Massage Therapist Returns Home to Lincoln County

Originally published for the Lincoln Sentinel, "Hayworth at home as massage therapist" By Jennifer McDaniel

As a student-athlete at Lincoln High School, Tori Hayworth often pulled or strained a muscle.

But those injuries, Hayworth thought, were just the price she paid to play the game.

And after a while, she learned to work through the pain.

Years later, as a certified massage therapist, Hayworth wishes she would’ve known the benefits of soft-tissue massage in helping her recover faster and get back in the game.

Soft tissue methods like massage target muscles, tendons, ligaments or other connective tissue such as fascia, which helps with pain, swelling and the development of other long-term problems such as arthritis.

“I was injured often from high school sports and never had soft tissue work done,” Hayworth, a 2013 Lincoln High School graduate, said. “It would have been so beneficial as an active student-athlete. Some health-care professionals can’t work on soft tissue, or don’t do enough with it, and it’s so essential to our everyday function, overall well-being and quality of life.”

Hayworth offers massage therapy at Heller Chiropractic, where she’s worked for the past two years. She received her certification from Heritage College in Wichita three years ago.

Hayworth offers Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, trigger-point therapy, myofascial release, children/infant massage, stretching sessions, sports massage, pregnancy massage, chair massage, hot stone massage, reflexology and Reiki.

Besides benefiting athletes, massage therapy, she said, offers several benefits, including improving circulation, posture, minor muscle injury, range of motion, repairs scar tissue and helps with insomnia, sore muscles and fibromyalgia.

“I knew I wanted to offer massage therapy in Lincoln because the people of our community work so hard every day, and are the people who need it,” Hayworth said. “I want to offer it to the community because we already have so many amazing health-care options here, and I wanted to be sure they could have easy access to soft tissue work when they need it.”

Hayworth, and her boyfriend, Brian O’Toole, moved to Lincoln in late May.

“We decided to move back because my boyfriend, Brian, wanted to advance into building a career in plumbing and heating and wanted to be a part of our community. I knew I wanted to work with Dr. Grant Heller because massage and chiropractic complement each other so well. When muscles are relaxed, adjustments are easier, and muscles are less sore because they accept the adjustments better.”

To schedule an appointment, call Heller Chiropractic in Lincoln at 785-524-4371. Hayworth offers appointments at the chiropractic office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays.