Use of heat for chronic injuries.

For relief of tense & sore muscles.

Use of heat is NOT indicated for acute injuries.

Not recommended for injuries relating to inflammation and swelling or pressure on nerves.

See also Massate Tip: Use of Ice

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The use of ice permits your body to heal quickly in several ways:

• It numbs the pain so that you can move the injured area. Movement is essential for healing in soft tissue injuries, as it increases blood circulation to the area, prevents abnormal scar tissue from forming, and allows the newly forming tissues to remain pliable.
• It causes immediate vasoconstriction which reduces swelling in the tissues.
• Upon removal of ice, the resurgence of blood and lymph fluid to the area helps cleanse the injury of metabolic debris.

After immediate ice treatment, proceed as follows:

• chill the injured area in cycles of 10-15 mins with 30-90 mins off.
• as soon as the ice is removed, when the area is still numb, begin to move the area gently without putting weight on the injury.

Ice can be applied as a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel. You shoud never apply ice directly to the skin.

Ice is also applied to an injury prior to massage, since a torn muscle massaged while it is still warm will only inflame the injury.

See also Massate Tip: Use of Heat

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Massage

• enhances function
• aids the healing process
• promotes relaxation
• enhances well being

Benefits of massage as shown by medical research

• pain relief
• reduced anxiety & depression
• temporary reduction in blood
• pressure & heart rate

Source: Wikipedia

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Moderate pressure is applied to specific points to aid the body in rectifying a problem from within (Suction Cups could be utilised within this treatment plan).

Acupressure massage, is regarded as one of the oldest healing methods in the world. By using deep finger pressure at key points on the body practitioners can reduce tension, increase circulation and offer relief from many complaints. It is often described as “Acupuncture without the needles”.

The gentle pressure is applied to key points on the body removing blockages and promoting health and harmony throughout the body. Acupressure massage as with other Traditional Chinese Medicines, deals with all aspects of a person, considering body, emotions, mind and spirit as one, not as separate parts.

The healing touch of acupressure massage relieves stress thus strengthening resistance to disease and supporting a longer, healthier, more vital life. It also increases blood circulation and aids in the removal of toxic wastes.

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Remedial or Therapeutic Massage is a type of massage that manipulates the soft tissues of the body including movement for a specific therapeutic result, rather than a general massage experience. It uses a number of relevant techniques, lubricants and movements according to the client’s needs and response.

Remedial massage is a deep massage done by a trained massage therapist, to create the conditions for the body’s return to normal health after injury or with muscular-skeletal disorders.

Therapeutic massage can be used to treat chronic muscular-skeletal imbalances, strains, sprains, broken bones, bruising or any injury where the skin is intact. Deep tissue massage movements remove blockages, damaged cells, scar tissue and adhesions left after injury, speeds up recovery and encourages more complete healing.

Therapeutic massage is also used for conditions created by lifestyle for example Repetitive strain injury and Back pain. It is designed to increase the flow of blood and lymph, particularly in the injured areas.

It is often successful where other forms of treatment have failed.

The massage therapist needs knowledge of anatomy and physiology to determine where to treat each patient.

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Indian head massage originated in India over 1000 years ago and began as a way of keeping the hair in good condition. This form of massage works on the upper back, shoulders, upper arms, neck, scalp, ears and face. The areas are massaged using firm yet gentle, rhythmic movements that involve acupressure points called Marma points. Special oils were traditionally used in this form of massage however the use of oils is now optional.

Indian head massage can be used to relieve eyestrain, insomnia, sinusitis, stress and anxiety, ease headaches and migraines, relax muscles, tone facial muscles, stimulate the hair and scalp, help with localized blood and lymphatic circulation, boost the immune system.

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Sports massage is a type of massage that is specifically tailored to sporting injuries or ailments. It is not meant to be a relaxing massage and, indeed, can become quite vigorous at times. It is designed to prevent and relieve injuries and conditions that are associated with exercise.

Sports massage can be carried out before, during, or after playing sport or exercising and uses techniques that are designed to increase endurance and performance, to minimise the chances of injury and, if there is an injury, to reduce the recovery time. This type of massage uses a mixture of specific muscle massage, trigger point massage and stretches.

