Susan Findlay explains how less is more when providing a post event massage. A runner’s needs are different from a swimmer’s needs, and here she highlights how massage therapists can use different massage techniques to adapt to individuals to optimise their post-event recovery
Dawn Morse provides an introduction to iliopsoas tendonitis, more commonly known as snapping hip syndrome. Listing the causes and effects of snapping hip syndrome, she lists the best massage techniques and stretches to help alleviate pain, while providing core stability exercises to help improve long-term stability.
Fascia is essential to stability and movement, and is central in recovery from injury and disability. Here, Emma Gilmore gives an insight to the importance of fascia in relation to everyday life.
With the heavy reliance on technology, the overall mental health of individuals in Western countries is rapidly declining. Here, Rachael Fairweather looks at how the power of touch therapy may be the answer to problems caused by the fast pace of the ever-changing modern world.
Many people talk about networking, but how many times do you plan to network and ÀQG LW WXUQLQJ LQWR D VRFLDO RFFDVLRQ" +HUH Pauline Baxter looks at different ways to build successful networks that will compliment your business and increase your client base.
Diane Matkowski looks at the power of effective communication in order to reach your goals and form solid relationships. She looks at different ways in which you can improve your communication skills, while learning and sharing \RXU RZQ LGHDV ZLWK FRQĂ€GHQFH DQG HORTXHQFH
$IWHU WKH ÀUVW HYHU 1DWLRQDO 0DVVDJH &KDPSLRQVKLS taking place at the Olympia Beauty Show this year, we are excited to announce that Massage World along with CityLux shall be hosting the championship again on Sunday 29th and 0RQGD\ WK 6HSWHPEHU %ULQJLQJ WRJHWKHU QRYLFH DQG PRUH TXDOLÀHG WKHUDSLVWV LW LV an event run by therapists for therapists and is judged by international judges with extensive professional massage therapy experience. 7KH ZLQQHU RI WKH HYHQW VKDOO UHFHLYH D FHUWLÀFDWH DQG D WURSK\ DORQJ ZLWK VRPH JLIWV IURP leading brands and recognition from your industry peers. As a participant, you shall receive a FHUWLÀFDWH RI SDUWLFLSDWLRQ DQG D JRRG\ EDJ RI OHDGLQJ LQGXVWU\ EUDQGV ZRUWK … It was inspiring to see so many people showcasing their techniques and skills over six different categories at this year’s event and we hope to see more participants in 2019!
We are excited to be a proud sponsor of the World Massage Championships over in Copenhagen on the weekend of 22nd and 23rd June 2019. The International Massage Association’s purpose is to promote a range of massage techniques used by experienced massage therapists worldwide, while giving therapists the ability to network with others and ÀQG SURIHVVLRQDO LQVSLUDWLRQ ,W LV D FRPSHWLWLRQ DQG LW JUDQWV SDUWLFLSDQWV WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR strengthen their skills and see who shall take the place of last year’s gold medallist Konstantina Makre from Greece. A diploma shall also be issued to each participant, enabling the massage therapists to brand their business in a new way. Massage World would like to see a good turnout of therapists from the UK just visit the website below to enter.
The SMTO annual conference shall be taking place on the 23rd and 24th March 2019 at the Academy of Sport and Wellbeing in Perth. On both days the event will be presented by John Gibbons who is trained in Osteopathy, Sports Therapy, Exercise Rehabilitation, Spinal Manipulation, Acupuncture DQG 1XWULWLRQ ,W VKDOO EH -RKQ¡V ÀUVW WLPH SUHVHQWLQJ in Scotland and to make the most of his visit, he shall be presenting two days of workshops on Friday 22nd and Monday 25th March. Focusing on advanced soft tissue techniques, the vital gluten and psoas, the shoulder complex and neurological testing over the four days it gives people the opportunity to attend the workshops that shall EHQHÀW WKHP There shall also be The Trade Exhibition on the 23rd and 24th March which is open to everyone and is free of charge. Here, there will be Scottish Massage Schools with details of courses, Songbird Naturals selling their range of massage balms and waxes, Handspring Publishing selling a variety of books and many other exhibitors selling everything from chocolate through to sweatshirts. The SMTO aims to promote the holistic approach to healthcare and the art and science of massage therapy in all forms.
3URPRWLQJ %UHDVW &DQFHU $IWHUFDUH <YHWWH -RUGDQ 8./& 7UDLQLQJ 'LUHFWRU LV ODXQFKLQJ LQ 0DUFK WKH ÀUVW PRQWKO\ /\PSKRHGHPD Awareness Clinic at the Olive Tree Cancer Support Centre in Crawley, West Sussex. An essential education clinic for post breast cancer related issues regarding this terrible condition by addressing early sub-clinical intervention. UKLC has worked alongside The Olive Tree for two years with BCA/LPT therapists Juliette Cross and Anna Parsons helping women recover with Lymphatic Pressure Therapy and the results have exceeded all expectations, now they are very happy to promote this new method of aftercare therapy.
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Health & Wellbeing Awards is now open to register your interest. The Health & Wellbeing Awards is the UK’s premier awards scheme for promoting health and wellbeing and is widely regarded across the industry. Kanye West certainly thinks so and so do many other celebrities including Simon Cowell and Katy Perry. Dr Dot specialises in celebrity massage and has over 1000 licensed massage therapists registered under her business name. To differentiate herself from other therapists, she uses a biting technique which she compares to cupping. Dr.Dot believes it to help oxygen and blood to circulate and promote healing. Its new to us here at Massage World and we can’t help but wonder if we would get insured as therapists in the UK if we incorporated biting into our own routines. What do you think?
