If you're struggling with pain, stress, or tension, massage therapy can be an effective way to alleviate symptoms and improve your overall well-being. But with so many massage therapists to choose from in Gloucester, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are some tips for choosing the right massage therapist for your needs.
Check their qualifications Before scheduling a massage, take some time to research the therapist's qualifications. Ensure they are licensed and certified to practice massage therapy in Gloucester. A reputable massage therapist will be happy to provide their credentials upon request.
Consider their experience While a massage therapist's qualifications are important, their experience is equally crucial. Look for someone with several years of experience in the type of massage you require. For example, if you're dealing with a sports injury, you'll want a therapist with experience in sports massage.
Assess their communication style Effective communication is key to a successful massage experience. A good massage therapist will take the time to understand your needs and adjust their technique accordingly. They should be attentive and responsive to your feedback during the massage to ensure your comfort and satisfaction.
Read online reviews Take the time to read reviews from previous clients to get a sense of the therapist's reputation and track record. Look for therapists with positive reviews and comments that speak to their professionalism, effectiveness, and quality of service.
Fill outyour details below to Instantly claim £20 off your first massage or injury treatment session!
Massage for rehab
How we work at Fully Fit Therapy
As a therapist with a BSc Hons in Sports Therapy, I understand the importance of qualifications, experience, and communication when it comes to choosing a therapist.
At Fully Fit Therapy near Gloucester, we are dedicated to providing high-quality therapy services tailored to meet the needs of each individual client.
Here are a few of our recent Google reviews:
"As a regular client of Fully Fit Therapy, I can say that their massage services have helped me manage my chronic pain and tension. Their therapists are knowledgeable, professional, and always willing to go above and beyond to ensure a positive experience." - John D.
"I was hesitant to try massage therapy for my back pain, but after just one session with Fully Fit Therapy, I felt significant improvement. Their therapist was patient, attentive, and skilled at identifying the root cause of my pain." - Sarah G.
If you're in and around Gloucester and looking for a massage therapist who prioritizes qualifications, experience, and communication, contact us today.
Fill outyour details below to Instantly claim £20 off your first massage or injury treatment session!
Do you struggle with chronic pain or stress? Have you tried various treatments and exercises, but nothing seems to help? Perhaps it's time to consider massage therapy as a solution.
Massage therapy involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body to relieve pain, tension, and stress. It's been used for centuries to promote relaxation, improve circulation, and enhance overall well-being.
It's not just for athletes or those recovering from injuries - anyone can benefit from massage therapy, regardless of age or physical condition. If you're in Gloucester, you can easily access massage therapy at Fully Fit Therapy. We offer a range of techniques including deep tissue, Swedish, sports, and pregnancy massage, tailored to your specific needs.
Deep tissue massage is a popular technique for chronic pain and tension, involving targeted pressure to release knots and adhesions in the muscles, which can improve flexibility and posture.
Swedish massage is a gentler technique that focuses on promoting relaxation and reducing stress through smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements. It's perfect for those looking to unwind after a long day or week. Sports massage targets overused or strained areas of the body, reducing the risk of injury, enhancing flexibility and athletic performance, making it ideal for athletes at all levels.
If you're pregnant, pregnancy massage can safely relieve discomfort, improve circulation, and reduce back and joint pain. Massage therapy not only benefits your physical health but also your mental and emotional well-being, reducing stress and anxiety, and promoting relaxation and well-being.
If you're in Gloucester and need relief from pain or stress, consider Fully Fit Therapy. Our customizable treatments can help you achieve your health goals. Contact us today to schedule your massage appointment.
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, typically starting around your lower back and down to the hips, buttocks, and eventually each leg. It usually only affects one side of the body and most commonly occurs when something compresses a part or many parts of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be treated with medication, stretches, and, most importantly, physical therapy.
As a therapist, I will design a rehabilitation programme to reduce or eliminate your pain. This will normalise body mechanics to alleviate compression of the nerve, improve the strength of core muscles, and improve flexibility of muscles and nerves (yes, nerves)
A home exercise programme can also be designed and is a key element of the rehabilitation process. Therapy techniques and stretching may be able to reduce compressive forces on the nerve caused by things like hip joint dysfunction, muscle spasms, etc. Strengthening the spinal column and the tendons and muscles that support it, can also help relieve some sciatic pain. Strong core muscles will reduce pain because they support the spine and keep it in alignment, thereby minimising the likelihood of experiencing sciatica in the future.
