Treatments & Techniques

Massage Treatments & Techniques

My work ranges from focused, deep-tissue muscle "detailing" oriented toward the elimination of pain to more general strokes to enhance relaxation. Depending upon your individual needs, I may use a variety of techniques within a single massage treatment. Ultimately, your body's responses will guide the way to specific techniques or modalities as we progress through each massage session. We will determine goal(s) for each session, which may incorporate any of the following treatments:

Pain Management: massage to reduce chronic or acute pain, using orthopedic
assessment, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, longitudinal stripping,
cross-fiber friction, Muscle Energy Technique, etc.
Relaxation/stress reduction: Swedish massage, light-to-deep tissue massage
Deep tissue massage: myofascial spreading, working progressively and slowly into
deeper muscle layers
Sports massage: deep tissue, myofascial spreading, stretching, orthopedic assessment,
longitudinal stripping, frictioning, etc. to aid recovery
Natural Facelift massage (click for complete information)
CORE Myofascial Therapy (click for complete information)
Intraoral massage: using gloves, working on muscles inside the mouth to relieve jaw
   pain due to teeth clenching (bruxism) and conditions such as "temperomandibular
   dysfunction," (this treatment may also be helpful for people who experience headaches or
   sinus issues)

Therapeutic Protocols

I use a variety of techniques to facilitate your relaxation, pain relief, and sports recovery, including

• Postural analysis & muscle testing to pinpoint areas of imbalance or strain;

• Orthopedic assessment to ascertain appropriate treatment goals & techniques;

• Gentle-to-deep connective tissue softening to prepare the body for deep
yet comfortable work;

• Deep tissue myofascial spreading to help ease fascial & muscular constrictions;

• Neuromuscular therapy (including trigger point therapy);

• Muscle Energy Technique to allow muscles to relax & lengthen;

• Cross-fiber frictioning to promote muscle repair and/or reduce scar tissue;

• Longitudinal stripping to encourage muscle elongation;

• Use of client "active engagement" (movement) to enhance effects within deep
layers of muscle without applying additional pressure;

• Specific techniques to promote facial muscle rejuvenation;

• Eccentric stretching to facilitate scar tissue realignment;

• Use of a variety of supported positions to aid muscle release;

• CORE Myofascial Therapy to promote structural alignment;

• Hot stones to promote relaxation of muscles and nervous system;

• Kinesiotaping to enhance treatment effects via proprioceptive feedback;

• Gentle, low-impact, and/or non-circulatory methods when appropriate; and

• Home-care stretches & releases appropriate for each client's goals and level of flexibility.

Body Tuning
Carolyn Ehringhaus
207-899-8142

Massage Therapy in Portland, ME