Many people will have heard of deep tissue therapy, that painful type of massage that helps loosen muscles and relieve tension, but not many will have heard of Wolfe Non-Surgical Deep Tissue Therapy. In this article I’m going to explain how this therapy is different from deep tissue therapy and how exactly it works to bring about such incredible results.
Wolfe Non-Surgical (WNS) was developed over 35 years ago by Dr. Darrell Wolfe. It is quite unlike regular deep tissue massage in that it works on scar tissue, crystallization and calcification in the body. It goes much further than working on muscle tightness and knots. It is able to tackle pain at its origin and not just target the symptoms of pain.
What is scar tissue?
When the body is in a state of stress emotionally or physically, it enters into an inflammatory state. Fibrin, white blood cells and calcium are produced to bring the body back into balance and the latter to buffer acidity. If an area continues to be inflamed, calcification, crystallization and scar tissue will eventually form and this causes pain and the restriction of movement.
Inflammation and scar tissue can be caused in many different ways over an individual’s lifetime. These can include surgery, poor nutrition, stress, injuries, grief and anxiety.
After many years of scar tissue buildup, flexibility and range of motion can be diminished. Pain can sometimes take years to occur after a trauma has taken place.
Some people say as they age, they feel less and less pain, this is because the body has produced so much scar tissue, it has been numbed down. The older one gets the stiffer one seems to feel, right? Ultimately, it’s not an “old age” issue but a scar tissue issue. Instead of being stiff and numbed down, wouldn’t it be great to remove blockages and allow for healthy circulation and retain youthful flexibility?
How this therapy differs
Massage is a great way to maintain and improve circulation and ease pain, but the real issue is in the accumulation of scar tissue. Breaking down this scar tissue allows for deeper healing and recovery, bringing the muscles and joints back to a more youthful, healthy and unencumbered state.
The technique mainly uses an elbow precision technique to get deep into the muscle tissue. The elbow acts as a probe able to feel more than hands alone. This allows for precise movement on and around bones and joints, in deeper layers of muscle and fascia, muscle fibers, tendons and fibroids, etc.
When using WNS as a preventative therapy it is possible to maintain suppleness of joints and improve flexibility and range of motion. This technique is also highly effective at helping those who have already become “stiff and achy” to regain flexibility and reduce pain.
Issues this therapy works on
This therapy is effective on everything from arthritis, carpal tunnel, frozen shoulder, fibroids, hip stiffness, nerve pain, sports injuries, scoliosis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, numbness and tingling, wrinkles and much more.
As previously mentioned, this therapy uses deep, precise elbow movements which can break up calcification on bones and joints allowing it to work so well at relieving pain and improving range of motion in shoulders, hands, elbows, hips, knees, ankles and feet.
When considering WNS, or any type of therapy it’s important to make sure you are doing your part as well. This type of therapy can be very powerful; however, it’s also up to the client to make necessary lifestyle changes to ensure he/she sees lasting results and retains the maximum benefit from the therapy. It is also important to make sure that you are being taught exercises and health protocols by your therapist that you can follow in your own time. Remember, the therapist should not only be supporting you but also training you on how you can best empower yourself to maintain or reach an optimal level of health.
Jess Kelmanson, BSc (Hons), is a certified Wolfe Non-Surgical Deep Tissue Therapist, Health Practitioner, and a Nutrition, Exercise and Health Graduate from the University of Plymouth, England. She grew up just outside of London and moved to Green Bay nearly 4 years ago. She has a passion for helping others improve their health through an array of holistic practices. She began working at Sweet Willow Herbal Co-Op as a volunteer, now she’s an employee and loves being a part of the Co-Op community. She’s in the Co-Op Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, so stop in or call to set up an appointment. For more information, visit sweetwillowwellness.com.
“Ultimately it’s not an ‘old age’ issue but a scar tissue issue. Breaking down this scar tissue allows for deeper healing and recovery, bringing the muscles and joints back to a more youthful, healthy state.”
