Matt Winings (Indianapolis, IN) : Massage Therapist Of The Week.

Matt Winings, LMT

“Relax|Revive|Renew”

Matt offers in-call sessions at his studio in the historic Stutz Business Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. He completed his massage training at the Indiana Therapeutic Massage School of IUPUI. His goal is to help you to “unplug” from our ever-connected society long enough to get the much needed relaxation that you owe to yourself. Using integrated Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage techniques, Matt customizes each massage based upon individual needs whether the focus is for relaxation or pain management. He also offers Hot Stone Therapy and is a member of the ABMP. Matt likes to spend time outdoors camping, hiking and traveling with his two retired greyhounds.

 “Best massage! I felt relaxed 24 hours later! Total professional, nice environment, knew exactly what to do to relieve my back pain, fantastic value! I will continue to use Matt and recommend him to others” 

“Matt is very professional. Excellent Therapist! He relieved the muscle tension and pain from my recent trips to the gym, which helped clear the lactic acid build up which reduces stiffness in muscles and joints. He knew just the right pressure and technique. I felt like a new person, was ready to hit the gym once again!”

To contact Matt for massage see his profile

The Rotator Cuff : Injury and treatment

The weekend warrior season is upon us. Many of us take advantage of the warm sunny weather to engage in outdoor sports. Whether it is climbing, biking, hiking or team sports, we are more apt to push our bodies to the limits of physical exertion. Such exertion if we are not careful can lead to acute or chronic injuries. This summer, we at legitmassage.com will examine different injuries that we are all susceptible to and explain what we can do to avoid injury and what measures to take if we encounter an injury. We will address self-care (the kind of care that aids the healing process between massage sessions) as well as different massage techniques to address specific muscle and tendon injuries. This week we take a look at common rotator cuff injuries.

  What is the rotator cuff and what does it do?
  The rotator cuff is made of four different muscles called the SITS muscles that move and stabilize the shoulder joint, a ball and socket joint that allows the arm to move in many directions. Made up of the upper end of the bone of the upper arm (the humerus), the shoulder joint fits into the glenoid fossa of the scapula and is kept in place by the joint capsule and the labrum. The labrum is a series of cartilage bands that allow the shoulder joint to fit snugly. The SITS muscles are the Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis. They share attachments on the scapula and the humerus.

How is the rotator cuff injured?
There are many ways to injure a rotator cuff and they range from acute trauma to chronic overuse. Aging also plays a factor in rotator cuff injury. A fall or an accident can damage the rotator cuff as can overuse of the shoulder joint such as occurs with any overhead movement like throwing a ball, weight lifting or painting. Injury to the rotator cuff results in pain and spasm and limits range of motion of the shoulder joint. Other range of motion limitations results from the accompanying inflammation or swelling from the injury. Arthritis and calcium deposits and other aging factors also limit range of motion. When the rotator cuff is overused and undergoes poor mechanics, tendinitis may be the result. Tendinitis is marked by a deep pain over the shoulder during and after exertion, inflammation and decreased range of motion. Because the area where the muscle tendons attach to the bone, the musculotendinus junction, has a limited blood supply, tendon fibers can die and lead to weakening of the tendon and eventual tearing. 


Treatment: Treatment of the rotator cuff varies depending on the severity of the tear, tendinitis or any other condition as a result of the initial injury. If the cuff is completely torn, well then you may have already sought prompt medical attention. However, if the muscles are partially torn or strained then surgery or any other invasive procedure may not be necessary. The first couple of days after the injury or when pain first surfaces from chronic overuse, it is better to follow the steps of RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation. Afterwards, massage and physical therapy are ideal treatments. In addition to exercise to strengthen and condition the afflicted muscle/s, massage will address the pain, the spasm, and range of motion limitations. Lymphatic drainage may be used to reduce swelling. Trigger point compression may be used to reduce muscle tightness and trigger points. Pain-free passive joint movements are used to maintain range of motion. After a few weeks, heat may be applied to the injured site as well as more direct therapy techniques to reduce adhesions and scar tissue such as direct friction to the muscles and tendons. In the meantime, between massage treatments which may range from two to three times a week for three weeks and then gradually decrease in frequency, a series of self-treatments such as hydrotherapy, stretches, and resistance exercise will keep you on the road to recovery. In the chronic stage of healing, six or so weeks after the initial injury, you may find a contrast bath to be soothing. Contrast bathing consists of 3 parts heat to 1 part ice or 15 minutes of heat to 5 minutes of ice. *Remember heat and ice are good, but too much of a good thing can become a bad thing* so limit the duration of hydrotherapy. Be mindful of stretching and strengthening and try not to do too much at once. This will also be a good time to change the mechanics and equipment that may have contributed to the injury in the first place. Re-education is valuable and combined with all of the other treatments will get you back in the game stronger and smarter than before. 


