Remedial
Massage Therapy
More and more people are recognising the health benefits of many
complementary therapies, massage therapy being one of these.
The word ‘massage’ is thought to have several roots:-
the Latin root
What is
massage?
A general definition of massage is - the use of manipulation of the
soft tissues to produce therapeutic effects; to relieve pain and dysfunction.
If you think about it, we all use massage in our everyday lives: - if
your child falls and bruises a knee, you “rub it better”; if you have a
headache or toothache, you will most likely rub the sore bit; if someone has had
a shock or upset, you might hold their hand or put an arm around and pat their
back. These are all basic forms of
massage.
The massage that we use now, as a mode of healing, has developed from
many cultures and has been practised for centuries. From the decline of
What does
massage do?
While there
are now many different styles and systems of massage, the general benefits
include:-
·
using a holistic approach - treating the whole
person – body, mind and emotions
·
improving circulatory systems
·
promoting a healthy balance within the
body
·
boosting the immune system
·
relieving pain and helping to restore
function and mobility
·
promoting a general feeling of well-being,
boosting self-confidence and positive thinking
I
began training in and practising Massage Therapy about 6 years ago and have
been hooked ever since. I am now an
Advanced Remedial Massage Therapist with my own practice in Mintlaw and I am a
course leader with the Scottish Massage Schools. I firmly believe in the real value of
remedial massage therapy in helping to bring relief from pain and produce
improvements in many conditions. Advanced
Remedial Massage uses specific techniques to treat problems with joints and
muscles that might have been caused by an injury, illness/disease, emotional
upset, stress.
The specific aims of remedial massage are to:
·
release muscle spasm
·
affect the nervous system to encourage rest
and repair and reduce pain
·
restore balance to body structures &
systems
·
improve joint function and mobility
·
reduce inflammation
·
improve circulatory and respiratory systems
Some
of the conditions commonly treated and helped include: - back pain, ‘sciatica’,
arthritis, frozen shoulder, repetitive strain injury (RSI), migraine, muscle
strains, joint sprains, ‘tennis elbow’, asthma and other respiratory disorders;
conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
can often be helped too.
Who can benefit?
Most
people can benefit from massage.
Whatever your age; whether you injured your ankle running
for the bus or playing football; hurt your back by picking something up or
because of the heavy lifting you do at work; suffered migraine for years or
headaches from recent stress, then remedial massage therapy may help you.
In
future issues of the Mintlaw Community Claik, I will explain how
remedial massage therapy can assist in specific conditions. The next article will focus on chronic back
pain.
In
addition to my practice, I give talks, demonstrations and run workshops on
aspects of massage therapy and stress reduction for a range of groups and
organisations. These are usually very
interactive sessions and arranged to suit your needs.
If
you would like more information about anything in this article, please give me
a ring.
Moira M Watson
DARM, OSM, Dip CE, SMTO
07748 955922
email: essence.therapy@virgin.net