The focus of my practice is structural, therapeutic work on soft tissue: muscles, tendons & ligaments, and connective tissue (including fascia and scar tissue).  This work is designed to relieve acute and chronic muscle pain, to rehabilitate traumatic and repetitive motion injuries, to effectively treat Myofascial Pain Syndrome, to alleviate post-surgical soft tissue pain, to assist women physically in adjusting to pregnancy, and to help athletes attain peak athletic performance.

I simply call it Muscle Therapy.

The techniques that I incorporate originate from a number of modalities.  Among them:

    Neuromuscular Therapy

    Trigger Point Therapy

    Myofascial Release

    Positional Release

    Sports Massage

    Pregnancy Massage

    Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

Methodology includes using sustained compression1 in order to block the reflex arc and thus coax the muscle to neurologically release or to de-activate Trigger Points, and by doing a thorough application of cross-fiber friction2 in order to create a semi-permanent separating of the muscle fibers or to elasticize scar tissue.  Since muscles broaden as they contract, the separation of tissue from cross-fiber friction also allows a more complete broadening of the muscle during contraction.  This in turn creates a stronger contraction and therefore a stronger muscle.  Mechanical shear (between the skin and muscles) on fascia can also be used to soften the tissue and lessen intensity.

Specific symptoms or conditions that can effectively be dealt with include:

adhesions (knots in muscles)

neurological tightness

trigger points (referred pain)

tension headaches

migraine headaches

whiplash

tendinitis

tendinosis

plantar fasciitis

tenosynovitis

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Anterior Compartment Syndrome

TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint

        Dysfunction)

DeQuervain’s Syndrome

Patellar Tracking Dysfunction (PTD)

rotator cuff injuries

muscle pulls or tears

paraspinal muscle tightness from

        disc pathology

muscle tightness from scoliosis

functional hyper-lordosis

functional hyper-kyphosis

certain types of dizziness

postural distortions

general muscle pain or soreness

general low back pain

inflexibility

shin splints

compressed ribs

INITIAL ASSESSMENT  (required of all first-time Muscle Therapy clients)

The Initial Assessment consists of a health history, muscle testing, and a thorough palpation of tissue in order to asses your specific condition and its origin and whether Muscle Therapy is applicable.  A postural analysis may also be recommended.  A short muscle treatment follows to confirm the assessment, reveal other possible problem areas, and also begin to make changes to your soft tissue.  Upon completion of your treatment I will make suggestions for self care, recommend a treatment plan, and give referrals to other health care practitioners when necessary.

REHABILITATION  (a treatment every 1-4 weeks)

Designed to make the most semi-permanent change possible to your soft tissue for maximum relief by building on previous muscle therapy sessions and home self-care.

MAINTENANCE/PREVENTION  (a treatment every 5 or more weeks)

Intended to follow a series of Rehabilitation treatments in order to sustain your structural changes and prevent the re-occurrence of your pain.

Steve started his rehabilitation career in Chicago in 1990 and has been practicing muscle-specific therapy for the past 25 years.  He is a specialist in neuromuscular rehabilitation, kinesiology & biomechanics, musculoskeletal anatomy, and trigger point therapy. 

He has taught Myofascial Pain Syndrome lectures to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Year Residents at the University of Utah Medical School.  He has also taught both myofascial physiology and hands-on techniques to student sports trainers at the University of Utah.  For 8 years he was the instructor for Sports Massage at the Myotherapy College of Utah.  He also enjoys giving lectures and presentations to the general public about muscle pain and dysfunction such as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

In 1991, Steve received his certification from the Chicago School of Massage Therapy where he studied Muscle Therapy with Robert King (former President of the AMTA) and James Hackett.  He continued his education studying Neuromuscular Therapy with Judith Walker DeLaney and, in 1992, was certified in sports therapy by the AMTA and became a member of the AMTA’s National Sports Massage Team. Additionally, Steve has studied lymphatic therapy, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques, and has a certification in pregnancy, birth, postpartum and infant massage.

Affordability and Value

I treat you like a normal person with a busy life and a very real budget.  Because pampering is NOT the focus of my practice, you will come away with an education of possible contributing factors to your concerns, realistic suggestions of what you can do for yourself outside on the treatment room, and manageable treatment plans with realistic prices designed to obtain maximum results.

In order to help keep our fees lower, I....

1. 1. 1) do not accept tips
      

   2. 2) do not accept credit or debit cards for payment
      

   3. 3) have a strict 24-hour cancellation policy to keep a full schedule
      

   4. 4) do not accept 3rd party pay from insurance companies in order to eliminate the huge costs of insurance paperwork

25 years experience, Licensed Massage Therapist

Massage Therapy Certification, Chicago School of Massage Therapy

NeuroMuscular Therapy Studies, International Academy of NeuroMuscular Therapy

Certification in Massage for the Childbearing Year, Somatic Learning Associates

Massage Therapy Instructor, Chicago School of Massage Therapy

Certification in Sports Massage, American Massage Therapy Association

National Sports Massage Team, Past Member

Sports Massage Instructor, Myotherapy College of Utah

Sports Massage Supervisor, Chicago Marathon

Athletic Experience

Personal Training Certification, American Council on Exercise

25 years Personal Training consulting

40 years strength and cardiovascular training

9 years triathlons (Ironman, Half Ironman, Olympic)

32 years road running (marathons, half marathons, 10k’s, 5k’s)

16 yrs Ultra trail running (50k - 50 mile)

Former competitive cyclist (road)

23 years T’ai chi

Music Career

23 years professional orchestra conductor

30 years experience, orchestral musician & performer

B. Mus. in Performance, Wheaton College

M. Mus. in Performance, Northwestern University