SCIENCE-INFORMED
MASSAGE
&
BODYWORK
Founder and published researcher Dedric Carroll welcomes you and shares insights to Empirical Knead's science-informed functional bodywork model approach.
Our founder Dedric featured on Your Fantastic Mind with collaboration with Emory University conducting clinical research.
Balance the fascia, and the body often restores its own alignment.
Our proprietary Functional Model evaluates the body as an integrated system—not isolated parts.
We assess your individual structure, posture, and movement patterns, examining the relationship between the feet, arches, hips, shoulders, and head to understand how force is distributed throughout the body.
Posture is not random. It is shaped over time by the positions we repeatedly place ourselves in—sitting at a workstation, looking down at devices, driving, and even how we sleep. These patterns, combined with the constant influence of gravity, gradually organize the body’s structure.
At every moment, your nervous system is working to maintain balance and keep your center of gravity aligned. Through the fascial network, the body adapts—shifting tension and position to keep the eyes level with the horizon, a fundamental survival mechanism.
When these adaptations become inefficient, they create strain, compensation, and eventually pain. Our work identifies and addresses these patterns at their source—restoring balance within the system so the body can move, align, and function more efficiently.
When force is distributed correctly, the body no longer has to compensate.
Guided by 13 years of published clinical research and nearly two decades of practice, our work is designed to deliver targeted, measurable results — helping reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve how your body functions long-term.
Our Approach
Our Functional Model Approach
If you're here, you're likely dealing with pain, restricted movement, or a condition that hasn’t fully resolved. Or has lingered--even after seeing by other health care providers. Like most of our clients over the past 19 years, we hope that we are your last stop in the pursuit of body wellness.
The Empirical Knead Functional Model™
Our approach meets you where you are.
We combine:
Targeted Neuromuscular Therapy(NMT)
→ releases trigger points
→ restores muscle tone
→ improves function
Full body Myofascial Structural Integration(MFSI)
→ Decreases pain & improves function
→ re-educates fascia
→ restores movement pathways
→ improves alignment
Hybrid of Care NMT/MFSI with...
Restorative
→ Calms the nervous system with the soothing techniques used in our Published Clinical Research collaboration with Emory University. Proven to provide clinically significant relief.
Functional Cupping
→ Mobilize restricted fascia improving circulation and mobility, decreasing pain. Gliding cups hydrate connective tissue and release congestion along fascial pathways throughout the body.
Driven by Measurable Results
Guided by 13 years of published clinical research and nearly two decades of practice, our work is focused on:
- measurable outcomes
- posture analysis
- controlled variables
- refining treatment based on your response
This allows us to deliver targeted, repeatable results — not temporary relief. - but clinically significant - Empirical relief.
Restore Balance — The Body Can Heal
We assess the body as a connected system.
Identifying:
- where restriction(s) begins
- how it affects movement
- how that movement shapes structure
- how that structure impacts communication
Left unchecked, this becomes a cycle:
restriction → compensation → dysfunction → pain
Our goal is to interrupt that cycle. Free the restrictions and restore balance and movement
Treatments
Neuromuscular Therapy Integration
Relieve persistent pain and restore healthy muscle function. Precision neuromuscular work releases restrictive trigger points, improves muscle tone, and restores comfortable movement.
Kinesis MyoFascial Structural Integration
Correct structural imbalances influencing symptoms and restoring freedom of movement.
Kinesis fascia-focused work reorganizes tension across the body’s kinetic chain for lasting results.
Functional Bodywork Integration
Maintain mobility, comfort, and balanced movement. Adaptive sessions respond to the body’s needs while sustaining structural progress and supporting everyday function and resilience. Ideal for post structural work --once the primary complaint(s) has calmed and routine maintenance is desired.
Specialized Care
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy
Reduce swelling and support immune and lymphatic health. Gentle rhythmic techniques encourage fluid movement, improve circulation, and help the body resolve inflammation naturally.
Restorative Care Massage Therapy
Calm the nervous system and support deep recovery. Gentle research-informed care promotes circulation, relaxation, and restoration during periods of stress or anxiety.
Advanced Medical Massage for Complex Conditions
Clinical bodywork for complex pain and medically involved cases. Assessment-driven treatment supports recovery, circulation, and comfort for clients requiring advanced therapeutic care.
Prenatal Therapeutic Care
Ease pregnancy discomfort while supporting circulation and lymphatic flow. Specialized techniques help the body adapt to structural changes and improve comfort during pregnancy.
Functional Cupping
Modern cupping therapy applied strategically honoring the flow fascial lines to improve tissue hydration, glide and circulation. Gliding cups hydrate connective tissue and release congestion along fascial pathways throughout the body. Decreasing pain and improving performance.
Used as a standalone therapy or integrated into structural sessions
May assist with:
• Adhesions
• Congested tissue
• Athletic recovery
• Restricted movement
• Postural compression patterns
Youth Structural Development & Alignment (10–17)
Support healthy posture and structural development during growth. Targeted bodywork helps growing bodies adapt to activity and change while encouraging balanced movement.
Pediatric Massage (3–9)
Support healthy posture and structural development during growth. Targeted bodywork helps growing bodies adapt to activity and change while encouraging balanced movement.
Enhancements & Extensions(+10 Mins)
Enhancement therapies add to your session for additional focus you may opt to extend your treatment with targeted care. Options include cupping, CBD, reflexology, aromatherapy, and scalp therapy to deepen relaxation and support results. PLEASE LIMIT TWO PER SESSION
Functional Cupping
Functional cupping gently lifts and mobilizes fascia to improve circulation and tissue glide. A great addition to bodywork sessions when you want deeper release, improved mobility, and enhanced results.
