 "Turning aches and pains into smiles"Broome Visiting Service
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The Massage Guy is the natural alternative to chiros and physios for ache, pain and headache relief. In Broome the visiting service is available from 8am to 11pm seven days
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My services are recognized by over 30 health funds and the list is growing all the time.
Rebates are available from the following health funds:
Frozen shoulder
..restricted arm movement, can be due to tight muscles or bursitis, impingement at the acromion process or other injury. If due to tight muscles I get excellent results. If due to injury then some improvement is likely to be the result. Takes time to work on all the muscles that attach to the shoulder!
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Sadly many people have operations when tight forearm muscles are the original cause. Involves working the forearm and wrist in a detailed systematic way
Arm nerve pain
The problem is that the nerve can be pinched in a variety of places and in more than one place, causing pain, tingling, pins and needles or numbness. Arm nerve problems are as difficult to treat as sciatica, but I have had plenty of good results.
RSI Forearms
RSI - Repetitive Strain injury (these days known as Overuse Injury) can happen to people bashing away at computers. Deep tissue and trigger points really get to the crux of the matter before you get carpal tunnel syndrome.
Relaxing forearms and hands
Oil based work on the forearms and hands, and upper arms if you wish. When did you last reward your hands? Consider how much they do for you!
Lower back ache relief
Tradesmen's back I call this, people bending over all day, resulting in a dull ache across the lower back. This routing includes some stretches for homework to keep the problem at bay
Lower back pain time dependent, usually around$35
This is much trickier than lower back aches as there can be a whole host of causes including prolapsed disks and nerve pain, damaged vertebrae and so on so takes rather longer.
Sciatica
There are generally three places where the sciatic nerve is trapped and remedial massage seems to be more effective than physiotherapy or chiropractic work in the relief of this condition. I have worked on a number of people who have been in pain for many years who have been astounded at the relief they got from me in just one treatment! A lady still drives down from Perth once every six months or so when the problem starts to recur, and she had been in pain for over 20 years.
Pecs, posture and breathing
This improves breathing, loosens the pectoral muscles and gets the shoulders back. If you are hunched over a hot computer all day, this is the one for you!
Deep tissue for legs
Hamstrings, calves and quadriceps includes stretching and trigger point therapy. ITB work a speciality Great for sports people.
Reflexology
A really nice foot pamper with the added benefits of working on other parts of the body at the same time
Calves and feet
For people on their feet all day it can be tiring particularly on the feet and calf muscles. Doesn't spend as much time on the feet as reflexology, but does deep tissue and trigger point therapy on the calf muscles
Leg length discrepancies
Sometimes the bones are of different lengths in which I can't help! However, often tight muscles are responsible for hiking a hip up one side or rotating the hip forward or back, in which case I can help. Use some Bowen techniques among others.
TMJ dysfunction
Temporomandibular joint, basically means you have jaw problems. A little bit tricky to fix as it has two joints. Uses craniosacral therapy
Spot work / injuries
Have you got anything not mentioned above? A troublesome knee or collapsing leg, then this or the options below are for you.
Invigorating Swedish massage with sunscreen, 2 - 4 people per hour
General remedial massage at the courthouse markets
$35 per half hour or $60 per hour
If you have several problems then this might be the best option.
I have a gazebo, massage chair and passage table so everyone can sample several different techniques - craniosacral therapy (relieves trigger points in neck and improves the head's range of motion and relieves headaches and shoulder tension, sunscreen massage, chair massage, deep tissue massage etc. Could be interesting working with a beautician doing manicures and pedicures at the same time - much cheaper than you all going to day spas!
Arthur was formerly a TAFE lecturer in IT (for 15 years!, having previously worked for multinational computer companies in the UK), specialising in databases and information systems. Arthur suffered from scoliosis. He was in a great deal of pain, but was only ever able to get temporary relief until he tried remedial massage. The results were such a dramatic improvement that Arthur could do all sorts of activities he couldn't do before. So impressed with the improvement in his quality of life, Arthur decided to make a career as a Sports and Remedial Masseur, and trained with Barry Harwood, Australian College of Myopractic, Central TAFE, Perth Academy of Natural Therapies and the Upledger Institute. Arthur has special interests in fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Arthur is proud to be the first person to gain a Diploma of Sports and Remedial Massage from Barry Harwood. Barry is an accredited teacher of the Association of Remedial Masseurs and has been teaching remedial massage and kinesiology for over 20 years. With a TAFE Diploma of Remedial Massage to boot, it means Arthur is better qualified than most masseurs.
