Client's Questions Answered

Does massage have any scientific background?

Research on massage therapy is still in its infancy and even though a lot of the scientific research on massage therapy is preliminary or conflicting, much of the evidence points toward beneficial effects on pain and other symptoms associated with a number of different conditions. 

cAN SOMEONE SUFFERING WITH OSTEOPOROSIS RECeiVE MASSAGE THERAPY? 

Much of the advice around osteoporosis is inadequate. A qualified therapist will always work wih due care and attention when working with clients with known osteoporosis and they will adapt techniquues accordingly. This will vary from client to client and the degree of progression of the condition. Many clients with this condition live normal, energetic and exercise filled lives and subjecting them to a feather light massage or refusing to touch will only deny them a valuable service.

Can you treat serious conditions such as Cancer?

In short we can't treat the cancer with specialist massage, however we can use massage to manage the symptoms and improve the well-being of a person suffering with cancer. 

During the eighties and nineties therapists were taught that they should never massage someone with cancer. This advice is now totally outdated and there is a great deal of excellent work being done with massage and cancer. With permission from the consultant massage can be used to treat symptoms of the cancer or sideeffects of the medical treatment.

SHOULD I AVOID A MASSAGE WITH A HERNIATED DISC?

Traditionally massage therapists have been advised to stay well away from clients with any form of lumbar disc in the acute stage. To date there is no research that supports this, infact a good massage therapist with the appropriate training and experience can definitely provide much needed pain relief in the early stages of herniated disc. 

1ST TRIMESTER PREGNANCY MASSAGE IS NOT ALLOWED. RIGHT?

Expert massage therapists specialising in pregnancy and postnatal therapies, have to work hard to dispell the myth that massage should be avoided in the 1st trimester. This myth came about because of the fear the massage could be blamed for a miscarriage, which statistically is more likely to occur in the first 3 months. The fact is this, the risk of a miscarriage is not going to be increased or happen because of a massage. There is currently no solid evidence to suggest this to be the case.

CAN I COMBINE MASSAGE WITH OTHER THERAPIES?

Massage works well with physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy. It can also be used in conjunction with acupuncture. However, you should inform the massage therapist and any other healthcare professional of the treatment you are undergoing to ensure the treatments complement each other.

HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL IN NEED?

Believe it or not this is actually a difficult question to answer because a therapist can only give a rough estimate based on previous experience. The reason for this is that no two clients are the same and even when they present with a similar injury or symptoms. For example, one client presenting with IT band syndrome could shown improvement within 2 sessions, whereas the next client could take 6 session. For this reason we can not always give you a definite answer, however we can promise you that in every case we will endevour to help the client overcome their specific problem as quickly as possible. 

WILL MASSAGE HELP WITH SCAR TISSUE?

Although massage therapists are often advised to avoid scars for months or in some cases years after they have healed, the medical profession are recommending patients self massage scars to improve appearance and reduce the possibility of adhesions that cause even more problems. There is now research to show soft tissue therapy can have an amazing impact on appearance and functionality of scars. It is more likely the case that waiting too long before receiving appropriate treatment could result in even more problems.