SOFT TISSUE THERAPY

TREATMENT & THERAPY

• Client History is the first aspect of soft tissue therapy, this enables the therapist to gain all the information from the client to be able to decide on a plan of treatment.​

• The client history is used to help make a diagnosis of the musculoskeletal problem. The benefits are, the client can become more aware of what might have caused their condition and not just focused on the pain itself, which will help them to make changes to something in life that may have contributed to or caused the issue.  For example, overtraining, poor diet, unsuitable footwear for their sport etc.

• Postural Assessment is used to find out if a client has any postural deficiencies, which could be contributing to cause of the client’s discomfort/restriction.  The therapist would check the pelvis & spinal alignment to see if the client is kyphotic, lordotic, sway-back or flat back. Is their neck protracted/neutral/retracted? Assess the shoulder girdle, Scapula alignment to check for protracted or retracted shoulders etc.  The therapist can assess the clients whole body to find any other deficiencies for example, do they overpronate? Are there knees level? The benefits are, the client can become more body aware and this helps them to understand what is causing their pain/restriction, is it postural and if so how they can help themselves by making changes in their lifestyle to make postural corrections.  For example, how they sit at work.

• Joint assessment and range of motion is used to check joints to find out if the joint has a muscular/ tendon, structural joint, or bone issue and if you can treat the problem, or you need to refer them to another practitioner.  The benefits of this part of soft tissue therapy help the therapist to find any restriction of movement in a joint, and work out what is causing the pain, to enable them to decide what soft tissue techniques will improve the situation. During this type of assessment, the therapist can also note any surgery marks/scars, palpate and feel scar tissue, hypertonicity, areas of cold or heat, which further help with the diagnosis and treatment of the problem.

• Deep Tissue Massage can be used on minor or chronic musculoskeletal injuries, it can be used for general relaxation, as a palpatory tool to find areas of tissue damage, it can be used on all soft tissues​

• Neuromuscular technique can be used on any long term chronic conditions to reset reflex patterns and help to release any areas of hypertonicity.  The benefits are,​

• Soft Tissue Release can be used on areas of soft tissue tension, scar tissue and adhesions to help break them down and realign fibres. It can be used on all soft tissues and if there is an acute injury the therapist can work on the tissues around it to help with the repair.  STR can be used pre-event as a warm and post event to help stretch out muscles.

• Muscle Energy Techniques (Post Isometric relaxation and Reciprocal Inhibition) can be used to release muscle tension, improve range of motion/flexibility, and restore normal length and elasticity of the soft tissues, it benefits are –

• Positional Release can be used on muscles that have gone into a protective spasm.  It can be used on migraine headaches, acute pain, strains/sprains, whiplash, fibromyalgia, emotional difficulties, stress, and tension related problems. The benefits are –

• Myofascial/connective tissue manipulation can be used to release any tension and thickening of fascia.  

• Aftercare can be used to give clients remedial advice and stretching, strengthening exercises that they can carry out at home.  The benefits are that the improvement the therapist has made to the soft tissues doesn’t stop as the client leaves the treatment room, and the client is involved in helping themselves to make a change and continued improvement.