What causes muscular neck pain?
There are many reasons for neck pain but one of the most common causes is the muscles surrounding the neck (The traps and the levator scapula) have been overused and strained. Some of the common symptoms that you may feel if you are experiencing muscular neck pain include; stiffness, soreness, pain in your shoulder and arm and possibly headaches.
your symptoms may increase when trying to look over your shoulder typically when driving or crossing the road.
What causes muscular neck pain?
There is often no one cause of muscular neck pain as it can often be attributed to multiple different factors. One of the most common causes is spending prolonged periods of time in one posture such as sitting or standing at a desk without a change of position. This makes the muscles work in a sustained position which will cause them to become strained and also increase pressure on the spine.
Poor posture is another major contributor to neck pain as it will increase the strain on the ligament, muscles and tendons causing them to become overstretched and painful. Our head weighs about 12 lbs which is a large weight for our neck muscles and joints to sustain at all times. Additionally, if we are slumped or leaning our head forward in a bad posture the muscles have to work even harder due to gravity putting extra pressure on our head. This will increase the strain on the neck muscles resulting in pain over time.
Often people believe their muscular neck pain is caused because of tightness in the muscles but the majority of the time it can be due to weakness in muscles such as the upper traps. These people report their symptoms are worse as the day goes on or when working for longer periods when the muscles become fatigued.
Other factors that can also be linked to muscular neck pain is when there are increased periods of stress or anxiety in our lives. When we are stressed we often hunch our shoulders and in doing this we are increasing the load on our neck muscles and soft tissue.
What is the treatment for muscular neck pain?
As there are numerous reasons that cause this pain the treatment can also be multifactorial, this does not make it complicated! You will need to correct any bad habits such as posture or prolonged sustained positions.
- Good Posture: Work on maintaining a good spinal and head posture throughout the day, try to avoid slumping or letting your head lean forward.
- Avoid sustained positions: If you have a job that requires you to spend long times in the same position, try to have regular breaks or stretch and move your neck and spine.
- Good ergonomics. Ergonomics refers to your workplace setup. Ensure t that there is a good position of your desk height, the computer screen is at eye level, you are using an external keyboard and a good supportive chair.
- Physiotherapy: There are a variety of techniques that physios can help to treat the pain including soft tissue therapy, dry needling, strengthening and stretching exercises.
- Strengthening: Increasing the strength of the muscles that support the head and neck will allow your body to be able to cope with greater loads.
Will the pain go away?
People with muscular neck pain often make a very good recovery and can take between four to six weeks for all symptoms to fully resolve when they undergo some of the lifestyle changes listed above and begin a strengthening program of the neck and upper back muscles.
Is there anything to worry about?
Generally, no, most neck pain comes from a non-serious source.
However, If you suffer from any combination of the following symptoms along with your neck pain, please seek immediate medical attention at your local A&E;
- Dizziness
- Double vision
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Fainting or collapse
- Significant nausea
- Numbness around your mouth or lips
- A metallic taste or
- Difficulty controlling your legs.
If you think you have muscular neck pain and want to book an appointment with a specialist physiotherapist or have any questions do not hesitate to contact us at 01223 914140 or e-mail us at enquiries@vineryroadstudios.co.uk
Neck pain: self-help tips & exercises for pain relief
Why does my neck hurt?
Sore, tender points in the muscles around your upper shoulders and neck can be triggered by sitting for long periods.
So with the average person sitting for about 9 hours every day, it’s not surprising that muscular pain is one of the most common causes of neck pain.
How can I relieve my neck pain?
- Heat pack – using a wheat pack or hot water bottle to increase blood flow and relax sore muscles will give some temporary relief from pain. Apply the pack for up to 15 minutes and afterwards complete some simple neck exercises.
- TENS machine – this small, battery-powered device adheres to your skin via sticky pads (electrodes) and transmits small electrical signals which reduce pain and the effects can last for up to 4 hours. You do have to be careful where you place the pads around your neck though, so take a look at this guide.
- Trigger point balls – gentle, sustained pressure directly onto a sore muscular point using a massage ball, golf ball or tennis ball by leaning on the ball up against a wall can be a very effective way to relieve pain. Again, it’s helpful to do this before completing a simple programme of neck exercises to maintain the benefit for longer.
