Susan Martin Soft Tissue Therapy

Today starts Balance Awareness week. Balance is a skill that we learn. It needs to be maintained and practised throughout our lives to enable us to stay on our feet and participate in the activities that we enjoy. From learning to walk, putting on your trousers (standing on one leg) to running, jumping or dancing, good Balance is necessary for everyone.

In general, Balance is the co-ordination between muscles. The body uses special “proprioceptive” receptors to send signals to and from the brain that tell the muscles how and when to work. If you are upright, this is happening continuously in order to maintain your posture. Even seated, your muscles must maintain the balance in your upper body and co-ordinate your arm and head movements.
Realistically, there are two kinds of balance:
• Static balance is the ability to maintain your centre of gravity (the majority of your weight) over your base of support (usually your feet). It enables you to maintain a position without moving or falling over. This could be simply sitting or standing but also includes most Yoga poses.
• Dynamic balance is the ability to move your centre of gravity outside of your base of support and still remain in control. It’s balance in motion and is utilised when you walk, run, kick, spin or jump. With these kinds of activities, the majority of your body’s weight is located away from your base of support, requiring a much faster and powerful response from the muscle groups.
Both of these elements of balance are equally important and heavily influence each other. They are vital survival skills and need maintaining as we age because all of our muscles weaken ever so gradually after we hit 30. The length of our stride shortens, the pace of our steps slows, and vision becomes fuzzier. How well we keep our balance in midlife can protect us from what lies ahead. Approximately, one in three adults over age 65 takes a serious tumble each year. Avoiding falls often means a longer and better life and there are also immediate health benefits to improved mobility - fewer injuries, greater capacity to train hard during workouts and, therefore, an increase in overall fitness.

These pictures show a few simple exercises that you can add into your day to help maintain these skills. Little and often is the key. Try to incorporate some balance work into your everyday routines so that it does not get forgotten. If you have any questions or need some advice, please get in touch.

Once again at Reading lake supporting the athletes at this year's Reading Triathlon. Excellent local event organised by club Tri2o.

Adhesions are fibrous bands, formed in the same way as scar tissue, which inhibit movement between soft tissues. They are often called “knots” and can form in muscles, ligaments or tendons. Sometimes they can form between muscles and nerves which will cause a tingling feeling in arms or legs. Adhesions stop the muscle, ligament or tendon from working in the correct manner which leads to imbalance in the body causing strain and injury to surrounding tissues. This often leads to pain.
Adhesions can form from either an acute trauma or repetitive strain as both cause a lack of blood flow and oxygen in the tissues.
Acute trauma would result from surgery, muscle strains/tears or collisions.
Repetitive strain or overuse will cause micro-trauma over and again. Common examples of Repetitive Micro-trauma are computer work, endurance sports and poor posture.
Adhesions can be treated and “broken down” through a number of manual methods. Foam rolling is a form of self-massage that can help. Deep tissue or Sports massage should find all the adhesions that you missed with the roller and Soft Tissue Release techniques performed by a Soft Tissue Therapist will target the specific areas affected and resolve the immediate issues. To stop them reforming however, you will need to assess your posture, running form or desk set up and amend what is causing the problems.

Surgery that is performed in order to restore normal function and appearance after major trauma, medical conditions, disease or birth defects is called Reconstructive surgery. Common examples where this is needed include the Repair of Cleft lip and palate in children, Breast reconstruction after a Mastectomy and Skin grafts to cover Burns or after Skin Cancer removal. The operation will usually be performed by a Plastic Surgeon.
In many of these operations, tissue from one part of the body is used to reconstruct or cover the damaged part. This means that two sections of your body, often in different areas, will be affected by the surgery and the resulting scarring.
For a Breast reconstruction after treatment for cancer, the new breast(s) can be constructed using artificial implants or tissue from your back, abdomen or thigh. If your own tissue is being used, blood vessels will also be transferred to keep the tissue alive in its’ new home. Microsurgery is used to connect the new tissue in place and in the vast majority of cases this procedure results in a very satisfactory repair. If you choose artificial implants, they will need to be replaced after a given time so more surgeries may be required in the future. You will be able to discuss all options with your medical team before choosing what is best for your situation.
When surgery is needed to replace skin lost to Burns or Large wounds, extra skin can be encouraged to grow using a Tissue Expander. This is a balloon – like device that is inserted under the skin and gradually pumped up, causing the skin to stretch and grow. This “new” skin can be used to repair as needed and will have the same properties as the “lost” skin.
All of these procedures are major surgeries that will require a stay in hospital and a few weeks of recovery at home. The resulting surgical scars will take up to two years to fully form and mature and it is during this time that gentle massage and stretching can help to improve the function of the scar tissue. This in turn will mean a better outcome for your reconstruction.
If you have any questions or need some advice about how Scarwork™ might be able to help you, please get in touch for a chat.

Today is the start of Migraine Awareness week and although most sufferers need to take some form of medication to help them control the pain, an alternative remedy that many find effective is Remedial (or Deep Tissue) Massage.
Migraine is not “just” a bad headache. There are several different types and sufferers have different triggers that start them off. Severe pain is often accompanied by nausea, dizziness and disrupted vision. Some doctors believe that they are caused by constriction of the blood vessels in the head.
As a therapy, massage can help relieve muscle spasms. It can also improve blood flow and circulation, relieving tension and promoting relaxation.
In studies of Migraine sufferers, the favoured massage routine seems to be regular Deep Tissue Massage in between attacks. These studies showed a decrease in attacks, raised Serotonin levels and improved sleep.
In my Deep Tissue massage, I use slow strokes to allow my hands to sink down into the tense muscles. I am also likely to use gentle movements and stretches to help the client to relax and give them some homework to take away that will enhance their treatment.
If you have any questions or need some advice about how massage can help with your Migraine or Tension headaches, please get in touch or comment below.

