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Massage Therapy by Jack Stella

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United States
Carmel, CA
Massage Therapy by Jack Stella

Precision - Effective - Results Based Massage Therapy I have extensive training in Orthopedic Massage, Sports Massage and Deep Tissue Therapy.

With 20 years in private practice and the honor of being a massage and anatomy instructor, I offer my clients very anatomically specific and results based massage therapy. My training in Orthopedic Massage began as a result of having bilateral hip replacement surgery. This affords me the unique insight into the specific needs of clients who have had Orthopedic procedures. I also offer private instruction for massage therapists wanting to advance their skills.

06/06/2026

From my files, Let's Talk "Happy Feet"
SPEAKING OF FEET.
A COUPLE OF GOOD READS FROM MY FILES.
Each foot is packed with loads of muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones. We're sure you'll agree... it seems a shame not to use them!
1. IMPROVING YOUR FOOT HEALTH IS SIMPLE.....AND WORTH IT
This is something that everyone can see the benefits from – especially if you’ve experienced plantar fasciitis, bunions etc. What you need is the motivation to move better, and focus on fixing the problem rather than simply dealing with the symptoms
2. ADDING THINGS FOR COMFORT IS A QUICK FIX…BUT IT COMES WITH A LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCE
What you lose when it comes to your feet is the strength and flexibility required for natural, healthy movement
Improving your foot health starts each day when you step out of bed. When you wear cushioned shoes, you’re not connected, and your body isn’t moving the way it usually would
3. LOOK AT WHAT YOU SPEND 90% OF YOUR TIME WEARING
Your everyday shoe. This is more important than what you exercise in, or what you dress up in for a special occasion. It’s the shoes your feet experience the most that are going to have the biggest effect
We gravitate towards comfort, but it’s at the cost of building and maintaining these vital physical components. If you don’t USE your muscles, tendons and ligaments… they are NOT going to stay strong. Every step of the day contributes to this
4. IF YOU WANT A HEALTHY HAPPY BODY (NOT JUST FEET.. BUT EVERYTHING!). IT’S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE WORK
There are no quick fixes or silver bullets if your feet are weak and inflexible, but the key thing is walk before you can run. Take it slowly, understand where you are at and what challenges your particular body type is taking on as part of this journey. Work through the milestones that are personal to you. Let gravity take its cause, walk around barefoot as much as possible... and you are going to see improvements
An everyday barefoot shoe is a fantastic place to start. Rejuvenate your foot health as you go about your daily business... little and often is the key to long-term results and minimal chance of injury See less Se

06/05/2026

After some Kettlebells and Physio Balls, Momma Nature cooled it down today with some wonderful cool breezes.
Before chow, Chicken and Rice w/ Kale Salad.....
From my files, how about a topic we cover in depth in our workshops.
THE CORE. A stable core, weight / resistance and balance training are widely recognized as essential for people over 60 looking to lead a healthy and independent life going forward.
Keep in mind we have both an Inner and Outer Core both with two separate functions, especially when pain is on board. (See the article from Kyle Kiesel in the COMMENT SECTION. Also, Stuart Mc Gill's work on this topic is a must)
Major Core Muscles
Your core muscles are actually composed of several major muscle groups including:
Transverse Abdominis (TVA) :
The deepest of the abdominal muscles, this core muscle lies under the obliques (muscles of your waist). It acts like a weight belt, wrapping around your spine for protection and stability.
Multifidus Muscle:
The Multifidus Muscle is a thin, yet stiff, core muscle deep in the spine. It stabilizes each joint, makes each vertebra work more effectively, and reduces the degeneration of the joint structures.
External Obliques
These core muscles are on the side and front of the abdomen, around your waist, and lays on top of the internal obliques.
Internal Obliques :
These core muscles lie under the external obliques, running in the opposite direction.
Re**us Abdominis :
The Re**us Abdominis is a long muscle that extends along the front of the abdomen. This is the 'six-pack' part that becomes visible with reduced body fat.
Erector Spinae :
The erector spinae is a collection of three core muscles along your neck to your lower back. See less

