After giving over 10,000 massages since April, 2002, I've found that my clients give me some of the nicest compliments and positive feedback about my massages! I thought it would be helpful for people who haven't had my massage yet to hear them, so here they are. If you haven't had my massage yet and have questions about it or any of these testimonials, feel free to e-mail me at Howard@HowardNorthrup.com

                                                                            - Howard

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

Testimonials from Long-Time Clients

One of the true tests of effectiveness and professionalism for a licensed massage therapist is the amount of clients who have been loyal to that therapist for a long time. Below are testimonials that Howard received from a few long-time clients who understand the value of getting massage on a regular basis from a professional therapist. 

17-Year Clients

"I've been getting both therapeutic and relaxation massages from Howard for the past 17 years. I get them once a month or more often, if he is working on a particular problem. Howard is extremely professional. Regarding my comfort level, he leaves everything to my discretion.

Over those 17 years, he has helped me with quite a few issues, including TMJ, neck pain, tennis elbow, trigger finger, lower back pain, hip pain, inner thigh muscle pain, knee pain, and plantar fasciitis....in other words, from jaw to foot!!!! Because of all that he has helped me with, I've sent at least 9 or 10 family members, friends, and co-workers to him.

In areas that are bothering me, Howard really listens to my concerns. He inquires, during the massage, as to whether he is using too much pressure on those areas or if it needs more. And if I want a relaxation massage, it is heaven!"

- Diane C., Melbourne (2019)

"I have been seeing Howard for seventeen years as my massage therapist. At the time I was experiencing tight muscles that were hampering my daily movements. Howard’s trigger point therapy started releasing the tension in my muscles.

I visit Howard every six weeks to avoid my muscles becoming so tensed. He concentrates on troubled areas using trigger point therapy where needed. I feel so much better afterwards.

I would recommend Howard to anyone who is seeking massages. He is totally professional, friendly and very informed. Friends that I have referred would also verify these truths."

- Gina L Satellite Beach, FL (2019)

"I have been getting massages from Howard for nearly 16 years. During that time, I've been getting a deep tissue massage every month.

Howard is extremely professional. He is dedicated to his clients and in improving their well-being. He is quite knowledgeable on the human anatomy and in identifying the trigger points that can cause the aches and pains. I used to have lower back pain that wouldn’t allow me to stand for long. Regular massage by Howard has improved that tremendously. I also have some neuropathy and I believe that regular massage treatments help in keeping that problem at bay.

I have sent my parents to be treated by Howard as well as friends in need of a therapist. I've learned over the years how much he is interested in making your body feel better. If you are having a problem that he hasn’t encountered before, he will take the time to research to determine the best course of treatment. He is a gentleman who is kind and caring."

"I first went to Howard for a massage 10 years ago and I've been going to him ever since. I get regular massages at least once a month. He is the most knowledgeable and professional massage therapist I have seen. I was having severe headaches because of neck issues. After going to several other massage therapists, Howard was recommended to me. He was able to address the original issue and now, as long as I see him once a month, I am headache free, and have been for several years.

During the past 10 years, he has helped me with neck stiffness (headaches), knee (IT band), hand and feet tendon issues and I've referred at least 6 friends and family members to him.

Howard is very professional, knowledgeable, and caring. He always greets me and asks if I have any new issues since the last time he saw me. He remembers what areas we were working on at my last massage and asks if I have seen any relief. If there is a new area that is bothering me I usually have an email waiting for me when I get home, because Howard has researched it and sent information for me." 

- Trudi O., Rockledge (2019)

"I've been getting massages from Howard for 10 years. Although I started out about every 2-3 months, I soon determined I needed to go more often. I go once a month for a one hour session.

Howard is extremely professional. I have never felt uncomfortable with him. He has helped me with problems in my hands and arms, trigger points in my chest, back and piriformis syndrome pain. I always tell friends and family about him--when people ask me who I go to for massage, I also share my very positive experiences with Howard."

- Carla L, Titusville (2019)

"I have been going to Howard for nearly 9 years. I get trigger point massage every six weeks. From day 1, Howard has displayed professionalism. He described trigger point massage for me with a thorough explanation of how it would help. Initially I had to return weekly, but when Howard recognized that we had gotten my piriformis problem under control, he suggested that I did not have to see him every week. I appreciated his honesty.

Howard has really helped me with the muscles in my hip, mainly the piriformis muscle, which tightens for some unknown reason. He taught me stretching exercises that I can do between visits.

I have suggested Howard to many friends over the years, and many of them have gone to him. They always report back to me their appreciation that I told them about Howard. They have been so pleased. For others who haven't yet been to Howard for massage, I share my very positive experience, and I also refer them to his website so that they can read more about him and the types of massage that he does…ways that he can help them."

