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Clinical Massage
I specialise in Myo-fascial Release Therapy and also use a wide range of massage skills that I have developed over many years of training and practice including for example:
Hydrotherapy
Using moist heat helps to make the release of chronic restrictions easier and more tolerable as well as re-hydrating the tissue and encouraging fresh blood flow to the area.Trigger point therapy
Trigger points have a predictable pain pattern, often in locations elsewhere in your body. They are released by applying sustained static pressure with a listening touch within your tolerance.Click here to see my training portfolio
Myo-fascial Release Therapy
MFR (myo = muscle; fascia = fascia) uses a range of techniques to release fascia which has become stuck, hardened and dehydrated. Fascia is the flexible, connective tissue which contains and holds all of the elements of the body in place, and as such it reacts and adapts to the particular patterns that we create in our daily lives or in response to physical or emotional trauma.Myo-fascial pain is described as burning, dull, deep, sharp, heavy, diffuse, or ‘like toothache’, and the exact location is often difficult to pinpoint. The pain can become generalised, and is often referred pain from a restriction elsewhere in the body.
Restricted fascia can limit movement and may also be the underlying cause of undiagnosed pain, exhaustion and immune system dysfunctions. MFR is effective in assisting recovery from all types of physical injuries and conditions, especially conditions such as polymyalgia rheumatica, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome where the symptoms can affect any and every system of the human body.Scar tissue can be effectively treated with MFR. Scars can often be the underlying cause of chronic pain and problematic postural and/or movement patterns. Regardless of age, releasing not just the superficial layer of the scar but the deeper adhesions can help to alleviate these issues.
Myofascial Release techniques include cross-hand stretches, focused stretches, rolfing, skin rolling, shaking or rocking and gentle pulling. Restrictions and trigger points are released and tender points treated. The client may (or may not) feel the release as a burning, sharp or other sensation, not necessarily in the location of the therapist's touch. It is vital that a "listening touch" is used in MFR therapy. This means working with intent and within your tolerance; working deeply but slowly and carefully so as not to cause unnecessary pain or discomfort. Any pain that is felt during treatment should be perceived as ‘good, healing pain’ or 'grateful pain'.
Unwinding and emotional release can also occur during a treatment where the body spontaneously moves as the fascia releases. The therapist goes with the movement, assisting and supporting where necessary. If the restriction was originally due to a physical trauma, it is as if the body needs to replicate the position in space in order to release. Sometimes emotion or memories can surface as well.
More about fascia
Fascia is a fibro-elastic connective tissue that forms a 3D continuous network which supports, protects, separates and interweaves all other structures of the human body right down to the cellular level. Muscle, bone and their fascial binding (myofascia) are functionally linked, providing contour and movement to the body. In its normal state, fascia is elastic and very strong. However, when physical or emotional trauma occurs (as it can throughout our lives), fascia will harden, thicken, tighten and become dehydrated. Then its inherent strength, together with a lack of elasticity, acts to immobilise whatever it surrounds, preventing normal function. It is often restriction in the fascia that causes pain, both in itself and the structures it surrounds. And because fascia is entirely continuous throughout the body, a restriction in one part will affect every other part.
Fascia is made up of three substances: Elastin, which as it sounds is the elastic element; collagen, which is the substance that gives strength; and ‘ground substance’ which is the fluid element. Myofascial Release as a therapy has been developed to treat the collagenous element of the fascia. Most massage and stretching techniques only treat the elastin, as they are not held for long enough for the collagen to be released.
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