Remedial Massage Therapists have advanced clinical training in anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. We have a better understanding of the way that age, injury, posture and repetitive strain distort and inhibit the body’s inherent capacity for self-healing. We can help you with postural awareness and stretches that reduce the strain of habitual bad posture.
We have a broader range of techniques to work with muscles and connective tissue allowing us to tailor treatments to your particular circumstances. Remedial therapy sessions are bound by medical ethics and treatments use evidence, such as recording the client’s range of motion (ROM) at the beginning and end of a session, to measure the effectiveness of treatment.
Because the treatment is targeted, it cannot work on the whole body at once. A remedial treatment will concentrate on a problem (ie headaches) focusing on one area of the body or muscle system (such as neck and shoulders).
Techniques used by Remedial Therapists include: muscle activations, trigger point therapy and myofascial release.
- Muscle Activations help unlock the body’s Agonist – Antagonist – Synergist muscle system Muscle activations require the client to stay alert and follow instructions from the therapist to provoke the desired result. Example: in order for you to fully flex your biceps muscle in your arm, your triceps muscle must relax and allow itself to be stretched.
- Trigger Point Therapy engages tight muscle bands (‘knots’) that form at various well documented and predictable points of wear and tear throughout the body. These tight bands occur where muscles overlap and close to the ‘muscle tendon insertion point’. The muscle at the trigger point is stuck in a constant contraction. To release the muscle band and restore the chemical ratchet mechanism that controls its function requires compression. Persistent pressure applied to trigger points provokes local twitch responses which help the muscle reset. As the trigger point twitches and pulses it reduces in size and intensity gradually softening and disappearing. Example: pain felt at the inferior angle of the scapula (between the shoulder blades)
- Trigger point therapy requires consistent, persistent pressure at the sight of the tight band. How hard this pressure is applied depends on the client and the therapist. Some therapists will use full force to provoke a 7/10 pain reaction and then ask the client to deep breath till the pain reduces to a 3/10. This is counter-productive for older people and those with chronic pain.
- Active Release involves shortening the relevant muscle before applying pressure to a trigger point to reduce pain. Light to medium pressure that is consistent and persistent at the boundary of a trigger point can work as effectively but takes longer to resolve.
- Equal Resistance engages the same soft tissues and joints on both sides of the body to communicate imbalance to the nervous system, allowing twitches to occur without direct compression of tender trigger points.
- Myofascial Release is another technique used to mobilise soft tissues. It does not feel like massage. It is a technique for separating the dermis (skin), fascia (connective tissue), muscle, tendon and ligament that organise around our bones. Consistent persistent dragging pressure is applied to separate layers from each other. Stuck connective tissue (fascial adhesions) can limit your range of motion and quality of life. Example: Think about a truck driver sitting for hours on end. The skin on the back of their legs is often stuck to the hamstring muscles underneath.
- Cupping is a form of Myofascial Release using suction (negative pressure). Cupping lifts layers of tissue, helping them separate so that muscles and connective tissue underneath can move more freely. Cupping draws fluid into cells flushing acid and toxins which are drawn to the surface where the body’s immune system can identify and remove them.
- ‘Parked’ cups stay in one spot, typically for no longer than 90 seconds.
- Moving a joint through it’s range of motion with a parked cup over a trigger point can be very effective at breaking up adhesions.
- ‘Moving cups lift and separate the skin and connective tissue along pathways called ‘anatomy trains’. This technique can feel very uncomfortable so good communcation between therapist and client is needed to stay within a comfortable range of sensation.
Will it hurt? Only if you want it to. Consistent, persistent pressure is more effective at creating lasting change than strong pressure. Older clients who are sensitive to pain can benefit greatly from remedial therapy delivered by a good therapist.