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Sports and Remedial Massage - History

Massage has been in use for thousands of years, as part of wider medical practices and as a standalone treatment. In China, massage was known as early as 2760 BC. Hippocrates (460-360 BC) also recorded details of treatment, and the ancient Greeks are credited with giving massage wider social acceptance. The Roman physician Galen (131-201 AD) wrote extensively on the subject. Massage was also used by the ancient Egyptians and the practitioners of Indian Vedic medicine.

Traditional methods were lost in the Middle Ages, but European surgeons and physicians revived the use of massage from about the mid-sixteenth century. These practices have continued until the present day. The earlier Society of Trained Masseuses of 1894 was licensed by the Board of Trade in 1900, and, after extensive use of massage in the First and Second World Wars, became the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists in 1943.

Sports massage became popular as a therapy with the increase in health and fitness awareness in the 1980s and 1990s, and the wider availability of sporting facilities. Sports massage therapy differs from conventional massage only in terms of the conditions typically treated, but in fact sports massage techniques are sufficiently versatile to be used on any patient.

Remedial massage refers to massage techniques and exercises being used to help in the recovery of injured muscles and joints.

photo © Mike Harrison

Who can benefit from sports & remedial massage?

Professional and recreational athletes, as well as those in performance arts such as ballet and modern dance who have their own special requirements.

Particular techniques can also be applied for babies, the elderly, patients with chronic medical conditions, or simply those with busy or stressful lives.

Consultations are conducted in strict confidentiality. Treatments are individually planned according to the requirements of each patient. For this reason, full case histories are always taken to permit a proper diagnosis.

Home Visits

Home visits can be arranged for those who have difficulties with transport, or who would otherwise prefer treatment at home.

Home visits may incur costs for transport and/or other expenses.