Massage Therapy
Sports, remedial and deep tissue massage at our clinics in Woodford, Chigwell and East London
Massage Therapy at Spine Plus
Massage therapy involves hands-on pressure, kneading and stretching to relieve tension, knots, shortening and scar tissue in muscles and other soft tissues. At Spine Plus, our massage therapists are trained to a high standard and work as part of our multidisciplinary team alongside osteopaths and physiotherapists.
Long, superficial sweeping strokes tend to improve circulation and drainage, whilst more advanced techniques such as ischaemic compression promote the release of muscle knots (trigger points). Our approach is both therapeutic and evidence-based, not simply relaxation massage.
Types of Massage We Offer
- Sports Massage, targeted at sportspeople and active individuals to prevent and treat injuries
- Remedial Massage, addresses specific pain conditions, injuries and postural problems
- Deep Tissue Massage, works on deeper layers of muscle to release chronic tension
- Trigger Point Therapy, locates and releases specific knots that cause referred pain
- Myofascial Release, addresses restrictions in the connective tissue surrounding muscles
Conditions Treated
- Back pain and neck pain
- Shoulder and upper body tension
- Muscle strains and tightness
- Trigger points and myofascial pain
- Sports injuries and overuse conditions
- Tension headaches
- RSI and occupational muscle pain
- Post-operative soft tissue recovery
- General stress and muscular tension
What to Expect
Massage is usually performed once a week, twice at most. A typical course of sessions for a particular pain condition or injury would typically take 3 to 6 weeks, although this varies considerably depending on the nature of the problem.
Advanced massage techniques use firm pressure at the point of injury. This may highlight and temporarily accentuate symptoms during the first few seconds, but the discomfort should not exceed 7 out of 10 on a pain scale. Your therapist will always work within your comfort levels and adjust pressure accordingly.
Truly therapeutic massage needs to be firm enough to stretch the deepest layers of a muscle whilst at the same time intuitive and sensitive enough to tune in to the body’s ability to relax and unwind.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
- Reduces muscle tension and pain
- Improves circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Speeds recovery from injury and exercise
- Breaks down scar tissue and adhesions
- Improves joint range of motion
- Reduces stress hormones and promotes relaxation
- Helps prevent future injuries