Massage has been a respected part of health care for at least 5000 years, from the Chinese to the ancient Greeks, up to the modern concept of massage used today. It involves the stretching, manipulation and mobilisation of soft tissues for therapeutic purposes, using various types of movements which have different physiological effects on the body. These include:

• improved blood circulation;
• stimulation of the lymphatic circulation, removing waste products from the body;
• reduction of muscle and connective tissue tension;
• the breakdown of scar tissue resulting from either injury or overuse;
• pain reduction;
• stress reduction and relaxation, which in turn helps the body’s natural healing process.

Almost anyone could benefit from a massage, whether as a way of relaxing and unwinding, as part of a structured training program for athletes, or to aid in the healing of sport’s and general injuries. The massage is tailored to your particular needs, so as part of the consultation you will be asked questions about your health, fitness and lifestyle. Advice can also be given on various aspects of fitness if required. The benefits of massage may also be integrated with osteopathic treatment.

Mark Roberson ICHFST, IRMT Mark has been a practitioner of massage since 1993. He has been involved in athletics at an international level as a javelin thrower for many years, and through his own experiences has found the value of regular massage for recovery from, and prevention of, injury. In his sports career he has set a British Junior Record, won a Silver medal at the World Junior Championships, finished 6th in the 1998 European Championships, has competed at three Commonwealth Games, and was ranked 12th in the world in 1998. Mark has worked with world ranked tennis players and olympic athletes and is therefore aware of the needs of sports players, as well as of the benefits of massage to the public as a whole.