Student Massage Therapy for Students @ UCSB Recreation & Wellness, University of California, SBCC, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, Goleta

Massage For Stress Relief at Rikt Pro Massage
Massage For Student Stress Relief at Rikt Pro Massage – Massage Therapy for Students, UCSB Recreation & Wellness, University of California, SBCC, Westmont, Santa Barbara, Goleta

Instructions for Massage Therapy Appointments for Students:

Accepting mostly referred clients and a few select new clients.

CONTACT DIRECTIONS for APPOINTMENTS - TEXT ME: 
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO
CONTACT ME: DO NOT CALL!
(Please leave your name, introduce yourself with some history,
when are you available and your condition)
I will answer all inquiries that can follow directions.
Thanks - way too much robocalls, phishing, solicitations & spammers!

* NO LONGER DO Mobile and Out Call Massage to your Location.

Text Only – 805-637-7482

        No Solicitations

Massage Modalities / You can add Enhancements!

Active Engagement (AE)

Art Massage (Active Release Technique) 

Ashiatsu,  Shiatsu Massage

-Athletic Event Massage

Barefoot Deep Tissue Massage

Barefoot Shiatsu Massage

Chair Massage

Chi Nei Tsang (CNT)

-Cross Fiber / Deep Transverse Friction Massage

Compression Massage, Ischemic or Static Pressure

Cupping Therapy

Deep Tissue Massage

-Gua Sha – Sports Massage

Healing Massage for Depression and Anxiety

IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation

Manual Lymphatic, Drainage Pump, Lymphedema

Mechanical Vibrational Massage

Muscle Energy Technique (MET)

Myofascial Release Massage

Nerve Mobilization Massage

Neuromuscular Therapy Release Massage

Orthopedic Massage  (OM) 

PNF Stretching (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) 

Post-Operative / Surgical Massage

-Rapid Reboot Compression Therapy- Legs, Arms, or Torso

Reflexology Massage

Relaxing Massage

Scar Tissue Massage

Sports and Injury Massage

Sports Stretch Massage, Fascial Stretch FST & Self Stretching

Swedish Massage

Trigger Point Massage

 

Muscle body tension refers to the condition in which muscles of the body remain semi-contracted for an extended period. Muscle tension is typically caused by the physiological effects of stress and can lead to episodes of back pain.

Stress reduction refers to various strategies that counteract this response and produce a sense of relaxation and tranquility.

What is the meaning of tension? 

Tension. … The noun tension has its Latin roots in tender, which means to stretch, and tension occurs when something is stretched either physically or emotionally. Strained relations between countries can cause political tensions to rise. You can add tension to a rubber band by stretching it tight.

Manage Stress to Reduce Muscle Tension. If you’ve ever suffered from a tension headache, neck discomfort, or lower back pain, you know how much effective stress can have on the body. When we become stressed, our adrenaline rises, making us more likely to be on guard against what the body perceives as danger.

What is the cause of muscle tension?

Muscle tension is typically caused by the physiological effects of stress and can lead to episodes of back pain. Stress may change the body’s nervous system by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and nerves in the back.

If you’ve ever suffered from a tension headache, neck discomfort, or lower back pain, you know how much of effect stress can have on the body. When we become stressed, our adrenaline rises, making us more likely to be on guard against what the body perceives as danger. When this stress happens, our muscles tense up as a reflex reaction. While the body does this as a way of protecting us against injury and pain, chronic tension in reaction to stress has the opposite effect.

Chronic stress causes the body to be in a frequent state of alertness, which in turn causes our muscles to be tense and taut for extended periods of time. This can trigger other reactions in the body and may even lead to disorders or diseases. These reactions may include tension headaches and migraines, a tight and tender jaw, cramps in the stomach and back, and digestive issues, among others. If not treated, the muscle tension leading to aches causes us more stress and perpetuates the cycle. It can also lead to other issues such as irritability, fatigue, and depression.

While millions of people suffer from chronic pain due to daily stresses, in some cases, the tension in our muscles may be the result of an injury. It’s important that this injury is treated properly in order to keep it from turning into a chronic condition. Some may react by avoiding physical activity for fear of pain or reinjury, however, misuse of the body only increases muscle tension and atrophy. The best way to recover from an injury is to maintain a moderate level of activity that’s been recommended by a physician. Relaxation techniques, massage, and acupuncture may also be particularly helpful during this time.

To help manage your stress, reduce muscle tension, and eliminate chronic pain, follow these five tips:

Get enough sleep: Between seven and eight hours a night is ideal for making us less vulnerable to the stress that can cause headaches and digestive issues.

Like natural endorphins?

