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Howard Northrup, LMT

 

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Magic Touch Massage Therapy

Has pain or problems moving freely prevented you from enjoying your life to the fullest? If so, then you've come to the right place!

 

The following information will introduce you to the benefits of massage therapy.

 

How can a massage help me?

 

Common injuries, accidents, overuse of a muscle, and stress can settle into our muscles and cause many types of problems. Massage is becoming increasing popular as a therapy that can help! Massage is a calm therapy for relieving pain and tension. In combination with other techniques, massage can help us avoid prescription drugs or surgery.

 

 

What types of problems will a massage help?

 

  • Muscle pain or tightness

Massage is great for relieving muscle tightness. There are massage techniques for releasing muscle tension through stretching and kneading the tissues of the muscle and the layers around it. In addition, there are techniques that indirectly stimulate your nervous system to help your muscles relax.

 

  • Stress

Massage is one of the best therapies for stress. Without stress, you'll find that you have more energy to enjoy life and help to prevent illnesses in the process. Because it can help relieve stress, massage can also help with conditions that are associated with anxiety.

 

  • Arm or leg tingling or pain

If a muscle stays contracted, it can interfere with the nerves that go to the arms, legs, hands, or fingers. This interference will typically give a pain or tingling in that extremity. Massage can help to relax the contracted muscle and allow the nerves signals to flow freely again.

 

 

What will my first massage appointment be like?

 

Howard, your licensed massage therapist, will begin your appointment by asking you to fill out a Medical Intake Form that asks general health questions, since there are some conditions for which massage is not appropriate. Based on your condition(s), Howard will determine a massage plan specifically for you.

 

Depending on the massage technique that is best for you, you may or may not need to undress. For a full body Swedish Relaxation massage, people usually undress completely or just wear underwear. Howard will show you to a private room where he will leave you for a short time so that you can undress and get onto the massage table. During the massage, you will always remain covered except for the area being worked on (e.g., one arm, one leg, back, etc.).

 

The massage will be given on a sheet-covered padded table that's heated with a heated mattress pad, making it comfortable. The table is professional quality and stable (Howard uses an Oakworks® massage table for house calls, which has been tested to remain stable with more than 500 lbs.). When you are face-up, Howard will place a cushion under your knees for low back support and will use an adjustable face rest for support when you are face-down. The room will be comfortable and quiet and will have soft music playing to set a relaxing mood.

 

For most massage techniques, Howard will use a lubricant, such as light natural oil or lotion, which is good for your skin and absorbs well. For some types of bodywork, no oil is used.

 

A massage session usually begins with a light pressure to start to calm your nervous system and begin releasing tension. Gradually, Howard will work more deeply on areas that require it, but never to a point of much pain, since the benefit of massage is gone with high levels of pain.

 

 

What other massage techniques are offered?

 

Currently, Howard specializes in the following:

  • Relaxation Massage
  • Deep Tissue/Therapeutic Massage
  • Trigger Point Therapy (also known as Neuromuscular Therapy or NMT)
  • Myofascial Release
  • Medical Massage (prescription for massage from a physician)

He also offers the healing energy technique called Reiki (pronounced RAY-kee). This technique can be used in a full session (a Reiki session) or can be added to your massage as needed.

 

For additional information on Reiki, go to

The International Center for Reiki Training

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Massage News

 

Massage Research at University of Miami's Touch Research Institute

 

Abstracts of massage therapy for many conditions available at:

Touch Research Institute

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are lessened following massage therapy

 

(from Touch Research Institute) METHOD: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of massage therapy for relieving the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Sixteen adults with CTS symptoms were randomized to a 4-week massage therapy or control group. Participants in the massage therapy group were taught a self-massage routine that was done daily at home. They were also massaged once a week by a therapist. The participants’ diagnosis was based on a nerve conduction velocity test, the Phalen test, and the Tinel sign test performed by a physician. The participants were also given the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Profile of Mood States (POMS), a visual analog scale for pain and a test of grip strength. RESULTS: Participants in the massage therapy group improved on median peak latency and grip strength. They also experienced lower levels of perceived pain, anxiety, and depressed mood. The results suggest that symptoms of CTS might be relieved by a daily regimen of massage therapy.

