Examples of Planning Strategies for Condition Based Work
Our practice provides wellness care. We also work with a wide array of conditions. Below are a few examples of some condition based work.
All new clients and patients complete paperwork and have an initial consultation (for advanced massage & clinical reflexology) or examination (for chiropractic care) in order to assess specific needs and concerns before care is rendered.
Common denominators for Condition Based work:
∙ Everyone who comes into our office undergoes an initial consultation which may last up to 20 minutes, depending on the complexity of the issue. This time spent does not take away from the scheduled bodywork session and is at no additional charge.
∙ We will also discuss health history, any current treatment regimens and what you expect from your bodywork session.
∙ If you have been referred by another health care practitioner, the prescription and concerns will be reviewed during the consultation. We will always take into consideration any special requests by the referring physician.
∙ We will create a plan of action and tailor each session accordingly.
∙ In reference to Advanced Massage Therapy:
‣ As we work together, we'll discover how you respond to bodywork. Each session may be similar or different than the next; and depth of pressure can vary from area to area, or visit to visit.
‣ For condition based work, session frequency is recommend at once per week for approximately 4 to 8 visits.
‣ We usually know within 3-7 sessions (each condition has a different progression), if Advanced Massage Therapy is a fit for your needs, or if you should consider another route of care.
‣ At the point you are able to move through a full week or two, feeling "quite better", we can start to consider extending the time between sessions to once every 2 weeks.
‣ As improvement continues, appointment intervals can be increased further to once every 3 weeks, and then every 4 weeks. Working this way allows us to help you find a maintenance schedule that works best for your particular needs.
‣ Experience has taught us that many conditions have an ongoing source which can result in an exacerbation of the complaint. When this happens, we may suggest the client return to more regular visits for a period of time. Or, if warranted, the client may be referred out for an additional evaluation, if that is a concern.
‣ The client is always welcome to test their maintenance parameters, once a plan is in place.
∙ We do not accept or file insurance.
Click on either location:
Rates and Hours
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Gratuity is not accepted.
The best tip you can give
is the referral of a friend
or family member.
Advanced Massage Therapy,
Clinical Reflexology
and Bodywork
1 hour
1½ hours
2 hours
$150
$225
$300
Chiropractic Care*
Initial Exam
Adjustment
$115
$ 55
*Chiropractic Care is ONLY available
in the Houston location.
Migraine Headaches
For clients who suffer with migraine headaches, it is common to have a full hour of site-specific and detailed work spent only on the head, neck and shoulder areas. We regularly spend between 30 and 45 minutes just in the neck region, depending on the muscular holding patterns associated with the complaint.
Over the past 20+ years, we have found that most neurologists who refer to us, prescribe initial visits at once per week for 6 to 8 sessions. We are in agreement with this regimen and use this as our starting point.
You are not required to have a prescription to see us for care, but we will work in tandem with your neurologist, if you would like us to do so.
If we do not see a progression of change within 8 visits (which is rare), we will suggest the client revisit their bodywork strategy and/or discuss additional options with their current neurologist or physician.
As the migraine headaches begin to ease in intensity, occur less often and even dissipate, the client will move into a new phase of less frequent scheduling (as described in the box above).
Eventually, a useful maintenance pattern will be found as maximum benefit is achieved.
*Chiropractic Care may be used in migraine headache cases. We only see chiropractic patients in the Houston location. Please note, if the referring neurologist is uncomfortable with chiropractic care, we will only provide advanced massage therapy, in accordance with the referring physicians preference.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ / TMD)
Dr. Kiki Lucas has been using Advanced Massage Therapy for approximately 20 years in her work with TMJ/TMD issues, and generally gets very good results. Normally, the entire 1 hour session is focused on the jaw, head, neck and trapezius musculature.
Improvement is usually seen within 4 to 8 sessions.
Many times the client has been referred to our office by their dentist or neurologist, due to grinding (bruxism) and subsequent headaches. However, plenty of clients find us on their own.
Session planning occurs as noted above, beginning at once per week. Once the client is able to make it through an entire week of useful improvement, the time between appointments can start to be extended. We then continue down this path, until a healthy maintenance pattern of minimal to "no pain", is achieved.
The majority of our TMJ/TMD clients prefer to continue with regular sessions once every 4 or 5 weeks. But we have seen some people find benefit at every 6 to 8 weeks, and a few have been known to eventually move into a maintenance pattern at once per quarter.
Anxiety & Stress Related Insomnia
If you just want to unravel, there is no better way than through a "deep Swedish relaxation" session; this slow-paced, moderately weighted bodywork allows you to unwind and coast into a tranquil state.
Using slow strokes over tense muscles, the result is an overall relaxed feeling that envelopes the body.
This is especially helpful when sleep patterns are altered or the stress and strain of day to day activities begins to overload the mind and body.
Clients may begin to notice a change in breathing habits immediately, improved sleeping habits can occur the same day, and more lasting changes are seen within 6 to 8 weekly sessions.
If the client needs a greater level of care, they are encouraged to make arrangements for a 2 hour block of time, where the "deep Swedish relaxation" session is followed by a Clinical Reflexology session which provides additional stress reduction.
Plantar Fasciitis
When clients with Plantar Fasciitis present to our office, we usually schedule them for Advanced Massage Therapy sessions (though, they are welcome to seek Chiropractic Care in the Houston location, if there is lower back involvement).
Since most people with this condition don't seek care immediately, it does take time to move back into healing.
Results can be seen in as little as two sessions and as many as twelve. But, we usually know by the third or fourth session as to how the client is progressing and if the plan needs to be adjusted.
Each person will need a different treatment plan, but the main work is the same:
We start with the feet (or foot involved) and spend time accordingly. As the pain begins to dissipate and inflammation decreases (typically anywhere from 3 to 7 weekly sessions), we move up and into the the lower legs. Usually starting with the front outer portion of the lower leg (the anterior compartment) and then progressing to the calf/calves.
Once the calf muscles begin to relax (approximately 3 sessions), the client has generally already started to transition into maintenance care.
Occasionally, the lower back, gluteal musculature and/or iliotibial (IT) band can contribute to the problem. If this is the case, we will schedule additional sessions to address the issue.
We are happy to work in conjunction with your Orthopaedic Physician or Podiatrist, and can also suggest referrals if needed or requested.
Therapeutic massage may seem like an indulgence. But, it can and does result in positive change.
Notable mention:
We have rarely seen Reflexology help Plantar Fasciitis. Therefore, the reflexology foot maps are not addressed in these sessions.
You are always welcome to contact us about conditions such as:
∙ Tension Headaches
∙ Migraine Headaches
∙ TMJ & TMD; Temporomandibular Joint Pain/Disorder
∙ Neck pain
∙ Shoulder pain
∙ Frozen Shoulder
∙ Some Rotator Cuff conditions
∙ Tennis Elbow
∙ Carpal Tunnel
∙ Low back pain
∙ Sciatica
∙ Knee and Ankle pain
∙ Plantar Fasciitis
∙ Sports Injuries
∙ Joint Replacement Recovery
∙ Myofascial Pain Syndrome
∙ Fibromyalgia
∙ Arthritis
∙ Anxiety
∙ Insomnia related to stress
If you don't find your condition listed, please give us a call, as we might be able to help you nonetheless.
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