FAQ
- Treatment timetable
- Please see Timetable / Book Now
- How do I pay?
- I take contactless & card payments, bank transfer etc
- How do I book a treatment?
- Simply contact me via text / call on 07808831154 or use the normal routes via FB messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram etc. Alternatively, use the contact form on the website.
- What shall I wear?
- I advise clients to wear loose fitting clothes. Massage works best directly on the skin therefore some degree of undress may be required. I always use towels to drape over body parts that are not being treated. For back treatments on women, I’ll always leave the room to allow you to undress & redress in comfort & privacy. Protecting your modesty & making you comfortable is of utmost importance. If you’re unsure of anything, please let me know & we’ll work around it.
- What can I expect from my session?
- This will depend on what we’re intending to treat & your issue. However, most sessions will have a pre-assessment, a discussion & agreement of the treatment plan, the treatment itself & a post-assessment. During the treatment you may be asked to lie on your back, front or side & may be asked to assist in moving your body part when instructed to help with some of the techniques (soft tissue release for example).
- Does Sports Massage hurt?
- Sports massage can be uncomfortable but it shouldn’t be too painful. If working deep into your tissues you may feel some level of discomfort. Therefore, it’s important to keep communicating throughout the session. If at any time you feel it’s too much, just let me know.
- What about afterwards?
- You’ll be given aftercare tips & advice after each treatment. Typically, this will be to drink plenty of liquids (not alcohol), rest & gently stretch. If appropriate I’ll give you stretches to perform &/or what gym exercises to do to help.
- Do you treat Juniors?
- Yes. Soft tissue therapy can be very beneficial for young people, especially those suffering from “growing pains” & those involved in sporting activities. During adolescence bones develop at a faster rate than the surrounding soft tissue, potentially causing a weakness in muscles, inflammation in tendons & an increased likelihood of injuries to joints such as the knee. This is especially true for the more active & sporty & can lead to painful conditions such as Osgood Schlattler disease. The treatment will be the same as an adult’s, apart from one important difference. Any person under the age of 18 will need a parent / guardian to act as a chaperone during the whole treatment session. The adult may be asked to help with towel draping & to explain any points or instructions being given.
- What do you do with my personal data?
- During your initial consultation, I collect your name, address & contact numbers in order to locate where you live & to contact you about your appointment if necessary. The emergency contact details are required in case you have a medical issue during treatment. The medical history is important to collect as certain conditions & ailments should not receive massage therapy. I collect your email address to contact you with offers about my services, any discounts, special rates etc. I may also send you articles & links I think may interest you regarding therapy, self-help, stretching etc. As of the 25th May 2018, I will specifically ask your consent to do this on the registration form. Your form is kept in paper copy secured in a lockable filing cabinet. If you wish to view, amend or have your details removed, please use the contact form on this website to request. Under your “right to be forgotten” I will securely shred all data I hold on you, including any therapy notes I’ve made during the course of our relationship.
- Where are you based?
- I have a great practice space at Apex Ability Gym, Unit 4, Harelaw Ind Est, Stanley DH9 8UJ.
- Do you offer home visits?
- Not anymore unfortunately.
- Dry Cupping – What is it?
- Cupping is a technique that can be used alongside massage therapy or as a stand-alone modality. In simple terms, it uses suction to pull blood into an area to stimulate healing. It’s effective at stretching tight muscles & the fascial layer that surrounds & separates our soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, organs etc). Cupping has been used for thousands of years in cultures all over the world. Latin America, Europe, the Middle East & of course ancient China all have their own version of cupping using various methods & techniques. The technique I use is called DRY cupping & is non-invasive, sterile & appropriate for most people.
- Dry Cupping – Key Benefits?
- Increases oxygenation & nutrient levels within soft tissue by increasing blood circulation to the muscle, fascia & skin // Helps remove chemical irritants & stagnant blood within muscle & fascia by drawing blood into the upper layers to be processed by the lymphatic system // Helps with the removal of edema (swelling) after injury // Produces a sterile inflammation response by causing micro-trauma in the tissue to aid healing // Increases mobility in joints by producing a stretch reflex in fascia // Stimulates the nervous system (when used with active joint movement) to aid in the re-education of muscle memory & proprioception // Can help with chronic pain management by helping to reduce muscular tension, nerve compression & irritation // Improves overall tissue health by helping to develop new blood vessels.
- Dry Cupping – How does it work?
- As soon as a cup is placed on the skin, blood is pulled into the area. The tissue becomes saturated with fresh blood & stagnant blood (from old scar tissue, dysfunctional muscle etc), is pulled out of the area. A “hickey” or “love-bite” appears on the skin surface demonstrating this action. This marking is rarely painful & may remain for several days (see below for details on marking). As new blood is forced into the tissues surrounding the cups the body will start to form new blood vessels, called neovascularisation. The more blood vessels created over time, the ability to feed the tissue with nutrients & oxygen is increased, thus improving overall tissue health. Dry cupping will also trigger the body’s inflammation response. The body will release white blood cells, platelets, fibroblasts & other healing chemicals to promote healing. The vacuum effect will cause the soft tissue layers to separate causing micro-trauma & tearing, this initiates the response. Finally, the stretching of the tissue & fascia will produce a stretch reflex helping reduce muscle tension, stimulate neovascularisation & the movement of blood & nutrients the damaged area. Cupping works well with trigger points (adhesions & “sticky” points in the fascia), relieving pain & increasing mobility in a joint & pliability in the tissue.
- Dry Cupping – What are the marks?
- Dry cupping can leave behind minor markings on the skin, especially if the cups are left in one place (static cupping). These circular marks ARE NOT bruising, but the result of blood being drawn into the capillaries. They ARE NOT painful & can last from a few hours to 14 days or so, depending on overall tissue health & stagnation within the tissue layers. During treatment & afterwards, the colouring of the marks can indicate what’s occurring beneath the skin surface. Skin that turns pink during cupping & disappears quite soon after, would indicate healthy tissue & capillaries that are able to diffuse the blood rapidly. Darker or longer remaining marks indicate stagnant blood &/or the tissue not being able to diffuse the blood as quick as healthy tissue. Blue or white tissue within the cups would indicate little or no blood-flow to the tissue, maybe an old injury site or a sedentary person. With regular dry cupping treatment, markings become less & disappear quicker as the body creates new blood capillaries, i.e. improving tissue health. On your initial visit for dry cupping or if I think it can be incorporated into a regular session, I’ll always seek informed consent & the markings will be discussed & you’ll be shown what they can look like.
- Late notice cancellations & ‘no shows’.
- If you miss your appointment due to cancellation within 3 hours of your appointed start time or simply don’t show up, you will be charged a flat rate of £10. Payment needs to be made before a new booking can be arranged.