If you’re juggling work, family, a major life event, a long commute or a to-do list that never seems to shrink, you’re in good company.
Life is busy, and stress doesn’t just stay in your head. It can settle into your body, and a tense body can quietly keep the stress loop going.
Neither physiotherapy nor remedial massage therapy will make life’s pressures disappear, but both can lend a hand along the way and help make things more manageable.
Here are just some of the ways physiotherapy and remedial massage can help when life feels heavy.
Helping to ease pain so it doesn’t add to the load
Ever noticed your neck, shoulders, upper back or jaw muscles tense when something stressful lands? That’s your body doing its job. It releases hormones like adrenaline, setting off physical changes that help you respond to a stressful situation.¹ It’s handy in short bursts, but when stress hangs around, those changes can lead to pain and can show up as stiffness, aches or tension-type headaches.¹
Not every ache is caused by stress, however. Your posture, activity levels, a past injury and plenty other factors can play a part, so it’s worth finding out what’s really going on.
Our physiotherapists can assess what’s going on, work out where you’re holding tension and use hands-on techniques and targeted strategies like soft tissue work, joint mobilisations or dry needling to help ease symptoms.
Small steps can help your body (and mind) feel lighter.
Hands-on time that helps you properly switch off
We’re big advocates for remedial massage therapy because it can be more than just a “nice treat”. It’s hands-on therapy that targets tight, sore or overworked muscles, and for many, the slow, focused touch can help the body shift out of “go, go, go” mode and into something calmer. Think of it as a reset button.
Remedial massage can also sit nicely alongside your physio care, with each supporting the other.
Our remedial massage therapists hold a minimum qualification of a Certificate IV in Massage Therapy Practice and many have undertaken additional training or professional development in areas like cupping or dry needling to help support a range of musculoskeletal conditions, postural alignment issues or sports injuries.
Prescribing movement that suits you (not a one-size-fits-all plan)
Regular physical activity improves mood and lowers stress by changing our brain chemistry and balancing the nervous system.² That’s why Australia’s movement guidelines suggest adults aim for moderate to vigorous activity for 30 minutes or more on most days, along with muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days per week.³
Of course, knowing what’s right for your body isn’t always simple, especially if you’re managing pain or an old injury. And as the old saying goes, any movement is better than none.
Health, work, travel, family life and the stresses and changes that come with them can all shape how easy it feels to get moving, so our physios will work with you to find gentle, realistic ways to move that fit your body and at your pace, with a personalised exercise and treatment plan designed just for you.
That might be a short stretching routine you can do at your desk or workplace, exercise advice that fits neatly into your day, or some simple strength work either in our clinics with your physio by your side or at the gym on your own.
It’s much easier to stick with a plan that’s built around you.
Get started today
It’s easy to brush off aches and pains, but when we listen to what our body is telling us, we get the chance to act early, before small tension turns into something bigger.
Whenever you’re ready we’re here to help support you if stress is weighing on you.
Book online now or phone 9535 7439.
We understand that physiotherapy or remedial massage therapy isn’t a replacement for mental health care. If you’re finding things tough, speaking with your GP is a great first step. You can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 at any time.
References
1 Health Direct: Stress
2 Better Health Channel: Exercise and mental health
3 Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: 24-hour movement guidelines for all Australians
This article was originally published on hbfphysio.com.au and has been republished here with permission. The content has been lightly edited.