The chances are that we’ve all had some experience of a massage, whether delivered in a spa environment, by a friend or loved one, or in light of a specific injury or ailment.
What many physiotherapy clients don’t necessarily realise, however, is the extraordinary breadth of massage in terms of its effects. Different types of massage unlock different benefits, with clients experiencing both instant and long-term benefits depending on their needs and tailored treatment plans.
With that in mind, here is a quick guide to the different types of massage in Essex and how we use massage to tackle all manner of different client needs.
Understanding the Different Types of Massage
There are several different types of massage available, each of which targets a different area and issue.
Deep tissue massage is designed to tackle aching muscles, alleviate tension and pain, and relieve stress. It’s an all-rounder with benefits for all clients.
Remedial massage is a little lighter than a deep tissue massage and aims to increase blood flow and support proper alignment of the bones, muscles and tendons. It’s ideal for pain relief, for soothing the muscles, and for tackling chronic aches.
Sports massage is designed to flush toxins, increase joint mobility and flexibility, and promote both injury recovery and the reduction of further injury. A more heavy-handed form of massage, this is very much a proactive treatment option for those who are injured, as well as a preventative measure.
How Physiotherapists Use Massage Therapy
As physiotherapists, massage makes up just one part of our service list, with most clients benefitting from combined treatment packages that layer massage with other forms of therapy.
In the case of sports injury, massage helps to optimise blood flow to the injury site, while stretching is integral for maximising flexibility and movement. By increasing the range of movement, massage in particular also plays a role in helping to minimise future injury and improve recovery time.
Relaxation, however, takes a different approach and embodies a whole different set of benefits. When you use massage as part of a relaxation journey, massage therapists work to remove knots and areas of tension, facilitating blood flow but for anxiety reducing, soothing effects.
Of course, many benefits of massage crossover into different approaches and end goals. You may choose massage as a form of relaxation and find in turn that it helps to reduce the risk of sports injury. A sports injury treatment plan may also boost your ability to relax and unwind.
As physiotherapists, we combine the different benefits of massage and create tailored treatment plans for each and every client.
Book Your Massage in Essex
Whether you’re injured or want to unlock better health and wellbeing through massage therapy, our doors are always open to new clients. Our team of experts will work to build a bespoke plan to suit you, layering massage with other exercises, stretches, and movements as required.