06/04/2026

Interesting read from a colleague. Thanks Carl.
"WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MUSCLE CHANGE LENGTHS?
Through repetitive usage, muscles may adaptively lengthen or shorten from a baseline resting length, and whenever there is such a change in length it is a change more in the fascia than the contractile cells
Remember that muscle tissue is 50-60% fascia. Essentially it is the fascia that has lengthened or shortened.
So when you're looking to correct muscular imbalances, it is important to understand the two different functional categories of muscles
PHASIC + TONIC
Just as muscles are able to adapt to different working length, they are also able to change their tonic-phasic tendency
In other words, balance of fast twitch and slow twitch muscles can be modified through usage to a certain extent
TONIC muscles
Have a postural, maintaining or stabilizing function. Predominantly slow twitch, aerobic and can usually work for longer periods at long intensity without tiring.
An example of this is your jaw muscles. They spend all day fighting the pull of gravity to keep your jaw close, yet you don't ever really feel their exertion
Tonic muscles work at a subconscious level, beneath our everyday awareness, and are continuously making minute adjustments to our posture, even when we are stationary.
They maintain our upright stance within gravity and stabilize distal parts of the body
PHASIC muscles
Mainly fast twitch, aerobic and tend to tire after explosive use.
They operate at a conscious level and respond whenever we decide to perform a movement
When there is MUSCULAR IMBALANCES, phasic muscles are obliged to do the work of tonic muscles, and vice versa!! (Like in the picture on the left)
When asked to perform work that they weren't designed to do, abnormal tissue tension builds up and this leads to fatigue and inflammation - overuse injuries
So whenever you're looking to fix imbalances in your system, it is not enough to only know what's "tight". You should look also at what type of muscle you're dealing with because that will change your overall treatment strategy" See less See less

06/03/2026

Between client's nosh and a shout out to a colleague for this information.

"Hello Jack. Hope all is well in Cali. I thought this would interest you. I took your advice and looked into the Haptic Sensory Feedback loop as it relates to the foot. See attachment in the comments." Jill

"Activation of the brain through the feet
Your brain needs to know where you stand to keep you upright when you move in all directions and protect you from injury.
Scientists estimate that 100K-200K receptors in the sole of your foot supply this info.

The foot constitutes a functional whole that participates in the mechanisms of postural control and regulation.
It represents the direct interface between the body and the ground during quiet standing, and plantar cutaneous information contributes to postural control.

8 Ways Your Feet Affect Your Posture
▪️The Proprioceptive System
▪️Weight Bearing Surfaces
▪️Lower Body Mechanics
▪️Upper Body & Spine Health
▪️Joints & Ligaments
▪️Energy Leaks & Mitochondrial Fatigue
▪️Inflammation
▪️Stress See less See less

06/01/2026

I worked with several Gymnastics Teachers last week. Each one had a primary complaint of IT Band discomfort, stiffness and overall pain. Interesting in that as we were conducting their intakes, each one of them bent over and were rubbing the anterior lower compartments of their legs.
I selected a variety of techniques to address these areas, MET, Strain Counter Strain, PNF, MFR and TrP and concentrated on both the Spiral and Lateral Lines. The techniques were used in the prone, supine and side lying positions.
Each client reported relief after the session and follow up calls this morning reported significant relief in their symptoms. We will see each one this week for follow up sessions. Love what I do. See less

05/31/2026

Before the chow line gets too long, fish TACOS
a good review of conditions we come across frequently in our offices.

A reminder to ensure your finger palpations in these vital areas are with precision not hard deep invasive pressure. If in doubt suggest a medical professional's opinion.

THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME (TOS)
TOS are a group of syndromes involving pressure on the brachial plexus.
Each syndrome is named according to the structure that is causing the compression.
ANTERIOR SCALENE SYNDROME
The fibers of the brachial plexus must pass through a narrow aperture between scalenes anterior and medial. Any increased tone in one of these muscles (usually anterior), will provide enough compression to produce symptoms.
Scarring and adhesions from injuries can be causes of compression, particularly if found at the attachments of the scalenes. Dysfunction or misalignment of the cervical/thoracic spine may also be a contributing factor to this syndrome.
COSTOCLAVICULAR SYNDROME
Symptoms result in this case when the neurovascular bundle is compressed between the clavicle and the first rib. This is often bilateral, indicating a symmetrical postural cause.
PECTORALIS MINOR SYNDROME
In this case, the compression occurs where the neurovascular bundle passes between the tendon of pectoralis minor and the coracoid process of the scapula. Compression is greatest with the arm in abduction, but even with the arm dependent, enough pressure from postural problems or tight pectoralis muscles can cause symptoms.
TOS can also compress the subclavian/axillary artery and/or vein.
CAUSES
Crutch use, joint subluxation, adhesions and scarring, muscular hypertonicity from postural dysfunction, trigger points, occupational stresses, emotion stresses, all of which lead to shallow breathing and poor sleeping posture.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
All thoracic outlet syndromes feature paresthesia in the arm, forearm, hand, and fingers. Symptoms are usually unilateral, but can be bilateral, particularly if postural dysfunction is a main cause.
Anterior scalene syndrome is also noted for edema in the hands and fingers. See less See less

