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

  • More factors that contribute to muscle cramps

    Previously I discussed how dehydration & lack of sodium or potassium may cause muscle cramps.  I now want to explore other nutritional factors. Calcium Calcium plays an essential role in muscle contractions.  Some active people report their problem with cramping disappears when they boost their calcium intake.  This anecdotal evidence is disputed by scientists who state that when dietary deficiencies of of calcium occur, calcium is released from the bones to provide what the body needs for proper muscle contraction.  If you are plagued by muscle cramps, it may be worth trying to increase your intake of dairy or other calcium rich foods to see if it helps. Magnesium Just as muscles need calcium to contract they need magnesium to relax. Roffe et al demonstrated that magnesium helps reduce leg cramps that occur in the middle of the night.

    Reference

    Roffe C1, Sills S, Crome P, Jones P (2002), Randomised, cross-over, placebo controlled trial of magnesium citrate in the treatment of chronic persistent leg cramps. Med Sci Monit. 2002 May;8(5): p326-30.

     

  • What type of massage is right for me?

    The short answer is...

    • Seated Acupressure Neck & Shoulder massage is a short focused massage to release tension in the Neck & Shoulders
    • Choose Sports massage over deep tissue massage when you go to the gym with a specific sporting goal in mind, i.e. you are going for more than just generally keeping fit. Or you are really focused on your sport including actively taking part in competitions or you are keen to improve your performance or your training is solely focused on your sport and you do not cross train.
    Description of your back Recommended Treatment
    My back feels like concrete? Deep Tissue Massage – the use of hot stones to relax the muscle can be less painful than other deep pressure techniques
    My neck and shoulder are tight and sore from sitting at my desk all day? Seated Acupressure Neck & Shoulder Massage
    You play sports, don’t cross train and have specific trouble spots? Sports Massage 
    You work out religiously at the gym, but don’t always stretch? Sports Massage as it incorporates stretching 
    You are training for a specific sporting event or just completed one? Sports Massage 
    You are inactive or active but just have a bad back? Sports Massage or Deep Tissue Massage
     

  • Why does slumping at your desk contribute to lower back pain?

    We all know that we should maintain good posture when sitting rather than slumping (poor posture) to avoid lower back pain, but why? The human spine is an upright bendy column and in someone with good posture it’s an S shape.  With perfect posture a straight line can be drawn through the ear, the tip of the shoulder, the front of the knee joint and the back of the ankle. The spine is made of 24 vertebrae or segments.  If we look at the S shape it consist of the cervical lordosis which is the arch in the neck, this is followed by the thoracic kyphosis which is an arch in the chest in the opposite direction, this is then followed by the lumbar arch or lumbar lordosis which is the hollow in the lower back. Perfect lumbar lordosis (or perfect arch in your lower back) helps

    • Ensure the correct distribution of your body weight
    • Allows your lower back to bow forwards slightly when walking to absorb the impact during walking
    The lumbar lordosis lessens when we are sitting as our pelvises tip backwards on to the sitting bones and increases when we stand.   This explains why some people with lower back pain feel worse when sitting and better when standing.  Furthermore sitting for long periods of time in a slumped “C” shaped posture, changes our weight distribution through our spine, compressing the lumbar vertebra which often leads to lower back pain. So what is good sitting posture? When seated, keep these tips in mind:
    • Choose a chair that allows you to rest both feet flat on the floor while keeping your knees level with your hips. If necessary, prop up your feet with a footstool or other support.
    • Sit back in your chair. If the chair doesn't support your lower back's curve, place a rolled towel or small pillow behind your lower back.
    • Stretch the top of your head toward the ceiling, and tuck your chin in slightly.
    • Keep your upper back and neck comfortably straight.
    • Keep your shoulders relaxed — not elevated, rounded or pulled backward.

    Remember

    Although good posture should be natural, you might feel wooden or stiff at first if you are used to slumping rather than sitting up straight.  The key is to practice good posture all the time, and be extra vigilant when you are really concentrating, getting tired or its late in the day. You can make improvements at any age. Stretching and core strengthening exercises can help, too. And if you have got lower back pain, why not try massage.