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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.
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