Questions, answered
What soft tissue therapy is, who it helps and what to expect. If your question isn't here, ask me.
About soft tissue therapy
What is soft tissue therapy?
A clinical approach to pain, injury and movement problems, using skilled hands-on treatment. It combines a proper assessment, hands-on work, movement rehab where it's needed, and care that looks at the whole person: your sleep, stress, work and history as well as your tissues.
It grew over the last thirty years as physiotherapy moved towards exercise-based rehab. It's now one of the few musculoskeletal professions still built around manual treatment.
Is it massage?
Some of it will feel like massage, and some won't. Massage is one part of a much wider toolkit. A session might include sustained fascial work, assisted stretching, pressure combined with movement, or techniques so gentle they barely feel like massage at all. Each one is chosen for what your tissue needs that day.
Does “soft tissue” mean it's gentle?
No. “Soft tissue” is what I treat: muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. Pressure ranges from very light to deep, depending on what your body needs, and always within your comfort.
How is it different from physiotherapy or sports massage?
Soft tissue therapy fills the gap between them. The clinical training goes much further than sports massage, and unlike much physiotherapy, the treatment stays firmly hands-on, alongside one or two exercises rather than relying on them alone.
What if I've tried physio or massage and it didn't work?
That's exactly why many people come to me. If you feel you've slipped through the gaps, you're not alone, and a different approach may be what you need.
Who it's for
Do I need an injury to benefit?
Not at all. Many people come with ongoing back or neck pain from sitting all day, tension they can't shift, or a feeling that something isn't moving quite right.
What can it help with?
- Long-standing muscle pain, and neck, shoulder and lower back pain
- Posture-related pain and repetitive strain
- Headaches and jaw tension
- Tendon problems such as tennis elbow or Achilles pain
- Sport and activity injuries, and recovery after surgery once you're cleared
Can you help with long-standing or chronic pain?
Yes. It's particularly well suited to problems that haven't responded to other treatment, because I look for what keeps the pain going, not just where you feel it.
Is it safe if I have a medical condition?
I'm qualified and insured to work with many conditions, always after an individual assessment. They include, but aren't limited to:
- Fibromyalgia and other persistent pain, and neurological conditions
- Hypermobility and connective tissue conditions
- Pregnancy, postnatal recovery, endometriosis and PCOS
- Recovery after injury or surgery, with medical clearance
- Cancer, subject to assessment and clearance from your medical team
If you're unsure whether I can help, contact me before you book.
Is it safe in pregnancy?
In most cases, yes. Soft tissue therapy is safe in pregnancy, and I adapt positions and techniques so you're comfortable at every stage. Tell me you're pregnant when you book. If anything means it isn't right for you, I'll tell you and point you to a therapist who specialises in pregnancy.
Do you treat older clients or people with limited mobility?
Yes. Techniques adapt for comfort and mobility, and many gentle ones are very effective. Home visits mean you don't need to travel.
Your session
How long is a session?
Your first session, the Foundation Session, is two hours: a proper assessment and a full hour or more of treatment. Follow-up Sessions are 60, 90 or 120 minutes.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what's going on and how your body responds. Some people feel a big difference after one or two sessions; others do better with regular work. We decide together after your first session, with no pressure.
Does it hurt?
Some techniques can feel intense, especially on tight or sensitive areas, but pain is never the goal and never necessary. Most of the time I'm asking your tissues to relax, so I work with your body, not against it, and check in as we go.
What should I wear?
Something comfortable. You may be asked to remove some clothing for the area being treated, but you'll always be covered with towels or sheets, and many techniques work through light clothing.
What if I'm ticklish?
Lots of people are, me included. I have a way of working with ticklish clients that gets results without setting it off. Just tell me, and I'll adapt.
Can you diagnose my injury?
I can't give a formal medical diagnosis. From my assessment I form a working diagnosis, my informed view of what's likely going on, and I'll talk you through it. It guides your treatment, but it isn't a confirmed diagnosis to rely on as fact. If you need a GP, physio or consultant, I'll tell you.
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Start with a Foundation Session
Two hours, £99. A proper assessment, then a full hour or more of hands-on treatment, at your home or at the clinic.