It’s not every day you get the chance to see something you lovingly created with your whole heart and soul be transformed into something shared across the world. But that’s just what Rachel Fairweather and Meghan Mari, Directors of Jing Advanced Massage Training and authors of ‘Massage Fusion: The Jing Method for the treatment of chronic pain’, have been honoured to see. 7KLV .RUHDQ WUDQVODWHG GHOLYHU\ RI WKHLU SRSXODU ERRN DUULYHG LQ WKH RIÀFH WRGD\ DQG WKH Jing team couldn’t be prouder. To know that our massage methods and training is being adopted in Korea and China is a fantastic thought. It just proves that the language of touch can cross so many boundaries and that pain is universal – let’s continue to spread the healing word!
Try free classes, revisit old techniqu es and meet like-minded people at the world’s large st yoga show. With over 100 exhibitors ther e, you have access to the best products and serv ices on the market to ensure you are leading the ultimate yogic lifestyle.
Holding four shows under one roof, there shall be a range of inspiring seminars alon g with treatment demonstrations and 750 leading brands offering 1000s of exclusive offers. An event that can’t be missed!
Intouch shall be providing space for companies to interact with a large number of mas sage therapists and bodyworkers. With gues t speakers and workshops available thro ughout the day, it is a great place to learn about marketing strategies, massage in vario us work environments and etiquette with in the workplace. It is a great place to show case your brand as exhibitors can advertise their logo on the touch website.
RXU Ă€UVW FRQVLGHUDWLRQ LV ZKDW type of event it is, as there are VLJQLĂ€FDQW GLIIHUHQFHV EHWZHHQ a client who has just run a marathon and someone who has participated in a swimming competition. Energy expenditure is one consideration, marathon running is an endurance event whereas a swimming competition might only involve a few heats, so obviously, the physiological stress being greater in marathon running, when they come to you their energy stores have been depleted to differing degrees. Soft tissue recovery for endurance sports UHTXLUHV PRGLĂ€FDWLRQV WKDW WDNH WKLV LQWR consideration, so you can understand why I worry when someone says to me that they have been taught to ‘strip the muscles’. In post event work, this is unkind and lacks sensitivity to the condition of the connective tissue and is probably not the best way to deliver an optimum recovery session. Your techniques should always enhance the recovery, not put a further demand on the tissue that causes it to recover from
the massage. Post event work is obviously not an opportunity to employ deep strong techniques like friction or vigorous tapotement. Instead your focus should be to calm the muscles and encourage them to return to the pre-event state. I get very excited when I hear therapists like Robert Schleip Ph.D., (Fascia in Sport and Movement, great book, worth having in your library) who is a respected researcher in WKH ÀHOG RI IDVFLD VWDWH WKDW D VRIWHU PRUH mindful approach is more effective in any given situation. So, how exactly do we determine what techniques we should use DQG ZKDW DUH WKHLU PRGLÀFDWLRQV" Before you make any decisions about which techniques to use, start with your palpation skills, get a sense of the physiological condition of the soft tissue and trust your hands to give you the necessary feedback before deciding. If your client is a rosy cheeked novice marathon runner, probably KDYLQJ MXVW FRPSOHWHG WKHLU ÀUVW HYHQW WR raise funds for charity, this whole experience could be totally new for them, so we would expect the condition of their tissue to be very different from that of a battle scarred and road worn elite athlete. Also, have you considered whether this is WKHLU ÀUVW HYHU PDVVDJH" , NQRZ \RX ZRXOG think that anyone who is running a marathon or performing high level sport would have included massage as part of their training, but this is not so, even with today’s level of awareness about what makes a more effective training regime you will still come across those who do not utilise massage. If this is the case, your approach will need to EH VLJQLÀFDQWO\ WHPSHUHG XVLQJ VORZHU DQG lighter movements. Injuries are common, especially with novice marathon runners. You will come across things like strains, sprains, contusions, stress fractures, spasms, cramps, the effects of dehydration and low fuel levels. If you go in too heavy you could exacerbate these conditions. A sign that a stress fracture is
present is their reaction to your touch, it will include intense sharp pain, therefore it is important to assess the VLWXDWLRQ JHQWO\ Ă€UVW or you could be the reason for a more serious injury. With cramps or spasms, you can sometimes see the tissue moving, other times you can feel it. If you have never witnessed someone experiencing a spasm or cramp have a look at this example: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqWl61tnsIQ If a participant comes to you with an apparent injury, you should follow the acute injury protocols that you have been taught that predominantly focus on interventions that exclude hands on work. If you have been working and travelling with a team and are very familiar with their needs as a post recovery therapist, your approach might be quite different, it might include more advanced soft tissue interventions that would help to either stabilize, adjust and reset functional movement, however it is technically not the same as post event work. Recovery sessions are in great demand for sports massage therapists, especially during seasonal work for local sports teams and clubs that take place outdoors i.e. rugby, football, tennis, running etc. It is certainly worth checking out, especially if one of these sports really interests you, as it is a great way to network and get your foot in the door. In summary, even before you start, it is necessary to understand the type of event they’ve participated in, the state of their tissue health, if they have any injuries and what their training experience has been including massage. Now let us move onto the actual massage. Less is more. The body is very smart and the idea that we are the ‘healers’ is tempered by the tissue’s ability to do the job, an ability honed by millions of years of evolution and natural selection. However, with an eye on future employment opportunities, we have a role to play, but we need to understand what that role is and I would say that it is to assist and support the