31 Mar What’s the difference between relaxation massage and remedial massage?
As a remedial massage specialist, this is a question I get asked a lot.
What’s the difference between relaxation massage and remedial massage? Are they different names that mean the same thing? Is one better than the other?
Remedial and relaxation massage are completely separate types of massage, with remedial being more of a clinical treatment than something you do simply to relax. Although there are similarities of course and both have their benefits, there are also some important differences.
What is relaxation massage?
This kind of massage is the type of massage you’d experience if you were to go to a spa for the day, or have a massage on the beach on holiday. Relaxation massage is an umbrella term as there are actually many different types of massage in this category – including aromatherapy, Swedish and Thai.
Relaxation massage is still therapeutic and has a variety of health benefits, but its primary purpose is to help relax the body and mind. This could involve using aromatherapy with essential oils, alleviating muscle tension and playing calming music. For this reason relaxation massage does tend to be more gentle – featuring flowing, stroking movements and soft kneading and pressure with a little deep tissue work here and there if requested.
If you’re looking to de-stress, pamper and treat yourself to a little self-care, relaxation massage is a great choice.
What is remedial massage?
With remedial massage, you can expect some (if not all) of the elements above, but with a more precise, clinical application. Remedial massage is a prescriptive treatment, specifically developed to help alleviate pain and discomfort associated with a number of medical conditions, including injuries, joint issues, problems with posture, loss of flexibility and chronic pain. Other conditions remedial massage can support with include:
- Chronic headaches
- Hypertension
- Postural issues
- Repetitive strain injury
- Sports injuries
- Sore muscles
- Stress, depression and anxiety
A remedial massage is always carried out by a fully trained physiotherapist, who can apply their expert knowledge to appropriately support the area of concern. Treatment is fully tailored to your needs, as the therapist will assess where the source of pain may be and what type of treatment is needed. The treatment will be more focused than a relaxation massage because of this, and may concentrate more on one or two areas of the body.
What are the benefits of remedial massage?
As remedial massage goes a step further than relaxation massage there are a number of proven benefits, including:
- Better joint mobilisation
- Faster recovery from injury
- Correction of muscle imbalance
- Eases and stabilises muscle tension
- Improves sleep quality
- Boosts lymphatic drainage
- Boosts immune function
Just like relaxation massage, a remedial massage can also relieve stress and promote feelings of calmness, depending on the practitioner and their methodology.
How I work
At McKenzie Remedial Massage I offer authentic remedial massage, combining this with relaxation techniques for a calming and holistic experience.
Some remedial massage therapists focus only on the clinical side of treatment without introducing the more holistic elements. With me, you’ll also benefit from calming music and natural oils and butters to soothe and nourish the skin. This means you can benefit from the treatment itself and also relax and enjoy a little me-time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I’ve recently expanded my remedial massage practice to include some additional specialised massage therapies for specific concerns including Lymphatic Drainage Massage and Facelift Massage.
Before we begin you can expect a thorough consultation, where I’ll learn more about your concerns and what you’d like to get out of the treatment, so each session is fully tailored to your needs.