Physical Effects​

• Addresses aches, pains, stiffness and body function.

• Increasing range of motion within the joints.

• Boosts circulation.

• Drains toxins within the body - Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through. This helps remove waste products such as lactic acid and encourage the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients, which aid recovery.

• Stretching effects. Massage can stretch tissues that could not be stretched by the usual methods. The bundles of muscle fibres (fasciculi) are stretched sideways as well as longitudinally. Massage can also stretch the sheath or fascia that surrounds the muscle, so releasing any tension or pressure build up within.

• Breaking down scar tissue. Scar tissue is the result of previous injuries or trauma and can affect muscle, tendons and ligaments. This can lead to inflexible tissues that are prone to injury and pain. Massage may not remove it but should make it more supple and flexible allowing normal function.

• Improving tissue elasticity. Training can make tissues hard and inelastic. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements. Massage helps reverse this by stretching the tissues and circulating blood and nutrients.

• Opening microcirculation. Massage does increase blood flow to tissues, but so does exercise - probably more! What massage also does do though is open or dilate the blood vessels and by stretching them. This enables nutrients to pass through more easily.

Physiological Effects

• Reducing of pain. Tension and waste products in muscles can often cause pain. Massage helps reduce this in many ways including releasing endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.

• Relaxing both muscles and the entire body. Muscles relax through heat generated, circulation and stretching. Mechanoreceptors in the muscle sense, touch, pressure, tissue length and warmth. When they are stimulated there is a reflex relaxation of the muscles.

Psychological Effects

• Enhances confidence  - Through treatment and working together a client understands their goals and can see improvements which gives them confidence in their ability of movement and balance.

• Calms the mind and body.

• Reduces feeling of loneliness - Its not just a treatment.  The care, talks and work I do with my clients brings trust, confidence and is great to have that 'time out' to discuss things that may be concerning you - It all affects your body.  Massage truly has many benefits :)

• Anxiety reduction - through the effects mentioned above relaxation is induced and so reduces anxiety levels.

• Invigorating - if massage is done with brisk movements such as what would be done before an event then this can produces an invigorating feeling.