My style of Deep Tissue Massage releases the body’s natural painkillers whereby it stimulates the release of endorphins, the morphine-like substances that the body manufactures, into the brain and nervous system….kind of like a “Runners High” or a parasympathetic state “rest and digest” of mind. Once that happens (your now in a parasympathetic state “rest and digest”) I then go to work on your injured area to break up the damaged fibrous adhesion’s which are spread randomly throughout a muscle thus increasing blood flow, oxygen, strength, flexibility, and tissue rebuilding. (This diagram link explains this process)

Book an appointment for at least 1 1/2 hours or more. Recommend 2 hr. appointments for best results and can do up to 4 hr. appointments.

Massage can reduce athletic injuries

Getting injured is every athlete’s worst fear. Injuries impair the performance, delay training and conditioning schedules during recovery, are costly to treat, and, most of all, injuries hurt.

Dealing with pain and limited mobility after an injury is exhausting, frustrating, and worth the measures necessary to avoid an injury from happening.

Plus, over time, injuries take their toll on the body.  Most of the time, damaged tissue heals, but when muscles are continually taxed to their max through high-performance athletics, the odds increase that an injury, especially a recurring one, will result in a permanent condition.

Massage therapy has come a long way.  From spa treatment to relaxation therapy; to specialized therapies, such as sports massage and prenatal massage; and, currently, according to recent research, massage therapy is making headway in preventative medicine, such as preventing injuries in athletes.

As recently as May 2016, Oxford University research suggests that massage therapy may be beneficial for improving individuals experiencing pain.  The findings state massage therapy should be offered to a patient for pain management. The study concluded that massage therapy is beneficial across various functional outcomes including anxiety and HrQoL.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multi-dimensional concept that includes domains related to physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning.

Researchers at McMaster University reported that sports massage following an intense workout actually causes muscles to enlarge and grow new mitochondria.  Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells and are responsible for converting nutrients into useful energy.

For an athlete, energy is everything.

The study found that deep-tissue massage increased the size and number of new mitochondria more than exercising without massage. Increasing mitochondria can improve endurance performance by increasing the rate at muscles utilize oxygen.

To the body, oxygen is everything.

The McMaster University study also found that massage therapy increases the range of motion in muscles and decreases recovery time between workouts or athletic events.

Massage for sports injuries not only concentrates on existing injuries but can also help prevent injuries. Massage before conditioning training helps to prevent injuries and should be administered after a warm-up session. Massage can also help to prevent common injuries when administered after a training session, as it helps to return the muscles to their relaxed state.

The better we feel, the better we heal.  For muscles, too.

Massage is beneficial to more than muscles 

Muscles might be the richest benefactors of a sports massage, but, most people report a feeling of pure relaxation, reduced anxiety, enhanced attentiveness, and improved mood following a sports massage.

Athletes may find an edge in these psychological benefits, making massage a double-duty treatment; a mind and body therapy.  That’s a lot of bounce for your ounce!

Various bodies of research compiled by the National Center for Biotechnology Information indicate that massage therapy:

  • Reduces heart rate.
  • Lowers blood pressure.
  • Reduces recovery time after an injury.
  • Rehabs an injury.
  • Lowers anxiety.
  • Improves mood.
  • Increases blood flow throughout the body, bringing vital oxygen and nutrients all over.
  • Relieves muscle pain and tension.
  • Improves connective tissue healing, which promotes muscle elasticity.
  • Stabilizes cortisol levels (a stress hormone, similar to adrenaline).
  • Improves muscle flexibility, which reduces and prevents injury.

And, as if all these benefits weren’t enough, research published in the International Journal of Neuroscience suggests that massage therapy improves the quality of sleep.

Athletes may find an edge in these psychological benefits, making massage a double-duty treatment; a mind and body therapy. … Increases blood flow throughout the body, bringing vital oxygen and nutrients all over. Relieves muscle pain and tension. Improves connective tissue healing, which promotes muscle elasticity.

Frequency of massage

The number of times an athlete must go for a message depends on muscle stress and the level of muscle fatigue.

However, it is not necessary that an athlete takes a sports massage only when in need, but they can take a sports massage just for relaxing their mind and body so they can focus on their technique and performance in a better way.

All of the above sports massage types are good for athletes. They must consult with their therapist to find out the most suitable massage type.

Therapeutic Swedish Massage, Sports Massage Therapy in Santa Barbara, Goleta
Massage Therapy for Students, UCSB Recreation & Wellness, University of California, SBCC, Westmont, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Best Massage in Santa Barbara, Goleta

*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of any kind. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. These statements are not expressions of legal opinion relative to the scope of practice, medical diagnosis, or medical advice, nor do they represent an endorsement of any product, company, or specific massage therapy technique, modality, or approach. All trademarks, registered trademarks, brand names, registered brand names, logos, and company logos referenced in this post are the property of their owners.