Sports Massage & Pain Treatment in Acton, West London

Tennis elbow commonly causes pain and tenderness around the outside of the elbow and may make gripping, lifting, carrying, typing, gym training and racket sports uncomfortable. At my Acton sports massage clinic, I don’t focus only on the painful point at the elbow. I assess the forearm, elbow, upper arm and shoulder to identify muscular tension and movement restrictions that may be contributing to your symptoms.

Treatment may combine Sports Massage and Deep Tissue Massage for the forearm extensors, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy and MET. Grip or relevant movements can be reassessed during the session to monitor your response to treatment.

Aftercare may include stretching, mobility, activity modification and exercises to support longer-term recovery.

Golfer’s elbow causes pain around the inner aspect of the elbow and is not limited to golfers. It can develop with gym training, repetitive gripping, manual work and other repetitive activities. Treatment may focus on the forearm flexors and surrounding muscular structures, while also considering the elbow, upper arm and shoulder.

Depending on assessment, I may combine Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping and Muscle Energy Techniques. The aim is to reduce muscular tension, improve comfortable movement and support recovery.

A frozen shoulder can cause significant pain and progressive restriction of movement, making everyday activities such as dressing, reaching overhead or reaching behind your back difficult. This is an area where a clinical approach is particularly important.

I assess shoulder movement and range of motion and tailor treatment according to the stage and irritability of the condition. Treatment is not about aggressively forcing a painful shoulder. I may work with the rotator cuff, deltoids, pectoral muscles, latissimus dorsi, upper trapezius and muscles controlling the shoulder blade.

Treatment can incorporate Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, MET, assisted mobility, Dry Needling, Acupuncture and Cupping Therapy where appropriate. Shoulder range of motion can then be reassessed to monitor changes.

Shoulder pain may be associated with the rotator cuff, shoulder blade mechanics, muscular overload, repetitive activity, training or prolonged working positions. Rather than simply massaging where it hurts, I assess the wider shoulder complex.

Depending on your presentation, treatment may involve the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres muscles, subscapularis, deltoids, pectorals, trapezius and surrounding structures. I may combine Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping, MET and mobility work. This approach is designed to reduce muscular tension and support improved shoulder function and comfortable movement.

Pain travelling from the lower back or buttock into the leg is often described as sciatica, although different conditions can produce similar symptoms.
For this reason, assessment comes before treatment. Where soft-tissue and muscular factors appear relevant, I may work with the lower back, gluteals, piriformis, hips and surrounding structures.

Treatment can include Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, MET and mobility techniques. My aim is not simply to massage the painful leg but to consider the wider pattern of symptoms and movement.

Deep pain in the buttock can sometimes be associated with the piriformis and other deep gluteal muscles and may occasionally produce symptoms extending towards the leg.

Treatment may involve the piriformis, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and surrounding hip muscles. Depending on assessment, I may use Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, MET and assisted stretching. Hip movement and relevant functional movements may also be assessed before and after treatment.

Chronic lower back pain is one of the most common problems I work with. Persistent back discomfort can be associated with prolonged sitting, physical work, training, muscular overload, reduced mobility and many other factors.

Treatment isn’t limited to repeatedly massaging the painful spot. Depending on assessment, I may work with the lumbar muscles, quadratus lumborum, gluteals, hip muscles and surrounding structures. Sessions may combine Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy and MET.

I also provide appropriate aftercare and mobility recommendations to help clients manage recurring lower-back tension between treatments.

Persistent aching or tightness between the shoulder blades is particularly common among people who spend long periods working at a computer, driving or sitting. 

Treatment may focus on the rhomboids, trapezius, thoracic paraspinals, levator scapulae and other muscles controlling the shoulder blades. I may combine Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping and mobility techniques. I also consider neck and shoulder movement rather than treating the upper back in isolation.

Neck pain and stiffness can make turning your head, driving, sleeping and working uncomfortable. It frequently occurs alongside shoulder tension, upper-back tightness or headaches.

Treatment can involve the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipitals, cervical muscles and upper thoracic region. I may use Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping and gentle MET. Where appropriate, neck range of motion is assessed and reassessed during the appointment.

Knee pain doesn’t necessarily mean the problem starts and finishes at the knee. The quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, gluteal muscles, hips and movement mechanics can all influence loading through the knee. My clinical approach therefore looks beyond the painful area.

Treatment may combine Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Cupping, MET and assisted stretching to address relevant muscular restrictions. This can be particularly useful for active clients, runners and people returning to exercise.

Pain around the outside of the knee is frequently experienced by runners and cyclists. Rather than aggressively massaging the IT band itself, I assess and treat relevant surrounding structures such as the TFL, gluteals, quadriceps and lateral thigh musculature.

Treatment can include Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Cupping, MET and mobility work. I may also provide appropriate advice regarding stretching, strengthening and training load.

Achilles discomfort can occur alongside calf tightness, changes in training load and reduced ankle mobility. Rather than repeatedly applying heavy pressure directly to an irritated tendon, treatment can address the surrounding structures that influence the area.

I may work with the gastrocnemius, soleus and other lower-leg muscles using Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, Cupping and mobility techniques where appropriate. This is particularly relevant for runners and active clients.

After an ankle sprain, fracture or period of immobilisation, stiffness and muscular restrictions can remain even after the initial injury has healed.

Treatment may focus on restoring comfortable movement and addressing tension within the calf, peroneals, tibialis muscles and other surrounding soft tissues. Depending on the stage of recovery, I may use Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, mobility techniques, MET, Dry Needling and Cupping. Range of motion can also be compared before and after treatment.

Pain underneath the heel or foot can make the first steps in the morning, prolonged standing, walking and running particularly uncomfortable.

Treatment doesn’t necessarily concentrate only on the foot. The calf, soleus and other lower-leg structures can influence ankle and foot mechanics and may therefore form part of the treatment. Depending on assessment, I may use Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, Acupuncture, MET and stretching techniques.

Some headaches occur alongside significant muscular tension around the neck, shoulders, upper back and base of the skull. Where the presentation suggests muscular tension may be contributing, I may work with the suboccipitals, upper trapezius, levator scapulae and surrounding cervical and shoulder muscles.

Treatment can combine Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Dry Needling, Acupuncture and gentle manual techniques.
Clients who spend long hours working at a computer or experience recurring neck and shoulder tension may particularly benefit from addressing these muscular factors.