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Writer's pictureTayler Kurtzman

Why the 90 Minute Split Between P-DTR and Massage Therapy is my Favorite Combination

Since I started in the healthcare field I have offered 60, 90 and 120 minute massage thearpy sessions and all have been great depending on how much of the body you want to cover in detail. Determining the time came down to if you wanted focus work on a specific body part/region or full body. However, as I've broken into functional nerurology the question is more about how much detail do you want on a specific area and how much can your body handle mentally, emotionally, physically and neurologically. Lets start by going over the benefits of both Proprioceptive-Deep Tendon Reflex and Massage Therapy.


  • Reduce Muscle Tension

  • Decrease Pain

  • Increase Range of motion and flexibility

  • Boost Immune system

  • Decrease Stress and anxiety

  • Improve Sleep and reduce fatigue

  • Recover from surgeries in regards to rigid soft tissue


  • Locating the root cause of soft tissue (muscles) dysfunction.

  • Determine the root of pain

  • Increase range of motion

  • Treat organ and cranial issues

  • Work through emotional roadblocks

  • Reduce compression of nerves, arteries, and veins by releasing locked muscles

  • Increase muscle activation

  • Treat spinal issues not related to bone or nerve damage

  • and much more

Why does combining these 2 create the idea session?

Many of the clients I currently see find me for massage therapy and cupping or have always loved to incorporate therapeutic physical touch into each session. One thing I often ask clients to pay attention to is if they notice they walk out feeling great and they notice their pain comes back the same day or 1-2 days later. If the pain returns massage therapy may not be the answer to their specific issue and we may want to shift our focus to a functional neurology approach. Massage can often over stimulate the system allowing people to feel better and muscles to temporarily relax which is why sometimes the results do not last. If you notice after a massage you are pain free for a month or so, then massage may be the perfect answer for you and all that is necessary in your healthcare regimen. If pain keeps returning then adding in Functional Neurology work can be extremely beneficial to creating long lasting changes.


Why dedicating 50% of your session to P-DTR is worth it

The theory behind P-DTR is that your muscular pain is often more of symptom rather than the muscle fibers themselves being the cause of your discomfort or specific issue. This is because the muscles are simply responding to the information they receive from the brain. If we can treat the dysfunctional information the brain receives we can produce a proper motor output in the form of healthy normal muscles. This work is often very focused but can create long lasting or permanent results depending on any future trauma you may receive.


What can you expect to feel after a session where these 2 modalities are combined?

The best part about combining these 2 is we can produce massive breakthroughs in your reasons for treatment while still feeling relaxed. This is because we are able to make long lasting changes in your body which helps it feel relaxed as it integrates all the work we did in the first half. Then we are able to do some soft tissue work to help you relax even further. Clients often notice that muscles that usually feel sore or tight feel much better after they are addressed with functional neurology making for a more pleasant session. The massage also creates a more pain free feeling while the functional neurology work is integrated into your system in the following days.


Both of these combined allow for a more thorough treatment session with longer lasting results.





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