Back in Action

4911 Augusta Ave.
254-0200
feelgr8.com

Second Place: Massage Envy Spa

Third Place: Scents of Serenity Organic Spa

Massage therapy has become more sophisticated through the years. For some time, it was a way to relax tense muscles and anxious people. Now it's more scientific and used to help patients with stress, sprains and repetitive sports injuries, such as tennis elbow. "We have six masseuses and they work alongside our doctors," says David Berv, a chiropractor and sports medicine specialist who founded his practice in 1998. "This isn't your usual 50-minute fluff massage at a spa," he says. Back in Action goes beyond massages by offering acupuncture and chiropractic services, all with a sports-minded bent. It has helped professional ice hockey and soccer players, along with amateur golfers and ballet dancers. "We tend to see lots of active-minded people," Berv says. Massage Envy offers six locations and tries to customize massages specifically to customers, says manager Jesse Waller. At Scents of Serenity, the emphasis is on using all organic materials, says owner Melanie Mueller.