- Set up your workstation carefully (especially if you are working from home) – some really helpful and quality resources to guide you can be found here.
- Upper back and neck mobility programme – try our 10-minute physiotherapy programme below to relieve upper back and neck pain. I recommend doing it once a day.
- Move regularly – go for a short walk, jog on the spot, complete 20 step-ups… anything to get your blood flowing. See our guide to ‘habit stacking’ to help you create healthy movement habits for the long term.
We hope this programme helps you but for more specific advice, please don't hesitate call us to discuss how massage at our Cambridge clinic could help you.
Is sleep really that important?
Sleep is essential at any age. Sleep powers the mind, restores the body, and strengthens virtually every system in the body. National Sleep Foundation guidelines advise that healthy adults need between 7- 9 hours of sleep per night. Getting the recommended hours of good quality sleep has multiple benefits for our bodies such as:
- Boost your immune system: When your body gets the sleep it needs, your immune cells and proteins get the rest they need to fight off whatever comes their way
- Help prevent gaining weight: If you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces a hormone that boosts appetite, which can lead to increased snacking
- Reducing stress: when you don’t sleep enough you get more stressed as your body releases more stress hormones ( cortisol)
- Strengthen your heart: Not getting enough sleep can lead to heart health problems like high blood pressure or heart attacks. the stress hormone mentioned above (cortisol), triggers your heart to work harder
- Increases Productivity: sleep has been linked to improved concentration and higher cognitive function
- Improved mood: Being rested helps your energy levels soar. When your energy is up, life’s little challenges won’t annoy you as much
- Improved memory function: During sleep, your mind is processing and consolidating your memories from the day.
- Increased exercise performance: Sleep helps with hand-eye coordination, reaction time and muscle recovery.
What does sleep have to do with physiotherapy?
Sleep quality and quantity can have an effect not only on your pain levels but also on your likelihood of getting an injury and your tissue healing time.
When you don’t sleep very well your central nervous system becomes heightened releasing cortisol (stress hormone) which can make everything a bit more sensitive, therefore the pain from your injury will feel more intense.
When you sleep your body goes into regeneration mode and it heals, hence why sleep is often referred to as ‘restorative’. Now if the quality of your sleep is altered or the amount reduced this means that the nutrients and chemicals your body uses to repair are less available and therefore an injury will take longer to recover from.
In addition to this tendons, ligaments and muscles are not being fully restored and a lack of sleep reduces your reaction time therefore you are more likely to get injured.
The benefits listed above of sleep-increased exercise performance are also invaluable to physiotherapy. As part of your rehab, we are often working on strengthening your muscles and improving your exercise performance. Depriving yourself of sleep can have a negative impact on strength and power.
How can I improve my sleep and quality of sleep?
There are many practical steps you can take to aid sleep and sleep quality
- Your bedroom should be a relaxing environment. Try to minimize external noise, light, and artificial lights from electrical devices. Make sure your bedroom is a quiet, relaxing, clean, and enjoyable place with a comfortable temperature.
- Reduce electrical items in the bedroom such as televisions, mobile phones, and laptops. Replace using your mobile phone as an alarm clock with a natural waking alarm clock.
If you want to book an appointment with a specialist physiotherapist or have any questions do not hesitate to contact us at 01223 914140 or e-mail us at enquiries@vineryroadstudios.co.uk
Tags: Cambridge Massage, Massage in Cambridge
Is it worth buying a standing desk?
If you’re thinking about investing in a standing desk, then you are probably already aware that our bodies are not designed to sit still for long periods of time, even if you have found the perfect ergonomic chair. However, standing desks are expensive so it’s only natural to question how useful one might actually be for you.
Let’s consider a common office scenario … you have a sedentary job and could easily spend all day sitting at your desk. You become really engrossed in your work and before you know it, several hours have gone past and the only parts of you that have moved are your fingers on the keyboard and the one arm you use to control your mouse. At the end of a full day of work you’re likely to feel stiff and achy, you might have some upper or lower back pain and you’re probably feeling tired and sluggish. Sound familiar?
Increasing the amount you move during your working day will lubricate your joints, prevent muscles becoming short and tight, boost your circulation and metabolism and improve energy levels. Standing desks are a way to achieve this without disturbing your workflow and for many people with back pain, standing at a desk often improves posture and activates your core and buttock muscles, which support your back.