- Linda L (2019)

"I've been getting therapeutic massages from Howard for 6 years and I get a regular massage once a month. He is very professional and very knowledgeable. Since I started seeing Howard, he has helped me with piriformis syndrome, lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain. I've also sent a friend and two family members to him so he could help them, too.

If you're thinking about seeing Howard for massage, I can tell you that it’s the best massage you will ever get."

- Susan W., Titusville (2019)

"I got my first massage from Howard over 5 years ago and I should have started earlier. My wife discovered Howard’s services over 9 years ago and told me I needed to go to him for quite a while before I started. Now I kick myself for not starting sooner. Since then, I've been getting regular massages every 4-6 weeks depending on my travel schedule.

Howard is a true professional and takes his craft, his business and his reputation seriously. He has helped me with problems in my lower back, neck, and shoulders. Howard is able to find the muscle band that I abused and get it to release. When I first started I was a mess, there was a total of more than 45 trigger points in my three problem areas. Now there are either none or just a couple. I always feel loose and limber when I leave. 

My wife started with Howard and it has spread through our extended family including my sister, my elderly parents (even my mother in her 80’s after 40 years of rheumatoid arthritis) my son, brother and sister-in-law. I even sent a colleague from work who now has regular appointments.

If someone is considering seeing Howard for massage, without hesitation, I give him two thumbs up! Don’t delay like I did. Howard is professional, gets results."

- Bill B., Melbourne, FL (2019)

"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."

Reiki is not actually a form of massage, but a form of touch healing. It was developed by a doctor in Japan who required any practitioner to be certified in Reiki. Howard has been certified at Reiki Level II since August, 1998. He has experienced some miraculous healing results, but there are no guarantees with Reiki.

Able to Exercise Again After Five Years of Chronic Pain Resolved

"Before I started massage therapy treatments with Howard, I suffered from chronic neck, shoulder and upper back pain. I have been living with the condition for over 5 years, as I suffered from several car accidents and never fully recovered from one before I was in another. My neck was so bad that I couldn't turn my head to the right without feeling pain. My hands tingled constantly and I couldn't turn my head to the right without it clicking.

Prior to my first massage session with Howard, I had seen a chiropractor, had physical therapy, and had been to a pain management specialist who prescribed me drugs. All of which only provided palliative care but never fully resolved the issue.

After my first visit, I was insanely surprised at how awesome I felt. I couldn't believe how loose my head felt on my shoulders. My head turned with such ease. The next day I was still feeling relief. As well as the day after and the day after and the day after. It wasn't until a week had gone by that I decided that I needed to continue treatment to see how much further I could get with removing all of my aches and pains. 

I had been having low back issues as well and had a massage therapist work on it in the past, but there were residual flexor pains that just kept giving me grief. I had Howard work on those muscles as well, as I continued to treat my neck and shoulder to get my upper body to the point where I could start doing some strengthening exercises with weights. My upper body over the past few years had really lost a lot of its mobility and strength and I was not happy about it at all. 

After eight massage visits in 10 weeks, I have not only been pain-FREE, but able to lift 16 lb. weights to get my biceps back, as my poor arms had turned into chicken wings. Now here I am at 56 years old and I can see and feel significantly more limber in my neck and stronger in my shoulders and upper spine.

Now I see Howard about every 6 weeks just because I like feeling 100%. I can work out daily now and no longer have issues with my neck, shoulders or lower back. Best of all, the tingling in my hand has disappeared. And to think I almost agreed to having surgery on my wrists, when all along the pain was a result of the pinched nerve in my neck and trigger points in my forearms.

I strongly recommend anyone who suffers from ongoing pain and has NOT tried trigger point therapy by Howard to give him a call and set up an appointment today. And NO, he is not paying me to write this and I am not receiving any compensation for this endorsement. The guy really does know his stuff! You will be super happy with the results of his treatment because they are immediate--you will walk out of his office feeling so much better than you did when you walked in."

- Lisa-Marie
Zephan Luxury Soap
Cocoa Village, FL
https://ZephanLuxurySoap.com
https://www.facebook.com/zephanluxurysoap

Already Tried Every Conventional & Non-Conventional Treatment for Chronic Neck Pain

"I am a 70 year old female in relatively good health. I first visited Howard Northrup for relief from chronic neck pain caused by the onset of arthritis. I was not familiar with trigger point massage therapy, but since I had tried every other conventional and non-conventional method, I thought I would give this a try. A friend of mine had been referred to Howard and he was able to relieve her neck and back pain tremendously. After just a few treatments, I began to notice that the pain in my neck was diminishing. As time went by, the pain became a mild discomfort and eventually was negligible. I return to Howard on a routine basis now – once a month or as needed – for Wellness Massages."

