Vancouver Physiotherapy & Massage
Many patients assume that physiotherapy and massage therapy share many of the same characteristics. So, they also think that by receiving one type of treatment, they are receiving the full benefits of both types; this isn’t true. While there is certainly a great amount of rehabilitative value in physiotherapy, it can also be greatly complemented with massage therapy.
Vancouver Physiotherapy Clinic
Electra Health – 970 Burrard Street, Vancouver BC
Open 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm
604-685-4325 (HEAL)
YWCA – 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC
Open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm
604-685-4325 (HEAL)
In general, physiotherapy treatments aim to enhance and restore physical function for people who have suffered injuries or are experiencing a range of physical impairments. For instance, your family doctor may recommend a physiotherapist if you’ve recently experienced a sports injury or a motor accident. Visits with a physiotherapist may involve some massage elements, but a range of other techniques are also used.
Physiotherapists use these treatments to help restore flexibility and strength in the areas on your body affected by the injury, impairment, or discomfort. The addition of massage therapy can prove most useful. The right kind of massage can help to relieve stress in affected muscle groups, alleviating some of the pain that may be associated with the injury. Many patients report feeling “looser” and generally more comfortable after a session with a registered massage therapist (RMT).
Different people prefer different types of massages, just as different types of massages are more or less suitable for particular conditions and injuries. These can include LaStone therapy, Reflexology, Sports Massage, Swedish Massage, and more. In the case of Swedish massage, the session typically begins with broad, flowing strokes that help to calm the nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. From there, the registered massage therapist can then begin to focus on specific areas and increase pressure to gradually alleviate tension.
In addition to the physical therapy that you may receive from a professional physiotherapist, the registered massage therapist can help to reduce anxiety, insomnia, and stress. This adds greatly to your general health and wellness, which can help to expedite your recovery as part of your physiotherapy program.
Various types of massage can be beneficial for reducing both physical and emotion stress, helping with muscular pain and minimizing muscle tension. Through these techniques, patients can improve their circulation too. Not surprisingly, most people emerge from massage sessions with a deep sense of relaxation and comfort.
Setting up an appointment with a registered massage therapist is very easy for patients who are already working with a physiotherapist at Electra. There are approximately twenty RMTs working on the same floor, offering a flexible schedule that can fit into the busiest of lifestyles.
It is important to note the distinction between the treatment you’d receive from a registered massage therapist and the “spa-style” massage you might receive elsewhere. The relaxation that you can gain from the spa is certainly satisfying, but a treatment from a RMT is therapy. It is designed specifically to help with pain and treat health conditions. If the goal is to treat neck and back pain, for instance, a registered massage therapist (coupled with a physiotherapist) can do a lot more than a simple relaxation massage.
Vancouver Physiotherapy Clinic
Electra Health – 970 Burrard Street, Vancouver BC
Open 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm
604-685-4325 (HEAL)
YWCA – 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC
Open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm
604-685-4325 (HEAL)
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