Sports Massage or Swedish Massage ?
Sports (or deep tissue) Massage & Remedial Bodywork
Despite its name, sports massage is not only for those who take regular exercise. All of us are likely to suffer from muscular tension or discomfort at some point in our lives. Whether it is the result of sitting hunched over a computer, lifting heavy items, repetitive occupational activities, postural problems or even a trip or fall, sports massage is very effective at reducing muscular pain and dysfunction.For regular athletes, sports massage can also provide a vital part of your training programme. It can help to decrease your recovery time between training sessions or from an injury. By having regular maintenance treatments you can avoid micro-traumas in the muscles (which can be caused by exercise) developing into injuries. By noting which areas of your body which are consistently overused/injured, it is also possible to pick up on errors in technique and thus set about improving your performance.
What happens in a treatment?
At the beginning of your first session a full and confidential medical history will be taken to ensure that you do not have a medical condition which precludes you from treatment. This consultation also allows the practitioner to design a treatment programme tailored to meet your specific needs.By assessing your posture and using a variety of special tests the practitioner will also be able to look at what is causing your problem and so treat the cause as well as the symptom.
Using a combination of deep tissue massage, stretches and neuromuscular techniques the practitioner will then treat the muscles involved. Neuromuscular techniques utilise the feedback between the muscles and nerves to relax and stretch the muscle. Patients can sometimes feel a little sore for a day or two after their treatment, but will then notice a real improvement in their condition.
At the end of the session you will be given advice on what you can do to assist your own recovery and to prevent reoccurrence of the injury or problem. Stretches and exercises can both be of great benefit to this end. Your practitioner will advise you how to do this effectively.
Swedish Massage
Lie down and relax while you have your tension and stress eased away. Leave the clinic feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to face the world.This slow and relaxing massage is designed to ease your muscles and your mind at the same time. A variety of massage strokes are used in combination to encourage relaxation in any areas of tension, whilst the sensation of touch soothes the nervous system, allowing stress to ebb away and restoring your zest for life.
The massage strokes also encourage the flow of blood around the body, increasing the circulation and spreading nutrients throughout your system. This can increase the speed of healing within the body, improve skin tone, increase metabolism and aid in fat breakdown.
What happens during a treatment?
At the beginning of your first session a full and confidential medical history will be taken to ensure that you do not have any medical condition which precludes you from treatment. Whether you are just looking to be pampered or you feel the need to de-stress and relax, your practitioner tailor your treatment to meet your needs.Whilst you lie comfortably on the massage bed covered by towels, your practitioner will carry out your massage, only revealing the part of your body that they need to treat. The oil or lotion used during the treatment is easily absorbed, but may leave a slight oily residue on the skin which is easily washed off.