Clinical Massage Explained

Clinical Massage explained:

 for the athlete in all of us! From housework to house building, gardening to marathon running, our bodies need to be kept in optimum condition. In all cases the therapist is looking to return the body to a correct balance of relaxation and tension to maximise its performance for the demands of the client.
We are all different, in our aims, needs, experience and the shape our bodies are in. Your therapist will work with you holistically to optimise your body’s balance and maximise its performance.
What happens during a soft tissue therapy?
A good therapist will discuss your issues and requirements in a consultation at the start of your appointment. Notes will be made for referral, outcomes and further treatment.

To remedy your problems, in terms of pain, injury or a level of dysfunction, a therapist will examine your posture and the way you are moving. You will have a whole body assessment, which can include postural and gait analyses, a range of movement assessment and muscle palpation, before the ther- apist decides the most appropriate treatment.



The therapist will explain exactly what they intend to do, what areas of the body they intend to treat and how they intend to treat them. The
therapist will tell you when they need to work directly onto the skin, and when they can work through clothing.
The types of techniques that may be used are:

Massage to mobilise both the muscles and fascia, loosening any stiffness, making the area feel more “elastic”. Your therapist may perform basic, deep and superficial massage dependent on requirements.
Neuromuscular techniques such as acupressure or trigger point therapy to influence the nervous system, releasing muscles in a stressed state.
Muscle energy techniques (MET) to release excessive tension in muscles and restore their natural length and elasticity.
Soft tissue release (STR) to unlock adhesions or knots using therapist pressure and client stretches in that local area of the body.
Mechanical, and electrical treatments, cryotherapy (cold) and thermotherapy (hot) may also be used to facilitate rebalancing the body.