Frequently Asked Questions

I have an ache or pain that has been bothering me. How do I know if sport and remedial massage therapy (SRMT) can help?
How many sessions will I need?
What happens after the first few treatments?
What is a maintenance massage?
I don’t have a particular problem but am interested in sports massage in conjunction with my training.  What would you recommend for me?
How often should I get a massage?
I’m not a member of Fitness First. Can I still come for a massage?
What if I only want one massage?
Do I have to undress during a massage?

I have an ache or pain that has been bothering me. How do I know if sports and remedial massage therapy (SRMT) can help?

Usually SRMT can help if your complaint is soft-tissue, that is, muscle or connective-tissue, related.  This can be from a number of causes, such as overuse or overtraining, post-workout soreness, or bad posture.  If you’re not sure if what’s bothering you is soft-tissue related, feel free to call or email and we can discuss.

How many sessions will I need?

The general rule of thumb is the amount of treatments you need is proportionate to the amount of time it’s taken to build up – if you’ve had years of bad posture that’s culminated in shoulder pain you will need more treatments than if you have a bad back from sleeping on a dodgy bed while on holiday.  It varies from person to person and the process can be accelerated if you make changes in your day to day life (stretches, improving posture, etc).  We usually say between four to six treatments close together to start, but you may need less or more depending on your individual situation.

What happens after the first few treatments?

Hopefully the first few treatments eliminate or substantially reduce your complaint. Once that happens, it’s up to you whether you feel confident that you can continue with the stretches or adjustments on your own, or if you’d like to have what we call a ‘maintenance massage’.

What is a maintenance massage?

A maintenance massage is a massage at regular intervals to prevent excessive muscle tension build-up so it doesn’t eventually cause a problem.  They are usually monthly or six-weekly, although some people have them fortnightly, and others only every two or three months.  If you do the stretches, exercises or postural adjustments you may not need them at all.  However, many people like the reminder to keep doing their stretches, to have an ‘MOT’, or to keep a check on and identify any patterns that may be causing muscle tension before that tension interferes with their day to day life.

I don’t have a particular problem but am interested in sports massage in conjunction with my training.  What would you recommend for me?

This depends largely on your goals and training.  Many athletes start out coming weekly and then space massages further apart as the initial muscle tension is reduced.  When training for an event you may want to come weekly or fortnightly, but when training less only have one a once a  month or every six weeks.

How often should I get a massage?

This really depends on you. I have some clients who prefer to weekly sessions, as they have difficulty doing enough stretching or other work on their own, or they have a lot of stress and/or are training very hard.  Other clients I may see only once or twice a year, as that’s only how often their neck, shoulder, leg, etc bothers them. With regard to massage for sports performance, when training for an event you may need to come weekly or fortnightly, but then when not training as hard, only once a month. As discussed above, it depends largely on your own individual situation, and it’s not set in stone: we can always increase or decrease frequency based on your needs at the time.

What if I only want one massage?

One massage is fine. We may recommend more than one, depending on your specific situation, but ultimately whether you want one massage or a series is completely up to you.

I’m not a member of Fitness First.  Can I still come for a massage?

Yes, the clinic is open to members and non-members alike.

Do I have to undress during a massage?

While it is preferable to massage directly on the skin, if you are uncomfortable with that and prefer to have a treatment with your clothes on, we can accommodate you. There are a number of techniques that can be done through clothing. Alternatively, you may find wearing a pair of shorts and a singlet or bathing suit top can be a good compromise.