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Where are you located?The treatment room is based at the following address: Sarum House, Amesbury Road, Thruxton, Andover, Hampshire SP11 8ED A map is provided on the Contact page.
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What are your opening hours?You will need an appointment to be able to visit. My normal opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Evening appointments up to 8pm can be arranged too. Saturday appointments can also be organised from 8am to midday. Unfortunately I won't be able to see you without an appointment.
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I'm not sporty - is Sports Massage for me?Yes, our clinic is for absolutely everyone. You do not need to be sporty to benefit from treatment in our clinic. But we offer relaxing massages too!
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Can you offer a relaxing massage?Of course! If you just need a massage for relaxation, to de-stress from normal day-to-day life, we can provide this service for you. Just relax on our massage table, where we can help you to unwind with a range of massage oils and lotions with manual therapy. We also offer hot-stone therapy too. If you suffer from more problematic muscular issues, then we have the qualifications and expertise to tackle these as well with a Sports Massage.
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What ages do you treat?We treat clients of all ages. The youngest we have treated is age 17 and the oldest is 86! Everyone is welcome. Any clients under the age of 16 must be accompanied to the appointment by an adult over 18 and remain in the treatment room for the duration of the treatment.
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How long does a treatment session last?We recommend that you will normally need to allow for 1 hour. We can accommodate shorter sessions (45 minutes) if your schedule is tight. Longer sessions of 90 minutes can be booked too.
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How do I make a booking?Call first so that I can briefly discuss your requirements and then offer an appointment, as appropriate. I understand that many people with jobs may need an evening appointment, so I will always endeavour to find an appointment time that would suit you.
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What are your prices?Prices are as follows: £ 35 45 minutes £ 45 1 hour £ 65 90 minutes (Most massage sessions are 1 hour to allow for consultation and therapy)
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How do I pay?You can pay by cash or bank transfer. We also accept a wide range of card and mobile phone payments, as listed below:
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Do you accept The Lifestyle Card?Yes we do. You can use your digital Lifestyle Card to receive a 50% discount on your first therapy session. Just bring your mobile phone so that you can present your digital card.
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Can I buy a voucher as a gift?Yes, you can buy a voucher for a massage session. This would make a great gift for a family member, friend or colleague. We can provide 45 min or 60 min vouchers, charged at our normal rate and valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. To redeem a voucher, it just needs to be brought to the massage session. Please note that vouchers are non-refundable and their expiry date can't be extended, but a full 12 month validity provides lots of flexibility for booking a massage session.
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What if I need to cancel?If you are no longer able to keep a booked appointment, please call as soon as possible to make your slot available for another client. You are welcome to re-book another appointment.
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When should I arrive?Please try to be prompt for your booking. Your treatment session will normally be an hour long. If you arrive late, this may unfortunately reduce the amount of time that I can spend with you. You are welcome to arrive a few minutes early. If you arrive by car, just wait in the driveway (there is plenty of room) and I shall collect you for the start of your session.
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What should I wear?Whatever makes you comfortable! For ladies, a traditional bra with back fastening would be best, rather than a sports-style bra. For leg or hip therapy, shorts would be ideal - either arrive in them or bring a pair to change into. Necklaces and long earrings may need to be removed. There is an area in the therapy room which can be curtained-off if you need to change clothes before and/or after a treatment. Remember that oils and lotions that might be used could stain fabrics, so bear this in mind when selecting what to wear.
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Should I stay quiet or talk during treatment?Whatever you are comfortable with. Talking during a sports massage can be very helpful because it provides feedback as the treatment progresses. During a more relaxing massage, you can let yourself drift into a relaxed state if you wish.
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What happens during a massage appointment?The first step is to gather some information, so I will listen to your needs and take notes on a consultation form and suggest how you should be treated. There will be some basic admin questions too. Some injuries will require some initial muscle testing to determine the problem. I understand some people will be embarrassed and will worry about their dignity, but rest assured that, as a professional therapist, maintaining your dignity is very important to me. There is an area in the therapy room that can be curtained-off to give you privacy whilst removing any necessary clothing (normally to underwear), or changing from normal clothes into shorts, etc. You would then arrange yourself on the massage table., where you will normally be lying face down,. I would cover you with a towel ready for treatment. I will always endeavour to keep you covered with a towel during treatment to preserve your dignity. If I need to provide therapy to other areas, this will be discussed during treatment. A similar process with be used at the end of the treatment session so that you can dress again. Finally, I will leave time at the end of the session to discuss the treatment and provide any ongoing aftercare and exercises.
