A variety of treatment modalities and styles are integrated in any one remedial massage treatment, depending on the individual nature of the conditions presented. Here's a description of several.

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Trigger Point Therapy

A Trigger Point is a hyper-irritable spot in a muscle; an often palpable nodule in the taut bands of skeletal muscles' fascia. Each muscle has potential trigger points which can become activated by muscle over- and under-use, inflammation, trauma and electrolyte imbalances. These trigger points can cause pain over the affected muscle or refer pain, and thus be felt in another area of the body, in reasonably predictable patterns. Other trigger points are only felt when the muscle is directly palpated by the therapist. Muscles with active trigger points are always weaker than properly functioning muscles and unable to move through their full range of motion. Often because they are unable to perform their normal function, other muscles are recruited to perform the activity of the compromised muscle. These secondary muscles can go on to develop trigger points themselves if the original muscle is not treated.

Trigger Point Therapy treats trigger points in a variety of ways, but commonly incorporating the following.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release (MFR) therapy focuses on releasing muscular ("myo") and fascial shortness and tightness. MFR can be indicated after losing flexibility or function following an injury or if experiencing ongoing headaches, back, shoulder, neck or hip pain (and many other areas containing soft tissue), often resulting from over- or underuse. The goal of MFR therapy is to stretch and loosen the muscles and fascia so that these and other contiguous structures can move more freely, with less pain and increased range of motion.

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Myofascial Cupping

Myofascial Cupping can be thought of as another form of MFR. A gentle negative pressure is applied with the cup above the surface of the skin. This decreased pressure gently lifts the underlying soft tissues, including muscle and surrounding fascia, causing pressure changes in these tissues. Using a gliding technique (with lubricating cream), a more "traditional" MFR technique (push/compression effect) is created using the leading rim of the cup, which is then followed by a ‘lifting’ negative pressure over the same area (pull effect). As the cup leaves the area, a push/compression effect is created.

Myofascial cupping is useful for eliminating myofascial trigger points and reducing restrictive and sometimes painful fascial adhesions, commonly originating from repetitive movements in sport or the workplace and everyday life.

Importantly, by using the gliding technique, in conjunction with lubricating cream, bruising almost always does not result with this form of cupping.