Conditions We Can Help Support With Remedial Massage

People with jaw pain or TMD often notice aching, clicking or stiffness around the jaw joint, temple or ear, and sometimes into the neck. Muscle tension in the jaw, temple and neck region is a common feature.

Remedial massage may help by addressing muscular tension in the jaw, temple and surrounding neck muscles following individual assessment. This may ease tenderness and discomfort for some people.

Massage does not treat the joint itself and is not a substitute for dental or physiotherapy assessment. If you experience persistent jaw pain, restricted opening, locking or unexplained tooth pain, assessment by a dentist or physiotherapist is recommended.

Neck and shoulder muscle pain is common and may be associated with sustained work positions, physical activity, stress or a combination of factors. Symptoms can include muscle tenderness, stiffness and reduced comfortable range of movement.

Following assessment, tailored remedial massage may help ease muscle tenderness and stiffness. Treatment is guided by your individual presentation — there is no single correct posture, and treatment is not about correcting alignment.

If neck pain is accompanied by arm pain, numbness, tingling or weakness, or follows an injury, assessment by a physiotherapist or GP is recommended before massage.

Tension-type headaches are often associated with muscle tenderness in the neck, upper back and shoulder region. They may be linked to sustained positions, stress or fatigue.

Remedial massage may help by addressing the muscular component in the neck and shoulder region. This may reduce the frequency or intensity of tension-type headaches for some people.

Massage is not a treatment for all headache types. New, severe, sudden or unusual headaches — or headaches accompanied by visual changes, nausea, fever or neurological symptoms — require medical assessment before massage.

Frozen shoulder involves progressive stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. People often develop muscle guarding and tension in the surrounding shoulder, upper back and neck muscles in response to pain and restricted movement.

Gentle remedial massage of the surrounding muscles may help ease associated muscular discomfort and guarding. This may make movement and rehabilitation exercises more comfortable for some people.

Massage does not reverse the joint-capsule changes associated with frozen shoulder. Treatment must be carefully selected to suit the stage of the condition and avoid aggravation. Physiotherapy and medical assessment are important parts of managing frozen shoulder.

Shoulder bursitis and rotator cuff-related pain can cause aching, tenderness and discomfort with movement. Surrounding muscles often become tense or guarded in response.

Carefully selected remedial massage of the surrounding shoulder, upper-back and neck muscles may help ease associated muscular tension and discomfort. Deep pressure directly over an irritated bursa is avoided.

Massage does not cure bursitis or repair tendon tissue. Physiotherapy can guide rehabilitation and progressive loading, which is an important part of recovery for many shoulder conditions.

Outer hip pain may be associated with tenderness over the outer hip, discomfort with lying on the affected side and pain with activities such as walking or climbing stairs. Surrounding hip and gluteal muscles often become tense.

Where tolerated, treatment of surrounding hip and gluteal muscles may help ease associated muscular discomfort following individual assessment. Direct pressure over a painful outer hip is avoided.

Load management and a graded exercise programme are important parts of managing greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Assessment by a physiotherapist or GP is recommended to guide your overall care.

Non-specific lower-back pain is very common and is often associated with muscular discomfort, stiffness and reduced comfortable movement. It is rarely caused by serious structural damage.

Remedial massage may offer short-term relief of muscular discomfort and help some people move more comfortably. Staying active and following an appropriate exercise plan are important alongside any manual therapy.

If back pain is accompanied by leg pain, numbness, tingling, weakness or changes in bladder or bowel function, medical assessment is recommended promptly.

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylalgia) involve pain and tenderness around the elbow, often associated with gripping, lifting or repetitive forearm use. Surrounding forearm muscles are commonly tense.

Remedial massage may help ease associated forearm muscle discomfort as part of a broader management approach. Treatment is guided by your individual assessment.

Rehabilitation for elbow tendinopathy usually includes identifying and adjusting aggravating loads and a progressive strengthening programme. Physiotherapy assessment can guide this process.

Tendinopathy involves pain and reduced tolerance to load in a tendon, often in the Achilles or patellar tendon. Surrounding muscles may become tense or guarded.

Remedial massage may help ease surrounding muscular symptoms and discomfort. It does not repair the tendon or replace a graded loading programme.

A progressive loading programme is the cornerstone of tendinopathy rehabilitation. Physiotherapy assessment is recommended to guide your loading programme and overall management.

Knee pain can be associated with muscle tension in the thigh and calf, which may contribute to discomfort and guarded movement.

Where appropriate, remedial massage may address muscular discomfort around the thigh and calf following assessment. Treatment is tailored to your individual presentation.

Massage does not repair cartilage, ligaments or menisci. If knee pain follows an injury, is accompanied by significant swelling, locking or giving way, assessment by a physiotherapist or GP is recommended.

Plantar heel pain is often felt as sharp or aching pain under the heel, particularly with first steps in the morning or after periods of rest. Calf and foot muscle tension is commonly associated.

Treatment of relevant foot and calf muscles may help ease discomfort for some people, alongside appropriate load management and exercise.

Physiotherapy or podiatry assessment is recommended to guide your overall management, including footwear advice and a graduated return to activity.

Osteoarthritis is associated with joint changes that can cause pain, stiffness and reduced comfortable movement. Surrounding muscles often become tense or guarded.

Remedial massage may help ease associated muscle tension and improve comfort for some people. It does not reverse arthritis or restore cartilage.

Staying active and maintaining strength are important parts of managing osteoarthritis. An Accredited Exercise Physiologist can develop an individualised exercise programme to support function and confidence in movement.

Muscle soreness and fatigue following sport or exercise are common. Remedial massage may help ease muscular discomfort and support recovery as part of a broader training and recovery plan.

Treatment is tailored to your individual presentation and the demands of your activity. Massage does not guarantee injury prevention or accelerate tissue healing.

Suspected acute injuries — including significant swelling, bruising, sudden sharp pain or inability to weight-bear — need appropriate assessment before massage.

Sustained or repeated movements at work — including desk work, hairdressing, beauty therapy, manual labour and other occupations — can contribute to muscle tension and discomfort over time.

Remedial massage may help ease muscular discomfort associated with work-related strain. Treatment is guided by your individual assessment and the nature of your work.

Addressing contributing factors — such as movement breaks, workload changes and appropriate strengthening — is an important part of managing work-related muscle discomfort alongside massage.

Persistent pain — pain lasting beyond the expected healing time — is complex and influenced by many factors beyond tissue damage. It does not always mean that tissues are damaged, tight or misaligned.

Remedial massage may be one part of a broader plan to improve comfort and confidence in movement for people living with persistent pain. Treatment is tailored to your individual presentation and comfort.

A multidisciplinary approach — which may include physiotherapy, exercise physiology, psychology and medical care — is often most helpful for persistent pain. We are happy to discuss your situation and recommend appropriate referral.