A rehab plan is also suggested and is designed to target muscles that cause pain when they’re tight and inflexible. Stretching the nerves is important, as the sciatic nerve is designed to glide freely between muscles, fascia, and other structures in the body. Nerve stretching exercises are commonly referred to as “nerve glides” or “neural flossing” and are usually a key component of the rehabilitation of sciatica.
The biggest myth about sciatica pain is that you should rest and let your body naturally heal. In most cases, a day or two of rest is fine, but actually stretching and working out the parts of the body that are hurting can reduce pain. That is why physical therapy is a great solution for combating sciatic pain. Working with your therapist to figure out the best movements and stretches to deal with your specific areas of pain can be of great benefit
If you'd like to sort out your Sciatica?
Give me a message from the contact page or fill out your details below to get £20 off your first session!
Remember I treat from my own clinic in Upleadon but also travel to Gloucester, Newent, Cheltenham and the surrounding areas
I just wanted to say thank you for helping Fully Fit Therapy out this year. I really appreciate your confidence in my abilities and dedication to preserving your physical well-being.
Routine wise I am still operating Mobile in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Newent and the Forest of Dean - 3 days a week. Then out of The Old Barn Upleadon 2 to 3 days a week.
I'm still enrolled in my Osteopathic/Chiropractic programme, which will end at the end of March 2023. I'm excited to add this to my therapy toolset and help you all even more.
In other news, I intend to increase my range of services by taking on another staff member. This will also be in February or March.
Lastly I appreciate the chance to work with each and every one of you, and I hope to continue to be of assistance to you in the future.
We all know that our neck and back are very important to us. They allow us to move around, carry things, and just have a generally good time. In some cases, our necks and backs can become painful and make it difficult for us to do the everyday tasks we need to get done in a day. This article will discuss what you can do if your neck or back hurts so that you can be pain free again.
Lower back pain and neck pain are common problems that can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor posture, muscle tension, and injury. Fortunately, there are a number of treatment options available for those suffering from these conditions. One of the most effective treatments for lower back pain and neck pain is mobilisations and manipulations , Massage, Dry Needling and Exercises Programmes for the pain
At Fully Fit Therapy we offer all of the above ot help with Back and Neck Pain. So if you are in Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Newent we can provide effective treatment for lower back pain and neck pain. If you are suffering from either of these conditions and are further afield we encourage you to seek out the help of a qualified practitioner in your area.
What Causes Lower Back and Neck Pain?
There are several things that can cause lower back and neck pain. In some cases, it may be due to an underlying medical condition. In other cases, it may be the result of poor posture or an injury.
Some of the most common causes of lower back and neck pain include:
• Muscle strain:This can happen when the muscles in your back or neck are overworked or strained. It is often the result of lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, or poor posture.
• Joint dysfunction:This occurs when the joints in your spine are not moving properly. This can be due to arthritis, disk degeneration, or a previous injury.
• Nerve compression:This happens when the nerves in your spine are compressed or pinched. This can be caused by herniated disks, spinal stenosis, or bone spurs.
If you are experiencing back or neck pain, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Once a diagnosis has been made, there are a number of treatment options available to help relieve your pain and improve your quality of life(Low Back Pain: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments, n.d.).
How to Deal with Lower Back and Neck Pain
If you’re experiencing lower back and neck pain, there are a few things you can do to find relief. First, it’s important to identify the source of your pain. If your pain is due to a muscle strain, you can try applying ice or heat to the affected area. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
If your pain is due to a more serious condition such as arthritis, disc problems, or spinal stenosis, you may need to see a doctor for treatment. Treatment options for these conditions may include physical therapy, steroid injections, or surgery.
No matter what the cause of your lower back and neck pain, there are ways to find relief. Be sure to talk to your doctor about all your treatment options so that you can find the best solution for your situation.
What Can You Do to Avoid Lower Back and Neck Pain?
There are a few things you can do to avoid lower back and neck pain. Firstly, make sure that you maintain good posture when sitting or standing. Secondly, take regular breaks from sitting or standing in one position for long periods of time. Thirdly, exercise regularly to keep your muscles strong and flexible. fourthly, use a supportive chair or pillow when sitting. And finally, see your doctor if you experience any persistent pain(Common Posture Mistakes and Fixes - NHS, n.d.).
Treatments for Lower Back and Neck Pain
Sport Massage for back pain
There are several treatments available for lower back and neck pain, depending on the cause and severity of the pain. For example, if the pain is due to muscle strain, rest and over-the-counter pain medication may be all that is needed. If the pain is more severe, such as from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, physical therapy, epidural injections, and surgery may be required.
For those with chronic back or neck pain, massage therapy can provide relief. Massage therapists use their hands to knead muscles and loosen knots that can cause pain. Massage can also increase blood flow to the area, which helps to reduce inflammation. Fully Fit Therapy provides a wide range of massage techniques that can be tailor made to each client.
