ENERGY - VITALITY - MOBILITY

 Level 1, 304 Doncaster Rd, Nth Balwyn Vic   

Ph.03 9857 3695      

HEALTH & FITNESS

Personal & Group Training, Pilates, Gymstick, Circuit, Tai-Chi, Active Senior, Express Workout, 15 mins Vibration Training

WELLNESS & WELLBEING

Beauty Therapy, Natural and Massage Therapies, Infrared Sauna, Weight and Stress Management, Reiki and Meditation

Treatments

Soft Tissue Therapy

Also known as massage therapy, remedial massage, myotherapy.  
Soft tissue therapy involves a hands on and direct contact on the muscles, tendons and fascia. It requires very accurate anatomical knowledge, palpation skills and the ability to recognise the variations in the different tissues abnormal or not.

Physical Assessment

It is the most important part of the session, as the clinical assessment will help determine what body structures and factors are the most likely cause of your pain or injury. It will then enable Arnaud to put in place an accurate treatment protocol and referral when required.  The physical assessment could include various clinical tests of your posture, range of movement, biomechanics as well as neurological tests. Other tests may be used according to the condition.  In any case, if the condition does not require the help of soft tissue therapy we will refer our patients to the relevant modality as Arnaud also use an established network of leading doctors, physiotherapists, podiatrists, osteopaths and strength and conditioning coaches in Melbourne and throughout Australia.

Treatment

According to the physical assessment findings, Arnaud may use different techniques in order to help with the problem. In most cases he will use a hands on massage approach.

The following manual techniques may be used for treatment:  

  • Sustained Myofascial Tension

    Induces a prolong lengthening of the connective tissue of the body, helping its flexibility. Reduces adhesion between tissues.

  • Longitudinal Stroking

    Help fluid flow from tissue following swelling or inflammation.

  • Transverse Gliding

    Aids recovery of optimum tissue function. Reduces the tone of focal regions of intramuscular thickening. (Knots)  

  • Transverse Friction

    Reduces adhesion between tissues, fascia, muscles, and tendons. Help tissue healing and scar formation.

  • Digital Ischemic Pressure

    Induces relaxation of muscle tissue, reduce pain perception and restore normal local blood flow.

  • Trigger Point Therapy

    Alleviate trigger points.

  • Muscle Energy Techniques

    Developed by Osteopaths they aim improving range of motion and muscle resting length.

Other techniques may be used during treatments but remember that not one technique will be responsible for a successful treatment and that the combination of many will ensure an adequate response from the body. Terms such as deep tissue massage or myofascial release have evolved from the above list and in substance don’t mean anything.  
Post Treatment Assessment

During the course of the massage treatment Arnaud will ensure that the techniques used are effective by reassessing the affected area. A final assessment will be made also at the end of the session in order to compare the difference in range of motion as well as the degree of pain initially measured.

Stretching

Stretches are often used as part of the massage session or they can be prescribed as a complement between treatments.
Various forms of stretching can be used such as:

  • PNF

    Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation aids range of motion gain using muscle contract-relax techniques.

  • Passive Stretching

    Slow sustained passive stretches, help accelerate recovery and restore optimum muscle resting length post training or event.

  • Active Stretching

    Short stretches (8 seconds) followed by the activation of the muscle stretched. Used before sporting activities.

  • Neural Glides

    Restore normal neural mechanics of the nervous system.

Stretching can be a contraindication (inadvisable) depending on the degree of irritability or instability of the patient’s body structures. Stretches should always be prescribed according to the patient’s condition.

Advice

Arnaud will establish a personal treatment plan, which may include a referral, a certain number of sessions as well as a number of advices in regards to exercising and general health.

Exercises

Very often massage treatments will be followed by a prescription of exercises according to findings. These exercises will aim at strengthening and balancing muscles that are weak or improperly used by the patient.