Standing desks also give you more freedom to move easily. You can march on the spot or stretch and bend more freely and all of this extra movement adds up to a big difference in how you’ll feel by the end of your working day.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend simply standing for eight hours a day either. Alternating between sitting and standing gives the best of both worlds and it’s worth bearing in mind that initially you will have to build up your body’s endurance for working while standing. Start off by standing for 15-20 minutes then sit back down for 40 minutes. As you get accustomed to this, you can gradually increase the length of time standing and reduce the length of time sitting.
Investing in remedial massage on a monthly basis will also significantly help to relieve aches and pains, reduce stress and anxiety and improve the physical condition of your muscles. You can also try our seated stretching programme for another great way to increase the amount of movement in your working day:
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch,
The Cambridge Massage Therapy Team
How to eat to help your injury heal
If you have ever wondered if there was anything else you could be doing to help your injury heal more quickly, then the answer is yes.
Eating high quality, nutritious foods will not only provide the fuel and building blocks for faster healing but also reduce your risk of getting an injury in the future.
Nutrients are either categorised as essential or non-essential. Essential nutrients are what you must get from your diet, meaning your body cannot beg, borrow, steal or manufacture them. These include amino acids (the building blocks of protein), Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), vitamins and minerals.
Protein
The word protein comes from the greek meaning ‘first importance’. So the first thing to consider when looking at your overall nutritional requirements is whether or not you are getting enough protein. A good goal is to aim for between 1.5 - 2.0 grams of protein per kilo of bodyweight.
This is higher than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) but it’s important to understand that the RDA advises on the minimum amount your body requires to ensure you aren’t nutritionally deficient, rather than the optimal amount of protein needed to help heal the body from injury or recover from regular training.
This doesn’t necessarily mean eating meat or animal derived products. Vegetarians and Vegans can combine foods to create whole proteins very effectively.
Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3 and 6)
EFAs are the fats you must get from your diet, as your body is unable to store them. Omega-3 is found in fish, some meats and flaxseeds with Omega-6 being found in nuts and seeds.
The key here is to ensure you are getting them from a variety of sources and the good news is that increasing your healthy fats intake can cause your body to burn more calories at rest. Consuming EFAs can also reduce chronic inflammation within the body and lead to improvements in skin and hair health, improved reproductive function, stronger bones and the health of your muscles, tendons and ligaments (your soft tissues).
Vitamins and minerals
We recommend considering a supplement with extra Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc.
Vitamin D
Good levels of Vitamin D in your body will improve injury and wound healing and can decrease the risk of many chronic illnesses.
Our main source is from exposure to sunlight (UVB) which triggers our skin to make Vitamin D. However there are times of the year (September to April) when, depending on where you live, little UVB reaches the earth’s surface so it’s impossible for you to make any Vitamin D and this may last up to 6 months of every year. Also, if you use a sun block of SPFA 8 or more during the summer months, it can block absorption of UVB by as much as 50%. Of course, we’re not advising anyone not to use sun cream, rather just highlighting the reasons why you might want to consider taking a Vitamin D supplement year round and suggesting that you might want to consider increasing the amount you are taking when you have an injury.
Vitamin D is better absorbed in larger doses. So rather than taking a small dose daily, we recommend dividing your weekly dosage into two larger amounts, e.g if you take 7000iu’s per week, take 4000iu’s on a Monday and 3000iu’s on a Thursday.
Calcium
Calcium not only improves bone health but also has a role to play in soft tissue repair.
So if you are injured, it can really help to increase the amount of leafy green vegetables in your diet (an excellent source of calcium), even if you are taking a supplement which has this element in it.
To help you absorb the Calcium, you must also ingest a source of Magnesium and Vitamin D. Luckily magnesium is also found in leafy greens but if you’re not a fan of spinach then you can also find it in nuts, brown rice and wholegrain bread. Mushrooms and fortified foods like cereal are good sources of Vitamin D.
Zinc
Zinc is a major player in every stage of repair in your body.
Not having enough Zinc in your body (Zinc deficiency) slows down tissue healing and increasing the levels of this element will accelerate recovery.
Beef, chicken, tofu, pork, nuts, seeds, lentils, yogurt, oatmeal and mushrooms are all very high in Zinc, so excellent sources.
