We offer several different types of massage therapies, including sports massage in Southend, at The Body Matters. Massage treatments are available from our clinic based in Leigh-on-Sea. We also offer telephone & online support and remote consultations. Call us on 01702 714968 for more information.
Types of Massage
At The Body Matters, we believe we work differently from other massage therapists, we treat the cause and not just the symptom. Providing self-help advice to reduce the risk of aches and pains reoccurring.
Massage Therapies Can Help with the Following:
Please contact us to discuss which massage treatment is best for you.
Sports Massage in Southend at The Body Matters
Sports Massage therapy is designed to reduce muscle tension and assist in correcting problems and imbalances in the soft tissue that can be caused by repetitive and strenuous physical activity and trauma. Specialised techniques are used to stimulate muscle recovery and repair, enhance movement and increase the range of motion.
Do I need to be a professional athlete or sportsperson to get a sports massage?
Put simply the answer is ‘No’. Everyone has the potential to benefit from a Sports Massage, especially someone who engages in physical activity or physical training, irrespective of age.
How many sports massage sessions will I need?
It depends, at The Body Matters, we will not sign you up for a specific number of regular sessions, everyone is different, we all heal at different rates and of course, it depends on the reason why you have booked a sports massage treatment in Southend.
Our aim is always to get you pain-free, or injury-free as soon as possible. Sometimes, all you need is one session; however, you may need more than one. If you engage in regular physical activity it might be advisable to have regular (possibly monthly) sports massage treatments for you to reap the long-term benefits. Regular self-care can also help immensely in your wellbeing, life and health.
What are the benefits of sports massage?
- Relieves muscular tension and tightness (weak, tight or atrophied muscles)
- Promotes healing after an injury
- Reduces swelling
- Alleviates fatigue
- Improves flexibility and mobility
- Aids in the prevention of painful injury
- Encourages confidence - a great way to prepare for competitions!
Why choose sports massage?
Sports Massage is a form of massage that involves the manipulation of soft tissue (skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia). Sports Massage is sometimes also known as a ‘’Deep Tissue’’ massage, "Manual Therapy" or "Body Work".
Sports Massage was originally developed with Athletes in mind, to keep them at their peak performance. During and after exercise, the body’s systems adapt to cope with the increased stresses placed on them due to overworked muscles. Manipulation of soft tissue pre and post-exercise can promote physical, physiological, neurological and psychological changes that will aid performance and recovery.
Regular massage will prevent musculoskeletal imbalances which can contribute to poor performance, changes in strength/power and reflex actions, muscle strain, muscle wasting or discomfort and pain, leaving less chance for injury.
Sports massage and stress
The benefits of bodywork, with the use of Sports Massage, are immense. We live in a fast-paced world; massage can be a powerful ally to incorporate into a healthcare regime.
Muscle tension or pain can be linked to what is going on around us that may be causing us to feel stressed. The aim of the treatment is to target those areas that you are holding onto, to help reduce the stress you are experiencing. Appropriate techniques and advice may be given, in the form of stretches to help with your well-being.
Massage can help manage stress:
- Decrease anxiety
- Improve sleep
- Greater energy
- Improved concentration
- Increased circulation
- Reduce fatigue
What is the difference between using a foam roller and sports massage?
Foam Rolling is sometimes known as myofascial release (MFR), or self MFR, or self-massage or Self-administered myofascial release (SMR.) More details on MFR are below. The purpose of foam rolling is to eliminate scar tissue and soft tissue adhesion by rolling (literally) on a roller, the pressure is created from your body weight. Clearly, there is a place for using a foam roller but it would not replace the skill and expertise of a qualified professional Sports Massage therapist.
Remedial & Deep Tissue Massage
We use Deep Tissue Massage techniques when clients are experiencing chronic muscle tension or have an injury, sports-related or not. Deep Tissue Massage works to break down adhesions to relieve pain, to help improve mobility and movement. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain and inflammation and can be found in muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Deep tissue massage is ideal if you are experiencing:
- Lower back pain
- Chronic pain
- Limited mobility
- Postural problems
- Repetitive strain injury (such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
- Sciatica
- Fibromyalgia
- Piriformis syndrome
- Muscle tension
Deeper massage techniques and trigger point release provide a more intense massage treatment than that offered with a relaxation massage. Remedial massage is often applied to help alleviate pain and discomfort in joints, including hands and wrists, elbow, neck, shoulders and back. It can also be used to help with symptoms of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
Do you do any of the following?
- Spend long hours each day sitting behind a wheel of a car or at a desk
- Carry a bag over one shoulder
- Spend long hours on the telephone with the handset perched on your shoulder;
- Slouch in your chair watching TV
- Wear high heels
If so, you would benefit from a remedial massage to alleviate the potential muscle imbalance.
