Massage Client Testimonials

Testimonials

These are grouped by either the Type of Massage or a Specific Condition.
Click a selection in the list below to jump to that section.

Relaxation Massage

"Howard is very professional and gives an excellent massage. He makes me feel very relaxed and comfortable."   

- Diane C., Palm Bay

"You listen to my needs and really find the places in my muscles that need work."

"I feel great afterwards. Howard isn't chatty during massage. His massage is the full amount of time paid for (one whole hour)."

- E. D., Melbourne

"Howard has good massage technique, he doesn't talk too much, and he has great hands."

- T. C., Melbourne Beach

"You help me feel better and get RESULTS!"

- E. N., West Melbourne

"You're concerned about your patients."

- B. R., West Melbourne

Deep Tissue/Therapeutic Massage

"You apply the right amount of pressure to relieve muscle tension of reach individual. Total relaxation."

"Your massage really relieves muscle tension in neck.

- B. H., Malabar

"You listen and address my problem areas. You provide an excellent deep tissue massage. Just the right amount of pressure."

"Very easy and pleasant to be around. Gives a great deep tissue massage."

- B. S., Palm Bay

"Your knowledge and the fact that you continue to learn more about the new developments of massage therapy and health issues (is important). You don't seem to rush through the massage and you make a client feel as though you are very concerned and also very professional."

- D. M., Palm Bay

"Howard is very respectful and has great hands. Makes me feel comfortable having a massage from a man."

- L. C., Palm Bay

"I recently developed a debilitating pain in my knee.  It got to the point where I couldn’t straighten it and went to my doctor to try and get some relief for the pain and diagnosis of my problem.  His advice was to take Aleve and if it didn’t get better to get an X-ray and ultimately an MRI if that didn’t reveal anything.  That day I got an appointment with Howard and when we talked about my pain he quickly identified it as trigger point related.  After a 30 minute treatment I was not only able to straighten my leg, but felt no discomfort and had no need for any medicine whatsoever. 

Many times in my active life I’ve experienced discomfort and no matter how remote it seems, many times the solution is trigger point therapy.  I can’t imagine the amount of unnecessary pain and expense that is wasted on such an easily treated condition.  Howard is a great trigger point specialist, as well as, an excellent massage therapist.  He quickly finds the problem and always has an immediate solution.  I could not recommend him any higher and in the future no matter what the pain is, I’m going to explore the trigger point solution first and everything else after.  Thanks Howard, you are a life saver, or at least a great pain saver."

- Eric F., Melbourne

Reiki

"My first Reiki experience has made me a believer! Not that I was cynical in the first place, but I didn't know exactly what to expect or get out of it.   My Reiki healing session definitely had an effect well beyond the actual physical experience, but that is not to suggest that the experience itself was not awesome!!!  When Howard first put his hands on my head, I felt immediately relaxed and thought, "ok, this is nice";  but it was when he placed his hands on my collarbone (which turns out to be my "throat Chakra") that things really started to happen!  I literally opened my eyes three times to look around because I was convinced that Howard was somehow over me fanning the air, or doing something to make air bounce off the entire length of my body;  I was not imagining it; it was a definite physical feeling of air bouncing up and down... bizarre.. but a wonderful and relaxing sensation...     It was the next day though, that I really felt the full effects of the treatment:  after an evening of feeling VERY peaceful, and the most restful night's sleep I'd had in a long time, I was actually able to air-out and clear-up long-standing communication issues with my boss and co-worker... It turns out, the "throat Chakra" deals with open and honest communication, and whether cynics would prefer to call it coincidence, I am convinced that as I was feeling the strong PHYSICAL reaction during my treatment, there was something deeper happening, and I now have a peace of mind at the workplace that I have not known since I began there over a year ago!  The only down-side of my Reiki treatment and massage, is that I CAN'T WAIT TIL MY NEXT ONE!!!"

Neck Pain

Shoulder Pain

"I was experiencing severe pain in my left shoulder and extending down the arm almost to the elbow.  It was easy to figure out that this happened because of spending long periods of time on my computer.  I use my left hand to move the mouse and, because of the configuration of my workstation, my left arm was held in a rather unnatural position.  Heat and exercise did not relieve the pain.  It was then that I made an appointment with Howard and with only one massage session the pain was gone and has never recurred.  This seemed like a miracle to me because the pain had truly been debilitating.  Thank you, Howard!"      

- Linda C., Satellite Beach

"After being diagnosed with a bone spur in my right shoulder, I had severe pain in the muscles surrounding the spur. The pain was affecting my everyday life and making normal things very painful. I scheduled an appointment with Howard and he massaged the trigger points in the muscles surrounding the shoulder. The next day I am 95% pain free. I look forward to my next visit with Howard, he is a miracle worker."

 - Fred Bolden, Palm Bay

"Caring personality. I'm comfortable with you and your ability to heal (you saved me from shoulder surgery)."

