01/12/2016
Specialising in The following massage modalities
Sports Pre/Post - Good for recovery and prevention of injuries. Also can be used to enhance athletic performance.
Sports Massage can be separated into 3 types of massage. Pre event, post event and during event. Post event being the most popular which is used for recovery and maintenance of the body after training (or event.)
Post sports massage is fairly similar to relaxation massage or Swedish massage but the therapist is focused on specific muscles and has a good knowledge of muscular skeletal anatomy and physiology. you would also expect a sports massage to be more vigorous than a relaxation massage for the aim of the massage is not as much to relax the person but treat the tissue. A lot of focus can also be on joint mobility, tendons and ligaments. Techniques such as stretching, taping, cross fibre frictions of the muscle and tendon to break up adhesions and bring good blood circulation to the area and draining to clear the area of toxic buildup of the byproducts of prolonged muscle contraction. Also see trigger point massage. The sports therapist should also have a decent knowledge of movements and common injuries for different sports. Usually a good sports therapist can give advice on exercises and home care such as stretching, strengthening, taping, icing or heating.
Pre-Event massage is still focused on muscles but the techniques used are more to excite the muscles and bring blood flow to the tendons and ligaments. The pre-event massage is less common mainly because the therapist has to be fairly close to the event in order for it to be effective.
During event massage is the same deal and is usually carried out in a half time or time out type of situation. The techniques used are mainly draining the muscles so that blood can stop pooling in the limbs and get back through the cardiovascular system to be replenished with oxygen.
You don't have to be an athlete for these techniques to be a benefit to you.
Thai and Anma - Also very beneficial for the sports person, increasing flexibility and strengthening mind and body. Usually done on a mat and doesn’t use oil.
Myofacial release - A soft touch but a deep effect. Corrects negative facial patterns that could have been there from birth or just through years of bad posture.
Therapeutic/Relaxation - Quiets the mind, helps with focus and clarity. Increases circulation (lymphatic and blood) all whilst making you feel good.
Remedial - (Trigger point, Deep tissue & Stretching) - Can be fairly intense.. To correct structural and functional imbalances thereby improving performance & eliminating pain.
Remedial massage is to remedy something or fix a problem weather that be a postural distortion, injury or a myriad of other conditions that bodywork may be able to help.
I say body work because a remedial therapist isn't just restricted to traditional massage techniques even though a remedial therapist is knowledgeable of most massage modalities their knowledge surpasses that of a massage therapist and they can make educated decisions on what techniques could support your individual situation. Usually it takes about two years of training to become a remedial therapist and another year approximately of being in a practice to be recognized by work cover.
Another important fact about a remedial therapist is that they have reached a level of professionalism that the private health insurance and in some cases work cover will recognize them as a provider so that you can claim the cost of your treatment similar to a physiotherapist, chiropractor or dentist etc.
Without getting bogged down in the technical side of what trigger points are and how they are formed. Trigger points are painful spots that are found in muscles and tendons that quite often refer pain somewhere else in the body for example trigger points in the neck and shoulders will refer pain into the head giving the person a headache sometimes quite severe. Sometimes this referred pain can trick a person into thinking that they have a more serious disorder like Migraine headaches or arthritis or other joint problem because it refers the pain sensation into a joint. For example Its very common to have painful trigger points in the shoulder that will mimic the pain of tennis elbow or carpel tunnel syndrome.
Trigger points are usually associated with muscles that suffer alot of tension eg. a muscle that has had to stay contracted for a long period of time for whatever reason, be it bad posture, repetative strain or an unhealthy holding pattern brought about by stress. Once a trigger point is formed in a muscle it is usually self perpetuating meaning that the pain caused by the trigger point causes the muscle to contract in a self defense mechanism. This causes more pain which causes more tension and less healthy blood flow through that muscle which eventually builds more trigger points. This is called myo-fascial pain syndrome or the pain spasm pain cycle.
A trigger point therapist is trained to recognize most pain patterns of trigger points and can usually go straight to it. They are painful to work on but a skilled professional will work with you keeping you informed and in control so as not exceed your pain threshold. But be aware there will be pain. This is not a relaxing massage modality but if you do have pain most people are willing to go through it for the relief of their chronic ailment.
Note: in a general consult I may use a number of these techniques depending on your goals and circumstances.
Read more: http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/connect/taylormade/service/28894
Sports Massage - Remedial Massage - Trigger Point Therapy - NaturalTherapyPages.com.au
