Massage Therapy
Massage therapy consists primarily of hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, specifically, the muscles, connective tissue, fascia, tendons, ligaments and joints. Massages are meant to optimize health and wellness and to provide restorative relaxation by acting on the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. Massage therapy uses a range of modalities including Swedish massage, craniosacral therapy, lymphatic drainage therapy, scar treatments and cupping. Our massage therapists support, maintain and improve physical function and work to relieve physical dysfunction, pain and the effects of stress. Massage therapy has a therapeutic effect on the body and can be beneficial to a multitude of people for a variety of reasons, as outlined further below.
Massage therapy can be a part of your personal self-care to manage stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Restorative massages can be effective in calming the body and mind.
Preventative massage can also be effective in keeping muscles pliable and joints moving with ease. A well-functioning body is less prone to injury and has fewer aches and pains to manage. Maintaining and improving physical functioning is an integral part of massage therapy.
Rehabilitative treatments focus on recovery from injury, accidents or surgery. The goals of this approach is to help you get back to feeling as well as you did in the past.
Treatments for specific conditions such as headaches, back pain and repetitive strain injuries are also available.
In particular, the CHI wants to invite caregivers, family members, loved ones and other integral supportive members of patients with cancer to consider a massage as a wonderful way to maintain their energy. As the common saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup
Massage Therapy - Supportive Cancer Care
Oncology Massage addresses the specific needs of patients undergoing treatment for cancer, as well as managing long-term side effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Our massage therapists have extensive experience with people living with cancer and understand where and when contraindications are necessary.
When caring for a patient with cancer, massage can be part of personal self-care to manage stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Regular massage promotes overall health and wellness. Patients with cancer might also opt for a massage for preventative reasons, such as keeping muscles pliable and joints moving with ease.
Massage therapy can also be of help to cancer patients in both the preparation for and in the recovery from surgery. Post-surgical scars and cording can successfully be treated in order to reduce movement-limiting and painful restrictions. Radiation fibrosis, or thickening of soft tissues, can result from radiation treatments. Over time, this density can result in decreased range of motion and discomfort.
Patients with cancer often find massage therapy as a good complementary therapy while undergoing conventional treatments. Gentle massage is effective in reducing radiation fibrosis. Chemotherapy can leave you feeling unwell and with numbness or tingling in your hands or feet. A focused massage treatment can help to reduce these unpleasant side effects. Finally, pain can be better managed using massage. Less pain results in better quality of life and improved sleep.
Massage Therapist
Fees & Schedule
Please see our online booking site regarding fees and schedules.
Massage Therapy FAQs
Massage is considered safe for everyone. Treatment adaptations may be required depending on general health, time since surgery, stage of radiation treatments, current chemotherapy regimen and whether or not a person is in curative or palliative treatments.
For more information please read our blog post Myth: Massage therapy is not safe while living with cancer.
General massage training does not include extensive information on how to work with people with cancer. To ensure a massage treatment that is both safe and effective, ensure that your therapist has either advanced training or extensive experience in oncology massage.
All massage therapists in Ontario have a baseline of 2200 hours classroom and practical education that includes courses on specific illnesses and their relevance for massage treatments.
Adjustments to treatment site, pressure and position are required, at some point, for all people living with cancer.
Craniosacral Therapy and Somato Emotional Release are considered safe at all stages of life and wellness from pre-birth to palliative. This style of treatment is considered gentle, non-invasive hands on work, and treatments are done fully clothed and in any positioning. The nature of Craniosacral treatments allows for a deep calming and reset of the clients Central Nervous System. In doing so, there are subtle to profound releases of physical, mental, and emotional tensions that are being stored in the body’s tissues, helping to optimize the healing process.