Massage blog @ Saffron Walden

First, does it even exist....yes. It's very real...but what is it actually? It doesn’t happen overnight, and most people don’t realise they’ve crossed into it until their performance starts going backwards. So What Is It Exactly? Overtraining happens when your body doesn’t get enough time to recover between workouts. Training creates stress. The recovery is what makes you stronger. This isn’t just feeling a bit tired. It’s a measurable condition backed by sports science, aff

We’ve all done it. I see it alot at my Sports Massage clinic in Saffron Walden Monday: motivated, smashing workouts. Wednesday: everything hurts, energy’s gone, and suddenly even walking upstairs feels awful The problem isn’t that you’re training too much. It’s that you’re not recovering well enough to support how much you want to train. Stop Eating Like A Child... Eat like a athlete. Up your calories, more carbs, more protein, more veg and fruit. If you are upping your mile

It’s one of the oldest debates in sport. And a question I get asked alot at my Saffron Walden Massage Room. You pull a hamstring, roll an ankle, tweak your shoulder.. and the first instinct is simple: stop everything. Rest. Don’t make it worse. Complete rest isn’t always the best thing for recovery . In fact, modern sports science has quietly shifted away from the “just rest it” mindset. The real answer is more nuanced, and far more interesting. However. I do also have some s

The 3 Areas Everyone Asks Me to Fix (And Why They’re Always Tight) If you asked me what people come in for most, the answer’s pretty predictable. Not shoulders. Not arms. Not anything obscure. It’s almost always the same three areas: Different people, different lifestyle but the same problem spots. So what’s going on? 1. The back: doing more than it should The big one.. Upper back, lower back, sometimes both in the same session. Most people assume their back is the problem. B

You’re running the Cambridge Half Marathon, the final 24 hours before the race are less about “training” and more about preparing your body to perform well and recover well. 🏃🏽‍♂️ Many runners make the mistake of trying something new at the last minute, but the evidence from sports science is clear: the day before a race should focus on maintaining muscle readiness, reducing fatigue, and avoiding unnecessary stress on the body! 🦵🏽 Below are a few evidence-based ways to pr

Tight calves are one of the most common complaints among runners. Many people assume it’s simply a flexibility issue, but research suggests calf tightness is usually related to how much load the muscles handle during running, not just how much you stretch. Running puts huge demand on the calves Your calf muscle the gastrocnemius and soleus, play a major role in running. They control ankle movement, absorb impact when your foot hits the ground, and help push you forward. Biome

Sorry, Ice Baths have not made this list. Here are some of the best ways to recover after hard exercise, so you can get straight back to training & stop complaining. If you are looking to recover in Saffron Walden, head to my massage clinic. Invest in a good bed! Sleep is more than just downtime, it’s when your body releases growth hormone, repairs muscles, reduces inflammation, and powers up your brain for sharper focus. Studies show athletes who get extra sleep boost speed,

“I Don’t Stretch” – Does It Actually Matter? At my clinic - sports massage in Saffron Walden , i hear this probably at least once a day: “I know… I don’t stretch.” It’s usually said with guilt. Like they’ve failed some unwritten fitness rule. But here’s the truth: Stretching isn’t the magic fix people think it is. Let’s clear this up. Are Muscles Really “Tight”? When clients say they feel tight, it doesn’t automatically mean their muscles are physically short. In most cases,

This post is a bit chaotic..... I'm only writing this to help people who might have an injury themselves and feel lost or in despair. I have had a fair few issues in the past & present which has stopped me from doing my sports. I think you might find it helpful to see how I tackle my injuries, so you don't feel so alone Mentally Prep Yourself.. "You won't be able to do what you want for a while", it's a bitter pill to swallow. However, if you sulk around feeling lost you w

It’s one of the biggest ironies in sport & fitness You’re training well, feeling strong, improving fast… and then suddenly, you get injured. It feels unfair, but there’s actually a lot of science and psychology behind why this happens. Most of my recovery & massage clients in Saffron Walden come in when everything was going to plan! Runners in Saffron Walden doing more miles and feeling strong.. Weight lifters hitting some personal bests Why might this happen? 1. Increased L

In the last few years I have: Broken a rib Damaged some jelly in my eyeball, so I get flashes every-time it goes from dark to light Torn some bit and bobs in my knee rather badly! Got diagnosed with arthritic shoulder Shoulder bursa is thickened & swollen Oh and I also have a chronic condition, Ankylosing Spondylitis - arthritic spine. Each thing has probably acuminated into many, many months of recovery and not going to Ju-jitsu and the gym. Back in the day I would of been

Understanding Shin Splints: The Biomechanics Behind the Pain, I find that once you understand shin splints they are fairly simple to sort out.. Shin Splints AKA - Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS). It’s one of the most common overuse injuries, especially in runners and active individuals. But to fix it properly...not just patch it uP, you need to understand why it happens. Let’s break it down from a biomechanical point of view. THESE ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES Foot Mechan

For decades, we’ve all been told to “R.I.C.E.” an injury. I remember learning it on my GCSE PE and even my Sports massage course. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation 🫠 It sounded logical: reduce swelling, stay off it, wait it out. But as recovery science has evolved, we’ve learned that healing doesn’t come from freezing or avoiding movement.. it comes from circulation, calm, and care. The new method is In two parts...which stage are you? Peace and Love in Sports injury Th

What Stress Does to Muscles When you’re stressed, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode. Your breathing becomes shallow, your...

I see this a lot at my massage room in Saffron Walden. A tight Quadratus lumborum (QL) This is a muscle in your lower back region that,...

Upper back and shoulders is my most popular complaint at my massage room in Saffron Walden, but sometimes you feel your ENTIRE back feels...

i'm going to ask you a great question... and you can use this in everything. "If you could not post about it on social media, or tell...

When I am stressed, it flares up my auto immune disease. Not instantly, but normally when the stress is over. I can go from being a...

“Knots” aren’t literally little tied-up lumps in the muscle, but the feeling is real. Not actual knots – Muscles don’t tie themselves up...

Are you a runner? Do you want to perform the best you can? Prevent injury? Have longevity In the sport? Then I have my 10 weeks Runners...