Remedial Massage: Is a paramedical treatment that helps to restore function to injured "soft tissues" (muscles, tendons and ligaments).

Therapy may involve the use of various types of Massage, as well as a range of other physical treatments to assist your recovery. In addition, you may be asked to perform some activities at home to assist the process of recovery.

(Types of massage used may include any or all of the following depending on the condition to be treated -, Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, AMMA, etc.)

Swedish massage

Swedish massage is the manual manipulation of the soft tissue by gliding, kneading, pressing, pumping, rubbing and tapping strokes. You are draped by a towel/s on a very comfortable and padded table. Table massage promotes relaxation, relief from stress and a feeling of peace, well-being, feeling more "grounded", centred and balanced (restoration of homeostasis).

The label "Swedish" comes from the system of massage developed and formalised by Per Henrik Ling(1776-1839). It is the application of strokes including effleurage, kneading, tapping, friction, and vibration to the soft tissues of the body with special emphasis on enhancing circulation and relieving muscle tension. Oil or cream is used on the skin as a lubricant and active and passive joint movement are also employed to increase range of motion.

Swedish massage is much more than a "back rub" or "the fluff treatment." A well-trained therapist uses their strokes to precisely address tension patterns, tracing the length of the specific muscles to assess their tone and encouraging fresh circulation in areas where blood flow is constricted by tension.

As muscles receive a fuller measure of oxygen and nutrients, their flexibility improves while the pain of constriction decreases. Lactic acid and other cellular waste products are washed from the tissues into circulation. Lymph flow is enhanced, boosting the efficiency of the immune system. As normalcy is restored, the nervous system is calmed, breathing slows, and deep relaxation occurs.

A body massage when applied by a pair of professionally schooled hands will leave you with a feeling of physical and mental well-being and in a state of relaxation.

Sports massage

Sports massage therapy can help sportsmen and women keep themselves in peak condition.

Sports massage is a set of specialised massage techniques for the treatment of muscle, tendon or ligament problems caused from work or sports injuries. Anyone, not just athletes, can benefit from sports massage if they have aches and pains caused by over use or incorrect use of muscles - even if not through sporting activities.

Sports massage can improve the rehabilitation of muscle and soft tissue injuries through improved circulation and muscle flexibility, reduced muscle tension, breaking down scar tissue and adhesions. When combined with analysis of posture, it can help identification of potential problems in training methods and lifestyle/working habits thereby helping to avoid injury in the first place.

Pre-event treatment can help by:

• identifying potential problems, therefore helping to prevent injuries before they occur;
• fine tuning exercise programs and training methods to help train more effectively;
• improving flexibility;
• energising muscles directly before the event.

Post-event treatment can help by:

• aiding warm down and relaxing muscles;
• reducing recovery time after training;
• improving the rehabilitation of muscles and soft tissues after injury.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage is used to release chronic patterns of muscular tension using slow strokes, direct pressure, or friction usually on a focused problem area. Often the movements are directed across the grain of the muscles (cross-fibre) using the fingers, thumbs, or elbows. This is applied with greater pressure and at deeper layers of the muscle than Swedish massage and that is why it is called deep tissue. Deep tissue massage is a technique used in sports massage.

Deep doesn't necessarily mean "hard." With the proper technique, muscles deep in the body can be reached with a minimum of pressure.

Deep tissue massage employs the principles of muscular restoration. It works across the muscles manipulating deep tissues, stimulating circulation, and regenerating lymphatic flow. This promote detoxification and oxygenation of stagnant tissues. It is designed to bring fluids into the cells, stimulating changes on a cellular level. Deep tissue massage releases adherent muscle conditions existing in deep layers of muscle and actually corrects damaged muscle tissue.

Deep tissue massage relieves entrapment of nerves, and it also aids in moving out toxins and congestion that may have accumulated in damaged muscles and soft tissue, thereby reducing oedema and inflammation, as well as reducing pain. It softens hard fibrous muscle which restricts joint range of motion, thereby "throwing off" the body's proper structural alignment.

Deep tissue massage provides a form of passive exercise for those who have been injured or ill. Combining deep tissue massage with traditional treatments of diseases offers an added edge that can speed recovery and promote maximum improvement where traditional treatments leave off.

Below is just a partial list of ways that deep tissue massage can help with your overall health:

Muscular system
Corrects damaged muscles, softens hard fibrous muscles, separates adherent fibres, allows nutrients and medicines to reach cellular areas, cleans cells by removing wastes, relieves pain, and relieves congestion and inflammation.

Skin
Improves circulation to the skin, moisturises dry, scaly skin, improves skintone, reduces bed sores, acne and other skin eruptions, and reduces the build-up of cellulite.

Skeletal system
Improves joint range of motion, clears deposits and debris from old bone injuries, restores damaged ligaments and tendons, enhances effectiveness of chiropractic and osteopathic treatment, and improves posture.

Nervous system
Releases trapped nerves in soft tissue, relieves neuromuscular conditions, reduces inflammation and congestion along nerve pathways, and improves conditions resulting from brain injury.

Cardiovascular system
Contributes to the improvement of sclerotic blood vessels, relieves congestion in chest for congestive heart patients, and improves general health so that heart patients can maintain self through exercise.

