ANDREY MAZAEV, Remedial Massage Therapist, at Metro Health and Medicine is a specialist in Myofacial release and Craniosacral therapy.
What is Myofascial Release?
The technique is primarily a gentle stretch of the fascia, a thin layer of connective tissue, which covers and separates muscle groups and organs. This technique is popular among massage therapists, chiropractors and dentists, due to its gentle nature and can be effective with people who have severe pain. It is particularly effective with patients who suffer from TMJ disorder and cannot tolerate deep tissue techniques.
What is Craniosacral therapy?
Craniosacral therapy is an osteopathic technique that uses gentle touch, similar to Myofascial Release, but more focused on movement of the body’s cranial bones. This therapy helps with many conditions, including headaches, stress, anxiety and TMJ disorder. CST and Myofascial Release are often combined together to give maximum relief to these conditions.
This technique is frequently used to treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ disorder).
Some of the symptoms that indicate you may have TMJ disorder:
- Pain in the jaw
- Difficulty opening mouth
- Tired or sore jaw when you wake up
- Muscle soreness or spasm around the head and neck
- Headaches of all kinds
- Dizziness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Backaches
What are the potential causes of temporomandibular joint dysfunction?
- Dental: poor bite, missing teeth, past dental surgery, opening of the jaw for a prolonged period and poorly fitting or worn-out dentures.
- Injuries: whiplash and a blow to the head, face or jaw (even minor).
- Habits: poor posture, oral habits (such as pencil biting, gum chewing or clenching), poor eating habits and activities (such as heavy lifting, that strain the neck or the back).
In addition to these, stress and emotions can contribute to health problems, especially muscular aches and pains.
- Stress – essentially having more going on in your life than you can capacitate, unexpected situations and life events, a build up of home or work stress, financial worries, etc.
- Emotional: depression, anger, fear, anxiety, etc.
Massage Therapist
At your first treatment, Andrey uses an assessment checklist to determine whether you have TMJ disorder and, if so, which other body parts may be affected (neck, upper back, etc.).
You can expect some relief from your symptoms of TMJ after 2-3 sessions, however, for most people, a treatment course of between 5 and 10 visits is recommended.
At Metro Health and Medicine, we offer one-hour and 30 minute appointments. While, Andrey is able to work with your preference, he will give new patients a treatment plan with recommended number of sessions for your individual situation. We recommend all new patients book a one-hour session for their first appointment so you will have adequate time for both assessment and treatment, as well as be able to ask your practitioner any questions.
Sessions with Andrey for remedial massage qualify for Health fund rebates.