Massage Therapy Associates of the New River Valley

04/22/2024

Recently a client brought up a great point about the importance of trust in massage. I have learned over the years that the body and the mind are not always on the same page with regards to trust. I have noticed over time that many people who come to me for the first time think they are really relaxing when in fact that are just starting to touch the edge of relaxation. That is because rationally/mentally you might know after a few minutes of talking and interacting with me that I’m an ok person and I mean you know harm. But your body acts on a different level, it interprets not what I say but what I do physically to the skin, muscles and tissues. The body often reserves judgement on my talents until it has received a few massage sessions. When your body is used to the depth, pressure and quality of touch of your therapist it will relax more deeply.

Not only is trust important it also needs to be combined with repetition. That is to say when you find someone you feel comfortable with stick with them. Jumping around from therapist to therapist will deprive your body of that “inner trust” that is only built up over time.

★★★★★ "I have been getting a monthly massage from Tod for nearly 5 years. I can confidently say that he has been the most effective and knowledgeable massage therapist. In order to be fully relaxed in vulnerable situations, a therapist must be trustworthy and professional in how they commu...

03/04/2024

Stretching is one of those things you can do everyday and is totally economical and effective. I often time recommend stretches to clients. Most of these come from my Yoga Teacher Training. But other times it comes from my personal experience and from my massage training. Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga thought us many stretches to keep ourselves healthy and to pass along to our clients. We had multiple textbooks that showed stretches for certain conditions. But never underestimate the value of a good Physical Therapist or a great Personal Trainer. Dave my personal trainer at Valley Active has changed my life. When it comes to stretching I definitely practice what I preach.

★★★★★ "Tod has great knowledge of the body allowing for a healing and relaxing massage. He is also always willing to share knowledge of stretching & other things you can do to help outside of the massage itself."

02/26/2024

I feel strongly that before anyone goes into elective surgery for joint pain or carpal tunnel pain they should try getting a medical massage. Pain can be caused by trigger points (more commonly known as knots) in the bellies of muscles or in the surrounding fascia. These trigger points not only cause pain but also restrict range of motion and create muscle weakness. Most people should rule this out before they schedule their surgery. In the case of carpal tunnel surgery once there is scar tissue (created by the surgery) it’s much more difficult to address the root cause of the problem which is more often than not in the muscles of the forearm.

Dr. Janet Travell and Dr. David Simons book on Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction explains it all. Believe it or not your massage therapist is more likely to have read this book than your Primary Care Physician.

★★★★★ "I had rotator cuff soreness and thought I would need surgery as I had on the other shoulder. After just a few sessions, Tod was able to bring lasting relief. I haven't had any issues since. I couldn't give a higher recommendation."

02/05/2024

Over the years I have developed a technique which I call muscle comforting. It's nice to know that my clients pick up on it without my having to tell them what I'm doing. In the kind review below I get the feedback on my technique when she uses the word 'coax the muscle'. That's just another way of saying "Muscle Comforting".

★★★★★ "A good message therapist is hard to find. I am thrilled to have found Tod when I moved to Blacksburg. His knowledge of anatomy and therapeutic technique is outstanding, but most important, is his talent as a healer. I have been so impressed by his ability to locate and coax the musc...

01/29/2024

Do you know the difference between Tendons and Ligaments? Simply put Tendons connect muscles to bones while ligaments connect bone to bone. Generally speaking tendons assist in muscle contraction while ligaments assist more with stability of joints. The fibers of tendons tend to be more straight and parallel to each other (think of the equal sign [=]) Ligament fibers are more interlaced (think the pound sign [ #]). Massage therapy primarily focuses on muscles but we affect other soft tissues as we work on the body. It’s essential to know the full structure and function of all the parts of muscular anatomy to create effective treatment for muscular dysfunction.

01/22/2024

With such wonderful clients its no wonder I love my job !

★★★★★ "Tod is an exceptional massage therapist who I could not recommend more highly! I have been seeing Tod for massage therapy for over 10 years now, and he has kept numerous physical issues in check for me, preventing injuries and issues from progressing to needing PT or surgery. Tod is...

01/18/2024

Time to make that massage therapy appointment.

06/08/2023

Are you suffering from joint pain? Schedule an appointment today with our neighbors, Joint Regeneration Group of Blacksburg, to find out more information on non-surgical treatments. Their Medical team will be glad to answer any of your questions.

Contact the Joint Regeneration Group of Blacksburg today to find out how they can help you with joint pain!

Joint Regeneration Group of Blacksburg
210 Professional Park Drive S.E.
Suite 9
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 712-9000
info@jrgofblacksburg.com
Joint Regeneration Group of Blacksburg

We use knee fluid replacement therapy to treat those who suffer from knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Contact us for a free consultation.

05/10/2023

Therapeutic Massage for Pain Relief, Joint Mobility, Medical conditions and General Relaxation. Currently Taking New Massage Clients