Reiki Reduces Heart Rate, Diastolic Blood Pressure

 

(from the Institute of Neurological Sciences - Glasgow, Scotland)

Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in people who received 30 minutes of reiki, as compared to a placebo intervention or 30 minutes of rest, according to a recent study. Autonomic Nervous System Changes During Reiki Treatment: A Preliminary Study was conducted by staff of the Institute of Neurological Sciences, South Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust, in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Forty-five healthy subjects, ages 23-59, were randomly assigned to one of three groups: rest/control, reiki or placebo. Reiki, a Japanese healing art, is based on the concept of energy flowing through the practitioner into the recipient.

Researchers evaluated the effect of reiki on several measures of autonomic nervous system function, such as heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac vagal tone, cardiac sensitivity to baroreflex (reflexes activated by pressure changes in the heart’s blood vessels), and respiratory rate. All outcome measures were recorded continuously using the NeuroScope system.

Baseline data were recorded for all groups during a 15-minute rest period. This was followed by the intervention. In the reiki group, subjects received 30 minutes of reiki, which consisted of the practitioner placing his or her hands over the participant’s body, over the clothes, without touching the subject.

In the placebo group, a person with no knowledge of reiki imitated the hand movements of the reiki practitioner for 30 minutes. In the rest/control group, subjects rested for the half-hour intervention period.

This was followed by a 10-minute rest period for subjects in all groups. Data were recorded throughout the entire study.

Results of the research showed that subjects in both the reiki and placebo groups experienced a significant reduction in heart rate, increase in cardiac vagal tone, increase in cardiac sensitivity to baroreflex, and reduction in respiratory rate.

The increase in [cardiac vagal tone] signifies an increase in parasympathetic activity and is reflected by the decrease in [heart rate]. state the study’s authors.

However, only in the reiki group was diastolic blood pressure significantly reduced. Heart rate was also lower in the reiki group as compared to both the rest and placebo groups.

No changes were found in the control group after the baseline period, indicating that the autonomic activity stabilized during the initial rest period, state the study’s authors. It is therefore unlikely that the significant changes in both placebo and reiki groups are due to simply lying down and resting.

As the results of the study indicate that reiki has some effect on the autonomic nervous system, the authors suggest a further, larger study on the biological effects of reiki.

Source: Institute of Neurological Sciences, South Glasgow University Hospital NHS Trust, Glasgow, United Kingdom. Authors: Nicola Mackay; Stig Hansen, Ph.D.; and Oona McFarlane. Originally published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2004, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 1077-1081.

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Massage makes a great gift!

Surprise them with one for a Birthday, Anniversary, Bridal Shower, Baby Shower, or any special occasion!

Gift Certificates designed for massage are available (see images below) by calling or e-mailing Howard.

Front of Gift Certificate

(click on picture to enlarge)

 

Inside of Gift Certificate

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Gift Certificate envelope

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Howard's Massage Schedule

Mondays:
3PM to 9PM at Professional Massage Center - 725-0073

Tuesdays:
appointments available from 10AM to 7PM - call cell phone to schedule - 258-1201

Wednesdays:
appointments available from 10AM to 7PM - call cell phone to schedule - 258-1201

Thursdays:
appointments available from 10AM to 7PM - call cell phone to schedule - 258-1201

Fridays:
10AM to 7PM at Professional Massage - 725-0073

Saturdays:
10AM to 2:15PM at Professional Massage - 725-0073
3PM to 5PM at Space Coast Massage - 729-9000

Sundays:
by appointment only - call cell phone to schedule - 258-1201

House Call Appointments: call cell phone at 258-1201

Home Massage Parties: call cell phone at 258-1201

Massage Locations

Professional Massage Center

2815 W. New Haven Ave., West Melbourne 725-0073

 

Space Coast Massage

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1070 S. Wickham Rd, West Melbourne, 729-9000

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Remember...

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Call today to make your next appointment!

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Client Testimonials

 

This section has now moved to its own page - click below to go there:

Client Testimonials

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Contact Howard at:

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