Remedial Massage

What is remedial massage?
What is it for?
The science
The treatment
The benefits

What is remedial massage?

One of the deepest forms of massage, Remedial Massage is ideal for the relief and prevention of musculo-skeletal injuries or conditions, whether through sport, occupation, postural problems, or a specific trauma. It is one of the deepest and most effective forms of injury prevention and treatment.

Remedial massage is deep manipulation of the soft and connective tissues of the body leading to relief from acute or chronic muscular pain, an increase in joint mobility, improved circulation, and last but not least a profound level of relaxation, both physical and mental.

This treatment is ideal for those whose lifestyles are demanding and tiring, by providing an opportunity to be unwound, have aches and pains eased out and achieve a deep sense of overall calm and balance.

Through massage, levels of stress can be reduced, circulation improved, and physical and psychological balance can be achieved.

What is it for?

Although many clients who consult a remedial massage therapist have pain as a result of specific injuries (whiplash, falls, sports injuries, etc.), RSI (repetitive strain injuries) and other work-related problems, the vast majority originates in postural (structural) alignment problems that sometimes go back to childhood and adolescence. Simply put, if you are suffering from any muscular-skeletal pain or condition, then Remedial Massage can provide you with the relief you need as well as a long term reduction and possible elimination of the causes.

In addition to the treatment of injured or ill people, Remedial Massage can be used to prepare the body for strenuous physical activity, or to assist the body in recovering from the after-effects from exercise and sports.

Either at work or at play excess seems to be the norm and an excess generally leads to overload, which often manifests as stress. Stress can affect not only mood, but has a massive strain on all of our body systems, resulting in fatigue, illness, muscular aches and injuries, and an impaired immune system. a tired, strained, affect on the body, resulting in tired, strained muscles, back and neck problems, reduced immune system.

Specific muscular and skeletal dysfunctions include fibrositis, spondylitis, arthritis, frozen shoulder, muscular cramps, whiplash, muscular atrophy, sports and dancing injuries etc.

The science

Remedial massage is based on the fact that soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) respond to touch. Most pain is myofascial (soft tissue) in origin. Trigger points, (sensitive points in muscles, which radiate or refer pain to various parts of the body) can mimic many conditions. Muscles not only move our joints, they stabilise them, and they provide armour for the internal organs, and minor problems with these functions can cause more pain than most people realise. For example most headaches originate in the muscles of the neck and head.

Much abdominal and pelvic pain can be caused by trigger points in the abdominal and pelvic muscles.

Low back pain and sciatic pain are far more likely to originate in muscles than in vertebral disc problems.

The treatment

Treatment employs massage techniques designed to treat both deep and superficial tissues, not dissimilar to those used in sports massage.

The remedial massage therapist uses skilled manual manipulation combined with in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology to bring about pain relief, correcting and normalising the body’s muscles and soft tissues.

To facilitate and encourage change, various bodywork techniques such as Isometric stretching and muscle testing, connective tissue massage and neuro muscular technique are employed.

Please Note It is always advisable to consult a doctor before receiving a massage for specific conditions which may not be related to soft tissue.

The benefits

As with most other massage techniques, Remedial massage will assist in improving circulatory problems, lymphatic drainage, stress related conditions, muscular aches and injuries, as well as encouraging the natural healing properties of body and mind.

The effects of Remedial massage are numerous: Assists venous and lymphatic flow, Stretches shortened soft tissue, loosens scar tissue, improves post operative recovery, and enhances physical and psychological relaxation.