London Sports Therapy

Whether you are looking for a stress-relieving or mind-clearing massage, or relief from particular muscular tensions, look no further.

According to your needs and diagnosis, our team can combine a variety of different deep tissue techniques where we can address any chronic tensions or contractions which are causing pain and restriction movement.

Deep Tissue Massage

The Deep tissue massage offered at Optimal Spine & Sport Dimensions is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders.

When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.

Our deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles.

Unlike classic massage therapy, which is used for relaxation, the deep tissue massage offered at Optimal Spine usually focuses on a specific problem, such as:

• Chronic pain
• Limited mobility
• Recovery from injuries (e.g. falls, minor sports injuries)
• Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Postural problems
• Muscle tension or spasm

Our patients often quickly notice an improved range of motion immediately after a deep tissue massage. The deep tissue massage practitioner may use fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms during the deep tissue massage.

During a deep tissue massage session at Optimal Spine, you may be asked to breathe deeply as the massage therapist in London works on certain tense areas and it is important to drink as much water as you can post session to flush metabolic waste from the tissues.

Dry needling

Dry needling is a treatment performed by skilled, trained practitioners, certified in the procedure. A thin monofilament needle penetrates the skin and treats underlying muscular trigger points for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.

So, what is a trigger point?

A trigger point is a local contracture or tight band in a muscle fiber that can disrupt function, restrict range of motion, refer pain or cause local tenderness. When dry needling is applied to a dysfunctional muscle or trigger point, it can decrease banding or tightness, increase blood flow, and reduce local and referred pain.

It’s important to note dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. It uses similar tools, but that’s where the similarities end. Dry needling is performed by different practitioners with different training.

Acupuncture is based on Eastern medicine, while dry needling is rooted in Western medicine and evaluation of pain patterns, posture, movement impairments, function and orthopedic tests.

Dry needling treats muscle tissue, and its goal is to reduce pain, inactivate trigger points and restore function.

Dry needling can be used for a wide variety of musculoskeletal issues, such as shoulder, neck, heel, hip and back pain.