Sports & Remedial Massage

Sports & Remedial Massage can be helpful for general aches and pains, muscular dysfunction, chronic pain, minor injuries and postural issues. Treatment benefits those who do a lot of sports or physically intensive jobs; however absolutely anyone can benefit from treatment, including desk workers and those who have sedentary lifestyles.

Treatments use a range of assessments and techniques, which will vary depending on your needs. Below is a brief description of what you can expect from your treatment.

Assessments used

If required, I may use a range of assessment techniques to help determine areas of restriction, tightness or weakness in the soft tissue.

Joint Range of Motion: This involves testing the movement that joints are capable of to determine if there is any restriction in movement. Movement can be tested actively, passively or resisted based on what is necessary.

Postural Assessment: This is achieved by observing your standing, sitting or dynamic (during movement) posture. Your posture often gives away signs of weakness or tightness in the muscles, which can help to identify what areas need working on during treatment.

Special Tests: These tests are specific for a particular injury, dysfunction, muscular or joint problem. For example there are tests to determine if particular pain is tennis elbow, shoulder impingement; and other such issues.

Techniques used

Deep Tissue: This is a standard series of techniques that reach deep into the muscle to ease tension and restriction. Unlike the common stereotype it does NOT hurt. Deep tissue should not be an agonising experience. The worst you should experience is a small amount of discomfort in particularly tense areas, but it should be a relatively soothing experience. Pain does not resolve pain, and causing pain should never be the aim of any soft tissue technique. Pain leads to increased tension and anxiety, which is not the right atmosphere for healing physical and mental wellness.

Soft Tissue Release: A great technique for muscles that are short and tight, which leads to restrictions in movement. The technique involves placing the muscle into a shortened position, and then a “lock” is applied by the therapist’s hands. The muscle is then lengthened, while the lock remains in place, creating a more intense but effective stretch. It can be uncomfortable at times but it should never be painful.

Myofascial Release: This is a technique that focuses on the fascia – which are layers of connective tissue that cover the muscles, organs and everything else. There is superficial fascia which is found under the skin layers, and deep fascia is found surrounding the organs, bones and muscles. It is the superficial fascia which tends to be the focus of this technique, which aims to guide the fascia, which can become restricted, and due to it’s global nature a restriction in one area can cause problems in other seemingly unrelated areas of the body.

Muscle Energy Techniques: Another great technique for areas of tightness, that make use of isometric contractions. These are muscular contractions where the muscle doesn’t change length, but it still contracts. After an isometric contraction there is a period of relaxation, which allows the muscle to lengthen further.

Neuromuscular Techniques (Trigger Point Therapy): This is specifically for treating trigger points, which are hypersensitive areas of muscle that often refer pain in a typical pattern. The treatment involves use of static pressure on the sensitive points.

Positional Release: An incredibly gentle technique for those who are experiencing a great deal of pain, such as with very tight muscles or muscles that are in spasm.

Treatments can also include Medical Acupuncture, Dry Cupping, Kinesiology Taping and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation.