Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

Deep Tissue massage will be of great benefit to anyone with habitually poor posture or someone who has to spend hours in front of a computer or behind the wheel. If you have a chronic problem, anything between 2 – 6 treatments would give cumulative benefit.

Regular mantainance deep tissue massages will ensure your muscles stay supple and are working at their best. I use myofascial release techniques in my treatments

Myofascial Release

All muscles, bones & joints; all organs, every blood vessel and every nerve is contained within form of connective tissue, generically called fascia. Fascia is a continuous and seamless membrane which acts like a 3-D body stocking weaving through all the layers of the body. A restriction in one part of the body can directly ‘pull’ and effect somewhere else - Imagine pulling the corner of a table cloth and watching everything on the table get drawn closer together towards your corner.

A component of fascia is collagen and elastin fibres suspended in an ‘extracelluar matrix’ (a gel-like substance that, amongst other things, acts as a lubricate). The collagen and elastin provide strength and elasticity to fascia. Fascia gives shape and form to all muscles & organs in the body and has a tensile strength of up to 2000 lbs!

In optimum health, fascia is a loose and moist tissue. Under stress or continual lack of movement e.g. after surgery, fascia becomes rigid and loses its fluidity. Layers of fascia begin to glue to one another squashing nerves and blood vessels, and can cause chronic pain, further restrictions.

Because of the 3-D nature of fascia, a restriction in one part of the body can directly ‘pull’ and effect somewhere else - Imagine pulling the corner of a table cloth and watching everything on the table get drawn closer together towards you. In the body this could mean compression in joints, pain, loss of movement and even postural deformity.

The primary aim of Myofascial Release is to find fascial restriction in the musculoskeletal system and unglue and re-hydrate the fascia layers. Focused, slow stretching movements are performed on the skin. The therapist uses fingers, and knuckles to slowly sink into layers of fascia until a restriction is reached.

One of two techniques can then be used: the pressure is held for several minutes, allowing the fascia to ‘unwind’ itself. Or the fascia is mobilised by directly stretching against the lines of resistance. The pressure used can vary from very light to relatively hard.

A postural assessment may be conducted at the beginning of each session. Myofascial release, along with advice on everyday posture and movement habits can resolve long standing chronic pain and restore pain-free posture and movement.

Professional Massage & Sports Therapy. Mark Skoyles: 07946 405 664