Arthur was masseur at the Rockingham Rugby Union Football Club for 3 years. The players have over the last three seasons given me plenty of experience of working with sporting injuries! This has been a vital part of my training. I thank the Rugby Club for the opportunity to develop and hone my skills.
Likewise Arthur loves his office at the beach. This consists of a gazebo and the massage chair at Churchill Park opposite La Gelateria coffee and icecream shop. Currently I am there on a daily basis until the end of summer.
Arthur is a member of the Association of Remedial Masseurs (ARM).
I think it is safe to say that remedial massage is the most misunderstood branch of the healthcare profession. The politicians certainly don't understand it, otherwise it wouldn't be the only branch of the healthcare industry attracting GST. Why a visit to a chiropractor or physiotherapist does not attract GST whilst a visit to a remedial masseur does attract GST is a mystery to me, and something I intend eventually to lobby to have changed.
When studying for the Diploma of Remedial Massage at TAFE I could not get an answer from any of the lecturers I asked when I requested a definition of remedial massage. In my Medical Dictionary, a thick tome, remedial massage does not warrant a mention. So here then is my definition:
Remedial Massage is a holistic treatment; that is, a treatment for the whole of the body, as well as the area being treated. The primary aim of Remedial Massage is to find and treat the cause of the disorder, not only the symptoms, and that can mean correcting your body posture by stretching dominant muscles and exercising weak muscles.
Remedial massage can afford relief from:
For further details of these and other conditionsk use the link Can massage help your condition?
A remedial massage therapist studies anatomy, physiology, pathology and many techniques such as:
I am fighting a campaign to have GST dropped from remedial massage. It is the only branch of the healthcare industry which attracts GST whilst remedial masseurs are also the lowest paid health care workers. It makes no sense when chiros and physios dont pay GST and charge a lot more.
My letter to the treasurer Wayne Swan proved that he has even less understanding of the benefits of remedial massage than Peter Costello. However, in the 2020 summit they announced proposals for, guess what, a national agengy for preventative health issues! I'd say it is impossible to find anything that helps prevent health problems than regular remedial massage. Accordingly, I have taken up the issue with Kevin Rudd and the Health Minister Nicola Roxon to regulate the massage industry properly and drop the GST. The GST drives the industry underground, forces remedial masseurs to work part time or to leave the industry. Few remedial masseurs gross the average wage of $60,000, and you have all your expenses of towels, heating, oils, advertising etc to take off. If you gross $60,000 you have to pay $6,000 GST. If you gross below $50,000 then you pay no GST. I rest my case, but it seems that politicians are incapable of grasping the simplest ideas, and it also seems that none of them has discovered the benefits of remedial massage.
I also lobbied the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow Gold Card holders to have remedial massage expenses covered. Gold Card holders are entitled to free health care with the notable exception of remedial massage! I received feedback from the Department that this is under consideration and that the matter had also been raised by the AAMT (Australian Assocaition of Massage Therapists).
Well the truth is that there aren't that many secrets for men! Men do not have to endure anything like the suffering that women do. Men who stretch and exercise regularly and don't sit on their wallets (which can cause sciatica) are likely to be the picture of health. The reality is that men who have finished with sport tend to stretch less than ladies. Guys tend to shy away from yoga and pilates classes for example. Often lower back pain is due simply to tight muscles in need of a good stretch. A good stretch of the glutes and the psoas muscles often provides relief from lower back pain. I have had a few male clients with sciatic nerve pain caused by years of sitting on their wallets, so guys, wise up on this one!
Sitting on a wallet for years whilst driving, sitting at a puta or couch potatoing squashes the sciatic nerve until one day you experience nerve pain in the leg.
Ladies know how to get into and out of cars properly as a result of wearing skirts, ie both legs together. Guys need to do this too to avoid muscle damage!
The majority of men eventually end up with this problem sooner or later, generally starting in their fifties. The prostate glands enlarge and the urinary flow is restricted. You urinate smaller amounts, the flow is not as strong, and you have to urinate much more frequently, often in the night. You can turn the tide on this using herbs such as Saw Palmetto or Pygeum. Chemists and health stores stock products containing both, such as Prostate Eze.
