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ACTMD - Association Canadienne des thérapeutes en Médecines Douces
CATCM - Canadian Association of Therapists in Complementary Medicine

ACDM - Association Canadienne des Massothérapeutes  et Autres thérapeutes en Médecines Alternatives

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Glossary
      Acupressure or Jin Shin Do
      Acupuncture
      Alexander
      Californien
      Chinese massage
      Deep tissue massage
      Healing touch
      Jin Shin Do or Acupressure
      Kinesitherapy
      Manual Lymphatique Drainage
      Polarity
      Reflexology
      Reiki
      Shiatsu
      Sports massage
      Strain & Counterstrain
      Swedish massage

 

 

Warning: the information and recommendations contained in this section are provided only on a purely informative basis and do not constitute a medical opinion. They do not replace to in any case a consultation with your doctor. The ACDM decline any responsibility as for the follow-up for these recommendations and all physical injuries or diseases that could result from it.

Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese technique based on the principles of acupuncture, and involves the use of finger pressure (without the needles) on specific points along the body. Chinese cultures believe the points to be junctures of meridian pathways that carry energy called chi (the Japanese call it ki). Acupressure massage therapy stimulates and activates the body's own energies to help fight illness and restore harmony. Some of the Acupressure points are significant as they relate to a specific part of the body while others are more general in their effect. Treatment is normally given in a similar fashion to traditional massage. Points are massaged using finger or thumb, and sometimes a blunt object, in a fairly rapid circular motion with a medium pressure for between 5 and 15 minutes at a time.
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Acupuncture
The acupuncture, which puts back on an old philosophy of several thousands of years, is based on balance between the yin and the yang like on the doctrines of the five elements: wood fire, hearth, metal and water. In Occident, it is the most known component of Chinese traditional medicine. It consists in introducing fine needles on points located along the meridian lines (each one of these points corresponding to a part of the body) in order to stimulate and to rebalance the energy which circulates there.
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Alexander
Besides increasing the physical and psychological performances, this method of psychomotor rehabilitation brings a durable relief to back pain and to the numerous illness bound related to the posture. Its first objective is to change the stereotyped habits. Its addresses those who suffer from stress and from chronic pain, but also to the pregnant women who feel motor difficulties.
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Californien
Using essential oils in the massage helps with the fluidity of the movements. Its kneadings relaxs the muscles and untie the tensions.

  • Relief back pain
  • Eliminate the toxins
  • Improve digestion and reduces constipation
  • Active blood circulation. This massage is an approach oriented towards the therapeutic relaxation and its effects.

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Chinese massage
Also called Tuina, it has the same importance, in Chinese traditional medicine that acupuncture, the moxibustion, the pharmacopeia or dietetics. Work in Chinese massage is carried out along the meridian lines which traverse the body. The expert stimulates the blocked points and reactivates energy along the meridian lines. This process makes it possible to awake the natural curative capacities of the body.
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Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is a technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the fibre's of the muscles, tendons and fascia. Also helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue.Deep tissue massage usually focuses on more specific areas and may cause some soreness during or right after the massage, but if it's done right the client should feel better than ever within a day or two.The technique is often used in combination with other massage procedures such as those used in Remedial and Sports Massage.
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Healing touch
This energy approach is inspired by several old practices of cure, among which the laying on of hands. At the same time preventive and curative, its allows the person to re-mobilize her forces, as well physical, emotional, psychic as spiritual for a greater harmony.
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Kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy is a therapy, which is governed by movement. There are two types of Kinesitherapies:

  1. Active Kinesitherapy [such as therapeutic exercise, functional activity treatment, gate trainings, etc].
  2. Passive Kinesitherapy [such as clinical rehabilitative massage, scapula manipulation, spinal mobilization (please do not confuse this with spinal adjustment), spinal tractions, post-isometric relaxation techniques, and passive exercise (mobilization) of different body regions].

