Massage therapy is manual manipulation of soft tissues to enhance a person’s health and well-being. There are a wide variety of types of massage therapy techniques that work with the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and tissue like fascia and joints. Massage is a drug free option to help manage chronic conditions, injuries and maintain general wellness.

Massage increases circulation, removes toxins from the system, improves joint function, and helps maintain tissue health, as well as increasing a patient’s sense of relaxation. Massage can help treat and manage a wide variety of conditions and stages of life such as:

● Tension Headaches
● Sports Injuries
● Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
● Stress
● Anxiety or Depression
● Chronic back pain
● Pregnancy-related aches and pains
● Sciatica
● Myofascial pain
● Plantar fasciitis
● Chronic pain
● TMJ
● Fibromyalgia
● Accident related soft tissue injuries (whiplash, muscle strains)
● Infant massage
● Postnatal changes

To ensure each patient’s condition and needs are addressed a registered massage therapist will perform a thorough health history, assessment and evaluation to ensure there are no contraindications to treatment or any modifications that must be made to ensure a safe and effective treatment.

Massage therapy is a regulated profession in BC. Practitioners must graduate from an accredited institution, pass provincial boards exams, and maintain registration by completing a set number of continuing education credits every two years. A registered massage therapist (RMT) must adhere to a code of ethics set under the health professions act. An RMT will have a thorough understanding of what conditions are outside of their scope an practice and should be referred out to other professionals.

Many extended healthcare plans will cover massage therapy when performed by an RMT.

Nicole Freesman, RMT offers massage therapy at Haultain Health Centre.

Nicole uses a wide variety of techniques including trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage and myofascial release for treating many conditions such as stress disorders, repetitive strain injuries, and general relaxation. Nicole has also undergone further postgraduate training in the treatment of pregnant women.