Final thoughts …
The quality of your food should be the very best that your budget can allow, although price does not always dictate quality.
Sleep quality and quantity also plays a vital role in recovery, so for tips on improving your sleep quality you can read more here.
If you have any questions about optimising your recovery from injury, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
The Cambridge Massage Therapy Team
Why sleeping badly causes pain and practical tips for getting a good nights sleep
You might wonder why your massage therapist would be concerned with how you are sleeping. Well, sleep quality and quantity significantly affects not only your pain levels but also the likelihood that you will sustain an injury and the time it takes for you to heal. So sleeping well is an important part of both your general wellbeing and your body’s capacity to heal.
What happens in your body when you don’t sleep well
Poor sleep causes increased sensitivity in your nervous system, so any aches and pains in your body may feel more intense when you haven’t slept well or for long enough (like turning up the volume on a radio). Quite literally, things get on your nerves more easily when you are tired.
The effect of poor sleep isn’t just limited to the nervous system, it’s also thought to actually cause muscular pain and tenderness itself (trigger points). This is a vicious cycle because the development of muscular pain from a sleep disorder may then prevent quality sleep and rest, causing further symptoms to develop and so on.
Finally, when you sleep your body goes into regeneration mode and it heals, hence why it is called ‘restorative sleep’. Any wear and tear in the soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) from normal daily activity should be repaired while you sleep, so your tissues remain healthy and pain-free. If you aren’t sleeping well, the nutrients and chemicals your body produces to repair your tissues are less readily available and subsequently they may not be fully restored during the night as they should. So your potential for developing an injury is increased and the time it takes to recover may be longer.
How to improve the quality of your sleep
There are many practical steps you can take to help maintain a healthy sleeping pattern. Start small and try to gradually change your habits step by step:
- Ensure your room is as dark as possible. This may mean using blackout blinds and curtains in combination and removing all electrical lights including your mobile phone and even the standby LED light from a television. Research has shown that shining even a small light onto the skin near someone’s leg disrupts their sleeping rhythm.
- Remove as many electrical items as possible from your bedroom. Having at least 30 minutes away from electrical items prior to sleep improves sleep quality. Ideally, even the wifi should be turned off as there are studies which have shown that wifi signals in the house can actually disrupt sleep. You can also try a natural waking alarm clock. These have also been shown to reduce cortisol levels in your body by waking people more gently.
- Make a list. If you have a very overactive brain, write a very comprehensive to-do list for the next day. Then put the list in a draw and close it, so it is ready for the next day and your brain can turn off.
- Write down 3 things that have happened to you that day that you are grateful for and one thing you want to happen that is within your control. This ‘grateful log’ method has been shown to change brain patterns into a more relaxed state which can help with sleep.
- Eat good quality food. Having a high protein and high fat breakfast with an evening meal which is higher in carbohydrate has been shown to give more balanced energy levels throughout the day and will potentially help you sleep better. Make sure you avoid caffeine after lunch and ingest no more than 200mg of caffeine per day (the equivalent of one cup of good quality fresh coffee or two cups of instant). You can read more about eating well to relieve pain here.
- Get good quality exercise. When you exercise will no doubt largely depend on your schedule, however if you feel energetic and pumped up after exercise it’s probably best to train in the morning. Whereas if you feel tired and lethargic after exercise then training later in the day will probably suit you better.
- Supplement with good quality zinc and magnesium. These two minerals taken together help your body to absorb the other more efficiently and have been shown to help improve sleep. Cost does not always indicate a good quality supplement but if the company also provides supplements in either Norway or Canada you can be confident to buy, as the stipulations on quality of supplements in these two countries is very high.
I hope you find some of these strategies helpful and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all.
Kindest Regards
The Cambridge Massage Therapy team.
Self massage for headaches
We all know the debilitating effects of a bad headache, but luckily most of us don’t have to suffer them too often.
- For some people however,
- they are a frequent occurrence and using pain medication to get through them doesn’t actually tackle the underlying cause.
- Headaches can have a number of causes;
- hormonal changes as part of your monthly
- cycle or the early stages of pregnancy, dehydration, eye strain from staring at a computer, muscle tension in your neck and shoulders or the stress of a complicated and busy life!
