There are many different types of massage advertised. Remedial, relaxation, deep tissue, Swedish, Thai, Kahuna, Myofascial……. it can all get very confusing and difficult to know what is best for you or your injury! Remedial Massage is often offered within a physiotherapy setting to assist with the recovery of injury- but should remedial massage be painful? Let’s explore some of the different types of massage offered to clarify the differences as well as exploring the benefits.
Relaxation massage traditionally is performed with lighter pressure however you should still feel it and its benefits! Relaxation massage mainly focuses on promoting circulation through movement of the blood and lymph which then has many positive effects over our bodies. Relaxation massage helps with relieving stress and tension, calming the nerves and allowing the muscles of the body to relax. The benefits of relaxation massage can be for stress or anxiety relief as well as calming the nervous system in the presence of chronic pain.
Remedial massage is usually considering deeper or stronger massage than relaxation. Remedial massage is about the treatment and ongoing care of soft tissue to manage your injuries, chronic muscular aches and general tension. There are times if you are suffering from a chronic ailment then brushing over the skin is not going to assist in recovery, so deeper work is needed to increase circulation and release into tight restricted muscles or fascia. On the other hand, going in with the deepest pressure possible will not achieve optimal results either- if you find you are in alot of pain during your massage session then sometimes this can be counter productive! If you are holding your breath, wishing it was over, or tensing your body excessively during your remedial massage then this can increase stress levels in the body and potentially the benefits of your session are lost. The most important aspect of a massage is the communication at the beginning of your session. Your therapist should be checking in with you to make sure you are comfortable with pressure, whether it is too firm or not enough. While you may feel a little tender from treating the area you should feel the benefit of greater mobility in the affected areas within a day or so. So is remedial massage still relaxing? Absolutely! Massage promotes the release of endorphins that reduces stress levels and promotes relaxation while reducing the production of stress inducing hormones.
Deep tissue massage is simply working on deeper levels of the tissue, fascia, and muscle. This can be more painful, however working slowly and communicating with your therapist achieves the best results, which can be fantastic for recovery from injury and improved mobility.
Are there any risks or safety precautions with massage? There are certain conditions where massage is best avoided. If you have certain inflammatory or arthritic conditions may need to discuss your options with a physiotherapist or Doctor first. If you have a very acute injury (such as a muscle tear), then massage may not be the first form of treatment and you may be best to see a Physio first.
What We Offer at Synergy Physio. Here at Synergy Physio our massage therapist Monica Hille works closely hand in hand with our physiotherapy team. We communicate closely with Monica about your pain or injury to ensure you have the best team approach together for optimal recovery and results.
Would you like to know more? Or would you like to make an appointment for massage?
Feel free to contact our reception team on 07 54483369, contact us or simply book online!
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