Mr Ozarowski showed me an example of his work and treatment.
The first stage was the assessment with a standing postural examination.
Mr Ozarowski noticed I was having problems with my left shoulder. He explained that this originated in the chest, with a tight muscle pulling the shoulder muscles, and said this also caused tension and pain in the neck and back of the head.
He explained that this was a common problem for people who work long hours at a desk or computer.
“Your condition is typical of office workers as they tend to have tight muscles,” he said.
“It is because when you sit, the front of your body and legs are squashed and so there is tightness.”
Mr Ozarowski also said my quadriceps (thigh muscles) were tight. He said this was pulling the pelvis forward and this would cause lower back pain.
My shoulders and head were also protracted, extending forwards, and so this would also cause neck pain, due to the muscles being overworked.
“We will make the muscles relaxed enough so that will prevent your shoulders from pulling forward and will eliminate the pain,” he said.
A sports massage really works the muscles and so can be more painful than a regular Swedish/relaxation massage, but the aim is to relieve pain and create a more balanced posture.
During the treatment, Mr Ozarowski used trigger point therapy, myofascial and neuromuscular therapy, focusing on pressure points and releasing certain muscles.
Afterwards he demonstrated three exercises which would ease the tightness in the muscles.
He explained that doing these exercises every day would ease pain in the muscles, and so the next sports massage would be easier and less painful on the muscles, also allowing the therapist to massage deeper into those muscles.
My exercises were:
1. The shoulders. You stretch the chest muscles by placing your hands on a door frame and stepping forward through the door, chest first.
2. The quadriceps. Kneel on one leg with the other leg stepped forward and straighten your back. Then lean forward to stretch your back and the thigh of the kneeled leg. Moving the knee forward causes you to stretch. Then switch to the other side.
Also, stand up and hold one ankle with your leg bent in half, at the knee. Then pull your leg backwards.
• Mr Ozarowski and the therapists at La Serena Spa at The Reefs can provide a variety of massage treatments, from sports to Swedish to deep tissue, Thai, Shiatsu, aromatherapy, bamboo, lymphatic, stone therapy, Reiki and reflexology. Contact 239-0184 or e-mail laserenaspa@thereefs.bm. Website www.thereefs.com/spa