Tracy Montgomery poses for a photo in a coffee shop. Photo courtesy of Tracy Montgomery.

After making an early career switch, Tracy Montgomery decided to become a massage therapist. Having been an active athlete throughout her young adult life, winning herself an athletic scholarship to study in the United States, Tracy said choosing massage therapy was a way to stay involved in the world of sports.

“I knew some very high-level athletes that used massage therapy on a regular basis to help them perform. That was what got me thinking about massage therapy,” she said, adding that it exposed her to the idea of massage therapy as a way to provide a range of sport-related benefits.

Once she received her diploma, Tracy said she started working in different massage therapy clinics, but eventually decided she wanted to go out on her own.

Tracy Montgomery pictured competing in an Ironman triathlon. Photo courtesy of Tracy Montgomery.

“I decided that it made more sense for me to have my own clinic versus working for someone else, just to be able to create my own flexibility and completely control my schedule,” Tracy said.

It was at this point that Tracy opened Montgomery Massage Therapy in Westboro Village, where she said she sets herself apart from more traditional massage therapy clinics by focusing on specific techniques, specializing in shockwave therapy and active release technique.

Photo illustration showing a person receiving a massage. Photo courtesy of Emiliano Vittoriosi via Unsplash.

Active release technique still involves using the hands, but is distinct in that it takes a muscle through its range of motion while applying a specific type of tension to it.

“It’s a little more aggressive than regular massage,” Tracy said. “But as far as treatment, it just works extremely well. I can really make massive changes with people in a very short period of time, so I get to fix a lot of stuff.”

People who have been doing other massage treatments for sometimes six to eight weeks will come to Montgomery Massage Therapy and see a massive change in one session, Tracy said.

“It’s fun work to do because I truly get to help people.”

Tracy Montgomery is seen performing stretching exercises. Photo courtesy of Tracy Montgomery.

Tracy adopted shockwave therapy into her massage therapy practice almost by accident, she said. While taking a course in Toronto, a chiropractor whom she respected talked to her about shockwave therapy, a non-invasive treatment for sport injuries and injuries of overuse.

Involving the use of a machine, shockwave therapy creates a series of low-energy acoustic wave pulsations directly applied to an injury through the skin.

“I tell people it’s kind of a beefed-up ultrasound on steroids. It’s a really strong sound wave,” Tracy said.

At the time, Tracy preferred more manual massage therapy and “didn’t believe in machines at all.”

But because the chiropractor cited such meaningful benefits, she decided to buy the machine and incorporate it into her work. “It’s phenomenal,” she said. “Just massive results.”

Tracy said she loves these more challenging techniques for the dramatic benefits they can provide to a client.

“I love seeing the change, I love being able to help people. You can see the difference in their face. They’re in pain, and they walk out and their whole face is lit up,” she said.

To learn more and book an appointment with Montgomery Massage Therapy, you can visit their website!