Feel Better Integrative Wellness

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Cupping for joint pain provides immediate response. A treatment offered at the clinic and a great technique for self-care at home. Learn how to safely and effectively use cups at home.

🧵 TAPING FOR FIBROSIS & LYMPHATIC SUPPORT

Can something as gentle as therapeutic tape help when tissue becomes firm, restricted, or fibrotic?

It may be a useful part of the toolbox. 💜

Unlike aggressive techniques that deliver a stronger mechanical stimulus for a short period, elastic taping provides low-level mechanical input over many hours.

As we move, breathe, walk, and reach, the tape moves with the skin—continually changing tension across the superficial tissues.

🧬 This provides ongoing mechanical signaling to the extracellular matrix.

When fibrosis and lymphatic congestion occur together, lymphatic-style taping may also be used as an adjunct to support:

💧 Interstitial fluid movement
🌿 Edema management
↔️ Superficial tissue mobility
🕸️ Movement around areas of fibrosis
🧬 A healthier environment for tissue remodeling

But an important distinction:

❌ Tape does not “break up” fibrosis.

And it doesn't literally force lymph through blocked pathways.

Instead, appropriately applied tape may help influence the skin and superficial tissue environment, while movement provides repeated changes in mechanical tension.

That's why I like to think of taping as:

LOW FORCE + LONGER DURATION + MOVEMENT

A completely different mechanical dose.

For someone with lymphatic dysfunction, this gentler approach can be particularly interesting because we're trying to support the tissue environment—not create additional bruising, swelling, or inflammation.

And, as always:

🧦 Compression
👐 Manual therapy/MLD
🚶 Movement
🧵 Taping
💧 Fluid management

may complement one another when appropriately indicated.

🌿 Nothing works in isolation. Everything works in combination.

This topic is part of my upcoming publication:

📖 A Sticky Situation: Understanding Fibrosis and the Lymphatic System

👀 Follow for more previews as we explore the science behind fibrosis, tissue remodeling, and the different modalities used to manage it.

💾 Save this post and 🔄 share it with someone interested in fibrosis, scars, or lymphatic health.

Educational/informational purposes only. Taping is not appropriate for every person or every tissue condition and should not replace individualized medical or lymphedema care.

Being intuitive seems natural with many, if not all, massage therapists. It’s an amazing gift, to be sure and very helpful. As a clinical bodyworker though, I rely first on my knowledge and education. Knowing the muscles, their roles with certain movements give me a starting visual. What pain presents with specific movements provide a better picture. Sometimes, simply learning about the client’s daily routines help explain the cause. All before you, the client, get on the table and before I touch your body.

Intuition kicks in during session. I don’t particularly view it as intuition. It’s listening for information the body is communicating.

Short targeted treatments can effectively provide immediate relief with long lasting results when the approach is knowledge and education-based. Think chiropractor, except they specialize in structure while bodyworkers/massage therapists specialize in soft connective tissues (muscles, etc)

Let me just add that going to a chiropractor when you’re issues are tight muscles will give you relief but you’d be doing yourself a favor by starting with working on the tight muscles first before getting an adjustment. Results last longer.

At the end of the day, it’s all about results.

Hi everyone! I know I don’t post on here often other than what I share from Instagram. I’m going to try to do better, starting now.

I am not only a provider, I’m also a client. Or could be. Let me elaborate.

Finding the right provider for me has been a challenge. I don’t claim to be the best or know everything, but I tend to be very particular because of my background. My philosophy at the clinic is not to be the one who knows it all. Although I am the provider, I do put a great deal of weight on the client’s goals and preferences. I’m big on communicating. That’s how I can offer a targeted service without the unnecessary fluff. I offer a 30 minute on the low back to relieve sciatica, or neck and shoulder suffering from an impinged nerve, for instance. In that 30 minutes, I can promise to give you measurable relief that lasts longer than a couple of hours. Because I don’t approach it as an intuitive massage therapist. I approach it as an educated and knowledgeable clinical therapist. It’s a treatment, not just a service. So, finding a therapist with the same philosophy and approach is difficult.

Also typical therapists have a routine they follow. This makes them less adaptable. The inability to adapt to what the client presents restricts the session from achieving better results.

I am not the typical. I can’t claim to be the best. It is a goal to be the best but it’s not up to me to say that. What I can confidently claim is that I’m different.

Tell me what you look for in a provider.