Acupuncture also known as dry needling is another option for treating back and neck pain. This practice involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. This is thought to release endorphins, which can help to relieve pain. Fully Fit Therapy also provides Dry Needling as a service to help with the tight muscles from neck and back pain and also for pain management
Chiropractic care is also a popular treatment for back and neck pain. Chiropractors use their hands to manipulate the spine and other joints to realign them. This can help to take pressure off nerves and relieve pain. Fully Fit Therapy offers Chiropractic Manipulations and Osteopathic Mobilisations.
Back Pain Treatment mobilisations
These are just a few of the many treatment options available for back and neck pain. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider to determine what will work best for you based on the cause of your pain (Furlan et al., 2010).
How to Treat Lower Back and Neck Pain
1. Check Your Posture
The first step in treating lower back and neck painis to check your posture. Poor posture can put unnecessary strain on your spine, causing pain. Sit up straight with your shoulders back and your chin tucked in. Stand tall with your shoulders back and your weight evenly distributed on both feet. When you’re lying down, keep a pillow under your knees to maintain the natural curve of your spine. Fully Fit Therapy we can do a posture assessment and scan to get to the route cause of your back and neck pain.
2. Use Heat or Ice
Applying heat or ice to the affected area can help relieve pain and inflammation. Heat therapy dilates blood vessels and promotes blood flow, which helps relieve muscle tension and spasms. Ice therapy numbs the area and reduces inflammation. Do not apply ice directly to the skin; wrap it in a towel first. Apply heat or ice for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
3. Take Pain Medication
If over-the-counter pain medication isn’t enough to relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe stronger medication. Commonly prescribed drugs include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, muscle relaxants, and opioid analgesics such as oxycodone or hydrocodone. These drugs can have side effects, so be sure to follow the directions on the label carefully and talk to your doctor about any concerns you have.
4. Try Physical Therapy Exercise Plan
Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the muscles in your neck and shoulder as well as your lower back and glutes. There isn't one magic exercises for neck pain and one for back pain but a whole group of exercises for both have been found to help. Unfortunately you can't just rely on having a massage and some manipulations to completely fix your neck or back pain.
Fill outyour details below to Instantly claim £20 off your first massage or injury treatment session to help your back pain!
Conclusion
If you are someone who suffers from back or neck pain, I hope this article has given you some useful tips on how to manage it. Remember, the most important thing is to stay active and to keep moving your neck and back as much as possible. If you can do that, then you will be well on your way to recovery. For a session to help your back or neck pain, click the contact page to sort a session out for yourself today.
Remember Fully Fit Therapy is Mobile and covers Newent, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Rob also works out of his own clinic at The Old Barn, Upleadon, Newent, Gloucester, GL18 1ED.
Reference:
Common posture mistakes and fixes - NHS. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-and-flexibility-exercises/common-posture-mistakes-and-fixes/
Furlan, A. D., Yazdi, F., Tsertsvadze, A., Gross, A., van Tulder, M., Santaguida, L., Cherkin, D., Gagnier, J., Ammendolia, C., Ansari, M. T., Ostermann, T., Dryden, T., Doucette, S., Skidmore, B., Daniel, R., Tsouros, S., Weeks, L., & Galipeau, J. (2010). Complementary and alternative therapies for back pain II. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, 194, 1. /pmc/articles/PMC4781408/
Low Back Pain: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7936-lower-back-pain
What you can expect from a Massage for Lower Back Pain
Most people receive massages in a place that is designated for it. The environments vary, but the most common is a commercial setting, such as a spa, wellness center, or massage clinic.
However, massage is becoming increasingly common in other settings such as hospitals and rehabilitation clinics and with me in your own home! On site chair massage is also offered in environments such as airports, sporting events, or private parties. This article describes how a session works when I come to you. The experience may be different in other environments.
Before The Massage for back pain
Before your massage, drink plenty of water. Make sure you don’t eat just before the treatment. Give yourself enough time to get ready for me to turn up, if you are rushing and are stressed, it will take longer to get into a relaxed state. I will talk to you about your health history and any problems you are experiencing. Make sure you tell me about any conditions you have or medicines you are taking.
During The Massage for your back pain
I will do a thorough assessment of you back pain, looking at movements, pain referral and the surrounding joint ( hips and mid back) . From this I will build up a treatment plan. One part of this plan will be massage.
During the massage you will lie on a massage table. Make sure you are comfortable and let me know if you are not as pillows and cushions can be used to help make you comfier.
