• helping to maintain muscle tone
• removing waste products from muscles after exercise
• removing waste toxins from tissues through lymphatic drainage
• improving blood circulation
• helping to deal with muscle spasm, strains and sprains
• helping to relieve tension and stress
• soothing the nervous system to aid relaxation

What a Treatment Aims to Accomplish:
 
Massage is a systematic manual application of pressure and movement to the soft tissue of the body. It encourages healing by promoting the flow of blood and lymph, relieving tension, stimulating nerves, and stretching and loosening muscles and connective tissue to keep them elastic. Before physical exercise, massage helps get blood moving and assists in stretching the muscle fibres to aid in the warm-up. Massage after a workout has been shown to reduce the waste products that build up in muscles after exercise that can cause muscle discomfort. There is also scientific evidence to support claims that massage enhances the immune system and aids recovery from soft tissue injuries by increasing blood circulation to injured areas, removes scar tissue and releases tension/protective spasm within the muscle fibres.
 
The healing powers of massage have been recognised for many thousands of years.  In 2700 BC the earliest written mention of massage was made within the Chinese book “Ancient writings of Kong Fu”. In around 230 BC the Greek physician Hippocrates wrote that his colleagues should be experienced "in rubbing ... for rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose, and loosen a joint that is too rigid". The ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans have used various forms of massage throughout the ages.

The use of Sports Massage
 
Have you ever asked yourself why serious athletes and sportsmen and women employ the help of Sports Masseurs as part of their training regime? Well, it’s all about keeping your muscles in prime condition. Regular Sports Massage can work extremely well to give the patient the edge over their rivals. In sports that require physical fitness and stamina the use of a Sports Masseur helps:

Increased circulation: Removes muscle waste – muscles usage always produces a bi-product Restores nutrition Increased Quality & Quantity of Training Early Identification of Potential Injuries:  Most injuries are from over use Preventative treatment Advice on training – why an injury was caused, therefore, advice in this area and stretching can be given, working with the trainer can help on problem or vulnerable areas Injury Prevention Improved Self-Awareness ‘Fine-Tuning’ of Training Improved Flexibility Muscles can be stretched by massage techniques that normal self stretching can not reach Better Technique Promotes Relaxation Physical and Psychological Benefits

This all equates to ENHANCED PERFORMANCE

Be you a Sunday golfer/footballer or elite athlete, sports massage can help.  However, is should be noted that Sports Massage can also help with muscle tension and injuries caused by general day to day activities, stress and the working environment as well as those caused directly by sport. You do not have to be involved in sport to gain the benefits of massage.
 
What a Treatment Involves:
 
Firstly, a discussion about your general health and well being will be undertaken to ascertain the initial reason for treatment. The type of massage for your particular complaints will be outlined and explained, each treatment will vary to suit your own particular needs. If you have any questions about the treatment or possible advice for the future, just ask, massage always works better when the recipient and the Masseur work together. If you are happy with the proposed treatment the massage then begins. A treatment usually takes an hour, however, this can be reduced or extended if the need arises. Remember, if you have any questions, no matter when, Just Ask.