There are many types of massage. Here at Southern Spinal Care in Kogarah we cater to each patient’s needs. We will be specific with the problem by diagnosing what it is that will create the best result. We will only use what is appropriate rather than the same the treatment for all. The types of massage at the clinic are :
Remedial
What is remedial massage?
Remedial massage is a complementary therapy that aims to treat muscles that are damaged, knotted, tense or immobile. It is useful for a number of problems that affect the muscles, tendons and bones and can address a number of other health problems.
Remedial massage is used to locate and repair damaged areas of the body and speed up the body’s own healing processes. The pressure applied in this healing treatment can either be strong and deep or gentle and shallow, depending on the problem.
Problems with the muscles can trigger or radiate pain to other parts of the body. Remedial massage aims to trace the original reason for the pain, tackling both the cause of the problem and the symptoms.
Who is remedial massage for?
Remedial massage can be used to help people with:
- neck, shoulder or back pain
- preventing injuries
- headaches
- sports or other injuries
- arthritis
- chronic pain
- fatigue
- anxiety or depression
- to treat the side effects of cancer, such as lymphoedema, Anxiety
- to manage the side effects of diabetes
- to help with addiction rehabilitation
What does a remedial massage involve?
Before the massage begins, your therapist will talk to you about your health and lifestyle. They will ask you to lie on a table or couch and will cover you with towels to protect your privacy and to keep you warm. They will probably use creams or oils to help them massage your skin smoothly.
The therapist will use a number of different techniques to locate and repair damaged areas of the body. They will deeply penetrate muscles associated with the problem. They might also stretch different parts of the body.
Trigger Point
What is Trigger Point Therapy?
Myofascial trigger points, or simply trigger points or muscle knots, are tight areas in the soft tissue that cause pain and aching in other parts of the body. Trigger points are commonly caused by muscle overuse, trauma, inflammation, infection and nerve pain. Trigger points can cause pain over the affected area that can radiate to other parts of the body.
Muscles with trigger points are weaker than normal, healthy muscles because they are unable to perform their normal function and move through their full range of motion. Other muscles may also be affected by these muscle knots and develop trigger points if the affected muscle is not treated right away. There are other factors that can contribute to the problem such as poor nutrition, stress and chronic illness.
Trigger point therapy is a form of massage therapy specifically designed to alleviate the pain that causes the knots by applying isolated pressure, manipulation, stretching and release on the target areas of pain. It should be remembered that the areas targeted may be different from where the client actually feels the pain.
How Does Trigger Point Therapy Work?
During a trigger point therapy, the therapist applies a firm digital pressure to locate specific points that cause pain and restricted movement. The client actively participates in the session through deep breaths to help the therapist identify the exact location and intensity of the discomfort.
Once the trigger points have been identified, the therapist employs one or more techniques to loosen the knots, including deep tissue massage, myofascial release and stretching among others. Applying constant pressure with their fingers or elbows, the therapist directs blood to the affected areas, which in turn increases the oxygen levels in the muscles to relieve the pain and increase range of motion. Trigger point therapy can be used in conjunction with other modalities such as sports massage.
What are the Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy?
Trigger point therapy eliminates pain, improves blood circulation, increases range of motion and retrains the muscles to move efficiently to prevent injuries in the future. It can help address a broad range of physical conditions such as the following:
- Neck, shoulder and knee pain
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Sciatica
- Sports and dance-related injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Stress and fatigue
- Tendonitis
- Menstrual cramps
- Whiplash
- Digestive issues
- Plantar fasciitis
What Can You Expect From Trigger Point Therapy?
A session of trigger point therapy usually runs for two hours, beginning with a complete assessment of the client’s health and medical history, lifestyle and pain score. The therapist may ask the client to perform certain movements, to check their posture and range of motion. Once they have gathered all relevant information, the practitioner can start developing a treatment plan that includes the appropriate manipulation techniques.
Although trigger point therapy is usually performed with the client unclothed, the latter may opt to wear a pair of shorts and a loose shirt in thin, lightweight fabric so that the practitioner can palpate their muscles and apply pressure where it is needed. Massage clients are always draped appropriately to keep them warm throughout the session. The use of essential oils in this type of bodywork is optional.
Before showing up at their appointment, the client must drink plenty of water to support their body as it flushes out the toxins released from the tight muscles during the treatment session.
The amount of trigger point therapy that a person will need depends on how their body responds to the initial treatment. People with chronic conditions seek treatment twice a week, while others schedule their sessions once a month. Simply put, the frequency of one’s therapy lies in the pain signals of their body.
Is Trigger Point Therapy Safe?
There is no safer and better way to address trigger points than through trigger point therapy. This form of manual therapy employs specific massage techniques to release painful bands of taut muscle tissue without causing serious side effects.
Fascial release
The rubbing of the muscle in a certain direction and with various movements release the fascia (thin tissue covering the muscle) from the muscle itself. This release can allow muscle fluids to circulate instead of being stagnant within the muscle tissue creating edema (swelling) and hence discomfort.
Golgi Tendon Organ
The technique is specific to the tendons especially where they join the bone and hence regulate the muscle tension if weak or in spasm like resetting a computer software program. Resetting the Golgi tendon organ receptors will ultimately reset muscle tension when all else fails.
Gamma Fibres
This method works on the receptors that are in the belly of the muscle and this reset also changes muscles that are in spasm or weak.
