Lake Oswego Massage

Accidents, sprains strains and other injuries
Chronic and repetitive injuries
Stress

Accidents
One of my greatest joys in massage is seeing the intense pain caused by an accident melt into a normal life as clients get back in touch with their bodies. Recovery from the acute injury often takes time but when the work is done there are sure, positive results.

If you have been in an automobile accident, your doctor may prescribe a massage therapy as part of your treatment plan. As a Portland Oregon LMT I can address the stress that goes with a traumatic event like a car accident, and can also help address many of the sprains, strains, and other injuries common in a motor vehicle accident

I bill your insurance company so that you do not have to concern yourself with the hassle or upfront cost.

Chronic and repetitive injuries
Old injuries and repetitive injures such as carpel tunnel, tennis elbow, sciatica, plantar fascitis, tendonitis, etc. respond very favorably to massage therapy. Recovery is often much more rapid than with recent, acute injuries.

Those who have suffered for years from old auto accident injuries (whiplash, back pain, neck pain, disc problems, etc) have found neuromuscular massage can help eliminate their chronic nagging pain. Massage therapy can also assist in healing injuries such as ligament sprains or muscle strains caused by an accident.

Stress
Massage is one of the best known treatments for stress and is dynamically effective in it's treatment. Relieving stress gives you more energy, improves your morale, and lowers your chances of injury and illness.

Often pain throughout the body is caused directly from stress. It is quite often felt in the back/shoulders and neck./head, causing tension, muscle pain and headaches. Massage therapy can often bring immediate relief.

Because it relieves stress, massage is an excellent supportive therapy for people in psychological counseling or treatment for addiction.

Lake Oswego Massage Therapy
Massage Effects: -Reduces the effects of stress -Relaxes tense muscles -Increases blood circulation -Decreases chronic pain -Strengthens the immune system -Improves nerve function -Helps you sleep better -Improves skin tone

Lake Oswego Massage

Massage Therapy After an Accident or Inury

Index of Questions
click on a question-link to jump to the answer

Healing Questions

Question: How long after the accident should I wait?
Question: Can I get relief right away?
Question: What will massage therapy do for my accident injuries?
Question: How does trauma effect muscles and why is massage necessary?
Question: How does massage release muscles and relieve pain?
Question: How long will recovery take?
Question: What can I do to speed recovery?
Question: Is it good or bad to use ice on back injuries?

Insurance Questions

Question: Does car insurance cover massage?
Question: Will my healthcare insurance cover massage therapy?

Healing Questions

Question: How long after the accident should I wait?

Answer: Even though massage therapy may be performed immediately after an accident, you should always check with a Portland Oregon medical doctor (MD) or a Portland Oregon Chiropractor (DC) to see the extent of structural damage, nerve damage and internal or external injuries before getting a massage treatment. There may be damage that would not allow massage therapy to be done right away.

Question: What will massage therapy do for my accident injuries?

Answer: Right after your car accident, massage therapy can help you recover by helping to restore balance to your autonomic nervous system. Relaxing techniques, like Swedish massage can help reverse the effects that the shock and trauma of a car wreck can have on your nervous system. Massage also promotes circulation of both blood and lymph, which can help manage the swelling that usually comes with car accident injuries.

After a few days to a few weeks, as healing progresses, massage therapy will help release contracted muscles, maintain and improve range of motion, and help prevent the formation of scar tissue and muscle adhesions.

Question: Can I get relief right away?

Answer: Yes. Massage therapy can bring immediate relief although permanent pain-free healing is usually a series of treatments away because injured muscles return to normal slowly. With injured muscles it is kind of two steps forward, one step back.

Question: How does trauma effect muscles and why is massage necessary?

Answer: When the body is exposed to trauma, the muscles contract to protect themselves from injury and to hold joints and other fragile body parts in stable positions to prevent injury. When the threat is no longer present, the body is often unable to release those muscles and they stay tight. Massage therapy is often needed to remind the body that it is safe now to let those muscles loose.

