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Although much of the massage is enjoyable some of it is painful, for example working to remove scar tissue - what we were taught in training to describe as therapeutic pain and people often say ‘I can feel it is doing me good’. I also explore creating a healthy environment to exercise in, discussing increasing range of movement with stretches for example, as a way of ensuring that during exercise the body is not forced causing future damage. Why do runners need it? The body benefits from regular massage: strenuous exercise damages muscles, massage ensures that the soft tissues return to normal and are capable of maximum use. It treats minor injuries preventing build-up of damaged tissue leading to long-term problems. It works for persistent and repeat injuries caused by failure to clear up the debris from a previous injury, obstructing the flow in the area and causing lack of stretch in local muscle. An experienced competitive cyclist tells me that remedial massage is the only effective way to remove scar tissue from previous injury. At the site of an injury it is common to notice swelling, especially immediately after impact. As the swelling subsides we think that all is returning to normal. However, if some time has passed and any joint has been immobile the chances are that some fluid remains and thickens at the site, eventually becoming almost solid. This causes problems with use of the area, noticed as limitation of movement, stiffness and most importantly PAIN. With the use of remedial massage, this can be prevented, but what is less widely known is that it is possible to remove such obstructions long after the injury has healed - sometimes many years - very successfully with huge, often complete reduction of pain and frequently return to full movement and removal of stiffness and sensitivity to cold/change in temperature and weather. The benefits of remedial massage are realised by many of the professionals: cycling teams, running squads even formula one teams include a masseuse in their entourage. | ||
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CATHERINE HOLLAND Tel: 0701 7415310 Email: catherine@catherineholland.co.uk | |
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