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Are you qualified?I earned a BSc(Hons) degree (2:1) from the University of Northampton in Sport Rehabilitation and Conditioning. Subsequently I attained Graduate Sport Rehabilitator membership of BASRaT (British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers), the UK regulator and professional association for Sport Rehabilitators, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. I can be found on the BASRaT register of members (membership no. REH004332) Along my journey I also gained a variety of other certifications: UEFA Pitch Side Trauma Course Lubas FASE1 Theory and Practical Certificates Lubas FASE2 Certificate Theragun Licensed Massage Therapist NHS ELFH Safeguarding Children Level 1 & 2 Certificates FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine
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Are you insured?Yes. I have Medical Professional & Public Liability Insurance included within my BASRaT membership
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What's the difference between a Sports Therapist and Physiotherapist?The roles have a similar background. A physiotherapist typically places their emphasis on recovery and a normal range of motion. A Sports Therapist also supports injury recovery but places greater emphasis on advice and safe exercise practice enabling a return to sport.
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What is a Sports Massage?A Sports Massage can help to reduce muscle tightness, which can otherwise cause pain, limit flexibility and lead to future injuries. It also increases tissue elasticity and enhances circulation. Various techniques are used during a massage, which can include: Manual Therapy For example: soft tissue release (STR) using a combination of hand-on massage in specific areas and passive stretching muscle energy technique (MET), using activation of a muscle to relax another Percussive Therapy massage using a Theragun The aim of a Sports Massage is to treat particular muscular or mobility issues that a client is suffering. The therapy, by its nature, may not feel relaxing and calming at the time, but will help to identify and treat issues that should eventually lead to improved well-being. If you are looking for a more relaxing massage, we are can provide this instead.
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I hurt a muscle - why are other areas giving me problems?Many sports-related injuries are muscular. An injury can then lead to problems with other muscle groups as you try to compensate for the original injury. For example, if you were to injure a foot, you may over-compensate and cause injury to the other foot/leg as well as cause back problems. During assessment, we will diagnose the original injury with a view to providing treatment, but will also address secondary issues that could also be present.
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How do you help me understand the injury or support that I need?We have a selection of joint models including the spine, foot, knee, and shoulder and we can also introduce you to Bruce, our full-size skeleton model. With these aids, we can describe your joint mobility or restrictions, as well as demonstrate general posture-related issues. Muscle groups associated with these areas of the body can be explained. We can then help to clarify how treatments and ongoing training programmes can help to improve posture, mobility and ultimately improve sport-related performance.
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I am a semi-professional / professional athlete. Can you provide support?Yes. I am trained in therapy and rehabilitation techniques and am also able to provide ongoing support to define bespoke exercise programmes to strengthen specific areas of your body as required by your particular sport. Using the Sports Laboratory at the University of Northampton, I delivered weekly strength and conditioning coaching and sports massage to football Premier League Referees and Assistants during my degree studies. I am currently working with professional motorsport drivers in British Formula 4 and GB3 categories to determine weaknesses and formulate therapy and exercise regimes to improve their overall fitness and provide focus in particular areas where strength is beneficial.
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You are a licensed Theragun massage therapist. What is a Theragun?A Theragun is a hand-held percussive massage device aimed at preventing tightness, improving range of motion and accelerating muscle recovery. Whilst the Theragun is available for anyone to purchase, it is best used by a professional who has received the appropriate training. For more details, see our Theragun page.
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Why might I feel itchy after using a massage gun?This could be due to an increase in blood flow​​ that increases the size of the vessels carrying the blood. This causes nerves to fire, creating an itchy or tingling sensation known as paresthesia. Additionally, vibration from the massage gun may raise the skin's temperature, causing itchiness.
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