Massage Therapy in Chelsea & St Pauls

Massage therapy is a form of physical therapy involving manipulation of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.

Our approach includes deep tissue massage, sports massage, trigger point therapy, manual lymphatic massage, Thai massage and myofascial release.

What we treat

Back pain – Neck pain – Muscle, tendon and ligament sprains / tears – Hip pain – Knee pain – Foot and ankle pain – Shoulder pain – Tennis elbow – Golfer’s elbow – Carpal tunnel – Sports injuries – Running injuries – Cycling injuries – Disc prolapse – Trapped nerves – Sciatica – Arthritis – Headaches – Pre/post natal care – Pre/post surgical rehabilitation – Repetitive strain injuries.

Meet the team

Alina Chauhan
Physiotherapist and Massage Therapist

Alina specialises in remedial massage, deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and myofascial release.

Alina also offers a hands-on manual therapy approach to physiotherapy treatment together with strengthening and flexibility rehabilitation exercises and postural education.

Alina’s passion for sports medicine exercises and heath started in her early teens as an elite handball player in the Junior National team of Romania.

 

From her own experience with many injuries through her sports career , she was inspired by the physiotherapists she’s worked with in her rehabilitation journey and decided to become herself a sports therapist.

Alina has a university degree in Physiotherapy from the National Academy of Education and in Sports Science and Personal Training at the Ecological University of Bucharest . With a vast understanding of the body functionality she strongly believes in injury prevention as much as rehabilitation.

Driven sports therapist with over thirteen years experience in the industry, she keeps up with her knowledge by undertaking CPD courses to ensure a high standard level of treatment for her patients.
Alina has worked over the years with elite athletes, providing personal training,physiotherapy,acupuncture and sports massage therapies.

Alina’s tenacious and proactive approach has helped her utilise her skills, her meticulous attention to detail, and friendly, professional personality will instantly put you at ease.
Patient and detail-oriented, with excellent communication and understanding of the body. Alina will provide personalised care to improve your overall comfort, health and well-being.

Prices

30mins: £52

60mins: £100

Special Offer
Book three 60min treatments and receive the fourth free.

How does massage therapy work

Three physiological processes of massage therapy:

Replenish:

Encouraging the blood flow within the muscle, flushing out lactic acid and increasing the levels of oxygen and nutrients:

Lactic acid is a toxin produced when the muscles break down glucose in the absence of an oxygenated blood supply (ischemia). A build-up of lactic acid causes fatigue and potential damage and fibrosis in the muscle tissue.

Reset:

Stretching the muscle, allowing for a resetting of its resting tone:

Skeletal muscle contraction is controlled by the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) with signals being relayed to the muscles through neuropathways.
Skeletal muscle contraction can be divided into two types: Resting tone which is a necessary passive, low-level muscle contraction vital to maintaining postural balance and stability and co-contraction which by contrast is an active increased level of muscle contraction necessary for a greater degree of strength in order to carry out a particular movement or function.

Most commonly an increase in resting tone is due to poor posture and overuse such as sitting in front of the desk for too long, lifting weights and running. This constant state of increased low-level muscle contraction can be damaging to the muscle and lead to a build-up of fibrosis through restricting blood flow, reducing oxygen supply to the muscle (ischemia) and increasing the level of lactic acid (a by-product of anaerobic respiration where energy is released in the absence of oxygen).

Regenerate:

Breaking apart the straight collagen fibers of fibrosis, allowing the release of stem cells which regenerate new healthy muscle fibers:

Fibrosis is an excessive accumulation of collagen fibers, allowing for a quick soft tissue repair response after injury or ischemia. In fibrosis the collagen fibers are the same as those in normal soft tissue however their orientation differs. In normal tissue the fibers form an irregular matrix of fibers however in fibrosis the collagen fibers cross-link and form an alignment in a single direction. This difference in alignment affects the function of fibrosis making it less flexible and more prone to further injury than normal tissue.

Further reading: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3156644/

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the treatment right for me?
Please call us and arrange to speak to an Osteopath or Physiotherapist if you are unsure about the nature of your injury or what treatment would be right for you. If treatment is not deemed appropriate there will be no charge made for your appointment.

What does the treatment involve?
Osteopathy offers a hands-on, manual therapy approach to the treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries using mobilisation and stretches, deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and myofascial release to restore the health of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.

What should I wear?
As the treatment involves massage and stretching techniques you may need to remove some outer layers of clothing such as shirt, jumper or trousers. If you are suffering from low back pain or leg pain you may wish to bring shorts or loose trousers to change into. Women suffering from back and upper limb pain may wish to wear a vest top.

How is my medical data stored?
Your initial consultation involves the osteopath or physiotherapist taking a full medical history, treatment notes are then also taken at subsequent visits. Medical histories are kept on our secure practice software in accordance with data protection and the code of practice set out by The General Osteopathic Council and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. Medical history and treatment notes are not disclosed to any third party such as General Practitioners or health insurance providers without the permission of the patient.

Do I need to see my GP first?
Osteopaths and physiotherapists are trained as primary healthcare practitioners and patients can seek treatment without referral. If necessary you will be advised to see your GP or you may be referred for further investigations such x-ray or MRI. Please note most Health Insurance companies ask that you contact your GP before seeking treatment.