Sports Massage improves performance and aids in recovery from injury

Only an experienced sports massage therapist like Ray understands the benefits and limitations of massage in order to use it to full effect.

Sports Massage is not a flowing massage, and can be a bit painful in attempting to reduce muscle soreness or tightness. After a sports massage you should feel fairly good, with an improved Range Of Motion (ROM). You may suffer from muscle soreness the next day around the area massaged, depending on the depth and duration of the massage. This is where the massage therapist requires good feedback, to ensure they are working to your comfort level.

Did you know that you have over 650 muscles in your body?

Your massage therapist needs to be informed of your basic health and any injuries you may have. This is to ensure that the correct muscle group is being worked.

There are 4 types of Sports Massage:

1. Pre-Event Massage

• A quick 5 mins massage for circulation & alertness.
• No oil is used and no skin-to-skin contact is made.
• It is carried out through a towel or the clothes or both.
• This massage is carried out about 30 mins prior to the match or warm up. Note that it does not replace the warm up.

The pre-event sports massage is performed by basically bouncing the person’s body, as if you were dribbling a basketball. The major muscle groups are given a workover in quick succession. Many of these moves are classified as “number 1 moves” which improves circulation and promote good reflexes and alertness.

Note that the intensity of pre-event massage will vary from person to person.

Too much muscle work prior to the match will make you sleepy and not allow you to perform to your best.

Too little will not allow you to function properly due to tightness or soreness.

2. Post-Event Massage

• Assists in reducing muscle soreness.
• Takes about 3-5 mins per troubled muscle group.
• “Number 1 move” to aid circulation.
• “Number 2 move” to reduce muscular activity.
• The stretching element may be used for players who are feeling sore.
• Ischemic Compression* can be used to reduce muscle tightness.

* Ischemic Compression – This is where the centre of a tight muscle is depressed with the thumb or fingers and held, while you continue breathing slowly and deeply. This aids in increasing the length of the muscle to its original relaxed length.

3. Training Massage

• Takes approximately 5-8 mins per troubled muscle group.
• “Number 1 move” and “Number 2 move” utilised.
• “Number 3 move” is applied for spasm-breaking, ie breaking down muscle adhesions or “knots”.
• Facilitated stretching is used.

4. “Facilitated” or “PNF” Stretching

Facilitated stretching is used to restore full range of motion to a blocked limb and to release tightness. The limb is taken to its maximum range of motion, and held in this position while contraction is gently performed against it.

Muscles only work when contracting, but are you aware that at most times, it is the opposite muscle that prevents the full range of motion?

For example, if you were unable to raise your right leg as high as your left leg, the problem would probably not be the right quads but the right hamstrings which were restricting the motion.

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This type of massage is a gentle blend of stretching and massage. Poor posture, physical injury, illness and emotional stress can throw the body out of alignment and cause its intricate web of fascia tissues to become tight and constricted.

Myofascial Release Therapy uses hands-on manipulation of muscle specific areas to aid in the relase of the muscle and surrounding tissue, promoting healing and pain relief. Myofascial Release Therapy may be helpful for many physical problems, including back strain and chronic or acute back pain, lumbar and thoracic paid, chronic cervical pain, dizziness and vertigo, carpel tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, fibrosistis, headachs, plantar faciitis, and whiplash.

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Deep Tissue Massage focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It is designed to reach the deep sections of thick muscles, and specifically the individual muscle fibres.

This form of massage uses a slow and deep muscle compression and friction along the grain of the muscle without the use of massage oils. Deep Tissue Massage is used to unstick the fibres of the muscles and release both toxins and deeply held tension points.

Specific hand positions and strokes are used in response to the various tissues types, while breath and movement techniques are employed to release muscular congestion. This is both a corrective and therapeutic massage technique. It is beneficial for many physical problems, including sports injuries and chronic pain. Because it works very deeply, emotional issues that can be stored in the body may also be released.

Deep Tissue Massage usually focuses on specific areas and may cause some soreness during or after the session. Water helps to eliminate toxins from the body so it is important to drink plenty of water after a Deep Tissue Massage to help with this elimination process.

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