stuarts Massage

Neck, Foot or Back pain

Your body does so much work in the course of a life time it’s understandable that sometimes it complains. Maybe you have suffered an injury in the past or muscular tension caused by heavy exercise or sport.
Whatever the cause might be, your body is holding tension and, therefore, muscular pain.
Massage and bodywork
Massage helps to relieve these tensions as the mechanical nature of massage assists the body’s natural repairing abilities, which in turn helps pain relief.
This is a large subject to cover in such a small space without writing an essay on the subject, and I have no doubt you would get bored with reading it. So if you have any questions relating to massage and would like more information about how it can help you just give me a call.

 

Migraines

A migraine is a specific type of headache, which begin when blood vessels in the brain first constrict then expand allowing a huge blood rush into the affected blood vessels causing an increase in pressure on the surrounding brain tissues causing pain.
Massage and bodywork
If the cause of the headache or migraine is due to an underlying medical problem or to a viral or bacterial infection, then massage might not be appropriate, if in doubt ask your doctor.  

If your headache or migraine is caused by stress or tension then I would soundly recommend massage but not of course during a headache/migraine. Stress is a big contributing factor when it comes to migraines, not necessarily the cause but certainly increasing the frequency of them. This stress often begins in your mind (I’m stressed out!)  But then moves to the body in the form of muscle tension, which is most often carried up through your shoulders, neck and around your head. Massage not only works to relieve the tension within your muscles but allows you to really relax (Now I feel relaxed! And ready to go).

 

Insomnia

As I’m sure you know Insomnia literally means lack of sleep. There are a number of sleep disorders which interfere with the natural resting pattern of the brain, insomnia being only one.
During sleep your brain produces chemicals that your body needs to function well, therefore, sleep is vital for your body’s natural health. A goodnights sleep is essential to cope with modern day stresses.
Massage and bodywork
Massage is beneficial as it can counteract the stress caused by lack of sleep. Relaxing massage can directly stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the nervous system that gets your body to relax. Falling asleep needs relaxation, and you can see how massage can directly affect this.

 

RSI, Strains and Sprains

Repetitive Strain Injuries, strains or sprains cover a lot of ground but here I am talking about any painful musculoskeletal problems caused by overuse. Some of these conditions might be: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Frozen shoulder, Bursitis, Tennis elbow, Tendinitis, ligament sprains or muscle strains.
Massage and bodywork
Massage and bodywork will not directly heal any RSI condition, strain or sprain, but it is an excellent method of assisting the body’s natural healing and repair systems.
After an injury your body will repair itself…
This might seem an obvious statement. However, although it does repair itself, the repair is totally dependent upon the level of injury sustained. And even then your body is often not as strong as it was before the injury.

Massage and bodywork is a great accompaniment to the healing process as it:

Assists with stretching tight muscles and tendons.

Mechanically pumps waste fluids away.

Assisting healing fluids into the damaged areas.

Eases tension in surrounding areas that have tightened because of injury.

This is only a small list, and only scratches the surface in relation to RSI, sprains and strains, and the relationship that massage and bodywork has to them.
If you have any questions please give me a ring and I would be pleased to answer any questions that you have.

Cramps

It is cramps caused by involuntary contractions of skeletal muscles that I am talking about here. It can often be quite painful. There are a number of possible causes:

Poor nutrition.

Muscle cells not receiving enough oxygen.

Exercise related.

Tightness.

This is not in any way a comprehensive or explanatory list. It is just to give you some possible explanations.
If you have any questions at all, give me a call or email me.
Massage and bodywork
Massage mechanically stimulates the muscles to release tension built up through exercise. It stimulates the muscles to work more efficiently in respect of receiving enough oxygen and with the help of stretching it can return your muscles to a more flexible state.

 

Pain related to Arthritis

Massage and bodywork
Gentle massage here is fantastic as it can help to loosen tight muscles and attachments in the surrounding area of an arthritic joint, helping to relieve surrounding pressure and, therefore, pain.
As long as the joint itself isn’t too painful, gentle joint movement can encourage the joint to produce synovial fluid, which is essential in a synovial joint. Synovial fluid is the body’s lubrication to keep bone ends apart in a synovial joint. 

 

Pain related to MS

Massage and bodywork with MS
You may not be aware of the benefits of massage therapy. During a non acute phase, massage can help relieve surrounding muscle tension, and therefore, help relieve pain. Its most important use however is in relationship to the relaxing benefits. Any condition that debilitates you physically or mentally is very difficult to fight. It can cause stress in many forms, which leads to tension in the body and can increase flare-ups , a vicious circle which itself causes stress, (I’m powerless. Arrr)
Relaxing massage has a direct link to the parasympathetic nervous system; this is the part of the nervous system that calms and relaxes the body.
So not only can massage help to relieve the stress and therefore also the tension, it also helps to return some of the feelings of control (I’m powerless, but fighting back!)

Pain related to Cancer

Massage and bodywork with Cancer
Here massages most important role is as a relaxing therapy. Cancer shares many of the same powerless feelings that you get with MS, so having massage therapy at least returns some feelings of control.
Though in relationship to the parasympathetic nervous system not only is the stress relief important, but it also encourages your immune system response, helping your body to fight back.