Massage Therapy with Agata Pujsza,

Master of Physiotherapy at Sayer Clinic : Kensington

Massage therapy not only provides relaxation and relief for muscle strains and fatigue but also improves health with physical, emotional, and physiological benefits.

Why Have Massage?

Imagine long days sitting at a desk. Your neck and back is killing with you a sharp pain between your shoulders and your headache is throbbing.

Fatigue, muscle strain, repetitive motion or staying in one position for long periods can cause these symptoms which determine your quality of life and how you feel.

If stress, pain, tension, and fatigue could be purged with therapeutic massage would you get one?

There are many good reasons to have regular massage.

• Reduces lower back pain, muscle pain and other body aches.
• Helps soothe infants and promote digestion.
• Increases range of motion in joints.
• Decreases illness-related fatigue.
• Calms aggressive behaviour.
• Eases PMS symptoms.
• Decreases depression, anxiety and helps to promote a healthy mind.
• Helps your immunity by increasing white blood cell counts.
• Improves recovery after  surgery and is amazingly important before it!
• Alleviates age-related disorders, insomnia and sleeping difficulty as well as many emotional and physical problems.

What are the Benefits?

Gentle massage affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin, stimulating the release of endorphins. These are the body’s natural ‘feel good’ chemicals which help induce relaxation and a sense of well-being as well as relieving pain. Gentle techniques reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline. Massage also helps to reverse the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.

Stronger massage stimulates blood circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system to flush away waste products. It eases tense, knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility.

The most common massage techniques include:

Effleurage – a light, firm and gentle stroking;

Petrissage – firm kneading and rolling of the tissues;

Frottage – or friction – deep direct pressure to release muscle tension;

Tapotement – hacking, tapping and clapping over the muscles and fleshy parts of the body.