Remedial Massage - What To Expect
Remedial massage is usually associated with aiding recovery from sporting or traumatic injury. However, if you suffer from a medical condition like tennis elbow, RSI, Carpal Tunnel, back pain or headaches, remedial massage may also be recommended by your GP. But what is remedial massage and what types of treatment can you expect to receive? Read on to find out more.
What is remedial massage?
The term remedial massage refers to an advanced form of deep massage. The remedial massage therapist will seek to locate the source of your pain and treat it, over a course of consultations, via a number of different techniques.
Remedial massage techniques
Postural analysis
Postural analysis is a technique used by remedial massage therapy practitioners to assess the whole body in order to identify areas of tightness and tension. It's often used during an initial consultation to help the therapist devise a suitable course of treatment, and will be repeated many times during the treatment to enable the therapist to assess how effective the chosen therapeutic approach has been.
Deep tissue massage
Deep tissue massage is used to alleviate severe muscle tension and tightness in the body's connective tissue, or fascia. This massage technique focuses on the muscles that are located beneath the uppermost muscles of the body.
Soft tissue release
This form of remedial massage therapy is often used when treating patients who have sustained soft tissue injuries through sporting accidents or trauma, resulting in damage to the neuro-musculoskeletal system. Soft tissue release therapy uses deep pressure muscle manipulation in order to regain muscle memory and bring about recovery.
Neuro-muscular technique
Neuro-muscular therapy entails applying alternating levels of pressure on areas of the body that are gripped by muscle spasm. The therapist uses pressure applied by the knuckles, elbow or fingers that is maintained on the affected area for short periods. This technique is commonly used for treating back pain.
Trigger point therapy
The term trigger points refers to small areas of tissue contraction within a muscle. These areas often feel like painful knots, and the discomfort that they cause frequently radiates from these local points out into larger areas. Remedial massage therapists are trained to identify when pain in one area is caused by a trigger point elsewhere in the body. This technique is often used to treat headaches and migraine.
In conclusion
Remedial massage therapy can be used to successfully treat many different kinds of problems ranging from sporting injuries to common medical conditions and accidental trauma. If you feel that you might benefit from a course of remedial massage treatment, have a chat with your local clinic or GP for more information and advice.
