Massage Therapy
What is massage therapy?
The term ‘massage therapy’ can be used at a range of occasions and can include several techniques which a clinician such as a physiotherapist, osteopath, manual therapist or alternative therapist may use on a client in order to elicit a desired outcome.
These may include:
- Deep tissue or ‘sports’ massage
- Relaxation or ‘swedish’ massage
- Pre- or post-event massage
Do I need massage therapy?
Massage and manual therapy can be a helpful tool in many cases. However, it is important that when you see a physiotherapist or other clinician, that you are fully aware of the realistic expected outcome of the sort of techniques listed above.
Much has changed in the past decade in our understanding of the direct physiological and physical effect of massage therapy, and so it is important that we do not overstate the impact or expected outcome of using various forms of massage therapy.Â
Here are a few myths that have been busted over the past decade:
Massage can improve range of movement or flexibility.
While massage can be helpful at making sore tissues feel better, research over the past few years has found that massage itself cannot make a significant change to muscle flexibility or joint mobility lasting more than a few hours.
Massage can improve blood flow.
Recent research using doppler ultrasound techniques has found that blood flow and the internal temperature of a muscle does not change after prolonged focused massage over the area.
Massages can break down adhesions and scar tissue.
Adhesions and scar tissues are bands of fibrous tissues which can sometimes form following surgery or injury. In some cases, this can be a normal phase of healing and is often over-diagnosed without good clinical reasoning. Just because something feels stiff or ‘tight’ does not mean it has scarred. Even still, it has been found with studies on cadavers that it takes a minimum of 9075N or 925KG of force to lengthen a tissue by 1%. Surgeons need scalpels to move connective tissues, we can’t do it with our thumbs! Â
Can massage therapy help me if I’m in pain?
Some of the expected benefits from these types of manual therapy techniques are:
Stress relief:
Pain relief:
Improved quality of sleep:
When should I avoid massage therapy?
- Acute injury: Massage therapy should not be used in the early stages of injuries, i.e.: in the 3-5 days immediately after an injury. Massage therapy can be irritating to damaged or vulnerable tissues, can disrupt healing tissues and may detrimentally impact recovery.
- Open wounds: Massaging around open wounds or damaged skin (e.g.: sun damaged or severely dry and broken skin). This can significantly increase the risk of infection and can slow down healing.
- Illness or acute infection: If you are acutely unwell or fighting an infection, massage therapy should be avoided. Massage therapy can be irritating to soft tissues and has been known to temporarily increase the demand on the immune system which in turn can leave you more exposed to the impact of active infections or illnesses.
- Severe pain or severe muscle spasms: While massage is thought to be beneficial for ‘loosening’ tight muscles, severe spasms can be very stubborn, and unnecessarily treating them with massage or manual therapy can often make them worse as the spasm can tighten when pressure is applied.
Massage therapy helps:
When undergoing active cancer treatment.
If you have a contagious skin condition.
If you are experiencing complications associated with pregnancy.
If you have a fracture or broken bone.
Satyajit Velaskar2025-08-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tennis elbow pain issue resolved in 3 physio - therapy sessions with Richard Saxton. Back to Badminton and Cricket as normal. Many thanks Emma Thorpe2025-07-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was referred to Chews Health for shockwave therapy for long term IT Band syndrome. Jon Shurr was excellent at talking me the through the process, setting my expectations and listening to my concerns. I just expected to receive the intervention with Jon but what I actually got was a patient-centred, holistic approach to my condition. Jon was excellent at setting physical challenges to test my knee pain and amending approaches when needed. Having completed my course of shock wave therapy I am feeling the improvements and continue to challenge my knees!! I am so pleased with the success of this therapy and am very grateful to Jon. David Heydecker2025-07-04Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Outstanding care and a well-tailored set of stretches and exercises to address my problems and to keep me in shape. Thank you, Jack! Eleanor McCarthy2025-05-22Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have had a great experience here. I went for a knee injury and they’ve helped me so much build my strength back up. I would definitely recommend. The staff are lovely and really care about your improvements and your injury. Very thankful! Vipul Garg2025-05-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommended. My Physio (Jack initial assessment and follow up with Fio) completely understood the issue and worked with me to fix the issue. Thanks for you help. Dorothy Scholes2025-05-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would highly recommend Chews Health. I have seen Jon for help with improving muscle strength in my arms and legs. I am in late 70's and presently seeing him every week because of hip pain. The exercises are helping me cope with an ongoing problem. Thank you. Dot Ella Wild2025-05-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jack was incredibly helpful in advising on, and treating, my knee injury which was preventing me from training for the Manchester marathon. Jack was able to explain the cause in a really clear way and created a bespoke training and physio plan which enabled me to run the marathon without the level of pain I had been experiencing. Jack has also significantly improved my running form through his advice and the use of the high tech equipment and analysis software available in each session. Thanks to Jack for enabling me to complete the marathon (and enjoy it!) and for continuing to support on my running journey! Martha Pearson2025-02-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service. Jack was honest and straightforward explaining the rationale behind exercises/decisions. Pragmatic approach focused on getting me safely back to sport Ruth Shearn2025-02-10Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Have waited a few months post-treatment to write a review - just to be certain! Quite simply, I can't recommend these guys highly enough. I went to them with two badly damaged knees (miniscus tears). Having had three arthroscopes over the years, I was completely resigned to needing surgical intervention again. The Chews team had different ideas. After showing me the latest research findings, they assured me my knees could be rehabilitated without a scalpel. I had just a handful of sessions with them and am delighted to report that, six months on, my knees are great! I'm running 5k twice a week (don't laugh, I loathe running and am no spring chicken) without any pain and have taken up tennis. Everyone at Chews is passionate about their subject, knowledgeable, reassuring and friendly. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Nathan May2025-02-04Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Couldn’t recommend Chews health enough. Jack’s experience and expertise allowed me to identify my problems and gradually build the strength and ability to return to running pain free.Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 116 reviews