FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does sports massage hurt?
In a word ‘no’. Perhaps a little more clarification is required… Sports Massage uses a variety of techniques some of which are deep tissue and may be applied with noticeable pressure. Pain response is a subjective thing and no two people will have exactly the same experience so your Therapist will use a 1-10 painscale, somewhere around a 6 -7 will be the kind of pain a person might feel when they are pushing themselves in a workout and this is the maximum level to which your therapist will work.
Your Therapist is trained to read non-verbal signs of discomfort and to back off the pressure if any of these signs are noted, however we always appreciate verbal notification if the pressure isn’t to your liking, so dont be shy to say so.
Some particular techniques, eg soft tissue release may feel a little ‘pinchy’ at times. If this is the case the Therapist will ask the client to perform the stretch movement while the therapist applies a ‘lock’ into the tissue, this allows the client to have full control over the amount of pressure they receive.
Depending on the session there may be some residual muscle tenderness up to 24 hours post treatment, this should not be acute pain but more akin to the feeling you have after a solid workout.
Ultimately the pressure is always dictated by the client not the Therapist!
What should I wear?
This is largely down to what you feel comfortable with. Generally, it is best to just wear your underwear. You will be completely covered with a towel or sheet (apart from the specific area I am working on) and your modesty will be maintained at all times. If you prefer to be clothed that is ok, but we may be slightly limited in some of the techniques available.
FYI - Underwear is required as a minimum, I do not undertake work with naked clients!
How do I pay?
All payment is to be made in advance during the online booking process.
What is the cancellation policy?
Unfortunately, I incur a cost when I don’t have much time to recover from a session cancellation (clinic room booking and/or travel, loss of income and time). So I have the following policy in place:
If you have to cancel a booking with over 48 hours’ notice you will receive a full refund.
Cancellation within 48 hours of your booking will incur a 50% charge for the booking.
Cancellation within 24 hours of your booking will result in full payment for the missed session being taken.
If for any unforeseen reason I have to cancel a session with you within 48 hours, you will then be offered 50% off your next booking.
DO YOU OFFER GIFT CERTIFICATES?
Why yes, I do! You can purchase gift certificates online here, and they can be printed or emailed directly to your lucky recipient. You can choose the length of treatment (or a custom amount). The recipient chooses the date and time that suits them best.
How long will my treatment be?
First time clients: For first time clients there is a 10-15 min assessment to check your medical history and perform a brief assessment of your posture and range of motion. This process can be sped up considerably by filling out the online medical history questionnaire when you book your first session. Once this essential element is concluded it generally leaves 45-50 mins for the treatment session.
Returning clients: Each session begins with a 5-10 minute assessment to check your range of motion, posture, gait etc.
What Area Do You Cover For Outcalls/Mobile Massage?
I cover the following areas of North London for outcalls, across East Finchley, Muswell Hill, Alexandra Park, Wood Green, Highgate and Crouch End.
N2
N6
N8
N10
N19
N22
NW2
NW5
NW11
Do you cover events?
Yes, if you have an event or function that you require a therapist for please contact me to discuss further! I’ve provided group treatments at park runs, marathons and sports clubs meetings.
Are there any age restrictions?
Sports massage and soft tissue therapy are for everyone, and there is no maximum age limit.
However, as a general rule I don’t work on minors and in the event that it is required I will require full parental/guardian written consent and a chaperone must be present at all times.
Do you PROVIDE pregnancy massage?
At the moment, no. This service will be added later this year. For now, if you require a therapist trained in pregnancy massage please contact me and I will offer some recommendations for suitably trained therapists.
Do you provide oncology massage?
At the moment, no. This is a service that I hope to add before the end of the year. For now, if you require an oncology treatment, please contact me and I will refer you to a specialist in the field.
What is soft tissue?
Soft tissue is essentially what we are made of. There is some debate as to whether bone classifies as soft tissue however that is another topic in itself! For the sake of clarity, soft tissue may be thought of as everything in our body that isn’t fluid or bone. So, muscles, tendons, ligaments, organs and fascia are all classified as soft tissue.
What is fascia?
Fascia, often referred to as “connective tissue” is found throughout the body and is what holds us together and holds us up! It is comprised of a dense, continuous mix of collagen fibres that coat the muscles and organs. It can be thought of as a series of bags within bags from the cellular level up to the macro level and within these “bags” are situated all of our bones, muscles and organs within the body.
Fascia is responsive to the general condition of the body. Hydration, nutrition and movement are key elements to healthy fascia. Fascia will thicken to account for mechanical stress to the body due to, for example, postural compensation following an injury.
Unfortunately, if the fascia thickens and loses mobility and glide in the wrong areas, then range of motion can be affected followed by pain and further disfunction. Fascia can also become adhesive in localised areas, often around sites of injury, scar tissue etc and this again, can lead to disfunction e.g. limitations to range of movement and discomfort.
Soft Tissue Therapy seeks to affect the fascia to improve glide and mobility, release facial adhesions and maximise range of motion.
What is Soft Tissue Therapy?
Soft tissue therapy is a blanket term covering a wide range of manual therapy techniques that include myofascial, muscular and neuromuscular approaches. Some examples are:
· Post Isometric Relaxation (Muscle Energy Technique - PIR)
· Reciprocal Inhibition (Muscle Energy Technique - RI)
· Soft Tissue Release (Transverse and longitudinal)
· Myofascial Release (MFR)
· Trigger Point Therapy
· Positional Release
The main things that soft tissue therapy seeks to address are;
· Fascial restriction
· Shortened & hypertonic muscles
· Weakened muscle
· Proprioception
· Localised ischemia (restricted fluid flow)
· Trigger points