Sports therapy and massage in Canterbury

Sports therapy involves the assessment and treatment of sporting injuries. We assess relevant joints and muscles, check muscle length and balance, provide sports massage and advise on appropriate exercises and stretching techniques.

People who take part in sports on a regular basis can greatly benefit from regular sports massage work. It is ideal for on-going body maintenance, rehabilitation, pre-event and post-event. Our sports therapists work closely with the osteopaths and physiotherapists.

Benefits of massage include:

• Improved circulation
• Assistance in the removal of lactic acid and other metabolic waste
• Relief of muscular soreness
• Minimize build up of scar tissue
• Assistance in injury prevention

Therapeutic massage

Ideal for relieving muscular tension that can build up through stress, illness and overuse. Using different hands-on techniques therapeutic massage is deeply relaxing and provides an ideal opportunity for you to unwind.

It has been shown to assist in reducing anxiety and stress and can help with sleep problems as well as relieving muscular aches and pains and headaches. Circulation is enhanced and it helps speed up elimination of toxins resulting in a wonderful sense of well-being.

Hydrotherm Massage

Experience a complete body massage floating on two 'pillows' of warm water. Remaining face up throughout the treatment, your body is supported in perfect spinal alignment and allows the therapist to slide hands over, under and around the body. Through water displacement Hydrotherm allows the therapist to work with the client's bodyweight as the source of pressure, producing a deep and comforting massage technique. The heat of the water also aids relaxation and helps soothe aches and pains and will benefit clients who cannot physically lie face down. It is also ideal for pregnant clients.

Indian Head Massage

Based on the traditional form of champi (head massage) practised in India. The shoulders, arms, neck, scalp and face are treated to ease muscle tension, stimulate circulation, calm the nervous system and rebalance the whole person.

This treatment is carried out with the client fully clothed in a sitting position and without the use of oils.

Reflexology

Foot massage has been practised in various forms for centuries by Chinese, Japanese, Indians and Egyptians to promote good health. The oldest documentation depicting reflexology was found in the tomb of an Egyptian physician. Dating to around 2500-2330BC it shows two men 'working' on the feet of two other men.

Reflexology works on the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet that relate to major organs, glands and body parts and that there are ten energy zones or meridians running longitudinally through the body. Within each zone runs the life energy known in oriental medicine as chi or qi. Applying pressure with thumbs and fingers on the zones in the feet helps to dissipate any blockages within that zone and therefore aid the free flow of qi.

Reflexology helps us to heal from within by activating the body's natural healing powers and working to re-establish the equilibrium necessary for normal functioning and well-being.

Reflexology has shown to relieve a range of physical disorders and is carried out by applying pressure and massage to specific areas of the feet while at the same time providing a deep sense of relaxation.