- Donna G, Melbourne, Florida

Seven Years of Chronic Neck Pain Alleviated

"I’ve had neck and head pain since 2015. The pain I was having limited my ability to concentrate, exercise, and carry out my routine when it was flaring. I scheduled trigger point therapy sessions with Howard. 

Over time, the therapy helped pin point the pain and alleviate it. Now, I’m able to work when there are flare ups and that extends the time for normal activities.

Howard is caring and works to help his clients on many levels. His expertise as a health coach regarding was invaluable. He educated on many health issues I had not previously understood. If you're thinking of trying massage therapy or need a Health Coach to educate you on your health issues, talk with Howard to learn how you will work for you."

M.W., Cocoa

"A friend recommended that I contact Howard because I was having pain in my neck, shoulders, and back. Had tight knots under my shoulder blades that were very painful. I suffered from this for about 14 years or so. The pain and discomfort were gnawing. I couldn’t get decent sleep, I was always irritable, and used to seek relief in alcohol and other unhealthy depressants. The pain and tightness caused for a short range of motion on my limbs and for me to clench my jaw, which led to a number of complications with headaches and broken teeth. Over the years, I had tried many other remedies and therapies. Almost everything I tried: diet, exercise, meditation, yoga, stretches, massages, massage therapy, oils, liquids, muscle relaxers, anxiety meds, sleeping pills, drugs, alcohol... you name it, I tried it. 

At my first session with Howard, he made me feel immediately comfortable talking to him. I didn’t understand at first, because his massage therapy is a little different from other places. It’s more personal. You’re not just another patient. Everything is very much customized to whatever needs you may have. It is immediately evident once you lay on the table that his approach is very different. Took some getting used to but I’m glad I did! 

After the first session I didn’t feel much different. I was getting the hang of it and the problem was pretty severe. After the second and third sessions I began to notice a dramatic change. To wake up, feeling good, rested, to sit and read and not feel my body pulled down, to feel relief, normal, after so many years, was a great feeling and made me glad I stuck with Howard to see where he was going with his method. It works. 

It took about 6 session to get the problem under control. I was doing pretty darn good after a couple of months. I was able to sleep better. My stretches are actually productive now. Working on my posture and other habits. Just feel overall relieved, like a load was taken off my back, and feel free to explore other endeavors that pertain to my health. I also have a longer range of motion on my limbs and neck. 

If you are considering seeing Howard for pain relief, try it. Don’t be turned off by his approach. It’s not like the same massages you’re used to, so it may seem like it’s not going to work. Stick with it. He knows what he’s doing and can take pains you’ve had for years away in seconds or minutes, right in front of you, while you lay there. You can go home feeling anew after just one session. Stick with it and see it through, you’ll see results." 

- Lilly H., Palm Bay

Frozen Shoulder Full Mobility & Function Returned

"I have been seeing Howard for deep tissue massage for more than 17 years. Several times over that span I have sought treatment from him for a frozen shoulder. The most recent episode occurred after shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff muscle and bone spur. I found that the massage helped to relieve the tension and tightness in the shoulder so that eventually my muscles could relax. It also helped to restore my mobility and improve function. The techniques that he used seemed to help improve the blood flow to the affected area and reduce inflammation.

The massage sessions combined with the stretching exercises improved my flexibility, increased the range of motion, and lengthened the muscle fibers so that the full function of my shoulder returned. We initially started with a full hour session and then followed with weekly half hour sessions for 10 weeks. As the shoulder pain reduced and the range of motion increased, we reduced to every other week and then to monthly. I would highly recommend Howard for frozen shoulder issues or any other muscle condition as his skill, expertise, and genuine caring over your well-being is evident in every session."

- M.M., Suntree

For anyone who is considering seeing Howard for the same problem, I have 100% confidence in his ability to find the problem and treat the pain."

"I have been seeing Howard since 2003 for neck, back, and shoulder pain.  Recently I developed pain in my right hip and thigh.  The pain was so severe that I was sure I would need surgery. Any change of position caused an increase in my pain, and sitting was almost impossible. After 2-3 weeks of suffering I decided to see Howard before making an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon - and once again he amazed me with awesome results.  I saw Howard once a week for three weeks for my hip pain.  

After the first treatment (I use the word treatment because this wasn't just a massage - it was trigger point therapy focusing on my hip) I had 50% less pain.  Howard showed me hip stretching and strengthening exercises - and followed up by emailing me pictures and instructions of these exercises. By the second appointment I had about 75% improvement in pain, and by the third 90%.  It has been almost 1 1/2 months since my last appointment and I have ZERO pain in my hip! 

