Massage With a Plan: Dynamic Bodyworks Targets Pain, Migraines and PTSD in West Wichita

Most massage appointments start with a menu. At Dynamic Bodyworks Massage in west Wichita, they start with a conversation. Owner Alicia Dale and therapist Cindy build each session around one question: what do you want your body to be able to do again?

That approach has kept the practice busy for more than 15 years. It's also why clients who never thought of themselves as "massage people" keep coming back. One Google reviewer said they booked while trying everything they could to avoid shoulder surgery.

Results-based massage, not a spa menu

Every new client gets an in-depth consultation and health history before any bodywork begins. From there, the therapist plans a Results Based Massage strategy aimed at a specific goal, such as better mobility after an injury or less day-to-day pain. Progress is checked at each visit, and the plan changes as the body responds.

The practice lists repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel and tendonitis among the most common problems it sees, along with TMJ, whiplash, frozen shoulder, low back pain, and sprains and strains once inflammation has gone down.

Alicia knows the territory personally. A knee injury in high school taught her what chronic pain feels like, and she's a board-certified, licensed massage therapist. "My goal is to make sure you feel tons better when you leave," she writes on the practice's site.

Orthopedic massage and MYK

Orthopedic massage works on soft tissue and muscle to relieve pain and improve range of motion. Techniques include trigger point therapy, myofascial release, positional release, muscle energy release and nerve mobilization. Dynamic Bodyworks says it can help with bulging discs, sciatica and tendinitis, and after hip, knee and ACL surgeries.

For people short on time, there's the Myokinesthetic System (MYK). A session usually takes less than 20 minutes, can be done over clothing, and starts with a postural analysis to find the one nerve path behind the problem.

Migraine massage

Migraines affect about 39 million people in the United States. Dynamic Bodyworks offers migraine massage that uses postural analysis and MYK to find the nerve involved and bring the body back into alignment, with the goal of making migraines less frequent and less intense.

PTSD massage, built on consent

Regular massage can be hard for people with PTSD, who are often on guard and easily overstimulated. Dynamic Bodyworks' PTSD massage is designed for veterans, survivors of abuse or violence, and anyone living with trauma.

• Every session starts with a conversation about what to expect and what the client is comfortable with.
• Clients choose the table or a chair, how much clothing stays on (over-the-clothes work is an option), and which areas are off limits.
• During the session, the therapist watches for signs of stress, like a racing pulse or a client going quiet, and checks in and adjusts.

The practice describes it as a complement to other PTSD treatment, not a replacement.

A local touch

Every massage uses a pain-relieving gel blended by Joyous Green, a local Wichita company.

Pricing, senior discounts and gift certificates

Dynamic Bodyworks publishes its prices up front:

• Orthopedic massage: $50 for 30 minutes, $90 for an hour, $115 for 90 minutes
• Six-session packages: $250, $490 or $640, depending on length
• MYK: $30 a session, four for $95, or $20 added to a massage
• Clients 60 and older get $12 off a single session and $25 off a package

With the holidays coming up, gift certificates are an easy present for anyone who sits at a desk all day or stands on their feet for a living. To order one, call (316) 722-1974 or email the office.

Visit Dynamic Bodyworks

Dynamic Bodyworks Massage is at 6803 W Taft St #401, Wichita, KS 67209. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and every other Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call the office at (316) 722-1974 or contact them online to book a consultation.