05/30/2026

WORKING WITH CLIENTS WHEN PAIN IS ON BOARD?

AS WE SAY IN MANY OF OUR CLASSES, WORKING WITH THIS POPULATION OF CLIENTS IS MUCH MORE NUANCED THAN SOME IN OUR MASSAGE PROFESSION WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE.
BASICS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT PHSYIO OSTEO
'Understanding the basics of it will help you get started.
The field of pain science has taught us a lot about pain. One of the first things I do as a clinician is educate people on the basics of pain and what it actually is. This can help people reframe their pain and give them a greater sense of control over it to prevent the feeling of helplessness
Pain is an action signal. It is like an engine light in a vehicle. It is based on PERCEIVED threat or danger, therefore is is experienced completely differently by different people (even the exact same thing can be completely painless or painful depending on the person and how their nervous system perceives it.
Pain is influenced by many factors. These include past experiences with pain, general mood, level of anxiety or stress etc., which can all lead to ramped up pain responses
Pain is there to motivate protective behaviors. It tells you that you are currently doing something or experiencing something that your body doesn't like and doesn't want
Sometimes pain is meaningless, such as when we are getting a deep massage. Some people love massages, and some people hate them and think that they are excruciating and terrible experiences. Either way, no damage or threat is actually occurring...our nervous system just perceives that the body is being threatened.
Reframe pain and it will help you get through it" See less

05/29/2026

Between client's nosh and some good information.

Having had hip replacement surgery (2004) and subsequent PT, I can attest to the importance of the Glute Medius and Minimus in hip stability and its effects downstream.

Gluteus Medius
Gluteus Medius (GM) is typically recognized for its action as an abductor of the hip joint. However, in closed-chain scenarios (foot fixed to the ground), GM also helps control the proximal lower quarter, including the pelvis, spine and knee, ankle and foot.

Because GM is a hip abductor and operates in the frontal plane of motion, it is also intimately involved in controlling other aspects of the kinetic chain that move in the frontal plane. For instance, a lack of GM control can contribute to not only medial knee collapse (hip adduction), but also to contralateral pelvic drop (shown in this image) and lateral bending of the trunk. Look at effect on the Quadratus Lumborum and Psoas muscles bilaterally.

Stuart McGill does a good job at demonstrating this by using altered weight farmers carries.

A lack of control at the hip, pelvis or trunk could be associated with the development of knee, hip or lumbar region pain or, depending on the activity, increase one’s risk of suffering certain injuries like ACL and MCL tears.

05/28/2026

I always like to review information on conditions we will see in our office regarding client injuries.
Looking at "the whole picture", in my opinion, makes for a better therapeutic outcome. Soft Tissue Therapy is only one part of a good outcome for the client.
20-50% of people suffer long-term symptoms after a lateral ankle sprain
🚩 This is a very high %, so where are we going wrong with our rehab?
📈 Learn 5 ways to improve your ankle sprain rehab in this great blog by ankle expert Dr Chris Bleakley
To ice or not to ice an injury?
The acute injury management protocol has come a long way. From the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) to POLICE (Protection, Optimal Loading, Compression, Elevation) about 14 years later. In both management strategies, ice plays a major role.
In 2019, ice therefore lost its place in the injury management protocol, which then formed the latest acronym: PEACE & LOVE (Protection, Elevation, Avoid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Compression, Education & Load, Optimism, Vascularization and Exercise)."

05/27/2026

Mega post. Super insightful.
Not all heel pain is Plantar Fasciitis!
Please note pain locations are approximate and will vary between individuals

Address

27820 Dorris Drive, Ste 202
Carmel, CA
93923

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18316205213

Website

http://www.thatsthework.com/

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