Why might I go to Massage Therapy?
Massage aims to:
- Relax muscles in spasm
- Improve the flexibility of the muscles and joints
- Speed up the healing of damaged or stressed muscles and tissue
- Improve blood circulation
- Prevent future muscle and tendon injuries
Massage can vary greatly from one therapist to another, but can generally be tailored to suit each person's individual requirements, be it for stress relief, headaches, muscle spasm or general well-being
Why do we need massage?
Our bodies and posture are held in balance by the muscular system. In order for you to stand still there are various muscles throughout the body constantly tightening or relaxing to maintain that position. If one or more of your muscles become too tight or slack, then your posture will change and your body will deliberately put other muscles out of their normal state of tone to compensate. If this is not corrected it will be accepted as the "normal" position, resulting in more permanent imbalance. This why we as therapist need to sometimes treat different areas of the body or the opposite side to where you actually complain of discomfort. If we do not look at the cause of the problem and treat the compensating muscles too, the pain is more likely to persist or recur. Your body may not realise that some muscles are tighter than they should be and this is where massage can be very useful in preventing problems by loosening the muscles before they cause trouble.
How does massage work?
From a physiological point of view massage increases the lubrication between muscle fibres and allows the muscles to move optimally. Muscle fibres are designed to work independently of each other. When muscles dry out or dehydrate, the fibres stick together and the muscles become stiff or rigid. As fluid is re-introduced, by the increased blood circulation, the muscle softens and regains its flexibility. With this improved circulation, nutrients reach cells quicker and toxins are carried off more efficiently. Massage can give a feeling of comfort and relaxation, like a mini-holiday from the pressures of life. Clinical studies have also shown that massage increases mental alertness and accuracy of work or study.
Sports Massage
Sports massage can be carried out prior to an event to stimulate circulation, calm nervous tension and prepare the individual for optimal performance, whilst at the same time reducing the risk of injury. After a sports event it will help relieve soreness and assist with the healing of existing injuries and preventing development of future injuries. Rest is vital for athletes after hard training to allow recovery to take place. Although a massage session seems like a very short rest time, it is about quality rest time.
Indian Head Massage
The head, neck and shoulders are important energy centres within your body. If you are feeling stressed or angry, tension accumulates. Here, headaches and heaviness are relieved, muscles unknotted, and tension eased. A sense of well-being and peace is felt. The head and hair are extremely sensitive as they are crowned with nerve endings. This is a very relaxing treatment, especially great for those who enjoy scalp massage or for migraine-suffers.
What will happen on my first visit?
During your first visit a full consultation including medical history of yourself will be discussed.
Some people feel achy or stiff for 24 - 48 hours following treatment, however, other people report feeling invigorated. Please ensure that you drink at least 5 glasses of still water each day, although the optimum would be 8 glasses, or even more if you have a very active lifestyle. This will help flush out the toxins released during massage and hydrate the body. Continue with any existing exercise regime that you already have, unless advised otherwise. Do not alter any medication or diet that has been prescribed for you elsewhere.