Therapeutic Massage and Sports Injuries

In everyone’s lives at some point we suffer from minor injuries, pain or discomfort. Our instinctive reaction is to rub or hold the affected area to ease the pain. If you stub your toe or have a stomach ache, you rub it to stop it from hurting so much. Early man probably soon learnt that, whilst rubbing painful areas of his body and using a medium like oil which could be applied would help to ease the pain and promote healing. This basic technique has been developed through the millennia into the system of massage we know today. Massage is the systematic manipulation of the soft body tissues for therapeutic purposes. The English word massage is derived from the Arabic word ‘mass’h’, which means to press gently. This itself gives a hint to the long history of massage. Massage in its most basic form has been around as long as man, however today there are many highly specialised forms of massage all derived from these basic techniques.

History

Massage was practised in Ancient Greece, Egypt and the Far East. It was also very popular in Roman times. The Oriental traditions of acupressure, foot and hand massage and therapeutic massage have survived for thousands of years and are still widely practised today in both the East and the West.

The Swedish gymnast, Per Henrik Ling, was largely responsible for re-establishing therapeutic massage, based on anatomical principles, in Europe in the late 19^th century. French chemists, doctors and beauticians working in the 20^th century revived the study of massage and modern day massage was created.

Modern-day Western massage techniques are based on an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body. The hand movements are used to facilitate the circulation of blood and the lymphatic system and also to release muscular tension and joint stiffness.

  How does it work & what is it good for?

When the body is touched receptors in the skin send messages to the brain causing the release of chemicals such as endorphins. This produces a sense of relaxation and wellbeing and can also provide pain relief.

Massage is a holistic therapy and apart from the physical affect on the body, it has a psychological effect on the mind and spirit.

Physical effects – relaxation of protective muscle spasm (pain relief)
Circulation – effects venous flow reduces blood pressure dilation of capillaries
Lymph – increase in lymph flow
Muscle tissue – muscle fatigue, recovery much more rapidly
Blood – increase in red cell count – increase in haemoglobin – increase in blood platelet count
Psychological effects Can be soothing, relaxing, sleep-inducing, calming, invigorating, stimulating, revitalising.

Many studies have demonstrated the wide-ranging benefits of massage. As well as the benefits mentioned above, it is useful for specific ailments such as asthma, depression, back and neck pain, insomnia and immune deficiency disorders. It can be helpful during pregnancy and labour and is also used to help premature babies thrive. It can also be taught to their mothers to help them bond with their infants while they are still in incubators. Massage is often a part of therapy for people with cancer since it promotes relaxation and a sense of wellbeing.

  Consulting a practitioner

Western massage therapies are performed directly on the skin. Clothing (except underwear) is usually removed for full body massage. Towels are used to cover the parts of the body not being massaged and to keep the body warm. The massage usually takes about an hour. If only a part of the body is being massaged, such as the feet or neck and shoulders, only that part of the body needs to be exposed and the massage may be completed in 30 minutes.

 Treatment Fees

Credit Card details will be required to secure bookings where treatment costs exceed £50.00