Now offering sports massage at Naturality Wellness Centre, Berkhamsted.

What is sports massage?

Sports massage is a manual therapy that uses a range of soft tissue techniques to both the superficial and deep muscles of the body to prevent and improve imbalances and dysfunctions that can occur in the body.

Sports massage is appropriate for everyone not only athletes. Often our posture or day to day activities can cause us to misuse our muscles and leave us feeling tense, stiff and sore.

The effects of sports massge include:

  • relieve muscle tension and stiffness
  • increase range of movement
  • increase blood supply to the area
  • improve lymphatic drainage of metabolites from the area
  • reduce pain and inflammation

What to expect from treatment

At your initial consultation, we will run through a case history which helps me to understand your presenting problems and build up a picture of what may be causing your discomfort.

You will then be asked to dress down to your underwear in order for the practioner to undertake a postural analysis of your body and get a full understanding of how the muscles are working. The practioner will assure you patient modesty is maintained at all times.

After the postural analysis the treatment will begin. The treatment will involve the use of grape seed oil but you will be asked if this is acceptable to you. Some aspects of the treatment may be quite tender and sore however, it will never be unbareable and this is sometimes needed to make an effect on the muscles.

After the treatment, the practioner may passively stretch the muscles worked on and give you some home care advice and exercises to do. Immediately after treatment and for a few days after, some patients may feel quite tender and sore but this is completely normal. The practioner will advise you on what to do if this does occur.

Conditions we treat:

  • Muscle pain and stiffnes
  • Tired and achey muscles
  • Muscle strain and tenderness
  • Muscle tension

To book a treatment please contact us here.

I am also available for pre and post event massages. This is particulary effective if you are going to run a marathon or compete in any event that requires you to physically exert yourself. Please email for availability and prices.

Contraindications to treatment:

  • Acute infections
  • Anerysum
  • Contagious skin conditions
  • Cancer
  • Cardio vascular conditions (hypertension, heart conditions)
  • Dysfunction of the nervous system (Muscular sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease)
  • Heavy bruising
  • Haemophilia
  • Osteoporosis
  • Recent operations
  • Trapped nerve
  • Varicose veins

Please be aware that some conditons may not be able to be treated at all and some may need a GP's written permission to treat.

If you are in doubt, please email macsportsmassage@gmail.com before booking a treatment to discuss your situation and suitability for treatment further.

Logo by Keith Ward (northchurchlivery@live.co.uk)