Massage Therapies
Massage can be defined as the systematic and manual manipulation of the body’s soft tissue for therapeutic purposes promoting health and well-being. Massage is a multidimensional skill encompassing a wide variety of ever evolving techniques.
Most massage therapists utilise Swedish Massage as the foundation for a treatment and blend in various techniques, depending upon training and experience, to address the specific needs of the client. In general, the manipulation of the body’s soft tissue (i.e. the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) using the hands is a gentle, flowing massage technique that uses varying degrees of pressure and stretching movements. It is most commonly used for relaxation and improving well-being.
A typical full-body massage session lasts for about one hour, many therapists will offer shorter sessions for treating specific areas such as backs, shoulders and necks or any areas giving discomfort, aches or pains. On the first visit clients are asked a number of questions concerning general well-being, injuries and medical conditions that the therapist should know about, in order to determine if there are any contra-indications to the treatment.
Sports Massage Therapy:
The prime purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Above all, it can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether one is an athlete, ardent keep-fitter or a once a week jogger.
This treatment is not just for the sports person: anyone can benefit from sports massage, including people in physically demanding jobs and those not quite so obvious (occupational, emotional and postural stress may produce many similar characteristics to sports injuries).
Sports massage tends to be deeper and more intense. It is based on the various elements of Swedish massage and often incorporates a combination of other techniques involving stretching, compression, friction, toning, and trigger point response techniques similar to Acupressure and Shiatsu. The skilled therapist brings together this blend of techniques, knowledge and advice during treatment, to work effectively with the client to bring about optimum performance and to provide injury-free training and minimise post event injuries.
Benefits and Effects:
There are three areas where sports massage is used to benefit athletes.
Maintenance Massage:
A regular massage treatment programme based on the therapist’s understanding of anatomy and of the muscles used in a given sport and which are likely candidates for trouble. By concentrating on particular muscle groups the therapist can help the athlete maintain or improve range of motion and muscle flexibility.
Event Massage:
Pre-event and post-event massage therapies are tailored for distinct purposes. Pre-event treatment is used as a supplement to an athlete’s warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition. It is tailored to the needs of the athlete and his/her event and can be relaxing or stimulating as appropriate. Post-event massage, on the other hand, is geared towards reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with rigorous exercise. Various sports massage techniques enhance the body’s own recovery process improving the athlete’s ability to return to training and competition, and reducing the risk of injury.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is a technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the fibre's of the muscles, tendons and fascia. Also helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue.
Deep tissue massage usually focuses on more specific areas and may cause some soreness during or right after the massage, but if it's done right the client should feel better than ever within a day or two.
The technique is often used in combination with other massage procedures such as those used in Remedial and Sports Massage.
In all cases, such massage techniques are employed in collaboration with other appropriate medical care.
Our practitioners may be able to help with the following conditions:
| Back Pain Sciatica Stress Whiplash |
Hip & Leg Pain Migraine & Headaches Neck & Shoulder Pain Chiropractic for Children |
Sports Injuries Arthritis Chest Pain Scoliosis |
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