There may be some things that you can’t change about your work or home life but if muscle tension in your neck and shoulders is part of the problem there are some positive steps that you can take to treat this yourself at home.
Which muscles can cause headaches?
There are number of muscles in the neck which when they become tense can develop trigger points which can refer pain to different parts of your head.
One of the major culprits of head pain is a muscle called sternocleidomastoid.
This is a thick muscle at the front of your neck which runs from the base of your scull, just behind your ear, to the point where your collar bones meet in the centre of your chest. To treat trigger points within this muscle you simply need to squeeze it between your thumb and curled fingers in a pincer grip. It is easier to grab hold of the muscle if your head is tilted towards the side that you are treating. As you work your way along this muscle squeezing different sections you will find that some points are tender and you might also feel pain referred to different parts of your head. When you find such a point, hold it so that the pain is easily bearable and just hold it for about 20 seconds and you should start to feel the pain subside as the muscle begins to let go. You can go back and treat this point two or three times and each time the pain should reduce.
Another muscle that can harbour trigger points that refer pain to your head are the sub-occipital muscles, the tiny muscles located just below the base of your skull.
You can apply pressure to these muscles up using a spiked massage ball. Use the ball up against a wall on lying on your back on the floor to apply gentle pressure to any tender points along the base of your skull. Hold for 5–10 secs until the pain begins to reduce.
If you tend to clench your jaw you might find that this is an area where you hold tension.
You can ease this by massaging the chunky masseter muscle that runs between your cheek bone and your lower jaw bone. You can massage this muscle using circular motions on the outside of your jaw to encourage it to relax. You can again treat any trigger points lurking in this muscle by gently pressing into it the muscle and holding pressure on any tender spots.
Hopefully you will find these self-massage techniques a useful tool for easing your headaches, but just a quick word of warning … you are pregnant or if your symptoms persist for several days it is advisable to see your GP or midwife.
Fibromyalgia and massage
What are the typical symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Young or old, male or female, Fibromyalgia is a chronic muscle pain condition that can affect anyone.
Our patients who have fibromyalgia often describe their pain as being felt in lots of different parts of their body at the same time or moving from one place to another. Poor quality of sleep, reduced mobility, anxiety and depression are also common features of this condition.
How massage helps relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia can’t be cured with massage but regular treatments can significantly reduce the impact of your symptoms in the following ways:
Relief of pain - remedial massage techniques can be used to reduce muscle tension, relieve localised sore spots in the muscles (trigger points) and improve joint mobility. The type of techniques used should be tailored to your particular needs and as they will be different to others who have fibromyalgia and may even vary for you from day to day.
Improved quality of sleep - treatments that are carried out in the evening will help you relax and boost your body’s production of serotonin, a hormone that helps you sleep. Improved quality of sleep will help your body to better repair itself and leave you feeling more rejuvenated in the morning and less fatigued throughout the day.
Alieviating headaches – headaches can be triggered by muscle tension and pain coming from the neck and upper shoulders. This is common if you have fibromyagia. Therapeutic massage techniques to relieve muscle tension and pain can reduce the severity and frequency of headaches and give you a feeling of greater mental clarity. These are also techniques you can be taught to apply yourself at home.
Reduced anxiety and depression - seeing a massage therapist who takes the time to listen and works in partnership with you can help with feelings of anxiety and depression.Therapeutic massage also significantly lowers blood pressure and helps reduce the physical effects of stress and anxiety.
What type of massage is best for Fibromyalgia?
Depending on how your symptoms are on the day, your treatment it is likely to consist of gentle relaxing strokes combined with slightly firmer pressure in areas where this feels comfortable and will be beneficial to you.
Your massage therapist might use light trigger point work and incorporate myofascial release techniques. They may ask you to practice breathing exercises during your treatment to help you relax and these are great techniques for you to use between treatments at home too.
It’s really important to see a remedial massage therapist who has experience treating patients with fibromyalgia, so they have a good understanding of your condition as communication and a flexible approach to your treatment is key.
Please don’t hestitate to get in touch if you have any questions at all.
Aromatherapy during pregnancy
Congratulations, you’re pregnant! You’re already looking forward to ‘pregnancy glow’, extra thick luscious locks of hair and being able to feel less guilty about eating chocolate cake.