The total techniques seek to facilitate the movements while utilizing muscular chains. Contrary to the analytical techniques, which consider only one muscle or an articulation, they relate to a whole muscular unit. Among these techniques, the most used are the method of Kabat and that of Bobath.
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Manual Lymphatique Drainage (MLD)
In addition to the relaxation which it gets, this technique of massage reactivates the flow of the lymph and supports the elimination of toxins. The therapist mobilizes lymphatic tissues by slow and regular gestures on the whole body. The circular motions alternate with pumpings. One recommends the lymphatic drainage in the case of a specific oedema or chronique.It reduces especially the accumulation of water (oedema) to the level of the legs, of the arms and the face.It activates the system of defenses of the body activates and reinforces the system immunitaire.

Durée: one hour thirty (1. 30)
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Polarity
Polarity is an energy approach which helps to balance magnetic energy circulating naturally in the body. Quite as the electrical supply network of a city which connects houses between them, the body with an energy network which connects each organs and each cell between them. It is is by contacts, on quite precise points, which the therapeutist supports the physical, psychological and emotional releasing of tensions by restoring balance between the overloaded circuits and those sub-used. Polarity gets a relaxation and supports personal awakenings which allow the car-cure of the body.
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Reflexology
Reflexology is a gentle and effective form of therapeutic treatment applied to the feet and sometimes to the hands. Reflexology is considered to be a holistic healing technique that aims to treat the individual as a whole, in order to induce a state of balance and harmony in body, mind and spirit.Reflexology is based on the belief that there are reflex areas on the feet (and hands) corresponding to all the parts of the body including major organs. The therapist stimulates and works these organs and systems through the reflexes, applying pressure to the feet with thumb and fingers.A treatment lasts between 40 minutes and 1 hour. Most people can benefit from Reflexology it can bring relief to a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions and is suitable for all ages, including children. Once the body has been rebalanced, regular treatments can help to maintain health and general well-being.
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Reiki
Reiki is a form of healing that conducts energy from the giver to the receiver to transmit the energy of life, source of benefactions. It is a Japanese system of healing which promotes all aspects of well-being. Reiki creates the self-confidence and helps in difficult situations.

  • Restore physical and emotional balance in the body
  • Dissolve mental blocks
  • Strengthen   immunitary system
  • Eliminate toxins

This approach aims at bringing balance and harmony so physically as psychologically and spiritually. The complete treatment lasts one hour or you can add it as complement to an approach of massage.
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Shiatsu
By pressures made with the fingers, the palms, the elbows, the feet, on the points of acupuncture, the shiatsu resolves and regularizes the energy of the body with an aim of preventing and of eliminating certain pains or tensions. This method wakes up the energy and body conscience in more of stimulating mental and physical vitality.
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Sports massage
The prime purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body's soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Above all, it can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether one is an athlete, ardent keep-fitter or a once a week jogger.

This treatment is not just for the sports person: anyone can benefit from sports massage, including people in physically demanding jobs and those not quite so obvious (occupational, emotional and postural stress may produce many similar characteristics to sports injuries).

Sports massage tends to be deeper and more intense. It is based on the various elements of Swedish massage and often incorporates a combination of other techniques involving stretching, compression, friction, toning, and trigger point response techniques similar to Acupressure and Shiatsu. The skilled therapist brings together this blend of techniques, knowledge and advice during treatment, to work effectively with the client to bring about optimum performance and to provide injury-free training and minimise post event injuries.
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Strain & Counterstrain
Developed by L.H. Jones, an American ostéopathe, the method of correction consists in relieving an articular or muscular pain by proceeding by pressures on specific places, and by mobilizing the segment implied during 90 seconds. The strain and counterstrain is the technique quite indicated to treat pains caused by a bursite, a tendinitis, cephalgias of tension, an irritated sciatic nerve, a loss of articular mobility, and more.
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Swedish massage
It works the muscular mass by various operations: effleurages, kneadings, frictions and percussions... The Swedish massage stimulates a whole of system thus which makes it possible to   the body to be rebalanced (by supporting a venous return, a better blood and lymphatic circulation, the elimination of toxins, the management of stress...) and works on the level of the osseous frame.
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