Massage is a part of my wellness plan. If I didn’t get it, I’d be taking some kind of drugs, and I just don’t want to go that route. I have six deteriorating discs, and my back gets inflamed. Getting a massage every other week helps keep that at bay. It doesn’t have any side effects, and it’s cheaper than most drugs.

If you have major medical insurance, check with us to see if your plan will pay. HSAs and Flex Cards can often be used to pay for massage therapy, chiropractic, and other wellness services. Regretfully, Medicare/Medicaid does not pay for massage therapy. We do not participate with them at all.

THERA-SSAGE offers package deals. If you purchase 5 up front, you will get 6 sessions, bringing the cost of each session down. For senior citizens over the age of 60, the cost of a package is $250…meaning each massage will cost you $42. For everyone else, the cost of a package is $300., giving you a $10 savings per massage when you purchase a package. Packages do not expire, and they can be split or shared with friends and family members.

A lot of things go into a wellness plan. The food we eat, for instance. Michele Tanner is a personal chef and Certified Clinical Herbalist who can help you make the right choices for you, depending on what you wish to accomplish….whether that’s weight loss or having more control of personal health issues, Michele can offer assistance.

We also offer chiropractic, acupuncture, and many spa treatments at THERA-SSAGE. Isn’t it time to take care of yourself?

North Carolina  requires that a massage therapist have a minimum of 500 hours of education, and passes the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam before a  license will be issued.  Included in that education:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Kinesiology
• Pathology
• Contraindications
• Theory and Practice of Massage
• Medical Terminology
• Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice
• Client Communications
• Clinical Practice
• Business Practices

We are also obligated to obtain 24 hours of additional education every two years.

You should be aware that any person practicing massage should have their license prominently displayed at their place of business, and that their license # should be included on all advertising.

Any person practicing massage who does not have a license should be reported to the North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy. It should be noted that cosmetologists, hairdressers, nail technicians, and even chiropractors and acupuncturists may not hold themselves out as massage therapists. They may not advertise massage therapy unless there is a licensed massage therapist on their premises.  Personal trainers are not qualified to perform massage therapy. You can look up a licensee on the Board’s website to be sure they are qualified to practice massage.

Why would it matter to you if someone is unlicensed? Primarily for your own safety. If a person has not been properly trained in the area of contraindications, for example, they could be guilty of massaging you at a time when it isn’t safe for you to have massage.  There are many health conditions that prevent us from performing massage, or require that we modify treatment in some way. Don’t take a chance with an unlicensed person.

Our massage therapists are not here to take the place of your doctor. We don’t diagnose, and we don’t prescribe. We in fact receive numerous referrals from doctors and dentists, and we work with them to give you the best care possible.

Sometimes people seek alternative health care because allopathic medicine hasn’t brought them the results they are looking for. We appreciate everyone’s right to choose the path that is right for them, but we don’t want anyone to endanger themselves by ignoring medical advice.

Sometimes people have a condition that we can’t massage at all–a contraindication. These include any contagious condition, certain skin conditions, and extremely high blood pressure, just to name a few. If we have any doubt about whether or not massage is safe for you, we will call your physician. This is a preventative measure to protect you, and to protect our therapists from liability. We never want to cause harm to anyone.

Massage is great for many things: they symptoms of muscle pain, low back pain, sciatica, sprains and strains, repetitive motion injuries, tension, TMJ dysfunction, fibromyalgia, plain old stress, and many other conditions. If you’re a client, you probably already know that. If you haven’t yet been in to see us to find out what massage therapy can do for you, we’d love to tell you about the benefits. We normally can’t accommodate walk-in appointments, but you’re free to give us a call or just drop in to ask us questions about massage. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Each and every drug has side effects, adverse effects, and interactions when taken with other drugs. A couple of days ago, I prepared a spread sheet for someone who is taking around 30 prescription drugs a day. To see the side effects and interactions laid out in that manner was nothing short of shocking: constipation, nausea, and dizziness were side effects of about ten of them, which may give some insight into why they’re constantly constipated, feeling sick, and taking frequent falls.

There comes a point in time when drug interactions cancel each other out. Taking a pill for everything that is wrong with you is not a good idea, when many of these things can be handled by simple dietary changes, getting exercise, and using less invasive measures, like topical products (which can still have side effects) and massage therapy.

If you’re taking more than one or two medications per day, you should make it a point to educate yourself about what it is you’re taking. If you’re seeing more than one physician for different problems, it is vitally important that each physician knows what the other is prescribing. Don’t let yourself be one of those statistics.

During a session for TMJD, the therapist will perform deep tissue massage on your head, neck, face, and shoulders. During the last 15-20 minutes of your session, the therapist will put on a glove and work in side your mouth, focusing on the muscles of mastication.

Many people experience profound relief after just one session. Bear in mind, though, that barring an actual deformity, TMJ Dysfunction is greatly aggravated by stress. Most people who receive massage for TMJD return periodically for further treatment.

TMJD massage requires an hour session. The cost is $60.

Our staff members are available to come to your workplace to do chair massage. The rate for this service is $60 an hour per therapist within a 10-mile radius, with an additional charge of $1 per mile for traveling further distances.  A 5-minute chair massage is just a tease…10 minutes is great, and 15 is even better!

All we require is a place to set up a massage chair.

If you’re an employer, you can write this off as an employee benefit. What a nice thing to do for your staff members…and a little appreciation goes a long way! Or maybe you and the other folks in your office would like to chip in for the cost to treat yourselves!

Give us a call at 828-288-3727.

Chair massage at the Forest City Owls game

Your first appointment with Dr. Edgerton is a full hour. Subsequent appointments are scheduled for a half hour. Dr. Edgerton is also against needlessly exposing people to radiation, so unless he thinks there is an extremely pressing need for it, he doesn’t recommend x-rays.

Dr. Edgerton is also an expert in nutrition. He is approved by BC/BS as a nutritional advisor and his knowledge is vast. Dr. Edgerton’s philosophy is “A good doctor prevents what he treats.” We think he does a bang-up job at it.

Dr. Edgerton frequently recommends massage therapy for his patients. Massage can help your adjustments go easier and last longer. We encourage you to visit Dr. Edgerton and our staff of talented massage therapists. You’ll be glad you did. He is available at our office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He also maintains a practice in Boiling Springs, NC.

All you have to do is call us for an appointment. This is available on an appointment basis only; we regret that we usually cannot accommodate anyone just walking in the door. Give us a call at 828-288-3727 to make your appointment. Just bring us your passport or plane ticket stub as proof that you have returned from a war zone in the past twelve months.

On Veteran’s Day (Friday, November 11) each year, massage is offered at half-price to all vets, active or retired. We appreciate each and every one of you.

This particular study focused on low back pain. 401 people were divided into three groups. One group received the usual protocol of prescription medication and physical therapy; one group received relaxation massage, while the third group received structural massage. The bottom line is that there was substantially noted improvement in the two groups receiving massage–regardless of the modality–while the group receiving usual care showed remarkably less improvement than either massage group. So the next time you’re seeking treatment for low back pain, seek a massage therapist!