In Safe Hands sports massage

23/01/2025

After posting the podcast the other night , I was asked by a few people what caught my attention enough to delve in and find out more. On Dr Google lol!!

The podcast spoke about how we use language helping to limit clients pain scores. Something as therapists we are now well aware of.
And interestingly pointed out the potential same problem when using headlines like compromised nervous system etc.

My first thoughts went to clients with long term chronic pain, often invisible and who suffer extreme pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression. But to the outside world look healthy.
So to be heard they need to be vocal .
So my first question was ?

How does the pain science community who say that the way we talk about and catastrophise can effect our pain scores. Deal with the fact people with painful chronic symptoms which can't be seen have to express how much pain they are in and catastrophise their own issues for there to be some level of understanding.

it is only a very few years ago something like fibromyalgia was even acknowledged, and sufferer's had to be speak up to be heard and believed.

For me, The juxtaposition highlights the need for a more compassionate and nuanced approach to understanding and addressing chronic pain.

Pain science can benefit from incorporating the lived experiences of people with chronic pain into its research and clinical practice. And I'm sure there are ongoing studies and papers being written as we speak.
This can only help to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the realities of living with chronic pain.

the tension between the goals of pain science and the lived experiences of people with chronic pain. It's a complex issue with no easy answers.

I love pain science , how far it has come and what lies ahead.
But I have questions . We all do!!

Lol so that was my thought process.
As I've stated numerous times before my head is a big dark scary ( some would say empty) place I tend not to frequent too often . But when I do !!🤣🫣

People who know me well can confirm things just interest me.
Anatomy/physiology. Neurology/psychology it matters not a jot .

For example what are the 5th and 6th quad muscles?
And what do we need to know as therapists about
Articularis genus, or tensor vastus intermedius.🤣.

That's for another day.

20/01/2025

Exciting news:

My hypnotherapy certificate course begins next Saturday! If you’ve been thinking about learning hypnotherapy, NLP and coaching this is the perfect chance to jump in.

It’s practical, fun, and gets you ready to start using the skills straight away with an internationally recognised qualification.

You can join us in the classroom or from the comfort of home on zoom.

For those wanting to spread the cost we have payment plans that can be amended to your needs.

Fancy joining? Drop me a DM or visit my website.

05/01/2025

The more things change , the more they stay the same.

Back into the treatment room tomorrow and I am really looking forward to 2025.

The changes talked about last year will finally come to fruition.

Clinical hypnotherapy/ talking therapy will be integrated into the treatment room.

From day one of In Safe Hands sports massage and everyday since my aim was to help my clients with any pain,or discomfort due to many lifestyle factors, or sporting endeavours.

The ideal scenario was to keep people healthy rather than dealing with their injuries.

Now with these newest therapies my hopes are that helping with clients anxieties
Listening and offering tools and techniques such as
Pain management
Sleep improvement,
Stress reduction etc. we can help with many chronic pain, and long term conditions.

The anxiety, the negative thoughts, external pressures, alongside a client's physical issues can be helped working with the brain/ body connection.

Exciting times ahead for all.
Massage and manual therapy will still be the mainstay in the treatment room,
But I fully expect Clinical Hypnotherapy to become an important part of the business.

Standalone therapies, or integrated. Prices will be available for both.
Packages will also be available.

19/12/2024

One more day and the holidays commence.Woo Hoo!!!!

I say it every year but it's true,
The treatment room never ceases to amaze.
Clients, clients families (I'm getting old now lol).
Friendships , fun and laughter.
Being professional doesn't need to be too serious.
And the great thing is we get to do it all again next year.

Have a great Christmas and New Year

D xx

21/11/2024

Finally I have got round to replenishing gift vouchers!!

Thanks to everyone that has given me a slight nudge🙈
Lol I'm a busy boy honest 😂

But they are now back in stock and available.
Just in time for Christmas 2024 lol.

10/09/2024

Late in from work, but never too late to highlight su***de awareness day.

I think everyone knows Andy through my page now so please just take a couple of minutes and listen to this clip from Andy and Ian it is such an important message.

