Steve highlights some of the many reasons why he and Sports massage therapy can help you. There are many benefits from massage to sports men and woman, whether you are a top athlete or just keeping fit . Massage is an effective therapy for releasing muscle tension. Received regularly massage will help you prevent injuries, which might otherwise be caused by overuse in sport or every day use. A constant build up of tension in the muscles from regular activity may lead to stresses on joints, ligaments, tendons, as well as the muscles themselves. By having a regular massage, as a sports massage therapist, I will be able to detect variations in the soft tissue and by using the correct massage and stretching techniques I will be able to help you maintain general fitness and suppleness which is essential to stay injury free. When injuries do occur many are left with scar tissue, to speed up the recovery process it is important to increase the blood supply to the injured area. This can be done by various massage techniques. The aim is to increase the amount of oxygen and nutrients to the damaged tissues. As a sports massage therapist I can also help you with acute and chronic sports injuries, injury management and rehabilitation, where needed I have ultrasound at my disposal. The different techniques of massage I use also have a pumping effect which stimulates the general circulation of blood and so increases both the supply and removal of substances on a cellular level. All the different cells in the body need a good supply of blood which contain all the ingredients they need for growth. Included in my list of treatments are deep tissue massage, lymphatic drainage, advanced stretching techniques, posture & joint analysis. You do not have to be a sports person to feel the benefits of a sports massage as it has a has a relaxing, therapeutic and sedentary effect. Massage can help you with: Reducing stress and anxiety by relaxing both mind and body Relax and soften injured,tired and overused muscles Improve joint flexibility and mobility Back pain and improve range of motion Sciatica Headache and migraine pain Repetitive stress injuries Arthritus Some more of the main effects and benefits of massage are listed below: · Relieves stress and tension Reduces medication dependence by easing pain. Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow (the body’s natural defence system.) Improve the condition of the client’s skin. Increase joint flexibility. Helps with depression and anxiety. Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation. Reduce post surgery adhesions and swelling. Release endorphins (amino acids that work as the body’s...

During my studies to become a sports massage therapist, I spent numerous hours at this keyboard scanning the internet researching for the many assignments that were necessary to be qualified. Read on and you may discover some of the things you may not know about the amazing benefits of massage.   Skin The effects of massage to the skin are very beneficial; The pumping squeezing and deep strokes of the therapist’s massage technique improves the circulation to the different layers of the skin. It increases the temperature of the skin and the muscles stimulating vaso-dilation of the capillaries and arterioles. This increases the flow of nutrients such as glucose oxygen and various vitimins. Because massage helps to increase blood circulation it helps exfoliate dead skin cells and tone the skin, which encourages cell regeneration and assists in excreting waste products. The result is healthier, better-looking skin. It also improves the skin colour. It also increases the nutrition to the cells which in turn encourages new cells to form more quickly. It also improves elasticity of the skin, increases sebum production which helps to improve suppleness and also a resistance to infections. It increases sweat production from the sweat glands which helps to excreta urea and waste products through the skin.   Improved circulation The pumping, squeezing and deep stroking techniques of the therapist, forces the blood flow through dilated vessels, which in turn stretches the vessesls. The squeezing effect compresses the vessels and blood rushes back which increases the osmotic pressure, this sudden flow results in more nutrients and plasma to the tissues. The effects of massage also improves circulation by assisting the flow of blood back to the heart through the venous system. Massage dilates the blood vessels which makes them work more efficiently, it helps to deliver fresh oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and in turn improves the removal of waste products. Because massage relaxes the client helps decrease the heart rate, which helps with blood pressure. Ischaemia is a reduction in the flow of blood to body parts which causes pain and tissue dysfunction, massage can help with this.   Mobilisation of soft tissue Massage can help with the mobilisation of soft tissue in many cases it will free adhesions. It can also break down scar tissue. If a client has had some bruising often inflammation occurs, once the bruising has started to disappear then massage will be possible to decrease inflammation. Massage can improve joint mobility it reduces the thickening of the connective tissue and helps to release the restrictions in the facia. Massage improves muscle tone and balance, reducing the physical stress placed on bones and joints.   Increased healing rate and tissue...