CBD Therapy
CBD-infused massage oil supports relaxation while helping calm inflammation and muscular tension. Added to your session to deepen comfort, soothe sore tissues, and support recovery.
Targeted Reflexology / Foot Therapy
Targeted reflexology focuses on pressure points of the feet that support relaxation and circulation throughout the body. A focused addition that helps ease tension and enhance comfort.
Targeted Scalp Therapy
Targeted scalp massage relieves tension in the head, temples, and neck while improving circulation. A calming addition that enhances relaxation and helps release stress held in the scalp.
Aromatherapy
Therapeutic essential oils enhance your session with calming or uplifting aromas. Carefully selected blends complement bodywork to support relaxation, breathing comfort, and sensory balance.
Add-On Enhancements and Extensions
Enhancements
Enhancements are integrated within your scheduled session time. They complement the primary treatment focus without extending the overall appointment length.
Extensions (+10 Minutes)
Extensions add 15 additional minutes of focused work, allowing for deeper
application and more sustained therapeutic effect in a specific area or technique.
Add-On Enhancements
Add-ons enhancements are designed to complement your primary session without extending time.
Available Enhancements:
• Functional Cupping
• CBD Therapy Enhancement
• Targeted Scalp Massage
• Aromatherapy
CBD Therapy Enhancement
Topical plant-based application designed to support localized muscle relaxation and reduce inflammatory tension patterns.
Ideal for joint stiffness, athletic recovery, and high-tension or painful areas.
Reflexology Enhancement
A focused foot-based therapy stimulating mapped reflex zones corresponding to organs and systems throughout the body.
Reflexology supports, but not limited to:
• Nervous system regulation
• Circulation
• Relaxation response
• Systemic balance
Functional Cupping Enhancement
Modern cupping therapy applied strategically honoring the flow fascial lines to improve tissue hydration, glide and circulation.
May assist with:
• Adhesions
• Congested tissue
• Athletic recovery
• Restricted movement
• Postural compression patterns
Used as a standalone therapy or integrated into structural sessions.
Aromatherapy Enhancement
A curated single or essential oil blend applied strategically to support nervous system regulation, breath depth, and session integration.
Selected based on your clinical presentation and desired outcome — grounding, energizing, respiratory support, or deep relaxation.
Designed to complement your primary session without extending time.
Scope of Practice
Empirical Knead provides therapeutic massage and structural bodywork within the professional scope of licensed massage therapy.
Services are intended to support musculoskeletal function, neuromuscular balance, and structural alignment. We do not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe treatment, or serve as a substitute for medical care.
Clients experiencing acute injury, progressive neurological symptoms, or other medical concerns are encouraged to consult an appropriate licensed healthcare provider. Any discussion of structural patterns or dysfunction reflects clinical observation within the scope of manual therapy and should not be interpreted as a medical diagnosis.
TESTIMONIALS
Read what our cleints are saying about our approach
Dedric and his team at Empirical Knead are nothing short of miracle workers—true healers. As an athlete, I’ve tried nearly every form of bodywork imaginable, from traditional massages to advanced therapies, but Dedric’s science-based functional model featuring neuromuscular / fascia approach stands head and shoulders above the rest. It doesn’t just treat symptoms; it addresses the root causes of pain and misalignment by viewing the body as a fully interconnected system.
I’ve battled multiple injuries this year that left me in tears and struggling to walk, yet after each session at Empirical Knead, I walked out feeling remarkably better—lighter, more aligned, and with a deeper understanding of my body’s needs. With their care, those injuries healed astonishingly fast.
Throughout my pregnancy, I also received prenatal massage care from multiple therapists on the team, and the consistency, thoughtfulness, and clinical awareness across each session were exceptional. Every therapist approached my changing body with intention, precision, and genuine care—adapting the work to support comfort, alignment, circulation, and relief at every stage. I always felt safe, supported, and deeply understood, which made a world of difference during such a physically transformative time.
My husband and I are profoundly grateful to Dedric, Tony, and Alisha for their expertise and unwavering commitment to our well-being. We’ve finally found our forever bodywork home, and I can’t recommend them enough. If you’re seeking effective, long-lasting results that truly change how you move and feel, Empirical Knead is the place. You’ll be so grateful you discovered them—it’s a game-changer.
Rebecca M
I came to Empirical Knead with severe back pain (after 2 past major back surgeries). Working with Dedric was extraordinary! I wish he could "could be cloned" because there simply can't be any massage therapist on this planet as great as he is..Too many people in this world need him for pain. Turns out he has... his team of therapists are incredible!
Cathy Printz B.
Here is a testament from me regarding the phenomenal healing bodywork that Dedric and Empirical Knead provides. I have been treated by Dedric for many years, and while I’ve naturally aged during that time, I’ve avoided many of the common age-related issues others often experience. When something has presented itself, Dedric has consistently known exactly how to address it.
His science-informed functional approach—combining precise Neuromuscular tissue work, targeted IT band and psoas engagement, and thoughtful use of body positioning—has kept me pain-free, functional, and confident in my movement. What stands out most is his exceptional attention to detail and his ability to assess the body as a whole rather than chasing isolated symptoms.
Over the years, I’ve also watched Dedric evolve into Empirical Knead and an outstanding teacher and clinical researcher and now clinical director, developing a thoughtful, results-driven approach that now lives through Empirical Knead and the therapists he now trains. That same level of care, precision, and expertise is reflected throughout the practice.
Because of this work, I’m able to travel extensively, carry my own luggage, and explore physically demanding places with ease—something I do not take for granted. Dedric is truly a phenom in this field, and is a rare find.
Highly, highly recommended.
