Community Corner

Health Trend: Massage Therapy in Smithtown

Licensed Massage Therapist Heather Lastuka shares insight on this growing local habit.

Take a drive down Main Street in Smithtown and you'll pass five separate massage businesses, in addition to numerous spas and physical therapy offices that offer massage services.

"The massage business is booming," said Heather Lastuka, a licensed massage therapist who runs a private practice at 323 E. Main Street. "People are looking at massage as more of a medical treatment than just a spa treatment. The trend is spreading through word of mouth."

Lastuka became licensed in April 2009 and since then has worked at Hand and Stone Spa in Commack and at the Huntington Rehabilitation physical therapy office. She is now expanding her private practice in Smithtown in a space she rents from a chiropractor.

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To become licensed, massage therapy students must complete a 72-credit program.  Lastuka became interested in massage therapy because she was attracted to the health-care field.

"Massage therapy is a medical treatment without all the blood," she said.

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Lastuka's clients have a variety of ailments, like recent knee replacement pain, stiff backs and neck stress and most fall in the 25 – 45 age range.

"Working the muscles helps relieve the pain," Lastuka said. "My clients have definitely seen results.  People who tell me they haven't turned their head in years now easily can."

These range-of-motion benefits are a clear, unique benefit of massage therapy.  But in today's Advil and Tylenol- obsessed world, does massage therapy rival the medication?

"It's all about balance," Lastuka said. "Muscle inflammation can be reduced through massage therapy exercises, but also with drugs, ice application and through nutritional counseling, since foods you eat influence the muscles."

Lastuka says her clients are her best advertisers.  "As clients see results from our services they are referring other patients," she said. "People just keep coming."


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