- N. C., Palm Bay

"I have been seeing Howard for therapeutic massage for my neck and low back pain for several years. I am always amazed at how much better I feel after a session with Howard. I had a cervical fusion 17 years ago, and also have a herniated L5-S1. I have high hopes that with continued therapeutic massage, and trigger point therapy, I will not have to undergo spinal surgery again! 

Ten years ago I had surgery for my shoulder which was painful and popping out of joint. The last month or so the same shoulder had become very painful and felt unstable.  My plan was to get a referral to an orthopedic MD and see if he would prescribe physical therapy – hoping to avoid shoulder surgery again.  In desperation for some relief I thought I would go see Howard first. I was very skeptical about trying massage for this problem, in fact was pretty sure that he wouldn’t be able to help me – but felt it was worth a try. I also worried that my shoulder would pop out of joint.  I explained all of this to Howard when I met with him, and answered his many questions. That night, after massage and trigger point therapy I was totally amazed! My pain was at least 50% better and the shoulder felt much more stable. I returned as scheduled to see Howard five days later and was able to tell him that I was 75-90% better than prior to our last session.  It had been a struggle to do even small tasks – especially taking a shirt off – and  I can easily do this now! I have been telling my family and friends that it is like a miracle!

I believe we have this much success because Howard and I communicate during massage/trigger point therapy. I thought that more pressure was better – but have learned that I need to tell him when I need more or less pressure to get the best results. It took me awhile to realize that I needed to tell him when he found a trigger point during massage because “moving” hands are what I always thought would make me feel better. However, trigger point therapy done the way Howard does it, requires pressure to specific areas without movement of his hands. This may not feel “good” – but what I really want is to feel better when I leave, not a relaxation massage.  I have been a nurse for 28 years, and our jobs are brutal to our bodies.  Thankfully, for me, there is Howard who keeps me feeling good and able to continue to work." 

- Kim, RN, West Melbourne

"While playing basketball, I fell and landed on my left shoulder. It was badly bruised, extremely painful, and I had very limited mobility. For a couple of weeks, I had trouble putting on shirts, because I could not raise my arm. At the time I was working in Mexico. When I returned to the U.S. a month later, I went to the doctor. X-rays revealed no one damage, so I was referred to an orthopedic doctor, and given an appointment almost two months later.  All during this time I was in pain, and had only about 50% mobility in my shoulder.  After another month long trip for work, my appointment was finally getting close, I called to confirm, and spent 45 minutes being transferred, before being hung up on. At my wife’s urging, I made an appointment to see Howard. I wish I had done it sooner. After one treatment, there was clear improvement, my pain was significantly reduced, and my mobility increased to around 80%. After the second treatment, my mobility was about 90%, and most of the pain was gone. After the third treatment, I recovered full mobility, am now pain free, and have all my strength back. I thought for sure I was going to need some kind of surgery, but, thanks to Howard, I do not need it."

- John A., West Melbourne

Low Back Pain

"You are a miracle worker."   

- Brenda E., Melbourne 

Mid Back Pain

"Last spring I was responsible for a particularly stressful project. Unfortunately, it was also a very physical job, that included a great deal of heavy lifting. After a couple weeks of this environment, my back was so tight that the pain was migrating into my chest as well. I was actually ready to go to the doctor to get checked-out. I ran into Howard and decided to get a massage just to see if it would help. I knew I was stressed-out. But I had no idea that my back was so tight, until Howard started to work on it. The first session, he did an hour of deep-tissue and trigger points on my back, during which most of the time, I spent groaning. What a strange combination of pain and relief. All I knew was, ....I immediately felt better. It actually took a couple more sessions to get the muscles in my back to loosen up to a state of zero pain, but each session brought a marked improvement and after a few sessions I was completely pain free. I was very happy with the results physically. Also, I am now less stressed as I have a better understanding of how I got to that point, as well as how to deal with it. It was an relaxing and healing experience on multiple levels. Thanks, Howard."

- Kevin S., Melbourne

"Howard got rid of my problem back pain when nothing else worked."

 -  M. Y., Melbourne

Hip Pain

-  J.K., Melbourne

"After being diagnosed with Piriformis Syndrome I tried physical therapy, epidural injections and acupuncture without success. I went to Howard as a last resort not really expecting relief but he used deep muscle therapeutic massage and after 3 sessions I began to feel improvement. After another 2-3 sessions I was just about back to normal. I continue to do the stretches that are on Howard’s website and now several months later I am still pain free. I would not hesitate to recommend Howard Northrup and therapeutic massage to anyone with Piriformis Syndrome."

-  B.G.

"I had plantar fasciitis several years before going to Howard and had been in frequent pain on and off for several months. On a daily basis, it made it difficult and painful to walk, considering I walk back and forth all day at work and work outside. I tried self exercising each morning and throughout the day as well to stretch the muscles to release the muscle and alleviate pain.  The first massage session with Howard was very relaxing and pleasant. There was a huge difference after that first massage and I didn't have to come back as frequently as we had planned. It only took two sessions to get the problem under control.  If you are considering seeing Howard for your plantar fasciitis, do not hesitate to go.  You wont be disappointed."

    - J. Davis, Palm Bay