Soft Tissue and Massage Therapy FAQ

The simple answer is that both our MSK Physiotherapists and soft tissue therapists have the skills to alleviate pain, increase range of motion, relax tense muscles, rehabilitate and work with the soft tissues of the human body which include muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, connective tissue and fascia to reduce pain and discomfort, and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of an individual. A physiotherapy degree includes a broader range of subjects however limited ‘handson’ skills which our physiotherapists have had to gain through the years with various courses, whereas the ISRM soft tissue therapists have the highest level of training and hands on skills in the UK which includes the most advance soft tissue techniques passed down from physios, osteos& massage therapists.

Massage to remedy. Massage relives tension in muscles, reduces stress and anxiety and it just feels great! Remedial massage can be very relaxing, soothing and calming. We will work with each individual client to give the required remedial massage based on your requirements.

There is lots of stigma around the use of the word sports massage and we question how ‘one’ can massage a sport! Wikipedia has no definition which is no surprise as it’s just a name that has little meaning. You cannot massage a sport but you can massage an individual who plays sports. A ‘sports massage’ is great for anyone looking for a good, deep tissue massage, someone who trains regularly, anyone who does repetitive activities in their day to day life, athletes who want to recover from and or prepare for a sporting event and the list goes on. If a sports massage is what you are after, our ISRM soft tissue therapists can help.

You may wish to stop your treatment at any time for a number of reasons however; we do recommend that you complete the treatment plan set for you as the treatment methods may require to be repeated to have a long term impact. If you do feel that treatment is not benefiting you and achieving the results you anticipate, please discuss this with your physiotherapist as they will be able to offer you and advise an alternative treatment to help achieve your goals and/or refer you to a more suitable professional.

We will always aim to make your treatment as comfortable as possible, however, under certain circumstances, more intense pressure and treatment techniques may be required. You will be forewarned and at any time can opt to cease treatment if it is too painful. If you have any queries regarding treatment techniques, please give us a call.

Wear some comfortable clothing such as a loose top, tracksuit or shorts and trainers that you feel able to move around in easily. Physiotherapists need to visually assess you in terms of movement and posture, as well as move different areas of your body, so these need to be accessible and visible.

Depending on what you are visiting us for will depend on the length of your initial appointment. For a soft tissue therapy appointment, this is very much the same as a physiotherapy appointment, the 1st treatment sessions are usually 30 minutes but some people prefer an hour depending on what you and your therapist decides at the initial booking stage. You will receive a thorough initial assessment and physical examination to establish the cause, nature and severity of your ailment, identify the source of your symptoms and uncover any underlying causes. It’s our priority to ensure you have a full understanding of your problem and discuss what treatment we consider to be best and in conjunction with your wishes and needs, create a personalised treatment plan with you. It is in our interest to focus particularly on helping you achieve your specific individual goals. Treatment would usually begin in the initial assessment.

For remedial massage and sports massage, this is dependent on each individual patient as these types of appointments are more for preventative or relaxation cause rather than ‘fixing’ a problem.

Follow-up consultations/ treatment sessions are usually 30 minutes unless you or your therapist deems it necessary for longer sessions; this all depends on the individual. During these sessions, your case will be constantly reviewed and various treatment methods may be conducted based on a session by session basis.

Wear what you feel comfortable in such as a loose top, tracksuit bottoms or shorts and shoes you feel comfortable in. We do however recommend if we are treating below the waist, shorts are advisable and if we need to treat above your waist, a loose top which allows access to areas such as your back, neck or shoulder. We do need to visually assess you in terms of movement and posture and access different areas of your body; items of clothing can be removed once in the treatment room and towels are available to cover up necessary areas so don’t panic! If you’re unsure, please just give us a call before your appointment.

Due to our ISRM registered soft tissue therapists trained in much more than sports massage and remedial massage, we do not have separate prices for a sports massage or remedial massage as you will be seeing the same ISRM therapist regardless of the ‘title’ of the appointment therefore we charge for our time. The average course of treatment is dependent on the reason you are seeking therapy and unique to each individual however your therapist can estimate your number of sessions required once they have a full understanding of your needs.

The simple answer is... You need to check with your insurer. With Soft tissue therapy appointments, sports massage& remedial massage, due to our therapists being governed by the ISRM (Institute of Sport and Remedial Massage) this automatically registers them with the CNHC (Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council) which means that more and more clients are taking advantage of their health insurance policies to claim back their costs.