"He knows exactly where the aches, pains and problems are hiding in the body; incredible!"

Cecilie

According to the Association of Soft Tissue Therapists, "Soft Tissue Therapy is the management, manipulation and rehabilitation of soft tissues of the body". 

Soft tissues are muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue and fascia - everything but bones.

Soft Tissue Therapy is a manual physical therapy approach that utilises specific Manipulative Techniques or hands-on Soft Tissue Release Techniques from different modalities, primarily to treat and rehabilitate musculo-skeletal pain and disability.

It is often integrated into comprehensive treatment plans and it is commonly used in sports medicine, injury rehabilitation and pain management settings.

While Soft Tissue Therapy has been born out of remedial massage and structural bodywork, it encompasses a broader range of techniques and approaches, and it is more clinical, more specific and more targeted than a general Swedish, Sports or Deep Tissue Massage.

Over the past 30 years I have developed my own Soft Tissue approach. 

I specialise in the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal problems and their underlying muscular imbalances, using a hands-on treatment approach and acupuncture, as well as teaching patients/clients specific self-help exercises.

I have learned to ‘read the body’, make an assessment and treat accordingly, by releasing specific areas of stress tension and scar tissue, freeing up specific restrictions in the soft tissue which are preventing the body from healing and the musculoskeletal system from functioning effectively.

I treat acute and chronic aches and pains, stiffness and reduced mobility, I assist patience in their rehabilitation from sports or non-sporting injuries, post-surgery rehabilitation and I treat and prevent postural, occupational and stress related problems. (link)

My aim is to alleviate pain, promote tissue healing, restore its normal movements, return bio-mechanical functionality and improve overall physical well-being.

I typically use a combination of manual Soft Tissue Manipulation, integrating numerous Western and Eastern bodywork therapies, Acupuncture and other healing methods, as well individualised stretching and strengthening exercises or postural corrections, to provide the most effective and tailored and person-centred, physical treatment.

• Hands-on Soft Tissue Manipulation and Mobilisation 

I Incorporate various approaches and techniques from Clinical Remedial Massage Therapy (sports and deep tissue massage) and Manipulative Techniques for the Rehabilitation of Sports Injuries (trigger point therapy, myo-fascial release techniques, neuro-muscular techniques and passive or active release techniques) as well as Traditional Eastern Bodywork (Shiatsu, Acupressure, Cupping and Reiki).

• Incorporating Trigger Point Acupuncture or Dry Needling

I am a trained and registered Traditional Acupuncturist and, depending on each individual’s symptoms and treatment preference, I incorporate Trigger Point Acupuncture or Dry Needling into my soft tissue treatments in order to treat the tight knots and tender spots in the hardened muscle, known as myofascial trigger points.

Used safely and skilfully, Trigger Point Acupuncture or Dry Needling are effective and powerful additions to soft tissue therapy, making the hands-on treatments even more effective.

• Incorporating restorative Exercise & Movement

My training as a Yoga teacher and my years of experience of Pilates and Sports Injury Rehabilitation have given me the understanding and knowledge of how to actively involve patients/clients in their unique and appropriate self-help exercise programmes in order to consolidate the work carried out during physical treatments.

Engaging in a collaborative approach doesn’t just make soft tissue therapy more effective, but it speeds-up recovery and helps the patient/client to feel more in control of their own pain or muscular imbalance, and their own recovery. 

It is important to note that individual practitioners within each profession may have their own unique approaches and specialist skills, so there can be variations in practice between different therapists.

Physiotherapists generally focus on prescribing physical exercises and may sometimes provide hands-on manual therapy; Osteopaths and Chiropractors generally focus on releasing stuck joints by performing joint manipulations and spinal adjustments though not focussing on treating the restrictions in the soft tissue.  

I have trained and qualified in a number of physical treatment methods which I use in my Soft Tissue treatments and Bodywork therapies. These include:

Clinical and Therapeutic Massage:

• Swedish Massage
• Sports Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Remedial Massage

Manipulative techniques for the rehabilitation of sports injuries:

• Trigger Point Therapy
• Myo-Fascial Release Technique
• Muscle Energy Technique
• Neuro-Muscular Technique
• Positional Release Technique
• Trigger Point Acupuncture or Dry Needling

Traditional Eastern Bodywork & Acupuncture:

• Shiatsu Acupressure Bodywork
• Reiki and energy work
• Traditional Chinese (TCM) Acupuncture & Japanese Acupuncture
• Cupping

Movement Therapy:

• Yoga and Pilates