Your body is like a roller coaster. Without enough speed it may not be able to make it over the next rise and get caught in a valley, rocking back and forth. All it needs is a little push to get it up and over the top and on its way. Often all the muscles need is a little "push" and they will be "up and on their way".

Question: How does massage release muscles and relieve pain?

Answer: The body is an electrical machine. Consequently muscles have electrical properties. When the ohms of resistance in a muscle are too high it becomes unhealthy and cannot function properly. If the resistance goes high enough it reaches the pain threshold and the muscle begins hurting. By the charged touch and pressure of a trained LMT the resistance is lowered, often to below the pain threshold…taking the muscle out of pain.

Question: How long will recovery take?

Answer: With severe muscle injury recovery can take up to 30 treatments or more with milder injuries taking maybe half that many. Every body is different. Some are an "accident waiting to happen" before they get injured and others are less tense and able to speed treatment by better cooperation with it. The acute injury in an accident responds much more slowly than the chronic injury of stress or repetitive movement which can often be resolved in a handful of treatments.

Question: What can I do to speed recovery?

Answer: Water, Rest, and Reduce Stress

Water
•Water is at the top of the list of things you can do. It is important to drink lots of water but also very important to soak the injured muscles in water. Both help to wash and draw out toxins that have been stirred up.

•When you soak, water is absorbed through the skin to some degree and helps flush out areas of congestion. Soaking in water will decrease soreness and hasten recovery after a massage.

Rest
•Getting adequate rest can also help you recover faster.

Stress
•A lower stress load and peace of mind help to relax the system overall and helps with recovery.

•Trust in a higher power can alleviate anxiety.

Question: Is it good or bad to use ice on back injuries?

Answer: When injured, the large muscles in the low back can become inflamed and spasm which causes pain and stiffness.

Ice massages can help provide relief for back pain in a number of ways, including:

•Use of ice slows the inflammation and swelling that occurs after injury. Inflammation is involved in most back pain and getting rid of it helps reduce the pain

•Ice massage therapy numbs sore tissues like a local anesthetic.

•Ice massage therapy slows the nerve impulses in the area, which breaks up the pain-spasm reaction between the nerves

•Ice massage therapy reduces tissue damage

Ice massage therapy is most effective if it is applied soon after the injury occurs.

Insurance Questions

Question: Does car insurance cover massage?

Answer: Yes. Car insurance comes with Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP).

Oregon law requires that all insurers provide personal injury protection benefits (PIP) when issuing your insurance policy. Oregon PIP pays for your medical bills and things such as ongoing lost wages, medication, and care in your home while you are recovering, regardless of who is at fault. It protects you from becoming in debt while you are treating and gathering evidence for your insurance claim.

At a minimum, Oregon requires coverage enough so that your medical bills are covered for up to one year (12 months) or $15,000. However, it is a good idea to purchase a policy that provides PIP coverage above $15,000 and for more than one year.

With a prescription/referral from your doctor, usually a primary physician (MD) or chiropractor (DC), PIP covers licensed massage therapy. So massage therapy is not only a critical part of your recovery, but also a viable option from a legal/financial standpoint. It is your legal right to choose the Oregon LMT you would like to work with.

I have experience in Oregon insurance billing and can bill your personal injury protection (PIP) benefit for massage therapy so that it is more convenient for you.

Question: Will my healthcare insurance cover massage therapy?

Answer: Most healthcare plans do not cover massage therapy unless the buyer puts it in their policy as an added benefit. There is a much higher chance that your policy covers massage if you are an employee with a group policy. It never hurts to call and check your coverage.

Lake Oswego Massage
SERVICES: -Deep Tissue Massage Therapy -Neuromuscular Therapy -Sports MET -Myofascial Release -Ice Massage -Post Accident Therapy -Muscle Strain and Injury -Back Pain and Injury -Neck Pain and Injury

Oregon LMT \| Washington LMP
Brent King is legally licensed to practice massage therapy in Oregon and Washington. In Oregon, Brent is a legally Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). In Washington, Brent is a legally Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP).