Clinical Massage Case Study
CLINICAL MASSAGE THERAPY CASE STUDY
“The pain, to my astonishment, disappeared entirely.”
Esther* had been suffering from back pain for over 20 years when she first made an appointment for massage therapy at The Forge Clinic.
The pain Esther experienced was on the right side of her thoracic spine (upper back) between the inside of her shoulder blade and her ribs. “The pain was so intense in the afternoons that it felt as though I was being stabbed with a knife,” she explains.
Initially Esther’s only relief from the pain was to lie down for an hour on a hot pad or take the painkiller, Ibuprofen.
However, over the years, she tried all kinds of treatments with the hope of easing her chronic back pain. These included physiotherapy and acupuncture on the NHS; private osteopathy; sports massage, and Alexander Technique. She also practised Pilates.
While she felt that Alexander Technique and Pilates were generally beneficial, she says: “No treatment or regime did anything to relieve the pain.”
Thoracic pain is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and this can be frustrating. Every specialist Esther consulted diagnosed her back pain problem as being caused by her career as a writer, which involves spending a great deal of time at a computer. Esther says: “One suggested that I switch using the mouse from my right to left hand. This made no difference.”
In search of some much-needed temporary relief, Esther decided to try a massage treatment at The Forge Clinic and arranged to have a consultation. After a full physical assessment and discussion of her symptoms, we suggested that Esther needed a clinical massage.
Clinical massage aims to treat specific conditions such as an area of pain or an injury with the focus on achieving an outcome of therapeutic benefit.
Esther’s treatment session began with a gentle manipulation of the fascia. This is the fibrous tissue that encloses the muscles, supporting and reducing friction during everyday movement.
During the treatment session, Esther says: “my therapist discovered that the source of my pain, which seemed so specifically located, was in fact coming from my neck, where the muscles, she said, felt like rocks.”
“After that first massage, the pain, to my astonishment, disappeared entirely for one week. For the first time in 20 years I was able to work or garden or see friends or whatever I liked in the afternoons without lying down or taking painkillers.”
Esther has continued to have clinical massage treatment at The Forge Clinic. After four sessions she is pleased with the results. While the pain still recurs occasionally, Esther says it is not as severe as it was and the intervals between what she calls “knife attacks” are getting longer.
*Name changed to protect patient confidentiality
BOOK YOUR CLINICAL MASSAGE APPOINTMENT
If you would like to book an appointment with one of our Clinical Massage Therapists, please call 020 8332 6184 or email us at info@theforgeclinic.com. Alternatively, you can book online.
TESTIMONIALS
Naomi is a really lovely massage therapist who instantly puts you at ease. She understood my aches and pains and remembered them on subsequent visits. Naomi gave me some great tips as to how to work on my specific problem areas (tight ham strings and hip flexors) and after a massage session with her my legs felt so much lighter!
F. G.
CLINICAL MASSAGE THERAPY CASE STUDY
“The pain, to my astonishment, disappeared entirely.”
Esther* had been suffering from back pain for over 20 years when she first made an appointment for massage therapy at The Forge Clinic.
The pain Esther experienced was on the right side of her thoracic spine (upper back) between the inside of her shoulder blade and her ribs. “The pain was so intense in the afternoons that it felt as though I was being stabbed with a knife,” she explains.
Initially Esther’s only relief from the pain was to lie down for an hour on a hot pad or take the painkiller, Ibuprofen.
However, over the years, she tried all kinds of treatments with the hope of easing her chronic back pain. These included physiotherapy and acupuncture on the NHS; private osteopathy; sports massage, and Alexander Technique. She also practised Pilates.
While she felt that Alexander Technique and Pilates were generally beneficial, she says: “No treatment or regime did anything to relieve the pain.”
Thoracic pain is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and this can be frustrating. Every specialist Esther consulted diagnosed her back pain problem as being caused by her career as a writer, which involves spending a great deal of time at a computer. Esther says: “One suggested that I switch using the mouse from my right to left hand. This made no difference.”
In search of some much-needed temporary relief, Esther decided to try a massage treatment at The Forge Clinic and arranged to have a consultation. After a full physical assessment and discussion of her symptoms, we suggested that Esther needed a clinical massage.
Clinical massage aims to treat specific conditions such as an area of pain or an injury with the focus on achieving an outcome of therapeutic benefit.
