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
- Equine Alternative Medicine Gaining Steam in Vet Schools October 8, 2011
Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM), such as massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, and chiropractic, is gaining popularity among horse owners, yet not all equine practitioners feel confident providing these services. Why? According to researchers from Washington State University’s (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, lack of education appears to be a major contributing factor. That being said, the study also found that alternative medicine coursework in equine veterinary education has increased about 30% in the past decade.
- Massage Therapy's Place in a Multi-Disciplinary Setting July 25, 2011
A skilled massage therapist can successfully integrate mechanical correction with freeing psycho-spiritual blockages. Although an oversimplification of the tenets of massage, the physical manipulation of tendino-muscular groups can facilitate healthful tissue mechanics while massage’s circulation enhancement can move stuck emotions and release unhealthful thought patterns. As such, massage therapy is an ideal component of a multi-disciplinary health practice where other professionals address cellular, neurological, chemical and biophysical components of clients’ health.
Read more at: http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/mt/archives/2011/07/massage_therapy_8.html
- Affordable Holistic Medicine Can Lower Health Costs July 18, 2011
The National Center for Biotechnology Information recently published a story showing CAM therapies (complementary and alternative medicine) that may be considered cost-effective compared to usual care for various conditions: acupuncture for migraine, manual therapy for neck pain, spa therapy for Parkinson’s and more.
According to the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, studies done in Psychosomatic Medicine and The American Journal of Managed Care show the cost benefits of alternative treatment. The studies found that the practice of Transcendental Meditation lowered health insurance utilization, hospital inpatient days, hospital admissions and hospital outpatient visits for all categories of disease studied.
Read more at: http://www.personalliberty.com/news/affordable-holistic-medicine-can-lower-health-costs-800546311/
- Study: Massage beats meds for lower back pain July 12, 2011
Massage therapy may be better than medication or exercise for easing low back pain in the short term, a new government-funded study suggests.
Those who received a series of either relaxation massage or structural massage were better able to work and be active for up to a year than those getting “usual medical care,” which included painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants or physical therapy, the researchers found.
Read more at: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011/07/Study-Massage-beats-meds-for-lower-back-pain/49150656/1
- Don't Dismiss These Treatments as Placebos June 20, 2011
Evidence is growing, based on carefully controlled studies, that certain non-pharmacological complementary interventions may be useful adjuncts to conventional care. For example, the pain of osteoarthritis can be lessened by acupuncture; tai chi may be helpful in reducing the pain of fibromyalgia; and massage and manipulative therapies may contribute to the relief of chronic back pain and related functional impairments. Furthermore, evidence from basic research points to ways in which such interventions use the body’s own pathways known to be involved in response to pain.
Should we dismiss any benefits as mere placebo effects? Or should we explore the possibility, increasingly suggested by the science, that some complementary interventions provide powerful tools for studying the contributions of attention, touch, time, and reassurance, which are now in short supply in our health care system?Read more at: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/06/dont-dismiss-these-treatments-as-placebos/240461/
