Connective Tissue Massage (CTM) Massage

A man is demonstrating his well-toned muscles on a gray background.

Connective Tissue Massage or CTM is a dynamic system of massage which addresses your aches, pains, disharmony and dysfunctions where the problems truly lie, in your fascia or connective tissue. CTM works by releasing the restrictions in your body much more effectively & efficiently than any other massage or bodywork techniques. Connective Tissue Massage can provide you with immediate relief from pain, effecting deep change, without using any excessive force.

Most great massage therapists know that where it hurts is more often a symptom and not a cause of the hurt. CTM takes this to a whole new level. With Connective Tissue Massage we are not concerned with individual muscles, or knots, they are irrelevant as your body is one continuous web of fascia from head to toe. One kink anywhere in the body can, and will effect the rest of the body. The good news is that fascia responds very quickly to the proper touch. Muscles almost magically loosen up after the fascia is addressed, knots melt away, and CTM accomplishes this much faster than with more traditional forms of massage, stretching and bodywork.

What are The benefits of Connective tissue massage? The beauty and art of Connective Tissue Massage lies in the fact that that it can be completely customized to the specific individualized needs and comfort that each client requires. That means that almost everyone can can benefit from CTM treatments.

Connective Tissue Massage Can:

Enhance performance for athletes of all types
Assist injury patients rehab easier, faster and with less complications
Improve posture and add new found balance to the body
Relieve pain for those of us that are chronic pain sufferers
Help improve or eliminate tendonitis and scoliosis; sciatica, “Text Neck”, “Text Wrist” as well as TMJ to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Serve as an effective adjunct therapy for those who suffer from spinal cord or brain injuries, arthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinsons disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), Lou Garhigs (ALS), & other neuromuscular disorders.
Improve range of motion, increase
energy and enhance well-being.
Instantly reduce or eliminate acute or chronic structural compensations ( Which often develop following a trauma).
CTM aids in a faster and more complete recovery, and helps minimize the body’s vulnerability to future injury.

Connective Tissue Massage brings relief from chronic pain: Regularly, we hear this simple but powerful phrase from people who have received the work: “Ahhhhh! Finally Some Relief.” This occurs as the chronically shortened areas of fascial tissue are stretched and released. Most people proclaim that Connective Tissue Massage feels so much better than any other type of massage or bodywork they’ve ever received. As a therapist, I feel it is profoundly more effective than most other forms of massage in which we are more or less rubbing sore muscles. As CTM practitioners, we strive to minimize any discomfort and are careful to ensure that the work is right for you. During the session, we work with you, not on you. How many times has this happened in previous massage sessions? We encourage you to give feedback so the work is certain to meet the unique and individualized needs of your body.

CTM helps you reestablish a connection to mind and body. While Connective Tissue Massage is primarily focused on creating physical changes in the body, it effects the entire person emotionally and physically. Sometimes subtly and sometimes dramatically.

How can it be? It works like this: When the fascia is properly lengthened, it creates more physical space as well as more space for emotional change and subsequent release. The physical “letting go” regularly coincides with a sense of emotional “letting go.” We witness this manifesting itself as greatly diminished stress, and a heightened self awareness. In a word, relief. We all know how stress affects us physically as we have all felt at one point or another those “knots”. The tightness, stiffness, soreness in your neck, shoulders and head. Headaches. The good news is, CTM works, and works fast to reverse these effects and their symptoms, exactly where you “hold” it. The mind and the body are one.

CTM helps you achieve:

Relief from chronic pain, tension and an overall feeling of disharmony
Increased range of motion, ease of movement and flexibility Improved posture promoting a lean and tall physique
Enhanced self-awareness and overall peace throughout your body
Greater appreciation of the body as an integrative whole rather than a sum of parts
Increased breathing capacity and increased energy

What does CTM feel like?
Most people say it feels great! People tend to like it better than any other form of massage. Connective Tissue Massage is a very distinctive and unique sensory experience. No oils or cremes or lotions are applied to the body. The practitioner’s contact is generally broad, slow, and always intentional. The approach is intense but not painful, which allows your body to relax during the session. Fascial shortening and restriction are released almost instantly with the conscious touch of the CTM Practitioner, bringing an immediate and deep feeling of relief from tension.

Here ’s what people are saying about Connective Tissue Massage
“This is the most effective work I’ve ever received. It really gets the job done.” — EM., recovering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
“I was amazed at the ease of movement and the complete relief from pain and stiffness which I felt after receiving this type of massage for my own low back pain. I was so impressed that I have taken John’s workshops and now incorporate connective tissue work into my patient care.” —R.S., Doctor of Chiropractic “I felt like I’d been immersed in light… I’ve never had results like this with any other kind of work.”— J.M., fibromyalgia patient “This technique produces remarkable results… I’ve seen real improvements in some difficult chronic cases. I’ve begun referring some of my patients for this work…” —D.N., M.D., Orthopedics Specialist “This type of massage really seems to help my legs… and the work on my back really got right
to the areas where I needed relief.” —P.L., multiple sclerosis client

Where is the connective tissue in your body?
Connective tissue is the soft tissue that surrounds, supports, protects, and connects each and every structure in the body. Your body contains a continuous sheath of connective tissue, which is called “fascia.” This sheath provides the structural support for the skeleton and soft tissues (muscles,tendons, etc.). Gravity, injury, illness, emotional trauma, and other stressors affect the fascia, causingan imbalance in the connective tissue network. Fascia imbalance usually manifests itself as
tightening, or shortening of the connective tissue sheath (which makes your body feel as though the muscles are extremely tight). This is often experienced as pain, stiffness, discomfort, or decreased flexibility anywhere in the body. When the fascia becomes chronically shortened, it loses flexibility and resilience so your body can’t relax completely, even when it’s “at rest.” CTM is the most direct way to restore length and flexibility throughout the entire muscular system, normalizing the tissue
and bringing greater health through the fascial network.

Contact Planet Massage to schedule your Connective Tissue Massage today for a world of difference!