Remedial Massage

What is Remedial Massage?

Remedial massage is a modality that incorporates numerous techniques to locate and treat musculoskeletal imbalances and chronic/acute pain. Specific techniques include Swedish and deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques and stretching. Remedial massage is helpful for those suffering from a particular complaint or who want to ensure their body is functioning at its optimum level.

Remedial massage provides a healing treatment that can be gentle or strong, deep or shallow. When muscles and tendons become damaged, impaired, knotted, tense or immobile, remedial massage provides an effective healing treatment.

Remedial massage holistically treats the whole body and traces the discomfort back to the original cause as far as possible. It aims to heal the reason for the disorder and the symptoms.

We recommend it if you haven’t ever experienced a quality remedial massage.

What Conditions Benefit from a Remedial Massage?

Remedial massage is effective in treating a wide range of conditions and ailments, such as but not limited to the following:

• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Tension headache
• Jaw pain
• Frozen shoulder
• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Tennis elbow
• Plantar fasciitis
• Stress
• Muscular spasms
• Muscle cramps
• DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)

What’s the Best Timing for a Remedial Massage?

Remedial massage for chronic, long-standing conditions may occur at any time. Ideally, regular massage can promote mobility and improved function and stop conditions from becoming problematic and painful.

For acute or recent injuries, remedial massage is indicated 72 hours following an injury and after rest and ice to reduce inflammation and swelling.

How Long Should You Book for a Remedial Massage?

PhysioWorks offer remedial massage treatments for 30, 45, 60 or 90-minute appointments. Generally, 30 minutes is sufficient time to treat one problem area, for example, the neck and shoulders. 45-60 minute appointments are adequate for 2-3 regions, for example, lower back, neck and shoulders, while 60-90 minutes will cover a complete body treatment.

What Frequency Works Best for a Remedial Massage?

A new injury or condition can often resolve within a few treatment sessions. However, chronic and long-standing disease usually requires a series of treatments to return the area to its normal function. Treatment may include some weekly massages and gradually be spaced out in frequency until you reach a maintenance stage.

While everyone’s needs will differ depending on your lifestyle, regular remedial massages work best. Ideally, a maintenance massage should be performed regularly to promote mobility and improved function and stop conditions from becoming problematic and painful.

For advice specific to your body’s needs, please ask your remedial massage therapist how often you should have a massage to function optimally.

How Does a Remedial Massage Help You?

As well as assisting in the treatment of the above conditions, remedial massage has a positive impact on various body systems. These include:

Circulatory and Lymphatic Systems

Remedial massage encourages blood flow to the treated tissue by stimulating the circulatory system. As the lymphatic system works close to the circulatory system, the massage will reduce pain and swelling by improving your lymphatic flow.

More info: Lymphatic Drainage

Muscular

Remedial massage directly impacts the muscular system by stretching tight muscles, relaxing and releasing overused muscles, reducing spasms and muscular cramping, and assisting in tissue regeneration.

Endocrine/Hormonal

Remedial massage can decrease cortisol, a drug produced when we experience pain and stress. Massage also encourages an increased serotonin and dopamine level, which improves mood and relaxation and relieves pain. This hormone boost reduces anxiety while enhancing sleep, concentration and energy levels.

Joints

By working on the muscles around a joint, remedial massage can increase the joint range of motion and increase collective strength and stabilisation.