OSTEOPATHIC MASSAGE & STRETCHING ROUTINES

Back and thorax stretch & Massage. 

Guide ~ 40 mins

One of the most requested areas for massage within the health and beauty industry is the back. However many clients and (therapists !) fail to appreciate the full significance of the ribs attaching on to the spine, therefore most cases of back tension will have knock-on effects for the whole rib cage and vice versa. Therefore we have designed this routine with the main emphasis on all the muscles of the back but also with due attention the muscles of the trunk, between the ribs and even the diaphragm. As well as being a premium quality back massage when combined with a few specialised techniques to loosen muscles in the front of the neck this routine can be extremely useful to those suffering from asthma who tend to build a lot of tension in these areas.

Neck, Back and Shoulder’s Massage

Guide ~ 40 mins

An industry favourite. However we do not waste time with light superficial massage strokes that only release small amounts of tension, instead we get straight with our style of deep tissue massage for all the back muscles and the muscles between and on top of the shoulders.

Head, Neck and Shoulder Release 

Guide ~ 40 mins

This routine begins with the release of common trigger points around the top of the shoulders using acupressure style massage.  After this the client lies on their back whilst muscles of the top of the shoulders, neck and scalp are given a thorough tension relieving massage. Next the therapist uses gentle stretching (traction) on the neck to decompress the vertebral joints. The routine ends with the client lying on their front whilst the muscles of the upper back and between the shoulder blades are loosened with slow deep massage.

Computer user massage

Guide ~ 40 mins

This routine begins with the release of common trigger points around the top of the shoulders using acupressure style massage.  After this the client lies on their back whilst muscles of the top of the shoulders, neck and scalp are given a thorough tension relieving stretch and massage. Then the therapist uses specialised techniques to ease tension in the muscles of the forearm and stretch the carpal tunnel and other wrist joint articulations. This can greatly help relieve and prevent the tension and stiffness associated with knotted tight shoulders and repetitive strain injury (RSI) – common complaints in people spending a lot of time at computers. The routine ends with the client lying on their front whilst the muscles of the upper back and top of the shoulder blades are given a final loosening with deep, slow relaxing massage.

“Active Legs” Massage

Guide ~ 40 mins

This is the ideal leg massage for sports that involve a lot of leg work such as soccer, running, racket sports and cycling.  Almost each and every muscle in the legs is given individual attention. The client starts on their front so that the hamstrings, hip and calf muscle groups can be properly worked on. Then with client lying on their side the “adductor” muscle group receives full attention, followed by the quadriceps. At the end of the routine the client lies on their back for a strong “assisted hamstring stretch” having had all their leg muscle groups thoroughly stretched and massaged with “cross fibre strokes”.

Golf Conditioning massage

Guide ~ 40 mins

The main focus is given to shoulder, trunk and spinal muscles used in golf. Particular attention is also paid to loosening tension in  muscles of the forearm that can cause “Medial Epicondylitis” (Golfer’s Elbow). In addition gentle twisting type stretches are used to promote symmetry of movement and flexibility throughout all levels of the spine, ideal if you want to improve your golf swing !.

Tennis Conditioning massage

Guide ~ 40 mins

The emphasis with this routine is on the muscles of  the elbow / forearm, calf and shoulder girdle (including Latissimus Dorsi or “Lats”, Pectoralis major and minor or “Pecs” and the rotator cuff muscles), these are all common are for injury in racket sports. Attention is also given to the back and trunk muscles. This routine is highly suited to the serious racket sport player including badminton and squash either as part of an injury prevention programme or for post or pre-event preparation

Pre & post pregnancy- back & leg massage ~ Guide 40 mins 

This  routine is performed with the client sitting or lying on her side and can therefore be performed right up to term as it avoids the need for the client lying on her front. Special attention is focussed on the muscles of middle and lower back, which take a lot of strain during pregnancy and also on the hip/pelvic girdle muscles which ideally need to be flexible to help delivery of the baby.

“Stretch plus”

Guide ~ 40 mins

If improved flexibility is your goal, whether for sport or general posture then this is the routine for you. The therapist goes through a series of assisted stretches for all the major muscle groups. What make this routine especially effective is the use of advanced assisted stretching techniques namely “muscle energy” and the new and increasingly popular “lock and key” method. “Muscle energy” consists of a specific combination of muscle stretches and contractions. This helps reset nerve reflexes which are often responsible for inappropriately high “muscle tone” that can be the secondary effect of an injury or bad posture etc. With “lock and key” the therapist first feels for tight muscle fibres or adhesions (the lock) within the muscle he/she intends to stretch, then pressure is applied (the key) to anchor these fibres before the stretch is made. This is far superior to basic stretching where the stretch often is often accommodated by the healthy and elastic portion of the muscle without causing the tense area to be stretched which explains why muscular pain and tension can remain even with a good home stretching programme. The flair ingenuity and handling skills of the therapist are important factors for success with Lock and key stretching. With the level of training out therapists receive we pride ourselves on being able to deliver  good immediate results. Lock and key stretching is an excellent way of reducing muscle tension and scar tissue following a soft tissue injury, it is also becoming very popular as part of pre-event preparation in sport.

Trigger point(ACUPRESSURE) massage

Guide ~ 40 mins

This routine almost entirely consists of releasing pressure points or “trigger points” throughout the body using sustained pressure, similar to acupressure. Trigger points can form the knots in tight muscles.  In many cases these trigger points can be responsible for referred pain and tension such as tension headaches. The routines draws upon the wisdom of techniques such as Shiatsu but also using the latest scientific knowledge to bring it bring it right up to date in the 21st century. This is one of the most effective ways of producing lasting relief in chronic tension.

Lymphatic mobilisation

Guide ~ 40 mins

With the client lying on their back the routine begins with a lymphatic style massage for the legs. This style of massage is similar to Swedish massage and is used to improve circulation and lymphatic flow in the legs. This is further enhanced by the gentle rhythmical, passive movement of the hips, lower back and trunk that follow; these articulations are designed to increase flow from the “lower lymphatic duct” which is the point at which lymphatic fluid from the legs drain back into the blood stream. Next a similar series of lymphatic massage on the neck, shoulders and arms followed by articulations of the arms and upper rib cage is used to improve lymphatic drainage in the upper body.

“pic and mix”

40 mins, or 20 mins

This is your chance to tell us what style of massage you want (e.g. light, deep, lymphatic) and what areas of the body you want us to focus on. Treatment times are variable depending on whether you want, for example, a quick 20 minute shoulder massage or a full hour to work on “trouble spots”.