The things we do! Ladies, you look great in high heels, but the truth is that pointy shoes and high heels are likely to cause grief later in life, requiring treatment from the likes of me. Shoulder bags cause you to hike your shoulder to prevent the shoulder bag slipping off. This causes trigger points in muscles such as the upper trapezius and levator scapulae. Trigger points in the upper trapezius refer pain to the back of the neck. This stimulates the development of trigger points in the suboccipital muscles, and these in turn can cause headaches. All this just from a shoulder bag!
The fact is that women cop a lot more pain than men do. Women suffer a lot more than men do from fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and the list just goes on and on... did I mention headaches already?
On the subject of headaches, I find that a craniosacral technique helps relieve headaches in many cases, a service I provide at the beachfront.
The government's emphasis is on using mammograms when you are 50 plus to DETECT cancer. Alas, it does very little to promote PREVENTING breast cancer!
Breast cancer is a disease that has only developed since women started wearing bras. Bras constrict the breast and reduces the flow of lymph. Blood is pumped out from the heart via arteries, and carries nutrients to every cell in the body. It returns in the form of blood (via the veins) and lymph, via the lymphatic system of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. The lymphatic system is like a railway system with stations and trains. Lymph is the liquid which returns toxic wastes, via lymphatic vessels, to the nearest lymph nodes for processing. Most lymphatic vessels are very close to the surface of the skin, so any tight clothing restricts the flow of lymph. The build up of lymph in the breast means that toxic waste accumulates in the breast over a period of years, resulting in breast cancer. You can do yourself a huge favour by regularly draining this lymph when you have a shower. And if this sounds an improbable way to prevent breast cancer, just ask yourself how many men get breast cancer?
You can perform lymphatic drainage of your breasts every time you have a shower. Do this every day and you will significantly reduce your chances of contracting breast cancer. Using your hands, properly draped, I can show you how, in a none invasive way, or simply explain what to do, by demonstrating the lightness of touch required on another part of the body. Alternatively, get the DVD, entitled Therapeutic Breast Massage, from Terra Rosa.
Basically, these techniques should be being taught to girls in high school. Hello? Are the Ministers for Health or Education listening? Is there anyone out there?! Throw a little more money at prevention rather than just the cure, the results will be far more satisfactory!
There is a DVD available from Terra Rosa so you can learn to massage your baby.
As stated above, significantly more women suffer from fibromyalgia than men. Often it is caused by physical or emotional trauma which then results is some chemical imbalances so that muscles do not function optimally, resulting in trigger points, pain, and in many cases, insomnia. Some supplements are worth trying. Another is endep (amytriptiline). This prescription drug in larger doses is an antidepressant. In small doses it acts as a muscle relaxant and helps improve sleep. One of my clients heeded this suggestion of mine, went to her GP and tried endep, and got immediate relief from the pain and insomnia of fibromyalgia and now I see her about once a year.
This is an article published by the Association of Remedial Masseurs in their quarterly journal. It resulted in a hostile reaction from some quarters who dont want to see the standards / barriers to entry to the industry raised. However, I see it as the only way forward for the industry in terms of remedial massage earning the respect of the general public and the healthcare industry at large, and in terms of remedial masseurs being able to earn a competitive salary. Here is the article:
Remedial massage isn't an alternative or complementary therapy. It is the most mainstream health care you can possibly get! I take that as my starting point and wish to paint a case for going about improving our lot as remedial masseurs.
Firstly, there is GST on remedial massage. Chiropractors, doctors, physiotherapists don't pay GST. All the GST does is drive our industry underground or force masseurs to work part time and work in another occupation. Why should we be operating from spare bedrooms while the chiros operate from the choice corner blocks with free 24/7 advertising? We clearly need to lobby the Treasurer and Health Minister of the incoming Government to have the GST removed.
Next: The health funds don't understand the benefits of remedial massage. You often have to have additional cover to get rebates for remedial massage, whereas chiro and physio are covered in more basic packages. Remedial massage would save the health funds and their members a fortune if it were covered in basic packages, as members would increasingly turn to remedial massage which is cheaper and more effective than chiros and physios for many aches, pains and headaches. We clearly need to lobby the health funds and incoming Health Minister on this matter.
Next: The massage industry is completely unregulated. In the US they have LMTs, Licenced Massage Therapists, so the consumer knows where they stand. Here anyone can advertise massage services, so we are up against people who have done a weekend Swedish course, often on centrelink payments who advertise massages for cheap rates, undermining the industry. We need to lobby for regulation of the industry.