16/07/2024

Hard to believe but that's 15 years this year😳.
In that time some clients have completed their first ever run, others their first marathons, whist some have completed the big six marathons all around the world.
I've worked with cyclists, and cycling development squads.
Swimmers and strength athletes, footballers and fighters.such a diverse group of sports and sporting athletes.

I also work daily with sons and daughters, parents and grandparents.

And it still feels as fresh today as It did way back when.
Which is why the hands on will never change.

But over these last 15 years the treatment room has constantly evolved.
Every course attended brought something else , something slightly different.

over the next 15years🙈 lol hopefully not all of them🤣
Adding talking therapies alongside massage.
will aim to offer a comprehensive client experience

Stand alone sessions and packages will be available .

You all know that I have been studying clinical hypnotherapy, NLP etc over the last couple of years and have been working hard behind the scenes putting sessions together

Here are a few reasons I plan on incorporating hypnotherapy alongside hands on massage.

* Enhanced Relaxation: Hypnotherapy can deepen the relaxation clients experience during a massage. By focusing the mind on calming imagery and reducing anxiety, clients can achieve a more profound state of relaxation, maximizing the massage's therapeutic benefits.

* Pain Management: Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool for pain management. By helping clients focus away from discomfort and creating positive associations alongside massage therapy, hypnotherapy can reduce pain perception and improve overall treatment outcomes.

* Address Underlying Issues: Massage can target physical tension, but hypnotherapy can address the emotional or psychological factors that contribute to muscle tension and pain. This approach can provide clients with long-term relief.

* Promote Sleep Quality: Many clients seek massage for stress relief and improved sleep. Hypnotherapy can address sleep disturbances by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety, allowing clients to fall asleep easier and enjoy more restful sleep.

The aim going forward is to help a few clients achieve.

"Cooler heads on functional bodies"

Lol see what I did there🤣.

29/05/2024

It's all about dotting the I s and crossing the ts
The journey continues...

A bit late in posting this but I have been busy in the treatment room.

I completed the course in February and I would like to thank everyone at Piece of Mind for a comprehensive, interesting and extremely professional look at mental health awareness.

29/04/2024

Pain...
In all my time as a therapist there hasn't been a single day that I haven't engaged in a conversation on the subject of Pain with a client.
Acute, chronic, persistent, perceived,debilitating, life changing we have all heard it described inall sorts of ways and in the greatest of detail.

We all work hard to find a way to describe the mechanism of Pain and even harder using our given modalities and skilset to help our clients navigate a route back to pain free normality

How do you talk through and help your clients understand their pain?

Over the years I realised just how important adding as much up to date knowledge in the area of Pain alongside any cpd trying to give clients the best advice possible.

Have I always got it right ...NO!!
am I explaining pain the same way I did 20 years ago...No.

LOL if I'm still Trying to explain pain in another 20 years it will be completely different since we will all have moved forward with the science although at 80 I may be discussing it with my care home acquaintances🤣

We have all worked through the different methods
Bio medical,
Biomechanical.
Bio psycho social. Etc
Hands on,(touch)
Strength and exercise(graduated exposure),
Talking therapies all of whom at some point seem to have been in opposition to one another.

If pain is an output from the brain not an input then it makes sense that by calming down the CNS the initial pain score (SUDS)may well drop.

I realised very early on that the rapport built with my client could significantly affect the SUDS score.

Then hands on ie massage alongside talking therapies(being heard) can alleviate a clients tensions whether muscular or neurological
Which can help ascertain whichever therapy is best moving forward in your clients recovery be that graduated exercise via physio ,Gp, talking therapy( counselling/clinical Hypnotherapy).

The video below shouldn't be definitive but having attended a Noi Group course 10 years or so ago it's interesting seeing the changes to where the science is today.

If ?
PAIN IS AN OUTPUT FROM THE BRAIN
Then for me it makes sense that my Journey into Hypnotherapy can only be of some help to the most important people in my business
My Clients

🎙️Twelve years ago, Lorimer Moseley’s TEDx talk “Why Things Hurt” helped to catalyze profound changes in how pain is conceptualized, in our field and in man...