Remedial massage is a holistic treatment. That is to say, it works for the whole body and to improve total health, not just for the part being treated. A remedial massage therapist has studied anatomy, physiology, related pathology and the techniques of Swedish massage, heat and cold therapies, Kinaesthenics and many other related fields.

How Remedial Massage Works

Remedial massage therapy is a hands-on technique that gently massages the muscle tissue. Because it works deeper than regular relaxing massage, its effects are usually deeper and longer lasting. Remedial massage can be used to prevent injury and also to help heal injury. Covering both muscular and skeletal dysfunctions, include fibrositis, spondylitis, arthritis, frozen shoulder, muscular cramps, whiplash, muscular atrophy, sports and dancing injuries etc.

Trigger points cause symptoms such as pain (often referred pain, which can be as intense as pain from any other cause), muscle stiffness, weakness, nausea and dizziness. Trigger points are tiny contractions of muscle fibers in a very small band of muscle tissue. Contraction takes place within the microscopic sarcomere of a muscle fibre, and a trigger point exists when over stimulated sarcomere become unable to release their contracted state. The therapist will feel for these knots (which rang in size from a pinhead to a pea), lying along a taut band of muscle fibers . They may be caused by accidents, falls, strains, postural stress and muscle over-use. They can lie latent within the muscle indefinitely (and don’t actively refer pain), but they can also be activated by very little stress or strain. They are extremely painful when pressed upon. They are easily treated once found.

The massage therapist will trace the pain or injury back to the original area of damage, and use specialised massage techniques to break down the scar tissue and encourage it to reform in a way that encourages mobility. Massage will also encourage and support the body’s own healing and repair mechanisms. Secondary damage will be treated in the same way, in order to restore bio-mechanical balance and to prevent recurrence of the problem.

The Benefits of Remedial Massage

Short term effects are:

• to increase the blood flow, both in the area being massaged and generally
• to increase the lymphatic flow to and from the area treated, reducing pain, swelling and inflammation and speeding up the body’s own healing process
• to relieve stress and tension, factors which are known to hinder healing or slow it down, and cause problems of their own
• to reduce muscle tension, thereby improving the blood supply to an area
• to increase muscle tone

Long term effects are:

• improved general circulation
• balance of the muscles and joints, leading to a better state of health
• breaking down of scar or fibrous tissue, restoring elasticity to the joints
• greater mobility within the joints of the body
• overall relief of stress
• greater immunity to further injuries of the same area

Remedial Massage Treatments

Remedial massage has been, and can be, used to treat an extensive range of injuries and illness. These include:

• sports injuries
• fibrositis
• muscular tension
• circulation problems
• headaches
• back pain
• whiplash injuries
• sinus problems
• frozen shoulder
• neurasthenia
• post-stroke
• arthritis
• paralysis
• nervous exhaustion