Medical & Orthopaedic Massage
Medical and Orthopaedic Massage is performed by a therapist who has been specifically trained to treat medical conditions. They may also be known as clinical massage or treatment massage.
Both medical massage and orthopaedic massage are a type of treatment made up of a variety of soft tissue manipulative techniques. Despite the difference in techniques, there are several underlying principles that are essential to any treatment.
Assessment and evaluation of the complaint are important in order to determine if massage is appropriate, and what kind of massage, if any, should be done. When working with soft tissue pain and injury the practitioner should have prior knowledge of, or be able to diagnose, the nature of the condition and understand the physiology.
The aim of this treatment is to release soft tissue tension to keep the client fit and healthy. When working in this manner it is important that the therapist has prior knowledge, or be able to diagnose the nature of the condition and understand the physiology so that the appropriate treatment is applied.
Orthopaedic massage uses anatomical science and various body manipulation techniques. It can be used as a complementary treatment with surgical care and physical therapy to aid recovery from injuries and surgery.
Therapists who are trained in these techniques provide a ‘more physical than emotional’ massage style. The approach is more evidence-based: pain in one area of the body can be caused by a misalignment or adhesion in a seemingly unrelated area. Orthopaedic or Medical massage practitioners find the origins of pain and misalignment in the physical connections between muscles, soft tissues, tendons, bones, and fascia.
Treatment may consist of:
- Massage
- Myofascial Release (MFR)
- Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
- Nerve Mobilisation techniques (neural mobilisation or neurodynamics)
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Positional Release.
This type of massage can help with:
- Back pain and spasms
- Frozen shoulder
- Knee pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendonitis
- Golfers and Tennis Elbow
- Whiplash
- Carpel Tunnel
Trigger Point Therapy
Are you experiencing chronic pain? Have you tried all sorts of treatments to get help? And the pain keeps coming back? Does nothing seem to get to the bottom of your problem? You may be experiencing the results of a Trigger Point.
Trigger Points are not acupressure points (Acupressure is used in Ancient Chinese medicine) and neither are they a muscle spasm.
Trigger Points can be felt with fingers: although they emit distinctive electrical signals that can be measured by sensitive electronic equipment. They can even be photographed in muscle tissue with the aid of an electron microscope.
A Trigger Point is a hyper-irritable spot located in a taut band of skeletal muscle or Fascia. A hyperirritable trigger point will sometimes produce local but will almost always send pain to another part of the body from where they are located. This is why treating the site of the pain is not ideal because you are not getting to the root cause of the issue. Each point is known to refer to its own known (predictable) pattern.
Sometimes a Trigger Point is called to refer to as a ‘knot’ in a muscle, which can be muscle fibres contracting, never relaxing. You may not even be aware that you have one until it is touched. There is a specific way of treating a Trigger Point which will release the contracted muscle tissue.
Sometimes significant relief can be achieved in minutes, most problems; even chronic conditions can be cleared up in as little as 6 weeks.
Trigger point treatment:
- Breaks the chemical and neurological feedback loop that maintains muscle contraction
- Increase circulation to the area at the location of the contracted tissue
- Stretches the Trigger Points knotted muscle fibres.
Trigger Points are known to cause headaches, neck and jaw pain, low back pain, sciatica and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome: they can cause problems diverse as earaches, dizziness, nausea, heartburn and tennis elbow. They may be the cause of sinus pain and congestion and may play a part in chronic fatigue.
Soft Tissue Therapy (STT) / Myofascial Release (MFR)
Soft tissue therapy (STT) is the assessment, treatment, and management of soft tissue injury and pain.
Myo’ means muscle and ‘fascia’ means band. Fascia is connective tissue; a living matrix throughout the whole body that supports and protects every tissue, muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, and organ of the body. It has been described as the largest system in the human body because it touches all other structures.
Under healthy conditions the fascial system is relaxed and provides cushioning and support, to allow us to move without restriction and pain. Research has proven that fascia, like a muscle, has the ability to contract and relax and plays a major role in the mobility and stability of joints.
However following all physical and emotional trauma the fascia can scar and harden which can result in decreased mobility, discomfort, and pain. The injury ‘binds’ the fascia creating a pull throughout the body. Fascia can shorten, solidify and thicken in response to trauma, albeit anything physical or emotional; this, in turn, will affect the body, causing inflammation and possible poor posture with the body losing its physiological adaptive capacity. Overtime fascial restrictions can insidiously spread like a pull in a sweater, causing flexibility and spontaneity of movement to be lost or at least restricted. The fascia will hold onto these restrictions until they are released.
