Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deep layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance their function and promote relaxation and well-being. Writings on massage have been found in many ancient civilizations including Rome, Greece, India, Japan, China, Egypt and Mesopotamia citing its benefits. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows and forearm.
Remedial Massage Therapy
Massage complements physiotherapy, psychology and pilates to help you regain a pain free and active lifestyle. The benefits of Remedial Massage Therapy are well documented to relieve pain, increase joint range of movement and help damaged muscle tissue recover faster.
In conjunction with a correct comprehensive diagnosis and personalised exercises to restore normal function to the joint, muscle or connective tissue, massage will ensure the best chance of a full recovery. The Performance Rehab team coordinate your care to ensure your treatment plan is focused and integrated. Remedial Massage may involve a combination of techniques listed below to guarantee a comprehensive treatment for your specific needs.
Deep Tissue Massage & Myofascial Mobilisation
This massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the deeper muscles and the connective tissue or fascia. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, athletes and patients who have chronic or recurrent injury. It is not uncommon following a Deep Tissue Massage to have some muscle ache for a day or two. The muscles have been put through a heavy series of repeated stretches and mobilisation to restore normality to the muscle tissue.
When receiving deep tissue work it is important to communicate what you are feeling to your therapist.
Swedish Massage
This massage type uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. Swedish Massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, general stress and can be beneficial in preparing the body for a heavy weekend of sport or work around the house. It is especially useful to relax muscle tightness following exercise to resolve soft tissue swelling.
Trigger Point Therapy
This involves treating myofascial trigger points that may cause local or referred pain (such as headaches, pain and aches down the arm or leg. Trigger points are tender points in muscle fibres that have shortened and feel like knots in tight bands. Compression of a trigger point may cause local tenderness, referred pain or local twitch response. By working on the Trigger point and the surrounding muscle tissue our goal is to reduce or eliminate pain and improve ease of movement. Trigger points are also easily identifiable (that’s the spot!).
Sports Massage
This is generally a combination of firm, fast Swedish Massage and assisted stretching to improve blood flow throughout the body and increase range of movement through joints. Beneficial before and after exercise, sports massage is commonly used by professional sporting teams to aid fast recovery for the next game. This is often a good treatment for the weekend warriors.