Remedial massage is one of the most effective and readily available ways to prevent and treat muscle injuries, pain and soreness.
Remedial massage is directed at soft tissues including:
- muscles
- tendons
- ligaments
- fascia
Most pain is myofascial (soft tissue) in origin. Trigger points (sensitive points in muscles, which radiate or refer pain to various parts of the body) can mimic many conditions.
Muscles not only move our joints, they stabilise them, and they provide armour for the internal organs, this means that minor problems with these functions cause more pain than most people realise.
Most headaches originate in the muscles of the neck and head.
Much of the pain of such conditions as angina comes from the hypercontraction of the chest muscles.
Much abdominal and pelvic pain can be caused by trigger points in the abdominal and pelvic muscles.
Low back pain and sciatic pain are far more likely to originate in muscles than in vertebral disc problems.
Although many clients who consult a remedial massage therapist have pain as a result of specific injuries i.e:
- whiplash injuries
- falls
- sports injuries
or other none traumatic onset such as:
- RSI (repetitive strain injuries)
- work-related problems
The vast majority however originates in postural (structural) alignment problems that sometimes go back to childhood and adolescence.
Treatment employs massage techniques designed to treat both deep and superficial tissues, not dissimilar to those used in sports massage. The remedial massage therapist uses skilled manipulation combined with in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology to bring about pain relief, correcting and normalising the body’s muscles and soft tissues.
