Remedial Massage: Why You Should Book In Today

So many people love a good massage. However, despite their rising popularity, it can be difficult to know what type of treatment to select and besides price, the actual differences between them all. Today’s post focuses in on the world of remedial massage.

First, what is remedial massage? Not to be confused with deep tissue, remedial massage can be performed using a variety of gentler and firmer techniques to assist the body to return to a healthy alignment, resolve pain issues, as well as address injuries and movement issues such as biomechanical dysfunction.

Another great function of remedial massage is its role in rehabilitation. An experienced and well trained remedial therapist can help to break down scar tissue and work to prevent join contractures as a result some medial conditions or even severe burns. In this sense, remedial massage is also known as a therapeutic style of bodywork.

Because of its specialised nature, remedial massage therapists (RMTs) will undergo more extensive training than your average relaxation massage practitioner. RMTs are not only trained in relaxation and remedial techniques, but also deep tissue and other advanced styles, They are required to complete at least double the amount of training hours than a certified massage therapist. All their hands on experience should make you feel a little better about investing in a higher quality experience that will deal with your specific areas of concern or pain. Furthermore, your physio, nurse or even GP may be able to deliver remedial massage techniques, should you require them. The therapeutic nature of this style of massage combined with a RMTs high level of training and knowledge of anatomy and physiology means that many private health insurers will offer a rebate for a remedial session.

In a standard remedial session, you can expect your RMT to systematically assess and treat your muscular conditions. Not only will they ask and talk through relevant medical and occupational history, but they will assess your body to determine how they will proceed to treat you. Don’t worry though, they will still actually massage you in your first appointment unless it is agreed that a different treatment modality would be best for you in your current condition. You can also expect that following your session your RMT will keep notes. The will contain information concerning the nature of your condition, type of treatment delivered and develop a treatment plan to help you return to a healthy state.

In terms of actual technique, the remedial style can be all over the body or concentrate on a particular area or pathway to address a particular concern. Don’t forget that a sore shoulder may not be a shoulder issue at all, so don’t be alarmed if the RMT is working in another area to where it hurts. You may receive some dry needling, get trigger points worked on and myofascial release. You might also have oil used on your body and cross-fibre, deep tissue and stretching techniques are also commonly used.