While most people might think of massage as a luxurious treat, it has a range of health benefits to promote both physical and mental wellbeing. If you’re looking for a massage in Twickenham, our specialist team can help.
Massage often goes hand in hand with physiotherapy, but it can also ease tension and fatigue, and help you to relax, particularly if you’re regularly putting your body through its paces.
The difference between physiotherapy and massage
Physiotherapy and massage are both hands-on therapeutic practises but there are differences between the two. Physiotherapy involves specialist assessment and treatment techniques to diagnose your injury/condition and then employs specific hands-on joint and soft tissue techniques to restore range of motion and soft tissue length, in order to help restore normal function and resolve pain. The prescription of specific exercises are also used to help recover muscle strength and flexibility to allow a return to normal activity.
Massage stimulates blood flow, which helps to repair cells and restore damaged muscles and joints. Massage eases minor aches and pains, including overworked muscles, while helping to improve your overall well-being.
The benefits of massage
As well as generally relieving aches and stiffness, the health benefits of massage may include reducing the symptoms of high blood pressure and boosting your body’s immunity. It can help to ease discomfort during pregnancy, and by promoting relaxation, regular massages can help to manage anxiety and depression, as well as headaches, backache and other chronic pain. Massage may also encourage the production of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin.
Different types of massage
Swedish massage
Swedish massage is a popular method that aims to help you feel revitalised and provides health benefits including boosting blood and lymph flow, which helps your body remove toxins. It also promotes relaxation, which can help if you suffer with restlessness and insomnia.
And if that isn’t enough, Swedish massages are thought to boost heart health by manipulating soft tissues (tendons, ligaments, muscles and blood vessels) while directing massage strokes toward the heart.
The techniques used include:
- kneading, which accesses the deeper tissue
- vibration, which involves using the palm or fingers to loosen the target area
- tapping to stimulate blood flow
- rolling — a gliding or circular motion to warm up and release tension at the beginning and end of the session.
Pregnancy massage
Pregnancy can bring a range of symptoms due to increased strain on the body, not to mention emotional challenges. That’s where we come in.
Pregnancy massage can help ease tension and promote blood flow, which may help deliver nutrients and oxygen to mother and baby. It can encourage the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, into the brain and nervous system.
Massage can also help with physical symptoms such as swollen feet, backache, sciatic pain and tired legs.
Sports massage
We also offer sports massage therapy to our clients, which is a form of deep tissue massage. This means the deeper layers of tissue are stimulated by applying pressure via a range of techniques.
If you have a sports injury, a massage can help speed up your recovery time by increasing blood flow to the area, allowing much-needed oxygen and nutrients to help repair cells. It can also help to break down scar tissue following surgery.
A sports massage can also help to improve flexibility, muscle performance and posture to ensure you’re always on your game.
If you’re looking for a massage in Twickenham, give us a call today on 0208 898 1213. Whether you’ve had surgery following a sports injury or you’re suffering from muscle tension, aches and pains or general fatigue, we will ensure your body receives the care it needs to restore your best self.