Sports massage

Sports massage can help alleviate the stress and tension that builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Massage can break down injuries and lesions that occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse. Sports massage is not just for the sports person: anyone can benefit from sports massage, including people in physically demanding jobs or those who spend hours behind a desk or in the car. Your treatment will include some or all of the following:

• Myofascial Release

  – Myofascia is the tough tissue structure which surrounds all your muscles. When this is damaged or traumatised it can become tight and restrictive.

• Sports Massage

  – using effleurage, petrissage, and compressions friction techniques

• Trigger Point Therapy

  – Deep palpation on a specific ‘trigger’ or ‘knot’ to relax the area.

• MET Stretching

  – Muscle Energy Stretching involves using light muscular contraction prior to stretching which helps to relax the muscle and limit the body’s protective reflex to contract whilst the muscle is being stretched.

• Frictions

  – Direct pressure  over the soft tissue trauma area to manipulate the fibres. It is very useful for breaking down scar tissue and softening adhesions.

• Soft Tissue Release

  – An advanced technique where stretching and friction is used on a specific area rather than the whole muscle

• Kinesio/K-Taping

  – Improves muscle function, reduces pain and supports joints. K-Taping prolongs and supports sports massage therapy, continuing to provide treatment after you’ve left the clinic!

Acupuncture (dry needling)

Medical acupuncture involves inserting fine needles for a therapeutic effect. Overall it is the western adaption of the Chinese method, just using modern up-to-date knowledge of anatomy and physiology. I use it to relieve muscular tension and trigger points before a deep tissue massage. It is also very effective where the acute pain is too high to tolerate touch.

Deep tissue massage

Deep tissue massage focuses on relaxing the deep tension by realigning deeper muscles and connective tissue. It works by physically breaking down areas of tension to relieve chronic pain and restore normal movement by loosening the tight tissue clusters. Anyone can feel the benefits of deep tissue massage. Muscular tension, stress and fatigue can affect all of us, athletes, DIY fanatics, gardeners, busy housewives, or stressed executives. Active or sedentary – you should find deep tissue massage relaxing and therapeutic as you can really feel those knots being ‘ironed out’. You will become aware of how your body reacts and tenses up under stress and by taking early action you can reduce those stress levels and relax.