In competitive sport, where intense training is necessary, muscles are continually being shortened, micro-torn and fatigued. Massage will elongate and nourish the shortened tissue enabling it to repair and adapt to the demands of sport.

The vast majority of the population are deskbound in the workplace. Sitting at a desk and computer for long periods of time each day, shortens and contracts muscles. If this takes place over a long period of time it can help create poor posture. This can eventually lead to more serious spinal problems, such as bulging discs and inflamed joints.

Massage, exercise, good nutrition and rest are all important for the health of your muscles and musculoskeletal system.

Emotional Stress and Massage.

The modern world is a competitive and stressful place. We are subjected on a daily basis to physical and emotional stress, which has an affect on our health and muscle systems.

Our systems for dealing with “stress”, are based on our evolutionary past and not yet adapted to modern life. We have evolved to deal with a “flight or fight” form of stress, which results in stress hormones being oxidised or broken down chemically. However, most daily stress in modern life is not physical (Late for a meeting, stuck in a traffic jam etc) and therefore the hormones involved in a stress response linger in the body. This causes muscles to become over contracted, causing tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw and buttocks.Tim Kirkpatrick worked as a Psychiatric social worker, before re-training as a massage therapist and is particularly interested in the mind-body connection and its affect on muscles.