Is September the new January?

With most kids back to school, now is a great time for parents to refresh and re-focus on their health, self-care and activity levels. You may have extra time on your hands, new working hours or even a new job once your children are at school. All of these things can have an impact on your body and mind. If you find yourself with aches and pains that won't go away, want to focus on a new training regime or just want a bit of 'me time' to decrease your stress levels then please look at my website (https://sportsmassageearley.co.uk)or get in touch for a chat to see how Soft Tissue Therapy can help.

Surgery can be used to treat back pain that does not improve after non-invasive treatments such as Physiotherapy or pain-relieving injections.
There are two main types of spine surgery, Decompression and Fusion, but a number of different methods can be used to achieve the end goal.
Decompression surgery is used to treat conditions that result in impingement of the nerves that radiate out from your spinal column. These include Spinal Stenosis – narrowing of a section of the spinal column, a damaged or herniated (slipped) disc, Spinal injuries or Cancer.
Often, the nerve that is affected is the Sciatic which controls the legs and feet. If this nerve is compressed the patient experiences pain, tingling and weakness down the leg and any movement is painful and difficult.
The two main types of decompression surgery are Laminectomy and Discectomy. In a Laminectomy, a small section of bone is removed from the vertebrae to relieve pressure whereas, in a Discectomy it is a section of disc that is removed or trimmed.
Spinal Fusion surgery is used to strengthen and stabilise your spine. Two or more vertebrae are joined together using bone grafts, screws or rods. The bone grafts could be from somewhere else in your body or be artificial. Another method of bone fusion is Vertebroplasty, where a type of bone cement is injected into the spine to repair a collapsed vertebra. This is usually because of Osteoporosis or serious trauma to the bones.
The majority of spine surgery is done using open surgery which means there will be an incision in the skin and muscles in order to reach the spine. Healing times will vary depending on your health and fitness before the operation. You will need Physiotherapy help to safely regain your strength and movement and will have exercises to do at home during your recovery. Exercise and movement after surgery is key to reducing excess scar tissue build up and making sure the new tissue heals in an efficient and effective way.
Scar massage during the first two years after surgery can help to reduce swelling, improve blood flow and increase range of motion by releasing tension in the tissues and increasing flexibility of the scar tissue. If you would like more information about how this can help, please get in touch or comment below.

With many different types of massage available and numerous therapists offering their services, how can you decide where to get the best treatment?
Here are some tips that may help:
First, decide why you want a massage, then research the different types to see what might be suitable for you.
Look at the logistics, do you need a therapist near home or work, evening appointment or daytime? Many therapist work part time or may be booked up for a while. How urgent is your need?
Ask your friends or colleagues for recommendations, check out a few websites or pages for reviews.
Finally ring the therapist for a short chat, ask about their style and qualifications, prices and availability.
Book your appointment and relax.
To answer some of these questions - I am a Soft Tissue and Scarwork™ Therapist based in Lower Earley and specialize in sports, remedial and scar massage. I work part time from my home clinic and offer daytime and evening appointments.
If you have any questions about my availability or how I may be able to help you, please get in touch

From an early age, we learn that the touch of a hand can ease pain. When a toddler bangs his knee, he'll instinctively rub the sore spot. Likewise, an office worker with stiff shoulders will probably try to knead out the tension and if an athlete can't shake the troublesome pain in her calf, she just might schedule an appointment with a sports massage therapist.
The healing power of a well-placed hand is so apparent that just about every culture in history has used massage to relieve pain. Massage faded into the background with the arrival of modern medicine, but a growing number of people are turning (or returning) to hands-on therapies.
Massage seems to ease pain in several different ways. For starters, it can increase blood flow to sore, stiff joints and muscles, which are warmed and relaxed by the extra circulation. The blood brings oxygen and nutrients to the muscles which helps feed and heal them. Studies have also found that massage triggers the release of natural painkillers in the brain and speeds up the flow of oxytocin, a hormone that relaxes muscles and encourages feelings of calmness and contentment. It also calms the nervous system and improves the feeling of well-being in the client.
There's little doubt that a good rub-down can ease pain and tightness in stressed, overworked muscles and now there's growing evidence that it can also help relieve chronic (long-lasting) pain caused by Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia and our sedentary lifestyle.
The therapist and style of massage that you use will largely depend on personal choice. It’s the power of touch that’s all important.
If you would like to discuss how my style of treatment may help you, please get in touch.

Burns are one of the most common household injuries and are often caused by scalding from hot liquids, chemicals, flames (including matches and candles) and sunburn.
Doctors usually label burns by how deeply your skin has been damaged. First, Second and Third “degrees” are the most well-known measure.
First degree burns only affect the outer layer of the skin (Epidermis). A mild sunburn would be a good example. Your skin may be red and painful, but no blistering so long-term damage is rare. These are usually treated at home with first aid and heal within a few days.
With a Second degree burn, your Dermis will be damaged as well as the outer Epidermis layer. Your skin will be red, swollen and painful. You will have blisters that may pop and release fluid so the wound will be wet and weepy. Medical attention may be necessary to properly dress the wound and monitor healing. Scarring is possible as the wound heals.
A Third degree burn involves serious damage. Both skin layers will be destroyed. Pain is unlikely as the nerves are also damaged. Emergency medical attention will be required and skin grafting may be necessary to avoid problems caused by the extensive scarring. This level of burns can take several months to heal.
Burn scars can often result in large areas of restricted skin which may affect range of motion, particularly around joints. ScarWork™ treatments start with light touch, sweeping movements to stimulate the upper layers of the tissue and help encourage improvement. As these soften, the underlying layers can be treated until the required outcome is achieved.
Please get in touch if you have any questions.