Massage to Improve Circulation & Range of Motion in Bradford

Joints move freely when the muscles and connective tissue around them are supple. After long hours of sitting, hard training or a period of doing less, those tissues stiffen and movement becomes limited. At WellCare Medical in Bradford, our registered massage therapists use deep tissue and myofascial techniques to increase local blood flow, ease tight tissue and improve range of motion in the shoulders, hips and spine.

• reaching overhead or behind your back feels tight or blocked
• hips feel stiff when you squat, climb stairs or get out of the car
• you turn your whole body to look over your shoulder
• muscles stay sore for days after exercise
• you feel stiff for the first part of every day

Massage warms the tissue and temporarily increases blood flow to the area being treated. It also reduces muscle tone and helps the layers of muscle and fascia slide over each other. Together these effects make a joint easier to move. Your session may include:

• deep tissue massage for the muscles that limit the joint
• myofascial release around the shoulder blades, chest, hips and thighs
• assisted stretching while the muscle is warm and relaxed
• joint movements taken gently through their available range

The gain in movement straight after a massage is temporary unless you use it. We give you stretches or mobility exercises to do in the days after your session.

• Shoulders: tight chest and side-of-trunk muscles that limit overhead reach
• Hips: tight hip flexors, deep hip muscles and inner thighs that limit rotation and squatting
• Spine: stiff muscles along the back that limit twisting and bending
• Calves and ankles: tightness that affects walking, stairs and running

Massage between training days can ease muscle soreness and help you feel ready for the next session. If you play a sport, tell your therapist what you are training for and when, so the pressure and timing can be planned around it.

Check with a doctor first if you have swelling, warmth or pain in one calf, a history of blood clots, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a recent injury or surgery. Let your therapist know about any medical conditions or medication, including blood thinners.

If a joint itself is stiff, see chiropractic adjustments for restricted joint mobility. To build strength through your new range, our physiotherapists treat joint stiffness and muscle tightness and sports injuries. For posture-related tightness, read about massage for postural imbalances, or see all massage therapy at our Bradford clinic.