Corporate Remedial Massage Therapist.

Corporate remedial massage is a relatively new style of massage that is still evolving. As companies begin to demand longer working days from their staff there is a need to reward staff for this commitment. With a contracting work force the emphasis has shifted to attracting the best staff and keeping them. This younger work force are demanding more tangible rewards for their efforts and better health outcomes with their work and life more balanced. According to one study by the University of Western Australia absenteeism is costing $2 billion to the private sector per year. On any given day 2.7% of the workforce is absent. As staff is now doing more work each day than ever before there is a large cost associated with each day off. Factors such as extra work pressure, family pressures and the lack of a balance between the two are associated with absenteeism. Workers have become time poor and the need for a mental relaxation break has become vital to their well being.

There needs to be a shift in the way company’s view their staff and they need to be seen as the most valuable part of any company and treat them accordingly.

Corporate remedial massage involves short focused massages that are based on remedial principals combined with Chinese or other techniques suited to clothed massage situation. Some therapists use head cradles that are put onto the clients work bench (this works well in the call centre environment where they can’t leave the desk), specialized massage chairs where the client comes away from the desk (works best where space is limited) or portable tables for a full body massage (works where space is available and is a more thorough approach).

Most office workers encounter problems around the neck and shoulder region as they are sitting looking at a computer screen for most of the day. Headaches, tiredness, tight shoulders and sharp nerve pain develop across the upper back as a result of this position. Pain is also common in the arms and wrists form over using the keyboard or incorrect posture. Remedial massage can relive and re educate these muscles so that they don’t cramp up and go back to a more neutral, natural position. Client education is part of the process so that clients can understand why it is happening and work with the therapist to prevent it from returning. Lower back pain and sciatic nerve pain are also starting to become as big a problem as shoulder pain. Sitting for long periods causes the abdominals to weaken and the lower back to sag. The surrounding muscles become fatigued and go into spasm (or trigger) and this cause pressure on the surrounding nerves. Who hasn’t experienced the dull ache in a numb bottom after sitting for too long?

Are all corporate therapists the same? Emphatically no. There are now many people offering this service and some are using back packers with little or no real massage experience. Always ask for diploma qualifications and most importantly insurance.

Remedial therapists have done at least 2 years massage which include a year of anatomy which is crucial when you touching anybody. Always ask for references as the good ones will have regular clients who are happy to tell you about them.

Corporate remedial massage should be viewed an important part of a preventative health program and is suited to everyone who works in a sedentary office job. Working in this field is very rewarding as you get immediate feedback and regular contact with your clients. It is very physical work and to be effective and trusted you must stay fit and lead a healthy lifestyle. Yoga, swimming and general aerobic fitness are excellent supportive activities. As a working single mother I was searching for work that I could do during school hours and that did not involve sitting all day at a desk. It is funny that I now spend my days in an office but with none of the negatives associated with desk work. I get great satisfaction from helping people stay healthy and love meeting new people every 15 minutes. The best place to find a practitioner in your area is at the Natural Therapy Pages website as you just have to punch in the postcode of your area.

Janet France Blue Lizard Office Massage

0403 868592