Massage
Massage has been used in Eastern and Western cultures to help relieve pain for thousands of years. By moving soft tissues around an injured area the blood circulation can be enhanced. This aids the resolution of inflammation and accelerates the healing process. The soft tissues and fascia become more flexible.
Massage can also help reduce muscle spasm (increased muscle tone). After an injury to protective muscle spasm can occur. Muscles have an optimal length to generate force. If the muscle length is reduced, due to muscle spasm. they are unable to generate as much force. Their function is compromised. Massage can reduce muscle spasm, restore muscle length and hence optimise muscle function.
Rebecca uses a variety of massage techniques. Rebecca uses deep connective tissue massage to help reduce tension in tight muscles and fascia.
Rebecca uses Swedish massage techniques to encourage the resolution of swelling by directing inflammatory fluid towards the lymphatic glands.
Rebecca uses trigger point massage for pain relief. A trigger point is a site of increased irritability in a tissue that demonstrates a hypersensitive reaction to mechanical stimulation (pressure or traction) and causes (‘triggers’) an additional physiological reaction. Symptoms can be localised to the trigger point or much further away from the trigger point i.e. referred pain. By massaging the trigger point the muscle tension is reduced and the local and referred pain subsides.