Hands On Therapy

when working remedially I assess to identify the short and tight, and the weak and inhibited.

The strategy of the treatment is to balance.

Muscles work together in kinetic chains that are linked fascially (Connective tissue), which is why an imbalance in one area can affect another area of the body.

So, here’s something exciting: renewing my ISRM insurance through Balens Ltd and I have just added an extra element of cover: !!!Equine Massage Case Studies!!!

I first began my training in 2014 with a view to move directly to horses, as back then you needed the human element before treating horses. But the more I learnt about humans the more I felt I needed to know more! As such I went from a Sports and Remedial course, to a Soft Tissue Therapy course, to a Structural Integration course! I have loved each element of the courses but now feel to delve into the bodywork of my favourite ungulate! I cannot wait to get cracking with this!

My own horse Jack has some fantastic therapist that work with him. He is still very young but we are working on posture, which is what my human works revolves around.

We often look at horses and judge their conformation (How they are put together). But how much of this is inherited and how much of this is posture and compensatory patterns?

As horses grow, particularly cobby types (Like Jack), they can be croup high (bum higher than wither). Unlike humans’ horses do not have a collar bone. This means that their rib cage is suspended by musculature from the scapula (Shoulder blade). If the horse can bring up the rib cage with good muscle tone of a set of muscles called the thoracic sling, then they may appear less or no longer croup high. My structural bodywork training always encourages looking at the bigger picture. What effects are happening along the kinetic chain?

This was the first session of 15 mins work in the stable. It is very subtle work but still hard work for Jack.

The aim in to deactivate certain muscle chains and active the thoracic sling and forelimb abductors.

Can you see a difference in these before and after pictures?

What do you see?

If you are interested in your horse being a case study then get in contact to discuss details

We have a fairly quiet week next week so if you are looking to book in, here is the the up and coming availability:

Monday 5th Sep between 8am and 1.30 pm or 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Tuesday 6th Sep between 10am - 12pm
Wednesday 7th Sep between between 12 and 3pm or between 5.30pm and 7pm
Thursday 8th Sep between 1pm and 7pm

You can book via the website (£10 deposit to secure booking) or contact me directly.

https://www.handsontherapyremedial.com/book-online

Suffering an injury? 🤕😢 Perfect opportunity to get to know yourself!!! 🙌🤸

👊 We don't know our boundaries until they are pushed.

🧠 We learn through trial and error.

🏅Failures are a step towards success.

An injury is a perfect opportunity to find out how adaptable we are, how we can protect ourselves in the future, and reminds us how beautiful and precious all of our bodies are no matter their form.
🧘‍♀️

💥Myofascial Trigger Points (TP) are painful nodules or ‘knots’ within the muscle belly. TPs are hypersensitive taught spots or bands of muscle fibres that create pain and potential for muscle strain as the muscle is in spasm. 💥

If you suffer TP you may also find pain refers to areas when you palpate them. This is due to following the fascial (connective tissue) lines or 'meridians'.

TP are prone to differential diagnosis so can present on a number of ways, for example:
🔥Eye pain
🔥Migraines
🔥Blocked ears
🔥Unexplained pain or stiffness
🔥Fascia pain such as planter fasciitis

Injury, overuse, vitamin deficiency, repetitive activity or sports can cause TP.
⛷️🏃‍♀️🏑⚽🏇
The most common cause I see is postural, and this is often compounded by lifestyle, daily activities (screen work, phones, driving, sitting), emotional wellbeing and stress.
🤳🖥️😱

How do I treat Trigger Points?

🙌 Neuro-Muscular Techniques (NMT) reduces the pain feedback pathways and relaxes the trigger or reflex point, so that it is no longer irritable and causing tension on neighbouring tissues.

🙌 Positional Release/Stretch, Counter-Stretch, is useful when the TPs and there is a strong spasm. Positional release works with the nervous system to reset muscle length and helps to release tension.

🙌 Cupping works on decompression, creating space and drawing interstitial fluid (cellular fluid) through the fascial tissue layers, hydrating the fascia.

🙌 Kinesiology Tape is a decompressive method which carries on working outside of the treatment room. This makes a nice combination with NMT as it opens space for tissues to be engorged with the nourishing fluids that carry oxygen and nutrients for efficient repair.

🙏 TP are treated as part of a Remedial Massage & Soft Tissue Therapy Treatment. For more information visit https://www.handsontherapyremedial.com/soft-tissue-therapy

Online bookings are now available from 17th August 2022. See the website for further details.

BOOKINGS | Active HOT

https://www.handsontherapyremedial.com/post/trigger-points

Trigger Points What are Trigger Points? Myofascial Trigger Points have been named since 1942 by Dr Janet Travell to describe painful nodules or ‘knots’ within the muscle belly. Trigger points are hypersensitive taught spots or bands of muscle fibres that create pain and potential for muscle strain as the muscl...

All booked up until 19th April!

Current appointment availability:
Thursday 19th April 8am to 8pm

Friday 22nd April between 8am and 9.30am or between 1pm and 4pm.

Happy to take bookings on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th from 12.30 which might be particularly useful for those weekend runners and cyclists.... Little post exercise treatment, or if you simply don't have time in the week for some self care 😊

Happy Friday :)

If you suffer from back pain, check out my recent blog. I work with so many clients with these issues, particularly when many have been working from home and their office space may not be adequate for their needs.

When you come for a treatment you are provided with a full postural assessment which includes muscle testing's to see what is not functioning as we would like. the treatments are tailored around these assessments and a plan made. you will be provided with homework.

I use a lots of sports massage techniques but also incorporate advanced soft tissue techniques including myofascial balancing, muscle energy techniques, trigger point therapy, neuromuscular techniques just to name a few. I can also help with postural re-education.

If you are interested, get in touch :)

Hip Flexors and Lower Back Pain Do you have a stressful lifestyle? Are you sitting at a desk for long periods of time? Are you a regular cyclist? Are you a horse rider who has problems lengthening their leg without hollowing the back or tensing the knee? Or are you a runner who finds it difficult to get a good stride length? Do yo...

Breathing is one of the most fundamental motor patterns that we are born with. We instinctively breathe using the diaphragm when we are babies and learn poor breathing patterns as we age. Breathing changes, the shape and the volume of the abdominal muscles, which impacts greatly on posture.

Clients with lower back, or neck and shoulder pain, often present with tidal breathing. Tidal breathing uses the chest, neck and shoulders to inflate the upper ribcage and lungs. When we tidal breath we do not engage the core and we do not use the diaphragm. This is why dysfunctional breathing also plays a role in poor posture and core stability.

There are many muscles and fascial connections around the ribcage that can inhibit breathing when tight and restricted. These connections continue up into the should and neck, and down the pelvis, into the legs and large nerve bundles (femoral and sciatic). Each time we breath functionally we move over 100 joints! So dysfunctional breathing patterns are highly associated with pain, injury and poor posture. In addition to this, we require effective removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) and increase oxygen (O2) to promotes healthy muscle metabolism.

How Soft Tissue Therapy can help with Breathing?

While breathing techniques are not a soft tissue technique par se, working with the breath is certainly a component. Work can also be done on the abdominal area, the diaphragm, and around the rib cage to help the client open the and connect with their breath. Post treatment on this area, clients report better adaptability with their chest helping core and should function.

The good news is, breath work is free to practice at home. If any dysfunctional breathing patterns are observed, home exercises will be provided so you can develop healthy breathing patterns, which help with posture, stress management, pain management and overall health.