massage therapy
Massage can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regime and we’d like to suggest that you consider it in the context of your overall care at The Prostate Centre.
We are delighted to have highly skilled massage therapist Karl Monahan at The Prostate Centre on certain days of the week. Karl is dedicated to alleviating your stress and tension, relieving physical symptoms and helping you feel more positive about your condition. You don’t even need to undress if you don’t want to, as in addition to the traditional couch massage Karl also offers a seated massage through clothes, which can be just as effective and relaxing.
These are some examples of how massage can help at various stages in your care:
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First visit an anxious occasion for every patient; allow time for a treatment after your consultation (or maybe while waiting for tests or at the end of your visit) to unwind and relax, leaving with a sense of wellbeing
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Biopsy many patients expect this to be an uncomfortable procedure, and you may feel tense and nervous. A massage beforehand can stimulate endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller), lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety levels; alternatively, you can look forward to a soothing treatment afterwards
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Pre-operative preparation in conjunction with your diet and exercise programme, use massage sessions to help body-awareness and increase your motivation
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Catheter removal if you have had a robotic radical prostatectomy you will come to The Prostate Centre to have your catheter removed. As you will be here for much of the day, treat yourself to a therapeutic massage between consultations and tests.
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Post-operative visits you may be experiencing fatigue or disrupted sleep patterns; tenderness in the abdomen or back; or swelling and stiff muscles. Massage can help with these problems and speed up the recovery process.
The techniques Karl uses are:
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Onsite massage a seated massage using pressure applied through clothes. Especially helpful for relieving back, neck and shoulder pain, stress and tension, fatigue and headaches
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Indian head massage a seated treatment based on old Ayurvedic techniques and working on the upper back, shoulders, neck, scalp and face. Relieves accumulated tension; intensely relaxing
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Sports massage therapy used on various parts of the body, not just to treat minor injuries resulting from overexertion, but also to alleviate muscle tension caused by occupational, emotional and postural stress
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Swedish massage designed to relax muscles by applying deep, smooth pressure towards the heart. Improves blood flow; releases toxins from the muscles; stretches ligaments and tendons; stimulates the skin and soothes the nervous system.
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Foot/hand massage hands, feet or other parts of the body can be specifically targeted in a programme tailor-made for your requirements. Just let Karl know of any particular problems that need attention, eg calf injury, low back pain etc.
Sessions last 25-30 minutes and cost £50. They are not covered by health insurance.