Howard is so much more than a massage therapist - he is a professional who uses trigger point therapy to alleviate pain.  I highly recommend giving Howard a chance to help you prior to taking medications or seeing a surgeon for whatever joint or spine issues you may have.  You might just find, like I did, that he can keep you off of an operating room table!"

"I was referred to Howard by a friend because I was having severe pain in my low back and hip. The pain started in my low back about 2 to 3 months earlier, then it started sending pain down one leg and eventually down the other leg. I do a lot of driving for my work and it was getting very difficult to get through a long drive. I couldn't exercise because of the pain or do much around the house. I bought a seat cushion with a cutout at the back to see if that would help, but it didn't. I also bought a cushion for my low back and that seemed to help some, but I still had a lot of pain.

I never had massage therapy before, so Howard recommended a 30-minute session, based on that and where my pain was. At the first session, after he explained what he thought the problem might be, he described what he would do to try to help it and what I needed to do for my part. He warmed up the muscles where the pain was, then went deeper into them. He found a total of 12 tender trigger points in my low back muscles and another 15 in my hip muscles. They all released with his pressure and my deep slow breathing, so he said that was a good result for the first session.

Howard warned me that I may be sore for a day or two after the massage, but I wasn't too sore and my low back and hip felt 90% better!

I went for a 30-minute session every 2 weeks to continue making progress. Even though I still had quite a few trigger points each session, I was hardly noticing much pain after 5 sessions, so I was able to start going once a month for maintenance. I can now drive a long distance with only a little pain now and then and I'm able to start exercising again.

If you have muscle pain in your low back, hip, and down your leg that won't go away and you aren't sure what to do, I highly recommend massage therapy with Howard! I don't know what I would have done without him. He has truly healing hands!"

Pain Gone After Just Two 30-Minute Sessions

"So you will see a lot of testimonials here and think: “these can’t all be real”. Well, I’m here to tell you - I believe every single one of them. And I’m about to add my own! My story? Near perfect health until two things happened:

1. Fell 10 feet out of my attic to a concrete floor. 
2. Spent way too many hours sitting at the computer leading up to November election. 

Started feeling pain from butt to foot, and the pain kept getting worse - like my sciatic nerve was on fire. Couldn’t sit, couldn’t sleep, and driving? Forget it. Went to my GP, he confirmed that yes - it was the dreaded Piriformis Syndrome. Yikes! He recommended what I had already started doing: ice/heat/ibuprofen. Prescribed mild muscle relaxant and a steroid for inflammation. Also sent me to PT to develop exercise routine. 

Two weeks later - STILL VERY LITTLE RELIEF. Losing faith in the health care system. So two trusted friends told me about Howard. And OMFG - after just one treatment I experienced 70% improvement - I kid you not! Amazing what a knowledgeable, ethical and compassionate person can do. No ulterior motives, reasonably priced, even shares his idea of the “ideal client” so he doesn’t take on so many that he can’t do justice for each one. 

Okay, that was long-winded. Suffice it to say, I am one happy customer. Howard - take care of that hand, cuz I need you around for a while!"

- Claudia T, Mims

Got His Life Back After Two Sessions Within One Week

My job involves long periods of time sitting and when one morning my back went out and my sciatic nerve pain had me laid up in bed for 3 days, I became very worried. I was worried that I was going to be stuck in this state of pain. After a couple of weeks of pain and not having the ability to lift anything, sit or stand for any amount of time at all I didn’t know how I was going to continue to provide for my family. I was trying anything I could do outside of surgery. I was on steroids, seeing a physical therapist, chiropractor and even another massage therapist.

A good friend recommended Howard for when I came to visit. Laying nearly flat the entire drive to FL and in constant pain nearly the entire ride, I didn’t have much hope for getting better. I was skeptical that massage therapy would do any good since I already saw a massage therapist before I left. When I first saw Howard I was really impressed with his knowledge and professionalism. His approach was unlike any other massage therapist I’ve worked with before. After the first session I could tell that I wasn’t stuck. His advice for after care really started me on the path to recovering from the pain. After the 2nd session, I was just further convinced that Howard has a unique gift for the trade and a truly healing touch.

After following his advice I now feel like I have my life back again. I can do all the physical activities I did before. Even though I was from out of town and came to see Howard only twice, he treated me like someone who he was going to see the very next week. He told me how to find a similar treatment and even though I didn’t find the care I would have with Howard, I credit the approach that Howard took for the reason I am now in a better place.

For anyone suffering from sciatic pain, I would highly recommend Howard's one of kind approach. His use of trigger point massage is unlike most massage therapists and whatever journey you are on to healing a visit to Howard will not disappoint.

- Sean, Oak Ridge, TN