You may have noticed that we have a few different treatment options to choose between. If you’re unsure whether you would benefit most from Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage or Acupuncture, maybe this little guide will help.
I’ll keep it as short and sweet as possible. If after reading this you’re still unsure, please get in touch.
The Pros and Cons of Sports Massage
Despite its misleading name, sports massage can be used to treat more or less any injury in any person.
Pros
- Great for treating acute injuries and complex chronic problems
- Great for pre-event preparation
- Great for post-event recovery
- Very specific
- Targets the problem areas
- Often comes with exercise and training advice
- Scientifically orientated
Cons
- Painful on most occasions
- Not very relaxing
- Often for treating very localised areas
- May involve varying body positions
- May require longer consultation time
Should I book a 30 Minute or 45 Minute session?
If the appointment time is too short for the injury in question, then some part of the treatment might be compromised. This might mean a quicker and potentially less effective consultation or a reduced massage duration. Maybe even both. A longer appointment is a safe bet for larger areas or more complex injuries. While a shorter session would best suit smaller, more specific areas.
Click here to book a Sports Massage session with The Body Sage
The Pros and Cons of Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage uses many of the same techniques employed in sports massage, but is focussed more towards relaxation rather than fixing injuries.
Pros
- More focussed towards relaxation
- Great for treating chronic aches and pains
- Great for general maintenance
- Ideal for a first-timer
- Rarely painful
- Shorter consultation
Cons
- Less focused
- Not aimed at fixing problems
Should I book a 30 Minute or 45 Minute session?
A 30-minute session is more than adequate to perform a neck a perfectly good neck and shoulder treatment for someone who spends most of their day stuck at a desk. But, with 45 minutes, the lower back could be included too. A general leg treatment can be done in 30 minutes or a more intensive one in a 45-minute session.
Click here to book a Deep Tissue Massage session with The Body Sage
The Pros and Cons of Acupuncture
The modern art of inserting fine needles into problematic areas based on the ancient art of inserting needles, only without the esoteric explanations of Qi and balance.
Pros
- Quite pleasant
- Very useful when massage isn’t possible
- Easily combined with massage
- Effective when combined with massage
- Ideal for pain that has been resistant to other treatments
- Almost entirely painless
Cons
- Not for everyone
- Can bring on some unusual sensations
- Some medical conditions may be contraindicated
- Not a replacement for traditional acupuncture
Should I book a 30 Minute or 45 Minute session?
The same rules apply here too. 30-minute sessions for small areas and 45-minute sessions for large ones. If you’d prefer the treatment to be of a more relaxing nature, then the 45-minute session is preferable.
Click here to book an Acupuncture session with The Body Sage
Why don’t you do longer sessions?
Sometimes I do. Usually, if there’s a specific need for it. Other than that it’s a personal preference of mine. A massage takes quite a bit of concentration, digging around trying to find points of tension in individual muscles. It’s like fumbling around in your bag for your keys without looking, only for a really really long time. It can be quite draining, and I hate to compromise a treatment by not being at my best.