Esther’s treatment session began with a gentle manipulation of the fascia. This is the fibrous tissue that encloses the muscles, supporting and reducing friction during everyday movement.
During the treatment session, Esther says: “my therapist discovered that the source of my pain, which seemed so specifically located, was in fact coming from my neck, where the muscles, she said, felt like rocks.”
“After that first massage, the pain, to my astonishment, disappeared entirely for one week. For the first time in 20 years I was able to work or garden or see friends or whatever I liked in the afternoons without lying down or taking painkillers.”
Esther has continued to have clinical massage treatment at The Forge Clinic. After four sessions she is pleased with the results. While the pain still recurs occasionally, Esther says it is not as severe as it was and the intervals between what she calls “knife attacks” are getting longer.
*Name changed to protect patient confidentiality
BOOK YOUR CLINICAL MASSAGE APPOINTMENT
If you would like to book an appointment with one of our Massage Therapists, please call 020 8332 6184 or email us at info@theforgeclinic.com. Alternatively, you can book online.
Naomi is a really lovely massage therapist who instantly puts you at ease. She understood my aches and pains and remembered them on subsequent visits. Naomi gave me some great tips as to how to work on my specific problem areas (tight ham strings and hip flexors) and after a massage session with her my legs felt so much lighter!
F. G.
Our Team
CLINICAL MASSAGE
“The pain, to my astonishment, disappeared entirely.”
Esther* had been suffering from back pain for over 20 years when she first made an appointment for massage therapy at The Forge Clinic.
The pain Esther experienced was on the right side of her thoracic spine (upper back) between the inside of her shoulder blade and her ribs. “The pain was so intense in the afternoons that it felt as though I was being stabbed with a knife,” she explains.
Initially Esther’s only relief from the pain was to lie down for an hour on a hot pad or take the painkiller, Ibuprofen.
However, over the years, she tried all kinds of treatments with the hope of easing her chronic back pain. These included physiotherapy and acupuncture on the NHS; private osteopathy; sports massage, and Alexander Technique. She also practised Pilates.
While she felt that Alexander Technique and Pilates were generally beneficial, she says: “No treatment or regime did anything to relieve the pain.”
Thoracic pain is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and this can be frustrating. Every specialist Esther consulted diagnosed her back pain problem as being caused by her career as a writer, which involves spending a great deal of time at a computer. Esther says: “One suggested that I switch using the mouse from my right to left hand. This made no difference.”
In search of some much-needed temporary relief, Esther decided to try a massage treatment at The Forge Clinic and arranged to have a consultation. After a full physical assessment and discussion of her symptoms, we suggested that Esther needed a clinical massage.
Clinical massage aims to treat specific conditions such as an area of pain or an injury with the focus on achieving an outcome of therapeutic benefit.
Esther’s treatment session began with a gentle manipulation of the fascia. This is the fibrous tissue that encloses the muscles, supporting and reducing friction during everyday movement.
During the treatment session, Esther says: “my therapist discovered that the source of my pain, which seemed so specifically located, was in fact coming from my neck, where the muscles, she said, felt like rocks.”
“After that first massage, the pain, to my astonishment, disappeared entirely for one week. For the first time in 20 years I was able to work or garden or see friends or whatever I liked in the afternoons without lying down or taking painkillers.”
Esther has continued to have clinical massage treatment at The Forge Clinic. After four sessions she is pleased with the results. While the pain still recurs occasionally, Esther says it is not as severe as it was and the intervals between what she calls “knife attacks” are getting longer.
*Name changed to protect patient confidentiality
CLINICAL MASSAGE THERAPY FOR PAIN RELIEF IN RICHMOND
If you would like to book an appointment with one of our Massage Therapists, please call 020 8332 6184 or email us at info@theforgeclinic.com. Alternatively, you can book online.
Please note that our treatments do not replace medical advice and treatment. If you have any concerns, please consult your GP.
“David Silver is an outstanding practitioner. He is clever, sensitive, thoughtful and proactive in enabling me to feel empowered to improve my own health. Would highly recommend him and this practice.”
David
“Rory is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable practitioner, who was very positive about the outcome of our treatments. There was great improvement in my back pain after a couple of sessions and I am now happy to say that I am pain free and confident I have the tools I need to avoid it in the future!
F. C.
R.S.
V.T.
J.H.
Lynda
