Massage Therapy is provided by the Holzer Medical Therapy Center only at our Gallipolis location. If you wish to call or email the Medical Therapy Center, please visit our Medical Therapy Center contact page.
What is Massage Therapy?
You may have always thought of massage as a luxury, but it has become well known for its therapeutic benefits, not only for the body, but for the mind and spirit as well. Medical massage improves circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system, aids in digestion, relieves stress, and can result in an overall feeling of well-being.
The gentle and invigorating art of medical massage is hands-on therapy, utilizing techniques to address the triangle of health (your mind-body-spirit connection). These techniques include Swedish massage, Chinese massage, myofascial release, stretching, and acupressure. Self-help techniques such as self massage, self pain release techniques, meditation, and pain imagery are taught for home use. Patients often return to work more focused, energized, and better able to face daily challenges.
The benefits of massage therapy go beyond basic relaxation. Massage therapy helps relieve stress, headaches, the pain of arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress injuries, and more.
Massage Also Helps Address
- Tension Headache
- Hypertension
- Sleep Problems
- Arthritis
- Depression
Massage Services at Holzer Medical Therapy Center
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage combines variations on basic massage techniques to relax tight muscles and increase blood flow. Swedish Massage is relaxing and soothing, well suited to relaxing tired, sore muscles and providing an overall general feeling of well-being.
Traditional Swedish Massage uses five main strokes to achieve its relaxing and healing effects.
- Effleurage - Long strokes from the neck to the base of the spine or from the shoulder down to the fingertips. Many strokes are toward the heart to aid in blood flow.
- Petrissage – Gently lifts, rolls, squeezes, and kneads muscles to enhance circulation and help to clear toxins from the muscles.
- Friction - Deep circular motions, among the most penetrating massage strokes, breaks down knots in the muscles.
- Tapotement - Brisk percussive movements of the hands that strike or tap the muscles for an invigorating effect and to release tension and cramping from muscles in spasm.
- Vibration or Shaking – Pressing the massage therapist’s hands into the muscles while rapidly shaking for a few seconds to boost circulation and increase the power of the muscles to contract.
Chinese Massage
Chinese massage is a form of deep tissue therapy that has less of a focus on relaxation. Chinese Massage uses a deeper touch to ease specific, painful areas. 
Sore muscles are squeezed, stretched, and kneaded by your massage therapist with skillful hand movements and carefully placed pressures. Chinese Massage increases blood circulation. Regular treatments loosen tight muscles, increasing flexibility and range of motion while reducing pain.
Benefits of Chinese Massage include:
- Accelerating the healing of bruises and injuries
- Stimulating blood circulation
- Increasing flexibility in the joints
- Relieving chronic pain
- Easing emotional distress
- Maintaining wellness
- Strengthening your resistance to disease
Myofascial Release
The connective tissue surrounding our muscles and internal organs is known as fascia. Myofascial problems happen when the fascia is traumatized by injury. Fascia can become inflamed or shrink due to injury and may heal slowly, and trauma to this nerve-rich tissue can be painful.
Myofascial release involves the use of long, stretching strokes that remove restrictions interfering with the efficient movement of the fascia and resulting in overall improvements in physical and mental health. It is often used in the relief of cervical pain, back pain, Fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches.
Acupressure
Acupressure is both the application of pressure and localized massage to certain “acupressure points.” When using acupressure, a therapist places pressure on specific points of the body, using his or her fingers to relieve pain and discomfort, prevent tension-related disorders, and promote good health. This technique can also help control pain, nausea, and even control bleeding.
Locations
In Gallipolis - Enter the Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis at the Ambulatory Surgical Center. Take the elevators to the basement floor and turn right. Go down the hallway until you will see the Holzer Medical Therapy Center office.
In Jackson - Enter the Holzer Medical Center in Jackson through the main doors. Turn left and walk down the hallway to the end and you will see the Holzer Medical Therapy Center department directly in front of you.
