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Welcome to Whangarei Sports & Rehabilitation Clinic
Whangarei Sports and Rehabilitation Clinic is made up of different Therapists with many talents all focused on rehabilitation.
This encompasses many aspects of our health ranging from sports injuries and accidents, dysfunctions of the body, stress relief and management, general wellbeing to Life Coaching.
We fix injuries fast, get you back on your feet and into your favorite sport, and offer guidance on managing your rehabilitation and recovery.
Therapies
Diagnosis and Assessment
The massage therapist practicing principle-based therapy is called in with every patient to plan and choose treatment methods such that they will most appropriately and specifically address the abnormality responsible to the client’s condition and presenting complaint. Prior to developing a treatment plan, a diagnostic assessment mush be performed for the purpose of identifying as closely as possible the location, nature, severity, and cause of the pathology or abnormality from with pain and/or dysfunction orginates.
Massage Therapists use on a daily basis the detailed and lengthy training in soft tissue/musculoskeletal assessment procedures. This makes them efficient and effective in rehabilitation programs.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses the purest plant essence in the form of organic essential oils, which are extracts from various parts of plants, fruits, flowers, bark, roots, or resin. Essential oils contain dozens of powerful complex natural chemicals that have beneficial properties. Due to the diversity of essential oils and their individual therapeutic properties, the range of benefits and effects of Aromatherapy is wide ranging.
Most Aromatherapists will have a holistic approach to client consultation. This provides the information necessary to select the appropriate essential oils for the maximum therapeutic benefit. The selected essential oils are blended with a carrier/base massage oil to create a unique mix for each client's individual needs. This Aromatherapy blend is usually applied to the skin with traditional body massage. Other massage techniques such as deep tissue work may also be used, depending on the Aromatherapist's practice and the client's requirement.
Benefits & Effects
Aromatherapy treatments have both physiological and psychological effects. The combination of massage and the medicinal and therapeutic qualities of the essential oils (molecules both inhaled [aroma] and absorbed through the skin) can soothe, revitalise, uplift the spirit, encourage positive thinking and boost the immune system enabling the body to heal itself.
Physiological Benefits - Aromatherapy massage can:
- enhance lymphatic drainage - this helps to reduce fluid retention and prevent oedema
- induce a feeling of deep relaxation in the body
- help to restore balance in the body
- stimulate the body's natural immune system
- increase the oxygen and nutrient supply to the tissues by increasing the blood circulation
- help to increase energy levels as blockages and congestion in the nerves are eased
Psychological Benefits - Aromatherapy massage can:
- promote a general state of well-being
- calm and soothe the mind
- help to reduce nervous tension
- help to lift the mood and reduce feelings of depression
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is a technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas. Deep friction Massage is highly specific to the function of disrupting adhesions that have formed or may be forming.. This type of treatment is used for maintaining or restoring painless mobility of musculoskeletal structures.. It is considered indispensable in the treatment of many forms of tendonitis.
Deep tissue massage usually focuses on more specific areas and may cause some soreness during or right after the massage, but if it's done right the client should feel better than ever within a day or two.
The technique is often used in combination with other massage procedures such as those used in Remedial and Sports Massage.
Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular Therapy, also known as Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy - applies concentrated thumb/finger pressure to "trigger points" to break cycles of muscle spasm and pain and to improve general function.
These points are painful irritated areas in muscle, congested spots of muscle tissue and areas of restricted blood flow; these can put pressure on nerves, which may radiate pain to other areas. Treatment helps to normalise and eliminate the dysfunction.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
This treatment is far more pleasant than it sounds. Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) helps to rid the body of toxins and excess lymph by stimulating the body's lymphatic system using specific massage techniques.
The lymphatic system is a vital part of our immune system. Part of its function is to drain, transport, filter and remove broken down foreign substances and waste from our tissue.
This gentle, rhythmical, precise, massage-like technique gently moves lymph towards the lymph nodes, where the body can dispose of the waste more easily. The technique is also effective in releasing blockages of lymph flow, which can cause oedema (swelling of the tissues).
Other benefits of the treatment are said to include clearer skin, a better immune system and boosted vitality.
Joint Mobilization Techniques
This involves the movement of a joint beyond the range that can be performed voluntarily by the patient to either overcome mechanical resistance or to produce motion in a direction that cannot be produced through voluntary muscles activity. They are used where a restriction exists due to shortening and/or the formation of adhesions within the connective tissue structures associated with joints, such as occurs with osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, meniscal problems, ligamentous sprains, frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. This technique is intended to achieve a restoration of normal range of motion to encourage elongation of shortened components and to disrupt adhesions that have formed between adjacent structures.
Therapeutic Exercises
This refers to the use of corrective exercises in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction. It is used to prevent muscular atrophy, adhesions, contractures, and to maintain a normal joint range of motion during recovery from injury or disease, and to restore joint and muscle function when these have been compromised. Specific exercises improve muscular coordination, strength, endurance, power, flexibility, develop normal range of motion, and improve balance and stability. Therapeutic exercise includes: therapist-assisted, therapist supervised, and home exercise programs.
Remedial Massage
Remedial massage is one of the most effective and readily available ways to prevent and treat muscle injuries, pain and soreness.
Remedial massage is based on the fact that soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) respond to touch. Most pain is myofascial (soft tissue) in origin. Trigger points (sensitive points in muscles, which radiate or refer pain to various parts of the body) can mimic many conditions. Muscles not only move our joints, they stabilise them, and they provide armor for the internal organs, minor problems with these functions cause more pain than most people realise. Most headaches originate in the muscles of the neck and head. Much of the pain of such conditions as angina comes from the hypercontraction of the chest muscles. Much abdominal and pelvic pain can be caused by trigger points in the abdominal and pelvic muscles. Low back pain and sciatic pain are far more likely to originate in muscles than in vertebral disc problems.
