Suzie Becker Remedial and Fertility Massage Therapist

What is Remedial Massage?
Remedial massage is a holistic treatment that involves a wide range of massage techniques and various diagnostic assessments to treat a condition. The massage therapist will endeavour to identify the original biomechanical dysfunction and apply various massage techniques to treat the disorder, cause and symptoms.

Remedial massage can be helpful in treating specific areas or muscles that have knots, tension or damage, the massage treatment can be strong, deep or shallow depending on the client and the issue. The Therapist works on the soft tissue of the body such as the skin, fascia, muscles, tendons and ligaments. The therapist uses fingers, knuckles, hands, forearms and elbows to therapeutically manipulate the soft tissues of the body to effect a change.

It is important to first gain a diagnosis for a health condition from the appropriate specialists prior to seeing a remedial massage therapist.

The treatment aims to support and speed up the body’s own repair mechanisms

Key Benefits of Remedial Massage

An immediate benefit of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm, this occurs because therapeutic touch prompts the release of endorphins, the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of wellbeing.

Some of the physical benefits of massage include:
• Reduced muscle tension, tones and relaxing muscles
• Improved circulation and stimulation of the lymphatic system
• Reduction of stress hormones
• Increase joint mobility and flexibility
• Improved skin tone
• Speed up the body’s own repair mechanisms
• Gives a sense of overall Wellbeing
• A calming effect on the peripheral nervous system which eases pain and discomfort in the body
• Relaxation that allows our minds and bodies to recharge and rejuvenate

It is important to drink plenty of water after the massage to flush metabolic waste from the tissues.

Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic touch has shown to increase attention span, memory recall, laughter, relaxation, vitality and social interaction, posture, body awareness and skin colour. Improves blood circulation, relives pain, increase ROM, and helps maintain and improve overall health and retain certain physical functions. There is a reduction in anxiety and provides comfort. Massage means interaction; there is a physical and emotional effect on your client with massage.

The lack of touch can lead to psychiatric or physical problems, it can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and lethargy, lack of caring touch can result in diminishing quality of life.


Qualified Massage Techniques

Swedish massage Swedish massage uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding, petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping, friction (cross fibre) and vibration/shaking.

Deep Tissue Focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue, especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas, the stokes are slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain.

Trigger Point Therapy Involves deactivating trigger points within muscles that may cause local pain or refer pain and other sensations, (such as headaches) in other parts of the body. Manual pressure is applied to these points to relieve Myofascial pain.

Myofascial Release Therapy
Myofascial release refers to the manual massage technique for stretching the fascia and releasing bonds between fascia, integument, and muscles with the goal of eliminating pain, increasing range of motion and equilobrioception. Myofascial release usually involves applying shear compression or tension in various directions or by skin rolling.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Massage technique used to gently work and stimulate the lymphatic system, to assist in reduction of localised swelling.

Reflexology Is based on the principle that there are reflexes in the hands and feet that relate to every organ, gland, and system of the body.

Passive & Active Stretching
Stretching techniques used to gradually increase range of movement.

PNF Stretching Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation stretching is a combination of passive and isometrics contractions to increase range of movement to improve bio-mechanics.

What is Reiki
Reiki is the name for a Japanese healing method that corrects energy imbalances in the body, and is applied through the hands. The result is a deeply relaxing experience which is excellent for stress management and self-healing.

Reiki is administer by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life-force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, depression, anxiety and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy, increasing our built-in defenses. This can manifest itself as confidence and outward harmony in dealing with everyday events. It can also help you gain a positive outlook on life! When we are relaxed, stress-free, we are able to restore our natural ability to heal.