Lymphatic system
Releases trapped of lymphatic vessels, drains sluggish nodes, and improves integrity of lymphatic blood vessel walls.

Respiratory system
Releases restrictions in breathing muscles, promotes postural improvement which reduces crowding of lungs, and removes old congestion in lung and rib areas.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger Point Therapy, also known as Myotherapy or Neuromuscular Therapy, applies concentrated finger pressure to "trigger points" to break cycles of spasm and pain.

Trigger points are accumulations of waste products around a nerve receptor. Often times they feel like nodules or taut bands of fibres within the soft tissues. Trigger points form in muscles which have been overused or injured due to an accident or surgery. Common characteristics are increased muscle tension and muscle shortening. Increased muscle tension is the primary side-effect of trigger points and pain is the most common secondary effect. Trigger points can present themselves as referred patterns of sensation such as sharp pain, dull ache, tingling, pins and needles, hot or cold, as well as can create symptoms such as nausea, ear ache, equilibrium disturbance, or blurred vision.

Trigger points can exist in two states, either active or latent. Active trigger points are those which cause discomfort. Latent trigger points wait silently in the muscle for a future stress to activate them. Aches and pains which began in the past become more frequent and severe in intensity as we age. It is common to attribute this discomfort to arthritis instead of our tight muscles which harbour trigger points.

Trigger points are not visible with traditional medical testing such as MRI or X-ray. 80 % of the trigger point locations are common with acupuncture treatment locations. When trigger points are not treated, they will create satellite trigger points in the affected area. For instance, a trigger point in the trapezius may cause a trigger point to appear in the temple. The trigger point in the temple then may cause a trigger point to appear in the jaw. And, voilà! - a case of TMJ.

To diffuse a trigger point, static compression (pressure) is applied while the client breathes deeply. This action flushes the toxins and calms the nerves. Releasing trigger points releases endorphins so the result is elimination of discomfort as well as being energised.

Trigger point massage is not a relaxing, "fluff and buff" technique. It requires the participation of the client to communicate the presence and intensity of pain and discomfort. The therapist and client work together as a team to maximise the effectiveness of the treatment.

It is common to find great improvement after one treatment. Repeated treatment may be necessary for those with chronic trigger points. Stretching should be done as "home work" to encourage the muscles that have been treated to stay in a lengthened position.

Amma Massage

Amma Massage is a form of accupressure and energy balancing. This type of massage focuses on the energy channels throughout the body that correspond to different organs and those channels that have no link to a specific organ, but facilitate the healthy functioning of the body. Manipulation of theses channels and the points of influence that lie along them will remove any block in energy flow that may manifest as illness or discomfort.

In ancient Chinese, the word am-ma means "push-pull". Amma dates back five thousand years to the period of the legendary Chinese Yellow Emperor,Hwang Ti. During this period China had a comparably evolved system of medicine, both rooted in a philosophy that included the earliest theories of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements of the body as they relate to the organs and to the planets.

Chinese medicine developed through focusing not only on healing, but on preventing illness as well. They did so by utilising therapeutic bodywork, acupuncture, herbalism, dietary therapy, exercise, meditation and moderation in living.

Amma therapy was adopted by Japan and Korea when Buddhist monks brought the techniques to these countries. It was mandatory that anyone who wanted to become a doctor in Japan practice massage therapy. This practice was known as anma. The Chinese principles of bodywork adopted by the Koreans were called by their ancient Chinese name, amma. Amma therapy was brought to the states from Korea by Tina Sohn. She has developed the techniques of Amma to new levels and sensitivities.

Amma Therapy is a highly refined system of bodywork therapy. Rooted in the same fundamental principles of acupuncture and herbalism, Amma therapy focuses on the balance and movement of energy in the body. The techniques of Amma therapy aim to remove blockages and free the flow of energy in the body, thereby restoring, promoting and maintaining optimum health.

Whereas the acupuncturist will insert needles into energy pathways, the massage therapist utilising Amma therapy relies primarily on the sensitivity and the strength of the hands to manipulate and balance the flow of life energy throughout the body.

The life energy or Qi flows along pathways commonly known as channels. These channels form an energetic web throughout the body. The channels of Qi nourish and defend the body. As well, it is through these pathways, that harmful energies gain access to deeper regions of the body. Preventative Amma therapy, along with proper diet and exercise can discourage pathological changes.

Decisions on what, when and how to treat depends on a number of factors: the assessment of the therapist, the purpose of the patient's visit and the severity of the signs and symptoms. The process of assessment uses both Western and Eastern techniques, combining Oriental medical principles for assessing energy imbalances with a Western approach to organ dysfunction. A diagnosis is based on the Four Traditional Methods: looking, asking, touching and smelling. This includes the assessment of every facet of the mind-body complex, including observation of the tongue, the taking of various pulses, palpation and evaluation of diet, complexion, bowel movements, posture, emotions, vitality, personal likes and dislikes, smells, tastes and sounds. Every sign and symptom reflects the internal state of the body and can be used in assessment. Once a comprehensive assessment is made and energy imbalances and organ dysfunction diagnosed, the therapist will then use the appropriate hand manipulations to remove blockages, free the flow of energy and bring healing energy to problem areas.