Jason A. Smith | The Valdosta Daily TimesAllyse Hargrove stretches Kittie Carreker’s neck. 

VALDOSTA — Massage therapy can be relaxing but MyoLife Massage Therapy doesn’t aim to help its clients relax; it aims to help its clients heal.

MyoLife Massage Therapy is a message-therapy business that focuses on athletes with the rehabilitation of soft-tissue dysfunctions whether they are chronic or acute.

Owner Allyse Hargrove creates plans for her clients that are catered to their workout routine or what sports they play, she said. And beyond sports and working out, Hargrove looks at her client’s history of health.

The history of health includes injuries, lifestyle, dietary habits, posture, sleep patterns, the client’s gait, tissue hydration, neurosomatic awareness or body awareness, pain tolerance and other factors, she said. Hargrove uses the plan to help prevent injuries and rehabilitate athletes after an injury.

Along with creating a plan, Hargrove works with her clients once she has them on the table.

“I explain to the client what I am doing,” she said. “I ask for feedback. So they can become more aware of what is going on in their body.”

Hargrove does referral pain patterns to better understand what is actually causing pain to the client.

“If I push somewhere and it is felt somewhere else, it helps me hone in on what is going on,” she said. “… When you get on my table I’m not going to hurt you. Yes, it can be uncomfortable. I’m really into reading the body and looking at the body as a whole. Rather than just a specific issue that is going on.”

For clients with a current injury, Hargrove checks the passive and active range of motion, she said. She also checks to see if it is a soft-tissue issue or a joint issue and what type of pain it is. She checks for sharp or burning pains. Hargrove also looks to see if the pain is coming from muscle tissue or the myofascial.

The myofascial is tissue that encases the muscles and the entire body, from the sole of the foot to the top of the head, Hargrove said. It is made of fibers which can cause tissue adhesions. It is pretty much what holds you together.

While checking what type of injury the client has helps Hargrove better understand how to help her client, it also helps her determine if the client needs to be referred to a physician.

To help prevent injury, Hargrove looks at her client’s body alignment, has the client show her what the client was doing while he or she was injured and then goes through the proper motions so the client knows what muscles to relax.

“When they go out into the gym they will become more aware of what they are doing whether to go into lighter reps, move more slowly,” Hargrove said. “Just so they are doing their exercise or their sport with the proper form rather than pushing through the pain.”

Hargrove also gives her client’s homework. She will give her clients stretching and strengthening exercises to do at the house or before working out.

“I’m not with them 24 hours a day,” she said. “I’m only with them a fraction of the week. When they leave this office, they are responsible for their body. So they need to be aware of their body and how to properly train. That is my biggest goal.”

Hargrove is aware that if she does her job correctly she will lose clients and possibly work herself out of a job.

“I don’t want to see (clients) two times a week for the rest of their life because they aren’t getting better,” she said. “I want to give them the tools and the knowledge to go home to heal properly. To do their sport properly pain free and injury free and to maintain their wellness and well being.”

Hargrove is a licensed massage therapist and neuromuscular massage therapist and is working on sports massage therapist certifications.

Hargrove also does Swedish relaxation massages at Mindful Massage and Body Work.

MyloLife Massage Therapy is located at 3980 Inner Perimeter Road inside of ICE House Gym. Hargrove is available from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, visit www.myolifemassage.com or call or text (229) 412-1875.