Therapeutic Massage & Sports Massage Therapy
As featured in The Times – click here to read more
What is therapeutic massage?
Massage is an ancient therapy which dates back to Egyptian times and beyond. It is an effective yet very safe therapy which can help to ease pain, release tension and thus induce relaxation and promote a feeling of wellbeing. By working on the soft tissues massage can stimulate the muscular and nervous systems, and improve the blood circulation and lymphatic flow. This enables fresh oxygenated blood to repair the body tissues and metabolic waste products and toxins to be eliminated. This in turn allows the body to function more efficiently and counteracts the debilitating effects of stressful modern day living.
How does sports massage differ from therapeutic massage?
Sports massage therapy is a deeper form of soft tissue massage which uses specific techniques to treat physically active individuals, who may be more vulnerable to injury because of the stresses placed on the body by their sport.
The sports massage therapist may also advise on stretching or strengthening exercises as appropriate to work in conjunction with treatment.
How can sports massage help me?
Sports massage is particularly effective in treating minor soft tissue problems, relieving niggling aches and pains before they develop into more serious overuse injuries. It is also great in the pre-event situation, whether your needs are for your relaxation or stimulation, and in post-event relaxation and recovery. Finally, it is good for the general relief of stress and tension and for fatigue, whether this is occupational, recreational or sporting!
What are its benefits?
Sports massage offers individually tailored treatment and advice to:
- help relieve the stress and tension which hinders the achievement of optimum performance
- reduce the likelihood of injury during exercise
- speed up the recovery process and aid rehabilitation after injury
- ensure full range of joint movement and increase muscle flexibility
- improve postural and general body awareness
Who can benefit from sports massage?
You don’t have to be a sportsperson to feel the benefits! Muscular tension, stress and fatigue can affect all of us, whether we are competitive or recreational athletes, D-I-Y fanatics, gardeners, busy housewives, or stressed executives. Active or sedentary – you should find massage relaxing and therapeutic.
Many people appreciate the deep treatment offered by a sports massage therapist as they can really feel those knots being “ironed out”. They also start to become aware of how their bodies react and tense up under stress, and by heeding those warning signs, they can then take early action to reduce their stress levels and relax.
What happens during a treatment?
A brief medical history will need to be taken prior to the massage. During the massage, which may last for an hour if you require a full body treatment, a blend of essential oils may be used. This normally sinks into the skin quite quickly – but we ask you to wear casual clothes, just in case there are still traces of oil on your skin. You may occasionally feel some post-treatment soreness but this will normally disappear after a day or two. Don’t worry about this- it is usually a sign that the treatment is having a positive effect!
How often should I have a massage?
As often as you like (provided that you are not suffering from any condition for which massage is contra-indicated – ask your therapist if in doubt). Some people find that a weekly massage helps to control their stress levels, while others find that a maintenance treatment every few weeks works well.
Please note that a fee may be charged if you fail to keep your appointment or cancel at less than 24 hours’ notice.
Click here to read more about our therapists: Chris Salvary and Lesley Jacobs.
Latest News
- People: We Should Stop Icing! August 14, 2012
Ready to slay a sacred cow? Here goes. You should stop icing. We were wrong. I know. I’ve even been guilty of advocated for short icing stints on this blog. I was wrong. For the past year, I’ve been engaged in a personal moral debate about icing that in retrospect, seems silly if not out right obvious. We should not ice. For the last year, I’ve advocated for no icing with every athlete with whom I’ve helped either post-surgery or post-injury. The outcomes have been nothing short of stunning.
- Study shows frequent massage sessions boost biological benefits August 14, 2012
Massage is purported to have an array of benefits, including alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, back pain, asthma, fatigue, and even HIV. A new study shows there are sustained, cumulative beneficial effects of repeated massage therapy. The effects persist for several days to a week, and differ depending on the frequency of sessions. Results of the study were reported on line in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
- Middle-Aged Female Back Pain Sufferers Commonly Use CAM July 30, 2012
Middle-aged women with back pain are commonly using both conventional and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), Australian study findings show.
“The results reinforce the need for effective and ongoing communication between patients, conventional and CAM practitioners to ensure the creation and maintenance of treatment plans for back pain sufferers,” say Emma Kirby (University of Queensland) and colleagues.
They found that the most commonly used CAM was massage therapy, followed by chiropractic therapy.
- Osteopathic Medical Students Have a Positive View of Massage, CAM July 30, 2012
Knowledge of the benefits of massage is growing, among both the general public and the medical realm. New research shows osteopathic medical students have a positive attitude toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), of which massage therapy is one method. The research, conducted by investigators with Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine, in Athens, Ohio, also shows the students have high levels of self-reported CAM knowledge and use, with massage therapy among the top two modalities they use for self-care, according to an abstract published on www.pubmed.gov.
- Growing Body Of Research Shows Massage Therapy Effective For Prevalent Health Conditions June 12, 2012
A growing body of evidence shows massage therapy can be effective for a variety of prevalent health conditions, including the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee, inflammation after exercise, chronic low back pain and fibromyalgia. Massage is rapidly becoming recognized as an important part of health and wellness, and research compiled by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) indicates some of what takes place in the body during massage therapy.
