What is a Soft Tissue therapist?
“A soft tissue therapist is a healthcare professional who uses a person-centred approach to assess, treat and rehabilitate minor and chronic muscular skeletal pain and injury, using a range of techniques including therapeutic massage, advanced soft tissue work, neuromuscular techniques and movement based rehabilitation within a biopsychosocial framework of care. We aim to assess underlying causes of pain, improve physical and emotional well-being, and share knowledge on movement, exercise and lifestyle factors that may influence long-term improvement or management.”
That’s the official statement of our scope of practice. However I feel it misses SO much!
The first thing we do is provide a safe space in which we can listen to you. What you are experiencing, how that makes you feel, what you feel may be contributing to that, what that is stopping you from doing that you need or want to do, and why those things are important to you. We rule out any red flags for referral and help signpost and support you if that is also needed. Then together we explore what your goals might be, short term and long term, what factors might help, what might hinder progress, and what we can plan between us to do to move towards them that’s realistic and achievable. Sometimes this is with a view to recovery, sometimes where that may not be possible its with a view to better managing, to feeling more in control, to still be able do those important things despite what’s going on or with finding a new normal.
We might use massage or hands on techniques to facilitate that or movement techniques or often a mixture of both. We should always try to empower you with the skills and knowledge to better support yourself rather than feel reliant on us. We want you to want to see us rather than need to see us long term.
Sometimes that care and support is short term, sometimes if YOU feel it is of value to your overall wellbeing we provide long term care and support.
We are always there for a check in, update and a lovely massage.