Massage
Remedial massage uses a combination of techniques to treat the causes of musculoskeletal dysfunction, rather than just focusing solely on pain relief. Is a holistic approach that uses several assessment techniques to locate and treat dysfunction while also supporting the body’s own repair mechanisms. In particular, it is the specific manipulation of soft tissue, including not only muscles, but ligaments, tendons and fascia that can help restore proper function to the body.
Remedial massage can not only treat dysfunction, but can play an important role in preventing further injury and maintaining optimal health and performance, and is safe for most people and most presenting conditions. And although a range of techniques are used for remedial massage, your therapist can design and implement the most appropriate techniques for your presenting condition.
Some common conditions that remedial massage can help with include: achilles tendon pathologies, tendonitis, shin splints, groin strain, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, hamstring injuries, plantar fasciitis, adhesions, whiplash, chronic back pain, sciatica, arthritis, swimmer’s shoulder, bursitis, rotator cuff injuries, neck injuries, headaches, sore muscles, thoracic outlet syndrome; to name just a few.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is a specialised form of remedial massage that focuses on enhancing athletic performance, improving post-event recovery and treating injuries for amateur or professional athletes and exercise enthusiasts. Sports massage works by manually manipulating the soft tissues of the body by correcting inappropriate patterns of movement and by increasing flexibility specific to the sport or activity performed.
Sports massage practitioners have an understanding of the exercise physiology and biomechanics specific to sports and fitness activities; allowing them to locate areas of stress the individual may not have been aware of. Practitioners are trained to know what techniques are best to enhance performance before events, improve recovery after events, speed recovery and rehabilitation after an injury and maintain a healthy, fit, active body.
Sports massage is used to ensure the health and well-being of the athlete in many ways. In particular, improving physical and mental recovery from strenuous physical activity, facilitate healing by improving blood flow and maintaining flexibility when recovering from injuries, maintaining optimal health during training, competition and recovery periods, and to help prepare a person for a specific competitive event and recover from the event more quickly.
Relaxation Massage
Swedish massage uses styles of long, flowing strokes to induce relaxation to the entire body by using sliding or gliding strokes, muscle kneading, rhythmic tapping, cross fiber tissue frictions, vibration and shaking. Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis. It is typically a smooth flowing massage and can include massage on the hands and feet, making it ideal for people suffering from stress, anxiety, headaches, poor sleep, reduced circulation or sore and aching muscles.
Dry Needling Massage
Dry Needling is a treatment approach that uses fine needles inserted into muscles to deactivate trigger points. These trigger points are a common site for pain and dysfunction in the body and by ‘turning off’ these referred pain pathways we can help reduce pain and return normal function to the body. Myofascial dry needling can be used in the treatment of many acute and chronic conditions and is commonly used in conjunction with other remedial massage techniques.
The technique has proven popular amongst athletes as it typically produces great results in a shorter time. And although sometimes an uncomfortable treatment, myofascial dry needling has produced great results when other remedial massage techniques have been unsuccessful.
Cupping
Traditional and modern cupping is the practice of applying suction at the skins surface using an array of techniques to treat dysfunction throughout the body. Pain caused by congestion or restriction of tissue can be alleviated by the withdrawing effect of this modality, rather than the downward pressure adapted by other therapies. When applied by an experienced therapist, cupping can reduce chronic pain, release muscle tension, improve range of motion, stimulate circulation and waste removal enabling tissue rehabilitation. Cupping can also be utilised in the treatment of the digestive, reproductive, nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems.
Hot Stone Massage
Kinesotaping
Kinesiotaping is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process. It provides support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s normal range of motion, as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of traditional manual therapy or remedial massage. This type of taping is safe and successfully treats a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions. By targeting different receptors within the somatosensory system, clinical Kinesotaping can alleviate pain and facilitate lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. This lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation of the affected areas.
Post surgery care
Depending on the type and extent of surgery, post surgery massage can generally be included as part of the recovery process. Relaxation massage can help reduce the stress and anxiety often associated with surgery, while also reducing post-operative pain and muscle tension. Manual lymphatic drainage massage can help reduce swelling by stimulating the lymphatic system and improving immune function. In addition, remedial techniques can be applied to reduce the formation of scar tissue or adhesions within the tissue. Talk to your doctor first before considering remedial massage after any major surgery.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a treatment (not a massage) to increase lymphatic flow. With this increased flow, the body’s immune function is enhanced. The lymphatic system is responsible for removal of waste, bacteria and toxins, by filtering lymphatic fluid through lymph nodes (where toxins are neutralised) before returning to the blood. Unlike the circulatory system where the heart pumps blood around the body, the lymphatic system does not have a pump and has its own vascular network, which predominately sits directly under the skin. It relies on muscle movement, deep breathing and gravity to move lymph through its vessels and nodes. This is why regular movement is necessary, not just for fitness but to stimulate lymphatic flow which in turn helps with enhancing our immune function.
MLD can be utilised for many reasons, in healthy people it is very beneficial for a general detox, but is very effective for treating oedema (swelling) due to an injury like a sprain and post surgery. It is widely used in patients who suffer lymphedema due to the removal of lymph nodes, and is also effective for inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, sinusitis, swelling in pregnancy, and skin conditions like eczema.
The MLD treatment is not like a traditional massage with oil on skin with deep pressure. It is a very technical treatment, and is done with light touch over the areas of the lymph nodes and skin. Due to the very light and slow movements all clients find the treatment extremely relaxing.