Soft Tissue Therapy is a relatively new term which many of you may not be familiar with.
Soft Tissue Therapy has evolved from traditional sports massage, to become a more inclusive therapy for anyone seeking support with minor soft tissue injury, chronic (persistent) pain, or reduced mobility.
It still includes many of the same massage and manual therapy techniques used in sports massage (without the outdated narrative of 'no pain, no gain'!), but as soft tissue therapists, what we do with our hands is only part of the treatment, there is so much more to it than that!
As a soft tissue therapist my main role is to support you through your recovery from minor injury, or your experience of chronic pain. Pain is incredibly complex and there is no universal treatment that will work for everybody, this is why I apply an entirely person-centred approach, taking the whole person into account, instead of just treating a body part.
With our amazing national health system falling under more and more pressure, individualised support for those living with chronic pain, minor injury and reduced mobility just isn't always available. Often people with these conditions are sent away with a prescription for painkillers and a list of generic rehab exercises, while these can certainly be beneficial, they rarely offer a long-term solution to the problem. People fall through the gaps and may be left struggling with recurring injuries or persistent pain for years to come, becoming fearful of movement and ultimately feeling unable to do the things that they need and love to do most. There is a desperate need for more personalised, ongoing care for people in these situations and that is where soft tissue therapists aim to fill the gap!
Which conditions can a Soft Tissue Therapist support you with?
Soft tissue therapy can be beneficial for many musculoskeletal conditions, these include, but are not limited to:
Lower back pain
Tension headaches
Stiff and painful shoulders
Osteoarthritis
TMJ (jaw) pain
Tennis elbow
Achilles Tendinopathy
Fibromyalgia
Muscle / tendon strains
Ligament sprains
Neck pain
Plantar Fasciitis
Whiplash
Sciatica
As soft tissue therapists we have a very good knowledge and understanding of the anatomy, movement and the many biological, psychological and sociological factors that can influence pain and create barriers to recovery from injury. A good soft tissue therapist will always be aware of checking for any red flags that may indicate a more serious condition, we are not healthcare professionals and therefore, we will always refer you on to the relevant professional if we feel that this is necessary.
What does a Soft Tissue Therapy Treatment involve?
1. Consultation & Assessment
Taking a person-centred approach means that the consultation is the most important part of the treatment. This is where we get to know each other, you can share your experience and I can find out more about how I can best support you through your recovery process.
In my experience, having someone take the time to listen and really hear your story, can have great benefits in itself.
I will also perform a physical assessment of your range of movement and pain presentation, with the intention of identifying areas which may be contributing to the problem.
From here we can work together to establish a plan based on your long-term goals, whether that's returning to work, getting back to sport, playing with the children, or tearing up the dance-floor!
2. Massage & Manual Therapy
A combination of massage and manual therapy techniques are used to temporarily alleviate pain and tension, increase range of movement, improve muscle recovery and create a window of opportunity for you to go about some of your daily activities and movement requirements with reduced pain and improved mobility, or to simply get a better night of sleep.
Massage and manual therapy can have incredible short-term effects, while these techniques are not a 'fix' for your condition, they can certainly be beneficial as part of the wider treatment program that Soft Tissue Therapy provides.
3. Movement & Lifestyle guidance
A large part of your recovery program will be focused on what you do in your daily life to support this process.
There are many factors such as stress, anxiety, nutrition, lack of support, movement habits, work requirements, etc., that can contribute to your chronic pain experience or create barriers to your rehabilitation from injury or surgery. I will work with you to identify these factors and support you in making adjustments that work for you.
Movement is undoubtedly one of the most important components of rehabilitation and pain management. But movement doesn't always have to mean gym sessions or boring rehab exercises if this is not something that resonates with you.
My aim is to guide you in finding ways to move that support your recovery and that you can easily fit in to your life. If you are an athlete, this may be centred around the sport that you love. If you are a busy working mum who barely has time for a cup of tea during the day, let alone an hours gym session, your movement may centre around play with the children or some relaxing yoga after they've gone to bed.
All movement is good movement and ultimately the most important thing is that you enjoy it!
Does it sound like Soft Tissue Therapy could be right for you?
If you're finding that pain, injury or restricted mobility are preventing you from living your life to the full, then booking an appointment with a soft tissue therapist could be your first step towards getting back to doing the things that you need and love to do most!
Book your first appointment online today via my website www.theremedyroomnorfolk.co.uk, or for more information, advice or guidance, please contact me at tracey@theremedyroomnorfolk.co.uk
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