Therapeutic Massage - Prague

Therapeutic massage in Prague is an effective way to reduce stiffness, relieve pain, and heal injuries without medication. It offers significant benefits for patients. However, there is a difference between medical massage and spa treatments. Both aim to improve health, but medical massage is a targeted intervention intended to complement an existing treatment plan and requires specific knowledge and skills. Considering that stress contributes to many illnesses, regular relaxing massage can improve overall well-being, though it is not aimed at treating a specific condition. The integration of traditional and complementary medicine is long overdue. This so-called integrative approach is more holistic and it really works. More and more doctors are turning to alternative treatment methods such as therapeutic massage.

Trigger Point Massage and Fascial Techniques

Trigger points are tiny painful knots in soft tissues caused by muscle injuries or repetitive stress. If not healed in time, muscle fibers form nodules known as trigger points, which can reduce circulation and cause pain. Muscles do not relax properly, hindering recovery after exercise. Painful trigger points can also disrupt the delicate balance between opposing muscle groups, leading to compensatory injuries and disorders of joints and posture.
It was the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial trigger points that first introduced me to musculoskeletal medicine. Later, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, and eventually fascial manipulation joined my practice.

Effects of Therapeutic Massage:

Improved Circulation

Good circulation is essential for recovery, and massage improves it in several ways depending on the issue and treatment goal. It can push nutrient-rich blood into damaged tissues, supplying them with essential vitamins, minerals, and oxygen. It can also reduce fluid buildup caused by injury. When soft tissues are damaged, a localized inflammatory response is beneficial in the early stages of healing, but if it persists too long, it causes pain and hinders recovery. Removing excess fluid from the injury site can ease discomfort and restore normal range of motion. Lymphatic fluid in the limbs can cause pain, stiffness, and skin ulcers, which may lead to infections. Since movement is a natural way to maintain free circulation of blood and lymph, any treatment that reduces discomfort and promotes physical activity supports recovery. Many patients with fibromyalgia who receive therapeutic massage report significant pain relief and better exercise tolerance.

Prevention of Secondary, Compensatory Injuries

People with injuries often compensate by changing how they move. For example, a patient who has had a hip replacement may develop pain in the lower back and the opposite thigh because they rely more on those muscles to avoid pain on the healing side. Combined with physical therapy, massage can relieve discomfort in both thighs. Proper treatment speeds up the healing process.

Restoring Elasticity to Scar Tissue

Scar tissue at the injury site can cause pain by compressing surrounding nerves and muscles. Collagen fibers form thick bundles, creating lumps that can be felt just under the skin’s surface. Therapeutic massage can break down these fibers, easing discomfort. When performed some time after surgery, it can minimize scar formation.

Relieving Muscle Tension

Muscle tension can be exhausting for office workers. Sitting for long hours often causes their shoulders to hunch, leading to neck and shoulder pain. Therapeutic massage not only relieves discomfort but also helps teach proper posture by relaxing muscles and encouraging the habit of sitting up straight. It also plays an important role in sports medicine. Minor injuries or excessive physical exertion can disrupt training schedules and an athlete’s ability to compete. Sports massage is an indispensable tool in this situation.

Combating Pain Through Central Mechanisms

Our body naturally deals with pain using endorphins—drug-like chemicals produced in the brain in response to physical and emotional stress. Therapeutic massage has a similar effect, boosting the production of endorphins. Levels of other pain-related hormones like serotonin and dopamine also increase during massage. These substances not only influence how we perceive pain but also help muscles relax.

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Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Let’s find out whether I can help you with the massage or osteopathic techniques I use, or if I can recommend other good massage specialists in Prague.