Medical Massage

Licensed Massage Therapy. Over 20 years of therapeutic experience. Professional match with the right certified massage therapist. Multi-therapist office. *** New Client Offer*** Chiropractor on site.

*** New Client Offer *** FREE ***  With Booked Massage ***

         –VAGUS NERVE TONING

Our massage therapists have a minimum of five years of work experience. Each therapist is individually screened and tested to ensure a high level of competency.

We work with massage therapists that love what they do and have a high level of skill. We place value on those massage therapists that, beyond the Swedish and Deep Tissue massage taught in massage school, continue to acquire additional training or Certifications in the following:

  • Craniosacral Therapy
  • Myofascial Release
  • Trigger Point therapy
  • Sports Therapy
  • Medical Massage
  • Orthopedics
  • Pre / Post Natal

** Very important ** We teach all our therapists to be conscious of energy hygiene.

An example of a therapist’s non-energy mindset, is when afterwards the client may be left feeling tired, acquires new pains or spasms, feels nausea, develops a headache, or is experiencing a feeling of being drained. These are outcomes that seldom happen in our office. Our goal is pain relief, spasm release, rejuvenation and relaxation. Without negative side effects.

Our massage therapists have a great bedside manner. Massage Therapy is provided in a professional setting within a Chiropractic Office.

Craniosacral Massage

Our skilled massage therapists are highly intuitive to the craniosacral methods developed by Dr. John Upledger, and are therefore very effective in treating many different organic and musculoskeletal conditions with craniosacral massage.

Some massage therapists choose to pursue continuing education by studying Craniosacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute.

Craniosacral Therapy massage is very light and gentle, with a light amount of pressure exerted on to the body and head which promotes a release and rejuvenation within tissue structures and bodily organs. A craniosacral massage therapist helps facilitate relaxation of tight muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Craniosacral massage can also positively affect organs and underlying structures of the musculoskeletal system, such as blood vessels, peripheral nerves and the entire central nervous system. Including the spine and spinal cord. Symptoms and conditions borne out of dysfunctional peripheral nerve impulses are positively affected with a craniosacral massage, such as neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, leg pain, sciatica, herniated disks, and many other issues.

Craniosacral Massage can be both powerful and relaxing and is based mostly on your intention going into the massage. This is a very good, therapeutic form of body work with tremendous benefits and healing.

Medical Massage

Medical massage concentrates on symptomatic relief of a medically diagnosed condition. A medical massage is done by a licensed therapist to alleviate pain associated with specific musculoskeletal conditions and a specifically planned therapeutic outcome.

Medical massage therapy treats people with sports injuries, sprain/strain injuries, muscle cramps, muscle spasm, inflammation and fibromyalgia.

Muscle spasm is very common, and it is important for the medical professional to be able to differentiate between a muscle spasm and muscle splinting. Muscle spasm is where there is something wrong with the muscle itself and muscle splinting is when the muscle is spasming because it is protecting an underlying area under the muscle. Such as a hairline fracture, ligament sprain or tumor.

Muscle cramps respond well to medical massage and are often combined with recommendations for adequate water intake with emphasis on rehydration and the flushing out of lactic acid, which is very likely causing the cramps.

The goal of the therapist must include an improvement of muscle tone and improved range of motion (ROM) measured at the joint of origin and insertion points of the muscle in question. If the muscle is tight or in spasm the range of motion will be limited.

With our highly trained medical massage therapists a planned therapeutic outcome can be achieved.

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage is a very popular form of massage therapy. It is soothing, pleasant to the body and is the least resistant massage to receive. It usually involves the whole body, including the neck, back, torso, legs, arms, and head.

Massaging the head promotes fluid flow throughout the body and can often alleviate headaches and TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) dysfunction / pain.

A Swedish massage involves stroking and rubbing the body with gentle techniques often with oils to allow for a comfortable friction-smooth massage.

It is good for relieving stress and anxiety and can help promote activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. That rest and relaxation feeling we often feel after a good night’s sleep.

This style gets its name from a 19th-century Swedish physiologist, Per Henrik Ling, whose system of medical gymnastics included massage. Johan Georg Mezger (1838-1909) coined a reduced set of techniques of Dr. Ling’s system as the “Swedish massage” system.

The Swedish massage is known for four major therapeutic techniques called Efflurage, Petrissage, Tapotement and Vibration.

Efflurage is a Swedish massage long stroking – gliding technique that usually captures the whole length of the muscle from origin to insertion points on the correlating bone.

Petrissage is where the therapist kneads the body. Thumbs, knuckles, or elbows are often used to apply pressure on to the muscle fibers. Skin rolling, squeeze and wringing are all part of the petrissage technique. With petrissage the overall direction is from proximal to distal, as opposed to effleurage, in which the direction of the overall technique is from distal to proximal length of the muscle being worked on.

Tapotement is a rhythmic percussion on to the muscles with cupped hands or the edge of the hands in a rapid alternating hitting of muscles.

Vibration in Swedish massage technique often achieved with a hand-held tool such as a percussor or topical vibrator. Usually, the intensity of the shaking can be adjusted as needed on such machines which offer a very good therapeutic value.

