Why do we sometimes recommend longer treatments?

In my last blog article, I explained the benefits including scientific evidence from a 15 minute Seated Acupressure Massage.   So if 15 minutes has all these benefits, why do we offer 30 minute treatments and why do we sometimes recommend them?

Quite simply, its based on experience.  I find that some clients start to notice their neck & shoulder loosing mobility and their level of muscular tension increasing but they are too busy to book in.  Frequently we find that people leave it 3 weeks before they book in or sometimes up to a month, by which time the knots have multiplied and grown!!!

The 15 minute treatment is designed to nip things in the bud, before the tension gets chronic.   However I appreciate that my clients have very busy lifestyles so this isn’t always possible so we offer longer treatments.

Finally, some people get home from work and instantly switch off while other people take a while.   This different rate of response is what we as therapists see when we treat people, so we recognise when your muscles are releasing really slowly.  Indeed over the years some of my clients have commented on how it took a long time for their right/left shoulder to relax.  In cases where your muscles are releasing very slowly we often suggest you book a longer treatment.

Related Posts

  • Scientific Evidence for massage reducing muscle pain

    I would say the number one reason for booking with Vitality Therapy is muscle pain in either

    • Shoulders
    • Neck
    • Lower Back
    • Knees
    • Elbows
    • Headaches
    I know that new clients often come to us because we were recommended by their colleagues; who came to us with muscle pain and found massage relieved it.  So my clinical experience is consistent with the view that massage has been traditionally used to relieve pain.  But what about the scientific evidence? Lower back pain is the most common reason for visiting your GP and hence one of the most studied areas of massage.  Several scientific studies have concluded that massage therapy is more effective than a placebo for sub acute and chronic lower back pain.  The evidence suggest that massage therapy achieved significant client satisfaction and reduction in pain levels, both in the short and long term. References
    1. Cherkin D, Sherman K, Deyo R, Shekelle P. A review of the evidence for the effectiveness, safety, and cost of acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal manipulation for back pain. Ann Intern Med 2003; 138(11): 898-906.
    2. Chou R, Huffman L. Nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society/American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline. Ann Intern Med 2007; 147(7): 492-504.
    3. Dryden T, Baskwill A, Preyde M. Massage therapy for the orthopaedic patient: a review. Orthop Nurs 2004; 23(5): 327-34.
    4. Furlan A, Brosseau L, Imamura M, Irvin E. Massage for low-back pain: a systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group. Spine 2002; 27(17): 1896-910.
    5. Imamura M, Furlan A, Dryden T, Irvin E. Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with massage. Spine J 2008; 8(1): 121-33.
    6. Tsao J. Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for Chronic, Non-malignant Pain: A Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007; 4(2): 165-79.
    7. van Tulder M, Furlan A, Gagnier J. Complementary and alternative therapies for lower back pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2005; 19(4): 639-54
     

  • Guess what science has discovered about back pain …

    According to the UK's Office for National Statistics the UK  economy loses almost 31 million work days per year which costs the UK economy £14 billion to bad backs, neck & other muscle problems.  A bad back is of the most common causes of absence and 80% of p will suffer with people will experience back pain at some point in their lives.  At Vitality Therapy we find back pain is something we treat on a regular basis. I know a lot of my clients and potential clients are interested in what the latest scientific research is on how effective massage is for treating back pain, becuase they don't want to waste their time and money if massage isn't going to help them. Until now scientific studies of the effectiveness of massage were conducted in controlled research situations.  However in a recent study, a physician sent patients to a massage therapist.  The massage therapist designed and provided a series of 10 massage -- at no cost to the patient -- in a clinical treatment environment.  This clinical treatment environment mimicks the experience of people who choose to seek massage in the real world. More than 50 percent of those who participated in the study experienced clinically meaningful improvements in their low back pain.  The reasearches concluded that the study gives primary care providers (i.e. GPs) the confidence to tell patients with chronic low back pain to try massage, if the patients can afford to do so. References http://www.nhsemployers.org/news/2015/04/bad-backs-cost-the-uk-31-million-days-of-work Elder WG, Munk N, et al, 2017, Real Wold Massage Therapy Produces Meaningful Effectiveness Signal for Primary Care Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Repeated Measures Cohort Study, Journal of Pain Medicine, 18(7):1394-1405  

  • Back Stretches

    These stretches can either be done as a complete series or individually.  The aim of stretching is to relax the muscles so it should never be painful. Each stretch should be held for 15 seconds and repeated twice.  Ideally you should stretch daily. Back

    • Clasp elbows in front of your body at shoulder height, making big circles in front of you - push out and look down.  This will stretch your upper back.
    • Lie on your back and raise your legs with your knees bent and hands palms down at right angles to your body.  Move your legs over to one side of your body keeping your knees together and bent.  Repeat for the other side of your body.
    • Lie on your back with your arms at right angles to your body.  Raise a leg with your knee bent and let it drop over to the other side of your body.  Now repeat on the other side.
    • Kneel on all fours, then sit back with your buttocks on your heels and your head on the floor and your hands outstretched in front of you (child pose for those who know yoga).  This will stretch your entire spine.
    • Kneel on all fours, look down whilst arching your back upwards (like a cat) hold for 15 seconds, then slowly drop your back down and stretch your head up and hold for 15 seconds.
    • Lie on your back with your right knee up keeping your foot on the ground.  Place your left ankle on your right knee, letting your left knee drop outwards.  Clasp your hands below your right knee and pull towards your body, this will stretch out your gluteals.   Now repeat on the other side.
    • Lie on your stomach with your arms by your side and gently raise your head slightly.  If these feels comfortable then you can also raise your feet of the ground and raise your arms above your head in from of you.  This is very strengthening and especially good for people with straight backs.