Kip Yates, LMT was trained at the Swedish Institute in New York City and is New York State and Texas State licensed. He is owner and operator of Massage Refresh in New York City where he provides Swedish wellness and recuperative Deep Tissue massage that encompasses myofascial release and trigger point therapy. Kip lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three children and also practices at Physiofitness Physical Therapy in Soho.

MASSAGE THERAPIST OF THE WEEK : CELESTE MAGNUSON (FORT COLLINS, CO)

Celeste Magnuson, CMT

“rejuvenate. nourish. cleanse”

Celeste, owner of Living Arts Wellness in Fort Collins, Colorado, trained at the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado in Denver. Her therapeutic work focuses on wellness through lifestyle and a simple belief… rejuvenate the body with massage therapy, give the body the nutrients it needs, and clear away the waste allowing the body to heal itself. 


Living Arts Wellness offers myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue massage, joint mobilization, and Swedish massage that assists with chronic and acute pain issues. Celeste furthermore received a certification as a Living Foods Lifestyle educator at the Ann Wigmore Institute in Aguada, Puerto Rico. Her holistic wellness philosophy also includes cleansing and detoxification, and she is an I-ACT instructor level colon hydrotherapist and nationally certified as a massage therapist. Celeste enjoys supporting her clients in their transformation and teaching them how to create lives of health and ease.

“In my estimation, Celeste is one of the most outstanding health professionals that I have had the opportunity to be treated by. I found her to be very professional. Celeste is knowledgeable and thorough. Being a Medical Qigong Practitioner and Energy Healer myself, I have had the opportunity to experience many health professionals and would rank Celeste one of those at the top of her field. Her knowledge on subjects such as massage therapy, raw foods, colon hydrotherapy and other health disciplines is vast. I highly recommend anyone to use Celeste's services as her Center is grounded and founded in Integrity.”

- Dr. Geoffry G. Hirose

“I have been battling a long time illness and Celeste has been a tremendous part of my healing process. She has been so patient with me and taken the time to understand what it is that I need from each session. Her professionalism is uncanny and much appreciated given the circumstances. She has a plethora of knowledge and is always ready to share any ideas with me in order to help me achieve better health."

-Amy L.

To contact Celeste for massage see her profile

Incall Massage vs Outcall Massage. Pros & Cons.

Although they seem intuitive, many people still struggle to understand clearly what actually the difference between these two offers is. What is more, some clients don’t even know the meaning of the two terms – incall and outcall. Hence the idea of this short article with which I’d like to bring some clarification to the subject and help you choose this option which will work best for you in your particular circumstances.

  Incall massage is the one that occurs in the massage therapist’s premises (clinic, salon, office etc.) and they can use all the facilities that this place offers. Outcall massage (also known as Housecall, Mobile or Onsite massage) occurs when the massage therapist needs to travel to the client’s place whether it’s their home, hotel room or office and the sessions are conducted in this changing environment, often new to the massage therapist.

 There are obvious differences between the two offers, the most prominent of which is the price of service.

 Incall option allows the therapist to use their time more efficiently as they do not need to travel and there’s very limited set-up time required. This option is therefore less expensive for the customer but they need to always cover the travel expenses themselves. Outcall option is exactly the opposite and depending on the distance to travel, the difference in price may vary from 20% to even 100%. An idea to keep the cost low may be for a few persons to receive massage at the same time in the same or similar location but note that some therapists would travel to only recommended contacts who often should also posses their own massage table. In addition, Watsu therapists will only make house calls to homes equipped with pools or hot tubs, since they need a pool for their style of bodywork.

 As far as the service itself is concerned, there are pros and cons of both options as well. During the incall massage session the massage therapist can precisely control the temperature, lighting, and music used during the session to enhance your relaxation. There are no disruptions or distractions e.g. ringing telephones, noises, children, neighbors, or other people or pets. All massage and bodywork techniques that the massage therapist uses, including Hot Stone Massage, are available during an incall session. It can often be combined with a range of other therapies. Outcall massage on the contrary offers you your own familiar surroundings where you can be close to people or situations that may need to be controlled. It is especially a good idea while visiting a new place as you won't get lost looking for the massage therapist's location. After your outcall massage you don't have to leave. There is no need to travel, you can just stay put and even have a nap while letting the relaxation sink in. It is generally more convenient and allows you save time and travel expenses.

 Whichever option suits better your particular needs and circumstances, it is extremely important to make sure you receive massage from qualified, professional therapists. To ensure both the safety and quality of service, it is wise to use recommended sources. An example is the legitmassage.com directory where you can choose a therapist by gender, location and price to fit your budget.