain and inflammation, increases blood flow, decreases muscle spasms and taut/tender fibers. It promotes overall relaxation and helps increase range of motion. This assists you in reaching optimal health.

Another benefit is body awareness. You can be told time and again what is causing your pain, but when you feel where the pain is coming from via a massage, you can pinpoint it consciously and work to dissolve it. With this awareness, you can make changes to be rid of the pain arising from the problem.
Along with helping to find sources of pain, massage will help you and your body begin to understand what it is like to feel good again.