This nine-day intensive course introduced Dana to the wonderful world of advanced clinical massage.

This is a unique three-year BTEC Level 6 Professional Diploma in Advanced Clinical Massage & Sports Massage. This degree-level course is fully accredited by Pearson/Edexcel and is currently the highest level of sports and clinical massage in the UK.

Dana was taught by the knowledgeable and highly professional Susan Findlay.  In this course, Dana learned about real-life conditions and how to provide a clinical oncology session. After taking a client through a thorough assessment, she plans a massage tailored for the client’s well-being, along with suitable home care suggestions.

Dana is a manual therapist with a specialty in scar therapy. She works with clients who have new or old scars that have occurred because of injury, burns, cancer and other types of surgery, including c/sections. She has trained extensively with Emma Holly.

Scar therapy is a gentle method of non-invasive physical therapy developed to treat scar tissue, fibrosis and adhesions after surgery or injury using specialist scar massage,  fascial release,  therapy tools and self-care advice to promote healthy recovery.

Scar therapy is designed to:

• Stimulate changes in scars, on the skin surface and any adhesions or fibrosis in the underlying skin.
• Promote functional and cosmetic improvements after surgery or injury.
• Reduce common symptoms such as pain and sensitivity.
• Assess and treat any associated functional changes.
• Support emotional well-being after surgery or trauma.
  

What is vocal massage?
Vocal Massage (sometimes called Laryngeal Therapy, Vocal Manual Therapy, or Laryngeal Manipulation) is a unique manual therapy treatment to help restore and improve performance of the voice. If you are putting your voice through stress on a regular basis, vocal massage is vital to ensure you can continue performing at your best and to help prevent any serious conditions from arising in the future. The treatment predominantly targets the neck and larynx, but attention may also be given to the jaw, diaphragm, chest, ribcage and thoracic spine. Vocal Massage aims to support optimum vocal health, including voice function and the vocal rehabilitation process. It facilitates an integrated release of muscles involved in voicing. Dana works closely with each client to ensure that the treatment given is in line with the goals of the client and that there is no pain or discomfort involved.

What can it help with?
Vocal massage can be beneficial for a wide range of issues including:

• Globus Pharyngeus / Globus Hystericus – a sense of a ‘lump’ in the throat
• Loss of range or smooth transitions between vocal registers
• Freeing up the belt voice quality
• ‘Airy’ or ‘breathy’ voice
• ‘Gravelly’ voice
• Restricted vocal performance
• Lack of vocal projection
• Difficulty swallowing or swallowing disorders
• Difficulty fully opening mouth
• Muscle Tension Dysphonia – a change in the sound or feel of your voice due to excessive or extra vocal work and strain.
• Jaw and tongue root tension
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) issues/pain
• Teeth grinding
• Jaw pain, locking/clicking jaw
• Tension headaches/migraines
• Neck tension/stiffness

Who is it for?
Vocal massage can be beneficial for many voice users, including:

• Professional singers
• Actors
• Voice-over professionals
• Choral Singers
• Amateur performers
• Media professionals
• Teachers
• Barristers
• Sales people

Ultimately, it is helpful for anyone who is having problems with their voice!

Exciting new modules are added each week to give Dana a full skill set in self-care for low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, shoulder girdle issues, sporting injuries and many more common client problems. Online, she can show you effective techniques for stretching, breathing exercises, simple meditation, self-trigger point work and self-massage.

Dana uses the creativity of story and song with the benefits of massage, working with both adults and children of all ages and abilities in a variety
of settings.

 Dana uses DEEP OSCILLATION®, a massage therapy that works on the effects of creating an intermittent, low frequency electrostatic field (5Hz – 250Hz) in the client’s tissue beneath the applicator or gloved hand, while either is in motion over the skin. It reaches a depth of 8 cm penetrating the entire depth of the tissue layers (skin, connective tissue, subcutaneous fat, muscles, blood and lymph vessels). It can be applied over implanted pins and plates. There is no cause for concern that the therapist or client will electro-statically charge during treatment. The device is fitted with patented circuitry meaning a circuit is never completed. No heat is used, nor is there any electrical stimulation. This is applied as normal massage through vinyl gloves or applicator.

SOME OF THE CLINICAL EFFECTS OF DEEP OSCILLATION®

• Pain-alleviating effect on acute traumatic as well as chronic pain conditions
• Prevention and reduction of secondary and primary lymphoedema, and reduction of oedema and lipoedema
• Prevention of fibrotic remodeling process, reduction of fibrosis
• Anti-inflammatory effect
• Muscle relaxation, mobilisation, functional improvement and improved range of motion
• Support of wound healing processes
• Accelerated recovery after intensive physical workout
• Decongestion and functional improvement in obstructive pulmonary conditions

 Dana uses LymphaTouch®, a treatment device which is based on a negative pressure. The device serves as a support for manual work. The device is also suitable to be used as a support for treatments of the following:

• Scar treatment and management
• Oedema management (acute/chronic)
• Post-operative care
• Improve R.O.M
• Manage pain
• Recover from activity
• Muscle maintenance

The latest edition to Dana’s practice is the Winback S1. It uses radio frequencies of 300KHz to 1 MegaHz and has many of the following clinical benefits:

• Removes pain faster by blocking the pain related to injuries for up to 48 hours
• The frequency of the current makes the cell walls more permeable, thus allowing the influx of nutrients into the cell and waste product out of cell
• Restores function faster by releasing tension (contractures, oedema, fibrosis) by local revascularisation. With heat caused by molecular friction, blood vessels open up and blood flows back into the injured tissue once more and the patient regains range of movement.
• Heals injuries faster by accelerating the body’s natural self-healing system by encouraging the intra- and extra-cellular exchanges
• Increases collagen synthesis and oxygenation
• Breaks down fibrotic tissue and has a direct effect on the viscoelasticity of fascia and on the regulation of fascial stiffness
• Acts on the lymphatic network to accelerate drainage
• Fits in with the treatment and not vice versa
• Augments what Dana is already doing with her hands
• Protocols can be personalised to the clients needs
  
  Contraindications.
  Pace maker, Insulin pumps, Cartlidge Growth, Cancer, Fever/infection, Impaired sensation to an area, Children/Adolescents, Pregnancy, Active DVT.