The treatment uses gentle pressure to allow the fascia to release thus allowing the fascial matrix to reorganise, and heal itself, enabling it to restore balance within the body. The treatment is not forceful; time is allowed for the body to release, which means the releases are not painful. MFR may be used in conjunction with massage.
The treatment promotes the philosophy that the mind and body work together to maintain health, effectively supporting the understanding that the mind and body are one and the same.
It is an ideal treatment for clients experiencing chronic pain or who are injured: it is also excellent if you have postural issues.
MFR works on the entire body, not just muscles, it works on the restrictions that can cause pain anywhere in the body. Fascial restrictions can cause digestive problems, fertility problems, circulatory problems, neurological and cellular problems etc. The list is endless.
The benefits: increased body function, decreased pain, increased blood flow and nutrition to the body, and overall health down to cellular level treatment.
It is a full-body, hands-on technique. MFR does not require oils or lotions; it is performed dry so that the therapist can feel deeper into the tissue.
Therapeutic Massage
This versatile therapy invigorates the mind and body, causing it to 'wake up', and become refreshed. It can also be very relaxing and is a perfect way to loosen off tense muscles and unwind. Therapeutic massage is widely acknowledged as helping to reduce stress and tension and promote feelings of well-being. It can help increase circulation, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and promote better sleep, thus reducing the likelihood of insomnia.
Individuals who suffer from stress would almost immediately feel the benefit from this type of massage. We all suffer from various levels of stress at some time in our lives, invariably we have no idea how much stress can affect our bodies. Emotional stress often translates to tight muscles and postural problems. Persistent stress can also lead to weakness and problems in other body systems, often resulting in some form of illness.
Anyone who endured even a short period of bed rest due to illness may be left feeling fatigued, muscles may have weakened or become stiff. A therapeutic massage will aid recovery by improving the blood flow around the body, thus allowing an increased flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.
Indian Head Massage
This treatment is offered by Maria Louise. It can be performed with or without oils, making it an excellent stress buster.
Indian head massage is a fantastic treatment for stress and tension, which will leave you feeling revitalised and re-energised. It promotes a calm mind and stress-free body, excellent for maintaining optimum health.
Aromatherapy Massage
This type of massage is a gentle relaxing massage using natural essential oils to help balance the mind, body and spirit.
All Aromatherapy massages at The Body Matters use oil that is blended specifically for each individual client. The oil is applied via massage so it is absorbed by the skin and inhaled through your breathing.
Aromatherapy can help with many conditions on an emotional and physical level, which will help improve your general well-being.
Pregnancy Massage (PreNatal)
The changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy can cause her to experience both physical and psychological stress. The added weight a woman carries puts a strain on the entire body, with areas such as the lower back, the area between the shoulder blades, neck, legs and feet getting a lot of extra strain and pressure. This can be exacerbated by worries about the baby’s health, as can difficulty in getting to sleep.
Prenatal massage at The Body Matters is similar to a normal therapeutic massage in many ways, the main difference is that the massage techniques used in pregnancy massage are adapted to maintain the wellbeing of both the mother and the child. The techniques that the therapist may use will vary from firmer massages to relieve the discomfort to softer massages to help relax the expectant mother.
During pregnancy, a prenatal massage can be a real treat. It’s relaxing and helps to take the mind off the worries of the day. A pregnancy pillow allows the mum-to-be to safely lie face down.
Somatic Healing Massage
This treatment is only offered by Louise Reader and Maria Louise.
The focus of a Somatic Healing Massage (Treatment) is to encourage the body’s innate ability to heal itself, easing pain, stress and tension. Please note, that the treatment does not always involve touch, we may use a variety of modalities to support emotional and mental well-being.
It is particularly effective for those dealing with chronic stress and trauma, helping individuals release the fight-or-flight responses that can trap them in cycles of anxiety and pain. This approach fosters a profound sense of balance and well-being, offering lasting relief from emotional and physical distress, and creating a deeper sense of connection with the body.
Which Massage is Best for You?
Before you decide which type of massage might be best for you, you may need to ask yourself some questions. For instance:
- Do you want a relaxing massage for stress relief?
- Are you looking to prevent and/or treat an injury, or enhance athletic performance?
- Do you need relief from pain caused by a health condition?
Before booking a massage at The Body Matters, please let us know what it is that you feel you're looking for. Our massage therapists in Southend use many different massage styles and some of our massage therapists practice more than one style. The therapist may customize your massage, depending on your age or any special needs or personal goals you may have.
Remote Consultations Available
We continue to use remote consultations to provide our services without physical interaction, if required, by shifting some appointments to video consultations.
Read our Remote Consultations page for more information.
Call 01702 714968 for more information about massage therapy in Southend.
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