Although many clients who consult a remedial massage therapist have pain as a result of specific injuries (whiplash, falls, sports injuries, etc.), RSI (repetitive strain injuries) and other work-related problems, the vast majority originates in postural (structural) alignment problems that sometimes go back to childhood and adolescence.
Many remedial massage therapists have attained additional training, which usually includes more in-depth study and qualifications in anatomy and physiology. This extra knowledge and understanding will enable the massage therapist to carry out an assessment and provide appropriate treatment for a wide variety of conditions. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before receiving a massage for specific conditions which may not be related to soft tissue.
Treatment employs massage techniques designed to treat both deep and superficial tissues, not dissimilar to those used in sports massage. The remedial massage therapist uses skilled manipulation combined with in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology to bring about pain relief, correcting and normalising the body’s muscles and soft tissues.
Sports Massage
The prime purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Above all, it can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether one is an athlete, ardent keep-fitter or a once a week jogger.
This treatment is not just for the sports person: anyone can benefit from sports massage, including people in physically demanding jobs and those not quite so obvious (occupational, emotional and postural stress may produce many similar characteristics to sports injuries).
Sports massage tends to be deeper and more intense. It is based on the various elements of Swedish massage and often incorporates a combination of other techniques involving stretching, compression, friction, toning, and trigger point response techniques similar to Acupressure and Shiatsu. The skilled therapist brings together this blend of techniques, knowledge and advice during treatment, to work effectively with the client to bring about optimum performance and to provide injury-free training and minimise post event injuries.
There are three areas where sports massage is used to benefit athletes.
Maintenance Massage:
A regular massage treatment programme based on the therapist’s understanding of anatomy and of the muscles used in a given sport and which are likely candidates for trouble. By concentrating on particular muscle groups the therapist can help the athlete maintain or improve range of motion and muscle flexibility.
Event Massage:
Pre-event and post-event massage therapies are tailored for distinct purposes. Pre-event treatment is used as a supplement to an athlete’s warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition. It is tailored to the needs of the athlete and his/her event and can be relaxing or stimulating as appropriate. Post-event massage, on the other hand, is geared towards reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with rigorous exercise. Various sports massage techniques enhance the body’s own recovery process improving the athlete’s ability to return to training and competition, and reducing the risk of injury.
Rehabilitation:
Even with preventative maintenance, muscles cramp, tear, bruise, and ache. Sports massage can speed healing and reduce discomfort during the rehabilitation process.
- Soft tissue techniques employed by sports massage therapists are effective in the management of both acute and chronic injuries.
- Trigger point techniques reduce the spasm and pain that occur both in the injured and "compensation" muscles.
- Cross-fibre friction techniques can help with healing by improved formation of strong and flexible repair tissue, which is vital in maintaining full pain-free range of motion during rehabilitation.
In all cases, such massage techniques are employed in collaboration with other appropriate medical care.
Swedish & Therapeutic Massage
Massage can be defined as the systematic and manual manipulation of the body’s soft tissue for therapeutic purposes promoting health and well-being.
Massage has evolved from a combination of Eastern and Western traditions. By far the greatest advancement of therapeutic massage recorded in history was by a Swedish physiologist named Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839), who created a scientific system of massage movements and techniques known as Swedish Massage. This consists of five basic strokes: effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), friction, tapotement (percussion), and vibration, though all of these strokes are not used on every part of the body.
Today, massage is a multidimensional skill encompassing a wide variety of ever evolving techniques, many of which have their roots in the Swedish system. The general public is now very aware of the value of massage in combating the stresses and tensions of modern living. Athletes, sports people and dancers include massage in their training schedules to aid recovery and to prevent or treat soft tissue injuries.
Most massage therapists utilise Swedish Massage as the foundation for a treatment and blend in various techniques, depending upon training and experience, to address the specific needs of the client. In general, the manipulation of the body’s soft tissue (i.e. the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) using the hands is a gentle, flowing massage technique that uses varying degrees of pressure and stretching movements. It is most commonly used for relaxation and improving well-being.
Gait & Posture Analysis
Gait can be defined as the relative position of the body parts during locomotion in a forward progression (i.e. walking and running-dynamics).
Posture however is the relative position of the body parts in relation to the anatomical position (static – standing still)
The lower limb is dedicated to the vital function of weight bearing and movement. Most pathologies (or disruptions from the norm.) that affect the lower limb ultimately affects gait. This can transfer to foot, knee, hip and lower back pain and discomfort. Gait and posture analysis identifies problems that could be related to something as simple as a fallen arch to a difference in leg length.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
A group of techniques used to facilitate or inhibit muscle contraction or responses. Techniques activates muscle spindles (facilitates Ia endings); sensitive to velocity and length changes. Muscle spindle provides input to higher centers. This facilitates or enhances muscle contraction due to largely peripheral reflex effects (facilitates agonist, inhibits antagonists, facilitates synergists, reciprocal innervation effects).
Basically, this means the tension of the muscle is reset via the brain. This is important for rehabilitation work to increase range of motion and strength. Another important place for PNF is prevention. It strengthens the muscles to support and help stabilize the joints which is important in intensive sport training. Is consists of stretching techniques with a trained therapist however, the therapist can show you ways of working on specific areas during training using alternative techniques.
Service Categories
Aromatherapy, Corporate Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, Mobile Service Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Remedial Massage, Remedial Therapies, Sports Injury Therapy, Sports Massage, Swedish Relaxation Massage, Trigger Point Therapy
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