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The terminology that I use on this page is based off of the professional training that I have received. I do not believe in ‘dumbing down’ the terms for my clients to understand. I believe that all my clients are able to understand and integrate a medical knowledge of their individual problems based upon my explanations and their questions. If you need any help in understanding what is happening to your body and why, I am more than happy to help answer as many questions as possible. The more you understand what is bothering you the more you will be able to help in the healing process.

During your visits (first and several after based upon your pain and description of injuries) I will use various assessment techniques in order to determine the appropriate treatment for each client. I often refer to an adage: ‘Posture equals Pain’. This is to help my clients understand the intimate relationship between pain that we have and the posture that we have developed over the years. These pains can be due to over use with our jobs, sleeping patterns, driving styles or severe injuries that have left us in a compromised position.

"The goal of all my massages is to help my clients create a pain free lifestyle at their desired activity level."

This is an extremely important detail in that our work together will be focused on your personal improvement and well being dependant upon your life style choices. In order to reach these goals I give homework exercises that the clients are responsible for doing in order to increase the effectiveness of the bodywork.

Swedish Therapeutic Massage

Swedish massage is the foundation of all Western styles of bodywork. The basic strokes in Swedish massage include effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration, and tapotement. Swedish massage is helpful for stress relief, increased circulation and reduced muscular fatigue. I use body manipulation and skillful draping methods that allow for a relaxing and soothing environment to let go of all your stress.

Normalization of Soft Tissue (NST)

Developed at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy NST therapeutic massage helps treat areas affected by postural dysfunction (over-use of muscles in a compromised position), repetitive stress (our jobs and weekend activities) and traumatic injuries (severe sports injuries, car accidents, etc.) The objectives of NST are: alleviation of pain, an increase in range of motion and the improvement/restoration of normal function in muscles. The techniques used in NST are mostly myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, trigger point therapy, muscle energy techniques (MET’s) and cross fiber friction. One of the best and most effective reasons for receiving NST work is that of an acute injury. NST can help tremendously with this type of pain.

Integrative Therapeutic Massage

This bodywork was initially developed at BCMT almost thirty years ago. Integrative massage was originally based on the body-centered, psychotherapeutic work of Wilhelm Reich. It has emphasis on three basic principles: mindfulness, embodiment and holism. The principles are supported by strategies and intentions that are co-created with the clients and involve a comprehensive mind, body and spirit experience. The incorporation of breath work and verbal interaction with the bodywork are used to help reduce the holding patterns in the body that can create pain.

Orthopedic Therapeutic Massage

This modality allows focus on recognizing common disorders of the musculoskeletal structures as well as focusing on bodywork with individuals who suffer from common diseases and injuries. A lot of focus is placed on understanding the spinal column and its disorders, as well on how to fix and alleviate pain from these issues. Peripheral nerve disorders, fractures, dislocation, subluxation, kyphosis, scoliosis deformities, paralysis, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are all issues that orthopedic massage are designed to help with.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is designed to offer relief from an injury due to acute or chronic sports pain. Understanding muscle and joint mechanics in relationship to the individual athletes activities is vital in being able to offer a pain free life style. Having an awareness of which muscles are stressed by a particular sport, what areas of those muscles are subject to micro-trauma, analysis of which movements may injure muscles and a familiarity with current injury prevention and training techniques is imperative to offering a proper sports massage. Understanding the physical as well as mental needs of an athlete before and after a sports event is part of the training in sports massage. Athletes are a unique lot and each athlete needs a massage specifically designed to suit their needs.

Feel free to ask me about any of the techniques during our sessions so that you may gain a greater understanding of what I am doing to your body.
IMAGINE MASSAGE THERAPY INC | Troy Lavigne, CMT | 2299 Pearl Street, Suite 102 | Boulder, CO 80302 | 303.995.4398