Unfortunately, there are also a number of less pleasant symptoms associated with pregnancy and alleviating them can’t always involve medication, now that you’re being more careful about what you put into your body.
The good news is that for a natural approach, aromatherapy and the use of essential oils can be very effective.
6 common pregnancy problems that can be improved with aromatherapy:
Insomnia – You might find you are exhausted but for some reason can’t sleep. There are a number of essential oils with sedative properties which you could use to help. Try a warm bath before bed with some candles and calm music and add the following relaxing blend: Two teaspoons (10ml) of grapeseed oil (you can use other base oils), 1 drop of neroli essential oil (Citrus aurantium var. amara (flos)) and 1 drop of sandalwood essential oil (Santalum album).
Nausea – If you’re feeling nauseous during the first trimester you can try putting a drop of ginger (Zingiber officinale) or peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) on a tissue that you can carry around with you and smell whenever you start to feel queasy. This should make you feel more refreshed, clear your head and help to block out any smells that have triggered your spell of nausea.
Constipation – The pregnancy hormones running through your body, along with a reduction in space for your digestive system, can cause digestion to slow down and lead to constipation. To help relieve this try doing some gentle abdominal massage in a clockwise direction using the following massage blend: Two teaspoons (10ml) of grapeseed oil, 1 drop of sweet marjoram essential oil (Origanum marjorana) and 1 drop of sweet orange essential oil (Citrus aurantium var. sinensis).
Spots – You signed up for a healthy glow and instead you got teenage acne! Don’t despair. Try using this blend of anti-microbial and astringent essential oils in a fragrance-free base lotion or facial wash to try and combat them: 10ml of base lotion or facial wash, 1 drop of petit grain essential oil (Citrus aurantium var. amara (fol)) and 1 drop of lemon essential oil (Citrus limonum).
Itchy skin – This particular symptom can be irritating but shouldn’t be ignored during pregnancy ns you should make sure you mention it to your midwife. If she’s happy that there are no serious underlying causes, you could try using the following blend as a body moisturiser: 10ml of jojoba oil or fragrance free balm, lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) and 1 drop of German chamomile (Matricaria recutica).
Headaches – This is another symptom that can be brought on by changes in hormones or muscular tension, but again make sure you talk to your midwife about your headaches if they are frequent and/or intense. To try and ease a headache, rather than reaching for the paracetamol try a cold compress using 100ml of cold water, 1 drop of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) and 1 drop of peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita).
It is important that the oils you are using for self-treatment are not only effective but are pleasant to you. If the above blends don’t appeal, getting in touch with a qualified aromatherapist who can tailor a blend to your personal needs and preferences is always a great idea.
Massage for stress and anxiety
Most people know having a regular massage is great for our physical health, but did you realise that it can also be a valuable tool for helping to maintain good mental health?
Massage therapists are well aware of the link between body and mind and the impact that one can have on the other. For example, many persistent pain conditions are closely linked with stress and anxiety. This becomes a vicious cycle when muscle tension - often in the shoulders and neck - associated with being anxious or stressed causes pain and so the cycle continues.
Stress and anxiety also causes your body to produce a chemical called cortisol. This has the effect of making your nervous system more active, like turning up the volume on a radio, so your experience of pain is likely to be greater if you are stressed or anxious.
Therapeutic massage not only helps to relieve any physical pain and reduce muscle tension but it also helps to lower your blood pressure and boosts your bodys production of a hormone called serotonin ( a horomone that reduces the release of cortisol). This has an immediate and positive effect on both physical and mental health and reduces sleep disturbance.
Massage helps your body to return to a state of feeling safe and relaxed and gives you some time to tune out the chatter of your mind. It’s a positive, nurturing experience for your whole system which will leave you feeling mentally clearer, with renewed energy.
In modern society there are also many people who are rarely touched physically and this can have profound emotional consequences. The emotional benefits of a massage can be intensified by having a treatment with a therapist who is also a qualified aromatherapist. A personalised blend of oils might be recommended for their individual pharmacological properties when absorbed through your skin or by stimulating the emotional centres in your brain (limbic system) through your sense of smell. This blend of oils can be provided with an inhaler, so that the powerful emotional associations we all have with smell can be used as a tool at other times to help you relax and remain calm.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions at all.
The Cambridge Massage Therapy team.