Asthma
In this distressing condition the muscles of the air passages go into spasm. The resulting narrowing of the airways makes breathing difficult. Allergic reactions, colds, cigarette smoke and particular drugs can trigger attacks.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment to the muscles surrounding the ribs and the diaphragm helps to increase lung expansion and capacity thereby reducing the frequency of attacks.

Back Pain
The back is prone to tension, aches and stiffness. Poor posture (sitting, lifting, gardening, sporting activities) can cause backache. Tension from anxiety is held in the back, especially the upper back and neck. Back pain can refer upwards to the head and downwards to the legs and knees. General Massage treatment helps release tension and stiffness in muscles, and mobilize joints.

A "slipped" disc (Prolapse) can occur from lifting a heavy load whilst bending forward. A jelly-like substance, the nucleus propolsus, is forced outside of the intervertebral disc. This causes acute pain and dysfunction depending upon which structures are affected, for example the compression or impingement of a nerve root. Surrounding muscles go into a protective spasm, thus preventing movement and further damage.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment aims to release muscle spasm and tension. Techniques are used to ease the pressure of the upper and lower vertebrae to the injury site.

Bursitis
Bursitis Caused by excessive pressure or friction bursitis can occur at the shoulder, elbow, knee and Achilles tendon. Housemaid's knee, clergyman's knee and boozer's elbow are forms of bursitis. Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment promotes pain relief and healing. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Caused by over use injury or arthritis, and can occur in pregnancy. Pain, tingling or numbness is felt in the hands and fingers. This condition is due to compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, which is situated at the front of the wrist.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment on the soft tissues relieves the compression thereby alleviating symptoms. Regular massage is a good preventive measure against this condition.

Fractures
You would need to seek medical advice before considering complementary therapies. Treatment can proceed as soon as the injured site is in a plaster cast.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment prevents muscular weakness and adhesions, disperses swelling and promotes healing. Inactive muscles are kept in good tone.

Golfer's Elbow
Pain is experienced at the inner side of the elbow. This condition often affects middle-aged people and those in sporting or occupational activities that require a strong handgrip. Moving the wrist will increase the pain.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment helps to breakdown fibrous scar tissue thereby alleviating symptoms.

Headache
Headache can be caused by muscle tension at the back of the neck and upper shoulder.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment or Classical Massage relieves this tension and removes symptoms.

Muscles/Tendons
Relieve the symptoms of injury to soft tissues, muscles, and tendons.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment, Sports Massage and Classical Massage promote healing, reduce swelling and pain, prevent scar tissue from developing into adhesions thereby increasing tissue mobility.

RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)
Repetitive strain injury consists of any number of medical conditions. They include:- tenosynovitis, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Pains are usually felt anywhere along the arm from the wrist, forearm, elbow and above, and up into the neck and shoulder. There may be nerve pain and numbness from nerve compression.

Continual use of the computer can cause RSI: - the repetition of small rapid movements, working in the same held/awkward posture for long periods, having too few rest-breaks away from the computer, improper workstation set-up, and poor typing technique. Other groups at risk include draftsmen, musicians, meatcutters and assembly-line workers.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment can benefit these conditions (apart from tenosynovitis where massage is unsuitable). See under the specific medical headings for the benefits of massage treatment. Classical Massage is a good preventive measure. Onsite Massage. Nowadays more and more enlightened employers provide onsite massage and stress management in the workplace as a preventive measure.

Sciatica
Compression of the sciatic nerve or inflammation of the nerve (its sheath and connective tissue) can cause sciatica. The nerve entrapment usually occurs in the buttock. Pain may be felt in the low back, the buttock and extend down the back of the leg into the foot.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment consists of massage to warm and relax muscle tension and techniques to release the nerve.

Shoulder Pain
Rotator Cuff Tears - pain is felt at the shoulder. This condition often affects the middle-aged; a tear in the rotator cuff muscles can occur after only slight stress.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment for pain relief, to promote healing and keep the shoulder joint mobile.

Sinus
Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment to clear blocked sinuses. The treatment is useful for catarrh, blocked sinuses, head cold and trigeminal neuralgia (facial nerve pain).

Spondylosis
This is a degenerative condition affecting the spine of the neck. It is associated with wear and tear caused by postural and occupational stress. The lower neck joints are affected and lead to development of a protective pad known as Dowagers Hump.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment consists of massage and exercises to improve posture.

Sprains
Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment and Classical Massage together with remedial exercise will help restore good, stable, function.

Tennis Elbow
Micro trauma occurs to forearm muscles through overuse. The build up of fibrous tissue and loss of elasticity in tissue leads to pain and acute tenderness developing around the outer side of the elbow.

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment helps breakdown fibrous scar tissue enabling restorative healing and normal function.

Whiplash
This injury is caused by the neck being forced backwards followed by a rapid recoil forward bending of the neck, as can occur in car accidents. Resulting in pain and stiffness in the neck and upper shoulders. Pain can radiate upwards to the head and down into the arms. Nerve pain can be felt as pins and needles in the outer side of the hand. Headache is common and may last many months. Other symptoms may include vertigo, visual problems, depression and spine problems (disc rupture).

Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment promotes the healing process, relieves muscle tension so alleviating the symptoms of headache, muscle strain and nerve pain.

Wry Neck
Torticollis - injury to soft tissues/muscles of the neck. Causing the head to be tilted and rotated to the side. One cause is muscle going into spasm. Clinical Assessment and Remedial Massage Treatment consists of massage and stretching techniques to neck and shoulder muscles to encourage the muscle back to normal tone and alleviate pain.