Beauty
Elegance
Beauty Therapist
Fully qualified, insured and DBS checked, with over 20 years experience.
Mobile: 07921540917 Â Â Â Â E-mail: beautyelegance2@aol.com
Sports Massage Therapy
A full thorough consultation will be provided prior to your sports massage treatment, followed by a posture analysis, range of movement test, palpations and functional tests. Special tests can also be performed if and where needed. This helps to do a thorough check to see what injury there is and if there is dysfunction in the joints, muscles, ligaments or tendons. Aiming for bio-mechanical efficiency.
Description of Sports Massage Therapy Techniques:
Soft Tissue Release (STR)
Description:
The therapist will actively stretch muscle fibres, fascia and tendons. Locating small specific areas and applying pressure whilst moving the area to stretch it.
Benefits:
This helps to remove adhesions / scar tissue, increase range of movement, Improved circulation, increased flexibility and improved performance.
Application:
Explain the process clearly with your client having informed consent prior to treatment. Receiving feedback from the client regularly. Muscle tissue should be prepared by effleurage & petrissage. The client should be relaxed and warm. Minimal oil should be used, massage lotion maybe preferred choice of lubricant. This method can be applied over clothes if necessary. Therapist places target muscle in a relaxed shortened position (concentric). for example place leg in extension, passively to make quad shorten. Therapist uses fingers (reinforced), thumbs, knuckles or heal of hand, applying pressure to the target area. Move limb into original position whilst maintaining pressure in specific area, this will cause a force between tissues. For example, from extension, moving the leg into flexion, whilst pressure upon the quadricep group.
Potential risks:
New pain, mild discomfort, swelling, bruising & nerve damage.
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Connective Tissue Massage
Description:
Connective tissue massage varies from other techniques as it treats the body as a whole, rather than focusing on one specific area. Under our skin and covering the whole body there is superficial fascia. It can be described as being a 'tight skin suit'. The skin can be become tightened not allowing the muscles to move freely meaning movement will require greater effort, placing a greater stress on areas further from the area of issue. Connective tissue viscoelastic (it has the ability to remodel under certain loading). The point of stretch needs to be held for a period of time, after which an increase in tissue mobility can be felt by the therapist and experienced by the client.
Benefits:
Reduced pain, improved mobility, increased circulation, improved posture & relaxation.
Application:
Remove excess oils, use flat hand with sufficient pressure, tissues should be pushed slowly in different directions to determine any restrictions in movement. Once restrictions has been detected, the therapist should hold the tissues at the point of stretch for approximately 30 secs, feeling for changes in the properties to change. The therapist should then feel for and adhesions deeper in the fascia. Placing the tips of the thumbs together pinch together the skin and fascia, forming a roll between the fingers. Without loosing contact or varying pressure, your hands rotate inwards, causing the skin to form a crescent shape. This position should be held so the tissue allowed to respond. Another technique is effectively rolling the tissue until the tissue responds.
Recommend the client rehydrates after the treatment.
Craniosacral technique is not recommend to be attempted by massage therapist.
Potential risks:
Discomfort, bruising, swelling & skin irritation.
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Myofascial Release (MFR)
​Description:
A gentle massage and stretching technique that can help to treat muscle pain and immobility. MFR can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including back pain, shoulder pain, and postural problems.
Benefits:
​MFR can help improve blood and lymphatic circulation, stimulate the stretch reflex in muscles, and loosen muscles and joints. MFR treats the causes of pain and stiffness. Induces relaxation. Improves nerve function.
Application:
​A therapist applies a light pressure to locate trigger points, or knots in the fascial tissues holding the pressure until the tension releases. Direct MFR uses compression, traction, and twisting to stack the tissue into a barrier, while indirect MFR glides the tissue along the path of least resistance.
Potential risks:
​Nerve damage, internal bleeding, nausea, advanced diabetes, trouble moving your muscles & short term paralysis.
Transverse Frictions
Description:
A kneading action, used to break down adhesions in joint capsules, muscles and tendons. Applies by crossing muscle fibres in small specific areas.
Benefits:
Can be very effective in helping to increase mobility of soft tissue by re-alining collagen fibre. Also helping to remove scar tissue, helping to repair fibres and promoting blood flow.
Application:
Start to apply multiple short frictions at right angles to break the fibres down. Re-palpate the are every 10 seconds to ensure to monitor the clients discomfort. Effleuraging towards the nearest lymph node allowing the lymph node to process any waste products.
Check in regularly with the client.
Stop if the client is in too much pain and if they want you to stop do so.
Potential risks:
Tissue damage, reduced efficiency & fatigue.
Trigger Points (TP)
​Description:
​A hyper-irritable spot, a tight band of soft tissue which has a local and predictable referred pain pattern. Often resulting in reduced range of movement and weakness. Once treated can reduce pain and help to maintain dysfunction.
Benefits:
​Increases flexibility, improves range of movement, reduced local pain, reduced referred pain, improves circulation, gives local and general relaxation.
Application:
Method 1
Effleurage and petrissage should be used to fully relax the client and increase blood flow to muscles. Taut bands of soft tissue are easier located in warm, pliable & relaxed tissues, this greatly assists the location of TP's.
Once located, palpate the taut band using the 10 second test. If it is a TP and suitable for treatment using fully supported digits apply progressive direct pressure until the client reports the pain has reached 7 out of 10. Maintain the pressure, unaltered for up to 20 seconds. during this time the client may report the pain has subsided. gradually apply more pressure to bring them back to a level 7 and then maintain this pressure up to 20 seconds. This can be repeated for up to a minute and a half or until the pain of 7 can no longer be attained. During a successful treatment the local spasm surrounding the trigger point will release. this can be detected by the therapist, a loosening of pressure or melting of the nodule and by the reporting a reductions of discomfort.
Method 2​
Maintain the pressure (pain 7-10), unaltered for 5 seconds then release the pressure (maintaining skin contact as a market), for 2 seconds. Re-apply progressive pressure back to a level 7, holding for 5 seconds then releasing for 2 seconds. repeat this process until either the client reports reduction or absence of pain or until 2 minutes have passed with no charge in the pain levels (rare).
This method suits chronic stubborn trigger points, they can take considerable time (up to 2 mins) to release. Tools can be used but senses will be lost.
Potential risks:
​Can leave bruising so inform the client prior to treatment and get their consent. Make sure when performing this technique you work within limits of the clients pain threshold and checking in regularly with the client. If pain increases significantly (current inflammation) when treating the TP remove pressure immediately and do not try to release TP.
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Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
​Description:
MET a manual therapy technique, that involves a client contracting a muscle while the therapist applies counterforce resistance.
Benefits:
Improving range of movement, reducing chronic and acute pain, lengthening and stretching muscles​
Application:
The client gently contracts their muscles, while the therapist applies counterforce resistance. Followed by a stretch to target a muscle group.
Potential risks:
Injury, potentially pulling a muscle or damaging a joint, discomfort, patient cooperation is vital. METs should be avoided if there are any fractures, muscles ruptures/tears, open wounds, metastatic disease.