The focus for medical massage therapy is on touch and relaxation, and it’s a form of therapy that just about every patient can benefit from. It is a therapy that uses a gentle application of systematic touch, focusing on specific areas of the body, or the whole body, for the purpose of promoting healing and relaxation.

The goal of this relatively newly offered service is to promote deep relaxation and stress reduction, relieve muscle tension and stiffness in joints, relieve headache pain and tension, relieve acute or chronic pain and strengthen the immune system. It also helps to increase the circulation of blood and lymph and promotes easier breathing with increased oxygenation and decreased heart rate. The overall affect is the promotion of the feeling of safety, comfort and well-being, as well as the reduction of anxiety and depression.

Marion General’s licensed massage therapist is Julie Troiano. She holds specialty licenses for pregnancy and infant massage and is also a licensed Doula (labor and delivery, pain management) therapist and trained in cranialsacral massage. Julie was required by the state of Ohio to complete at least 670 hours of education and training, including anatomy and physiology. She is licensed by the State of Ohio Medical Board.

She is an instructor at Bryman Institute of Technology in Columbus and has her own private practice.

Medical massage therapy referrals are initiated through physician order/consultation and are triaged according to severity of illness, levels of pain and the overall needs of the patient. If you would like to have more information, or you would like to meet Julie and see what she can offer your patients, you can reach her by pager at 375-1951.