Depending on how bad your back is I can adjust the techniques and methods by getting you to lie or sit differently to make it easier on your back.
Make sure to tell me if you are cold, want to be covered, don't want an area of your body worked on, or are experiencing discomfort with the technique or how it is being applied.
Be as open to the process as you can. This will enable you to relax and try to let your thoughts go. Remember to breathe, as this helps you relax. In the same way, tightening your muscles during the massage is counterproductive. If you can't seem to relax your muscles, let me know and I can adjust the technique.
Finishing the Session on your Lower Back Pain
At the end of the session, I’ll leave the room so you can dress in private. Wait a few minutes on the table as you get grounded, especially if you feel light-headed. When you are up and dressed make sure you have a glass of water to help the body flush waste products. If possible, allow some quiet time after the massage and don't go back to work or other responsibilities immediately.
Afterwards I will go through an exercise plan to help relax your lower back muscles and also to start working on any areas which have weakened
Realise that the benefits of massage tend to be cumulative, so typically, you will feel better as you get additional massages.
It's been a while since my last post. Again just very busy with treatments which I can't complain, it's great to be back and busier than ever!
I am currently in the process of hiring at least one other team member to start expanding into additional treatment options and to just balance my workload a bit. So that has also taken up a lot of time sorting out hiring!
Lastly before I get into a recent topic of discussion, just a reminder I am still doing my referral discount offer - That's £20 off the initial session!
Onto my recent discussion with a long term client of mine-
What is a Herniated Disc?
In most cases a herniated disc itself is not painful. The pain is caused by the material leaking out of the disc that pinches, inflames, or irritates a nearby nerve. That is causing the nerve root pain - sharp, shooting pains that radiate to other parts of the body, such as from the low back down the leg or from the neck down the arm.
There are many reasons that you might decide massage for a herniated disc is right for you.
General muscle and joint stiffness or soreness
Feelings of anxiety, stress, and even depression
Trouble completing daily activities due to stiffness and pain
Good past experiences with massage
Poor pain cycle: stiffness is causing movement avoidance, which in turn is causing more stiffness and pain
Your herniated disc is affecting your sleep quality
You think one might help!
Massage therapy can help reduce muscle tension and muscle spasms, which may add to back or neck pain. Muscle tension is especially common around an unstable spinal segment where a disc is unable to provide necessary support. Massage helps disc herniation by reducing tension in the muscles around the spine. By relieving muscle tension, pressure on the disc is reduced, which eases disc compression.
Exercises can also play a big part in helping counteract a disc herniation. Although I'll leave that for another day as that is a whole topic within itself
Keeping our bodies balanced and in good working order helps us maintain a good quality of life. Anyone who has suffered an injury can testify as to how inconvenient injury and pain can be. In a lot of cases, poorly managed injury and pain can lead to long-term dysfunctions, preventing the individual ever returning back to normal.
Rehabilitation is your best chance for your body returning to normal. Doing nothing will typically mean long-term pain, dysfunction, and possible disability.
The benefits of massage therapy support successful rehabilitation. Pain reduces movement naturally because moving hurts when you injure yourself. Injury creates damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, skin and other soft tissues, which the body is trying to repair.
By applying massage therapy, we improve the blood flow to areas that are often restricted, which in turn speeds up the healing process. If we are constantly stressed and in pain, our body creates tension in muscles, which restricts blood flow. Reducing pain reduces stress (cortisol), creating a more relaxed body with the parasympathetic nervous system in charge of ‘rest and digest’, and recovery.
When massage is applied in conjunction with specific rehabilitation protocols, it can then enhance the effectiveness of those programs.
Remember the areas I cover are to treat for massage and injury treatment is Newent, Gloucester, Cheltenham and the Forest of Dean. If you have any questions whether I can help you with your specific ache, injury or pain please just give me a message on my contact page.
It has been busy for me getting back to normal with treatments but also moving house and other reasons, but light is at the end of the tunnel (Hence the delay with this email)
Following on from my last mail I've been putting my Jaw mobilisation techniques into good use over the past month or so. I have been finding great results with clients who grind their teeth or have jaw pain.
Therefore if you know anyone who suffers from that, mention this to them and I'll be happy to chat.
A good bit of news in regards to moving house, I am hoping to also start working out of my home 1/2 days a week. Do no worry, the other 3/4 days I'll still be doing mobile and coming to you.
Lastly just a reminder for those of you I have not seen recently, my referral offer is still up and running (will be doing prizes for the top referrers), so if anybody knows someone who has mentioned an injury or pain the past few months feel free to pass this email onto them. They will thank you in the long run, plus it gets you both a great discount as well
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