Remedial massage is a type of massage therapy designed to address specific musculoskeletal issues and restore optimal function to the body. Within holistic wellness, Remedial massage is recognized as a valuable tool for pain management, injury rehabilitation, and promoting overall physical well-being. It stands apart from relaxation-focused massage by utilizing targeted assessment and specialized techniques aimed at correcting imbalances within the muscles, tendons, and fascia.

What is Remedial massage?

Remedial massage can be understood by several key factors:

• Specific Assessment: Focus on identifying the root cause of pain or movement restrictions.
• Targeted Treatment: Utilizes a variety of techniques tailored to the individual’s specific needs.
• Deep Tissue Techniques: Often employs deep tissue massage to reach and release chronic muscle tension.
• Trigger Point Therapy: Addresses specific “knots” within the muscle that contribute to pain and dysfunction.
• Stretching and Mobilizations: May be incorporated to improve flexibility and range of motion.

How can Remedial massage help you?

Remedial massage can offer support for:

• Pain Management: Reduces pain associated with muscle tension, injuries, and chronic pain conditions.
• Injury Recovery: Assists in the rehabilitation process, speeding up healing time and reducing scar tissue formation.
• Improving Range of Motion: Releases tight muscles and fascia, leading to increased flexibility and mobility.
• Reducing Stress-Related Tension: Deep tissue work helps alleviate tension headaches, neck pain, and back pain.
• Improving Posture: By correcting muscle imbalances, posture can be positively impacted over time.

What is Remedial massage good for?

Consider Remedial massage if you experience:

• Musculoskeletal Pain: Offers relief from pain in areas like the neck, back, shoulders, and hips.
• Sports Injuries and Recovery: Aids in muscle recovery, reduces injury risk, and helps athletes regain optimal form.
• Chronic Pain Conditions: Can be a helpful element for managing conditions like fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
• Occupational Related Tension: Benefits those with desk jobs or repetitive injuries from work activities.
• Postural Issues: Addresses tight muscles and imbalances that contribute to poor posture.

Benefits of Remedial massage

Remedial massage provides potential benefits including:

• Reduced Pain: Addresses the underlying source of pain, leading to lasting relief.
• Increased Flexibility: Releases tight muscles and improves range of motion, reducing risk of re-injury.
• Improved Circulation: Stimulating blood flow enhances tissue healing and decreases inflammation.
• Relaxation and Stress Relief: While its focus is therapeutic, the deep work can reduce overall body tension.
• Enhancement of Athletic Performance: Helps maintain muscle health, flexibility, and reduce sport injury risk.
• Greater Body Awareness: Facilitates awareness of postural habits and muscular imbalances.

What to expect from Remedial massage with a practitioner

A Remedial massage session typically involves:

• Thorough Intake: Discussing health history, current symptoms, goals for therapy, and any areas of concern.
• Physical Assessment: May include postural analysis, range of motion tests, and palpation to pinpoint problem areas.
• Combination of Techniques: May involve deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, stretching, and remedial exercise advice.
• Communicative Therapist: Therapist should discuss pressure levels, providing feedback, and adjusting accordingly.
• Post-Treatment Self-Care: May include icing, stretching recommendations, or activity modifications for optimal healing.

Similar Modalities to Remedial massage

Other massage and bodywork modalities share certain similarities with Remedial massage:

• Deep Tissue Massage: A core technique within remedial massage, but not always focused on specific corrective outcomes.
• Sports Massage: Also geared towards muscle recovery, with focus on sports performance optimization.
• Myofascial Release: Focuses on releasing restrictions in the fascia (connective tissue) to improve movement.
• Physiotherapy: Remedial massage may be a component of a broader physiotherapy treatment plan.

Final Thoughts

Remedial massage provides a structured and results-oriented approach to addressing pain, movement limitations, and injury. For those seeking relief from chronic pain, aiming to rehabilitate after an injury, or anyone wanting to proactively maintain musculoskeletal health, considering Remedial massage can be a transformative step in your wellness journey. Unlike spa-like massage with its focus on tranquility and relaxation, if what you need is a deep, targeted, and specific therapy for a muscular problem, Remedial massage offers a powerful tool on the path to greater physical well-being and optimized function.

Scientific References

• Bell, A. L., et al. (2016). Effect of massage therapy on pain, stiffness, and function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 17(1), 434.
• Goats, G. C. (1994). Massage–the scientific basis of an ancient art: Part 2. Physiological and therapeutic effects. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 28(3), 153-156.
• Preyde, M. (2000). Effectiveness of massage therapy for subacute low-back pain: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal de l’Association Medicale Canadienne, 162(12), 1815-1820.

Recommended Reading

• Lowe, W. (2020) Orthopedic Massage: Theory and Technique. Elsevier.
• Muscolino, J. (2021) The Muscle and Bone Palpation Manual with Trigger Points, Referral Patterns, and Stretching. Elsevier Health Sciences.
• Raye, C. C. (2000) Therapeutic Massage for Survivors of Childhood Abuse: An Integral Part of Healing. Rosen Pub Group.