An important consideration with a Swedish massage is the correct hands-on placement during the session to not incorrectly use strokes with a client / patient as to cause a build-up in the sinuses. Often the person lying down on the table can get stuffed in the nose and cannot breath, which is the result of incorrect application and direction of strokes.  If this happens to you during your Swedish massage you need to find a different therapist to work with. All our therapists are well aware of this potential unpleasant side-effect.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage uses a lot of pressure and requires a strong pair of hands. It targets deep layers of muscle and fascia to bring about correction, release, and relaxation.

Deep tissue massage can get painful, and the pressure used must be within the patient’s threshold for pain. Calculating firm pressure during the stroke otherwise it defeats the purpose in trying to release, and relieve pain in the muscles being worked on.

This massage is often incorporated in Sports Therapy as injuries can often create adhesions within deep tissue layers, if not treated in a reasonable time. The goal is to not let injured muscles become chronic and painful. Breaking up tissue adhesions within deep layers takes skill and experience. Otherwise with the level of pressure that is required, more harm than good can be created.

Direct communication with the therapist is recommended during a deep tissue massage. This will allow for valuable feedback regarding the amount of pressure most tolerable and therapeutically beneficial to the patient.

Trigger Point Massage

Trigger point massage also known as myofascial massage or myofascial release concentrates first on identifying latent (painful to touch) and active (always painful) muscle spots on the body. Then using various manual techniques to eradicate those painful areas within the muscle tissue.

A trigger point is described as a taut band of muscle, usually of a different texture and feel, first identified by Dr. Janet Travell, M.D. as a hyperirritable spot, usually within a tender band of muscle / fascia which is painful to touch and can give rise to a characteristic referred pain (shooting pain to another area of the body upon digital compression from the therapist), motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena.

These trigger points are tight and contracted myofascial tissue, with a feel of a different tone, almost like hard nodules. They may feel swollen, tense, or tender upon digit compression by a therapist.

In our office we treat myofascial trigger points with vibration and percussion. This method reduces inflammation and facilitates blood flow to the area, thereby restoring the normal tone of the muscle. It is the least painful for the patient, compared to the common compression method which is very painful and not very effective. Vibration of the trigger point does not produce any pain and as a result, the outcome is quite effective in eradicating trigger points from the muscles. Combined with craniosacral therapy your results are realized as quickly as possible.

We often use tunning forks with a specific frequency to treat trigger points. Once activated, the flat point is placed right on the trigger point and the vibration from the tuning fork melts it away. It is a simple and very effective modality to work with. Patients often report a myofascial release within the triggered muscle during this application, a very soothing sensation for the body.

Sports Therapy Massage

Sports therapy is multifaceted and multi-modality optional. In our office we combine complimentary healing arts of massage, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic and other tools to facilitate the athletes desired result in the least amount of time and usually much faster than other therapy offices.

Sports therapy massage helps in correcting tightness, overuse injury, trauma, and muscular strain patterns of repetitive and strenuous movement.

There are two major types of sports massage:

Pre – Event Sports Massage. The intention of this message is to prepare athletes for competitions or training sessions.

Post – Event Sports Massage. This massage should be applied after the athlete has completed their event, ideally within 24 hours.

The goal of sports massage is to improve performance by lessening inflammation, loosening tight muscles, improving elasticity and increasing range of motion (ROM) of the muscle(s) and their stress-bearing joints.

This massage is very specific and targets the muscles associated with body parts most in demand for a particular athlete’s sport. It helps reduce tension and improve lymphatic fluid flow and blood flow necessary for restoration and optimal muscular performance.

Sports massage also helps with reducing lactic acid buildup by facilitating the pumping action of a worked muscle to excrete metabolic waste products. Which also prevent swelling and reduce inflammation.

Endorphins such as cortisol and adrenaline are released during a massage and give a soothing feeling to the specific muscles and general sensation of lightness and euphoria to the mind-body complex.

Certain similarities exist with Swedish and deep tissue muscle massage but geared for the athlete. A portion of the session can also involve various stretching techniques and trigger point therapy, as many athletes can develop trigger points due to a lack of hydration reaching a particular muscle(s).

Sports therapy massage in our office is multifaceted which often includes craniosacral therapy and produces the intended outcome desired by the patient.

Orthopedic Massage

Orthopedic medical doctors often prescribe massages after surgery and other musculoskeletal procedures. Swelling and scar tissue build up after an invasive procedure can benefit greatly with a focused orthopedic massage.

Inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis and bursitis can also improve, with the goal being a decrease in swelling, diminished pain, increase in range of motion (ROM) and an improvement in overall myofascial function.

Orthopedic massage involves proper assessment and often a comprehensive treatment approach, which may include joint mobilization, manual therapy, and myofascial release components.

Joint Mobilization is a therapeutic manual therapy technique (hands of the therapist are applied to the specific joint of the body) which concentrates in effort of bringing pain relief, increased ROM, improved stability and improved movement of a particular joint. Such as shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle. It can also be qualified as working with the individual joints of the spine with a qualified spine specialist such as a Chiropractor. All joint mobilization techniques are intended to improve and ease joint movement.