  Here are some more of my research notes that were collated during my studies to qualify as a sports massage therapist, hope you find them interesting   Muscular system: Muscles are attached to the bone by tendons. Bones, tendons, and ligaments do not possess the ability (as muscles do) to make your body move. Muscles are very unique in this respect.   Structure and function of tendons Tendons are the fibrous tissue, that connect muscles to bones. The massage therapist plays a very important part in the maintenance of muscle tendons it is very important to educate the client how important it is to keep tendons supple especially into middle age as degenerative changes reduce the elasticity of tendons. It is also important that the therapist advises on the correct way to stretch as many injuries are caused by over stretching of the tendons. Treating torn tendons correctly is crucial to the healing process. A torn tendon can limit mobility and cause intense pain. Most injuries are a result of strenuous exercise. A doctor normally subscribes anti-inflammatory tablets to ease the pain and swelling if a tendon is damaged. The massage therapist will advise to follow the RICE method which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. It is recommended to put an ice pack to the injured tendon for 15 to 20 minutes, at least once every two hours. Using these four immediate first aid measures can relieve pain, limit swelling and protect the injured tendons, all of which help speed healing. Using ice as soon a possible can save weeks of rehabilitation. I want to do this! What’s This? The function of the tendon is to act as a stretch and recoil mechanism that transmits the force generated by a muscle to the bones or joints to which it is attached. (Very similar; to a rubber band or a lump of blue tack.) When I coach children I use this analogy to explain the importance of stretching tendons and muscles. When the rubber band and blue tack is warm it stretches easier but as soon as you release it the rubber band it snaps back to its original shape. When the muscle contracts, it puts force on the tendon in a similar manner. The tendon will stretch and then pull back to a shorter length or recoil. This recoil transmits the energy of the muscle contraction to the joint and results in movement. Theory of contractions The Nerves in our body are connected the spinal column to the muscles of our body. The neuromuscular junction is where the nerve and muscle meet. An electrical signal crosses the junction and is transmitted deep inside the muscle fibers....

You may not know but When Steve was a young man his dream and ambition at that time was to become a successful disc jockey. In fact his ambition became a obsession, with many hours building equipment and practising his presentation skills. The hard work paid off and Steve eventually became a professional disc jockey for nine years. During this time he worked with many of the popular bands and radio one disc jockeys of the time. Unfortunately Steve never got the opportunity to become a radio star himself! A few years ago Steve read in the local newspaper that an organisation called the old peoples forum needed help with the development of a new community radio station. Steve joined a small team of dedicated volunteers who set about building a studio. After several years in the planning and several months building the studio, a new community radio station was born.   The penwith radio team So after all those years, his dream did come true. Steve was asked to present the very first programme to be aired on Penwith Radio, which broadcasted on the internet. It did not take much persuading for him to take over a regular weekly slot. He now produces and presents his own breakfast show on fridays, 8:00 – 10:00am which he somehow fits in during his busy weekly shedual. www.penwithradio.co.uk Station hailed for ‘Olympic’ coverage Olympic Torch Community radio stations in the Duchy joined forces with live coverage of the Olympic Torch relay A Penzance-based community radio station has been inundated with praise for its coverage of the Olympic torch relay. Penwith Radio featured continuous live reports of Saturday’s event with correspondents stationed at key locations around the district, capturing the spirit of the day and interviewing spectators and participants. Presenter Steve West literally provided running commentary as he impressively jogged alongside torchbearers throughout the Marazion stretch of the relay. At one point he realised he was being filmed by a BBC News crew, but took it all in his stride. “I was just doing my part for listeners who couldn’t make it out to watch,” he said. Broadcaster Martin Holland, who anchored the programme from the Penwith Radio studio at the Wharfside Shopping Centre, said he was proud of the efforts of the Penwith Radio team. “When this station was conceived, one of its goals was to reach isolated listeners and really make them feel like part of the community,” he said. “I really feel that we achieved that on Saturday, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the extraordinarily talented group of volunteers we are lucky enough to have here at the station.” Mr Holland was aided in the field...