Next: Remedial massage training is insufficient and does not cover a wide enough range of techniques. In my view Remedial massage should be a four year course, probably at University rather than TAFE or other providers. At the moment a Diploma of Remedial Massage is not an end point, it is a starting point. We also have the problem that some providers offer a Diploma of Remedial Massage in just one year.
I studied with four providers, Barry Harwood, the Australian College of Myopractic, Central TAFE and the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies, so I think my comments about training in general have validity. The problems I see from the learning of techniques point of view is that typically a lecturer demonstrates a technique on a student, then students pair off and practice on each other. Most students don't know what it is supposed to feel like, and the students don't get to work on the teacher. There are also so many techniques that are not included in the Diploma of Remedial Massage that would be covered in a four year course, such as Positional Release / Counterstrain / Orthobionomy, Bowen or Myopractic, Craniosacral therapy, Acupressure, intro to chiropractic and physiotherapy, kinesiology and acupressure, tui na, intros to rolfing, touch for health etc. Release of nerve entrapment is a must. Nerve mobilization, a DVD from Real Body Work is most helpful in relieving nerve issues in the arms for example. The course I attended covered the upper limb tension tests, but failed to adequately address how to relieve the problems you encounter during the tests. Counselling and psychology could also be included. More should also be included on stretching and strengthening. More on postural corrections for head forward, scoliosis etc is an absolute must. Marketing is also a must! I would also envisage much more detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology, nutrition, pathology, medical terminology, than is currently required, even a course in Latin. Students would be required to spend hundreds of hours simply reading their medical dictionaries with a test from a random page from the dictionary. We need to be able to speak to doctors on their level to gain their respect. Sports massage should be much more prominent. Some courses require you to work 30 or 50 hours at a sports club with a log book in an unsupervised capacity. This is woeful! You should be supervised initially, to deal with sports injuries. I have spent three years working at Rockingham Rugby Union Football Club for three seasons, and it has been a great learning experience. On match days I do warm ups and warm downs and treat injured players when not busy, and on training nights I deal with the injuries they sustain during the games.
Clinics I have a problem with also. Typically the clientele are massage junkies who like regular, cheap massages, and are used to Swedish massages given by first year students. There simply isn't much in the way of remedial massage happening. The procedure is for a full body massage, half hour face down, half hour face up, without doing postural assessment. The clients don't want the postural assessment to eat into their massage time, they just want to hop onto the table! This is not how the real world works or should work. I don't ask clients to remove clothing unless it is warranted, as I often assess mid treatment to ask them to walk around, sit down, stand up etc to see if the pain has eased. The third and fourth year students should be operating a centre of excellence dealing with people with real injuries, sciatica, frozen shoulder, car accidents, workers compensation etc which charge top dollar and have a teacher supervising only a handful of students.
More use should be made of DVDs in course. I have a library of DVDs, many from Real Body Work which I got from amazon.com and the australian website, terra rosa (Terrarosa.com.au), which I view over and over when I am not working. These will all end up as downloadable videos over the internet in the not too distant future I am sure. They help you keep up to date, and I believe that you should be able to cover 10 or 15 of your CPE points simply by purchasing DVDs as a separate issue from books.
Students who have finished such a four year course would have no problem making a career from remedial massage. As matters stand, I know many who have completed their Diploma but have switched jobs because they cannot make a living from remedial massage. Most remedial masseurs earn less than the average wage. Why? This manifesto aims to correct this in the long run.
Next: Naming. I am a remedial masseur. I am most certainly not a massage therapist! That is my main reason for being a member of ARM rather than AAMT. To me a massage therapist is someone who has completed a level four Certificate in Remedial Massage.
Next: Veterans. Veterans get free health cover for everything. Everything except remedial massage that is. I recently got a reply from the Minister of Veteran Affairs that AAMT has put forward a proposal to have their members services recognised. I have requested that ARM follow suit.
Lastly: We need to create a better definition for remedial massage, as no one has ever been able to give me a definition I have been satisfied with. Once we can do that, we can start promoting it to the general public, for this is what we must surely do to ensure a successful career.
Since creating this website, I have had an international booking from someone planning a holiday in Rockingham who found my details on the Rockingham Tourism website.