Manual therapy are all techniques of hands-on work applied by a therapist as it pertains to the human body via a therapeutic touch. Manual therapy is also sometimes called Manipulation. You literally, with the hands, through a skillful placement of the hands, intending a positive therapeutic outcome for restricted fascia and tissue move, stretch, compress, vibrate, release and massage the patients area of complaint to bring about relief.

Myofascial release is a manual hands-on technique that focuses on releasing – freeing tight, contracted, shortened myofascial structures of the musculoskeletal system, including fascia enveloping muscles. It is most commonly used to treat neck and back pain as well as any part of the musculoskeletal system, including the torso and limbs.

From an orthopedic, chiropractic perspective all three, joint mobilization, manual therapy and myofascial release can be incorporated into a therapeutic session to achieve a pain free outcome. There is more than one technique of each modality depending on the education of the therapist. For example, a massage therapist, a physical therapist, a chiropractor may all have different approaches and call it manual therapy, trigger point therapy or myofascial release.

Here in our office, we are less concerned about semantics and more concerned about providing proper techniques that result in the best possible therapeutic outcome for you.

Prenatal Massage

A prenatal licensed massage therapist needs additional training to learn more, and to become mindful of the needs of a pregnant woman. Often Swedish and other lighter forms of massage are utilized and should proceed with caution and awareness of the growing fetus. Massage can be indulged in at any time during pregnancy but is mostly recommended after the onset of the second trimester, past all the risk factors for developing fetus.

The most common reason a woman may seek out a prenatal massage is to alleviate low back pain and leg pain caused by the changing demands placed on the body. Other considerations are to relieve muscle aches, ease sore areas and to improve circulation of fluids within the joint structures.

Many women also turn to massage to reduce anxiety, help with depression, and find relaxation. Massage therapy while pregnant also improves sleep, eases constipation, and has an overall calming effect.

Prenatal massage has a soothing effect on the nervous system as it improves Vagal tone and decreases levels of cortisol in the body. Several studies have shown (study 1, study 2) that the vagus nerve is involved in many vital processes during pregnancy. Such as regulation of inflammation, normal function of vital organs and adequate production of hormones.

Vagus nerve plays an important role in regulation of blood flow and contraction of the uterine muscles. Mothers receiving massage on a regular basis experience fewer complications during delivery and can shorten labor time by an average of three hours. Massage during pregnancy is also linked to a lower incidence of premature birth and less incidence of low birthweight rate.

It is of great benefit to the mother to be, to engage in regular massage therapy with a licensed experienced prenatal practitioner. In addition, craniosacral therapy also adds great value to the state of health to both mother and growing baby.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Dr. Kaminsky earned his Chiropractic degree in the year 2000 and is licensed to practice in NY. He has since completed close to three thousand hours of continuing education seminars in various healthcare fields.

Since 2015, he is implementing primarily the hands-on techniques of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle, non-invasive, laying of the hands that brings about reversal and restoration.

The Craniosacral Mechanism is the driver of moving fluid in the body and head called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), which is produced by the Choroid Plexus of the brain and encapsulated within the head and spine.

The craniosacral system is the hydraulic mechanism of a human being and is a component of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and (ANS) Autonomic Nervous system.

There is a function inside of your brain that autonomically generates rhythmic impulses that function to pump CSF throughout your body via the craniosacral pathways, regulating your central and peripheral nerves, nervous system and organ systems, musculoskeletal system, etc.

This moving fluid is palpable to a trained craniosacral therapist, like the heart rate, pulse rhythm, breath, that can all be seen, heard or felt, so too can the Cranial Sacral Rhythm (CSR) be palpated and diagnosed for its health.

By placing his or her hands on your body, including your head and sacrum, the therapist can detect, feel and evaluate the SQAR (symmetry, quality, amplitude, rate) of this fluid rhythm.

The health of your body and mind are dependent on the vitality of this fluid. Compromises of your CSR’s rhythmic impulse correlates to CSF flow restrictions in the system which, when the fluid isn’t flowing optimally, your bodily rejuvenation and recovery is affected.

With anatomically correct hand placement on different parts the body during a session, through gentle manipulation and mobilization the therapist guides and facilitates a positive change in that region of the body which brings forth a correction. A myofascial release in a sense.

A craniosacral therapist stimulates and helps your rhythm refocus, allowing for improvement of musculoskeletal tightness and spasms, neurological issues, organ function, many common conditions, pain, and the mind-body re-connect.

Through a practitioners properly focused and individually attuned touch, your body is facilitated to release channels of fluid stagnation and flow restriction, which ultimately breakthrough, overcome and improve your rhythmic fluid and your potential for health improvement.

The existence of the Craniosacral mechanism was first discovered by Osteopath Dr. William Sutherland in the early 1900’s, who called it Cranial Osteopathy. And many years later, renamed to Craniosacral Therapy by Osteopath, Dr. John Upledger.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is an advanced and certified Craniosacral Therapist, having studied advanced levels including SER, Brain and Pediatric courses. He has built a significant skill-set with many years of experience treating adults, children and babies. To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Kaminsky.