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Intra Oral Massage is a type of massage therapy done inside the mouth but can also include on the head, neck, and face. This treatment is done through regular head, neck and face massage. Assessing movement of the muscles in these areas, restriction, “knots in the muscles” (trigger points), palpating for tenderness, and pain throughout these areas, help assess and form clinical impressions of where the restriction may be causing undue force on one side of the face over the other. This is the theory of registered massage therapy for the rest of the body. Intra Oral massage follows these same guidelines, except the movement is minimal. The actions of the massage treatment are done wearing gloves and a mask, it is done slowly with light held in an area of tension and held until the tension releases on its own. Time in the mouth is designed to make small, manageable gains at each treatment, and leave the client with strategies to help maintain those gains.

Intra Oral Massage is a treatment that can help with the symptoms of TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction). This is a blanket term used to describe a list of symptoms experienced in the jaw joint (TMJ).

Some of these symptoms include:
Ø  Popping, clicking or grinding noises in the jaw when opening and closing mouth
Ø  Experiences of jaw locking open or closed with effort to relief
Ø  Achy, painful facial muscles, pain, tenderness,
Ø  Ringing in or tenderness round the ears
Ø  Temporal tension headaches (where massaging your own temples makes it feel better).

These symptoms can be caused from an array of different reasons as well. Structurally, through the alignment of the way the teeth come together, trauma to the head, jaw, or face, stress induced oral habits such as clenching or grinding (bruxing), neurological disorders, depression, and anxiety. Your Dentist can help you with prescribing an oral appliance such as a night guard, or a Deprogramming device, or suggest the application of Orthodontics (braces), or if your dysfunction has become quite advanced, your Dentist may even suggest surgery. However, Intra Oral Massage is another solution that, when used in conjunction with some dental interventions, has shown great success in the management of symptoms.

Sarah, who spent 21 years in dentistry alongside some Dentist’s that treated symptoms of TMD dentally, uses her knowledge of occlusion (the way the teeth come together), the parameters of within the normal limits of functional movements, and how these findings applies, are all part of her extensive assessment and initial treatment appointment. At the end of this appointment, a treatment plan is created and utilized at each appointment following, with adjustments made as they become necessary. Each subsequent appointment is booked for half the initial time with pre-measurements and post-measurements at each visit to assess if the treatment plan and treatment can hold its gradual successes, as well as home care to help with the longevity of this success.

With its roots derived from Traditional Indian Head Massage is altered treatment called Indie Head Massage. With the same outcomes as traditional Indian Massage and similar movements, the direction of treatment and scope of practice of Indie Head massage is to still find restrictions within taut muscles, which create shortened movements, tension headaches, and tender and achy areas around upper shoulders, neck, head, and face. The warmed oil is placed on the scalp and pulled through the length of the hair. Planning your day accordingly with this in mind, will be an asset if this treatment is something you would like to give yourself.
***For those that have an extremely sensitive scalp, this approach may not be for you. ***

Traditional Indian Head Massage has been steeped in the rich Indian culture for an estimated 2,000+ years. It is traditionally performed by Ayurvedic practitioners, and most commonly, the pattern of movements has been passed down through generations of matriarchs in families. The purpose of this treatment was to create focused energy directed at deep relaxation, encouraging oxygen rich blood supply to flood the muscles throughout the scalp, and promoting hair growth through the follicles.

Inducing deep relaxation increases the parasympathetic system which assists in:

Ø  A decrease of anxiety, and stress

Ø  An increase in mental clarity allowing better sleep

Ø   Improving circulation of the cerebral spinal fluid

The movements are done with mild to moderate depth, with a variety of different actions such as flowing, friction, specific compressions, and gentle follicle stimulation through light hair pull. These actions are all done with the use of warm coconut oil that is infused with rosemary and peppermint extract, which is known for its benefits in encouraging strength and length of hair, as well as an assistant in the decrease of sinus pressure and increase in lymphatic flow. Since this treatment is passed down through generations of culture, the performance of the traditional Indian Head Massage cannot be performed as a Registered Massage Therapist, as there are no distinct regulations within it.

Cupping is a great approach to add on to any deeper tissue orthopedic treatment. The purpose of this treatment is to increase circulation and blood flow by binding superficial layers of the tissue including the fascial layer (the thin membrane that encases large muscle groups. When this layer binds, this is where the “tight knot” feeling comes from). When the cups are placed, it is typical to see surface redness, or bruise-like discolourations. Unlike bruises, these markings are not painful to touch, and consist of surface level broken blood capillaries, versus deep trauma to a muscle belly, like a bruise would be.  The idea behind the binding of this tissue with these cups that can be left statically (in place), or dynamically (moved across the surface area), is to create micro “damage” to these surface layers of tissue to force the body to send new, healthier cells to this area, thus removing the tension and adhesions.

Although it is typical to see these circular markings, they vary from person to person, and even from one area of the body to another. The array of colours these markings can occur is speckled red or pink, darker red/purple/brown, light to almost non-existent. These markings can last anywhere from a day to 2 weeks. Most find these markings are visible but do not cause any other symptoms, and often clients report they “forget they are there”. Few people notice as their markings dissipate, that the surface of the circular marking can feel “itchy”. All of this is short lived.

The use of hot Basalt stones for therapeutic reasons has been around for approximately 4000 years. The origin is believed to have begun in India by their traditional Ayuryeda Practitioners, however the Japanese used them over the stomach area for indigestion concerns, the Chinese used them over the abdomen to help the function of internal organs, and the Indigenous peoples of North America used them to heat their sweat lodges, and to ease aliments. Modern use of Hot Stone Massage Therapy began in 1993 to help increase circulation and blood supply to areas of tenderness and tension, as well to soothe trigger points (knots) after they have been released in conjunction with regular deep tissue orthopedic Registered Massage Therapy.

Heat encourages fluid towards its point of origin. Increasing oxygen rich circulation to an area helps treat areas of achy, tender muscles, reduces inflammation by activating the immune system, improves the extensibility of tight muscles and stiff joint capsules, as well as reduces stress levels which aids in healthy sleep patterns.

The warmed Basalt stones can be left statically (in place), or dynamically (moved across the body). The stones are warmed to a point of individual client acceptance and held in the therapist’s hands, while being moved through the areas of the body being treated. When trying to soothe areas of point tenderness, the stones can also be left in place to flood the area with oxygen rich blood supply to help lubricate muscle fibers and help release these areas of tension.

Cold Stone Cryotherapy and Gua Sha Facial treatment is done with chilled Basalt, Jade, or Rose Quartz, with focused treatment on facial landmarks, and moved in light, slow, rhythmical movements through the pattern of sinus drainage. Cold encourages fluid to move away from its point of origin, therefore this pattern of movement is ideal for helping encourage sinus drainage. This is ideal to help with the pains of sinus pressure, “fullness feeling” in the ears, and tension headaches. When working through head, neck, and shoulder tension, as well as symptoms of TMD Intra Oral massage, this is a great complementary approach to soothe at the end of these treatments to gain a sense of renewal and refresh.