Written by Charlotte - owner of RFLX Sports Massage in Bishops Cleeve. I’m a qualified sports massage therapist with a background in movement and chronic pain, offering supportive, tailored care to help people feel and move better
Client Case Study: Meet regular RFLX Client, Nick
One of the things I enjoy most about working at RFLX Sports Massage is helping people understand how their working lives, daily habits and past injuries can affect the way their bodies feel and move.
Sometimes, even a change in lifestyle, such as moving from a physically demanding job to a more office-based role, can bring about unexpected aches, pains and tension.
Recently, I asked one of my clients, Nick, who owns a building maintenance company, if he'd be happy to share his experience of treatment at RFLX. Here's what he had to say.
What issue, pain, or discomfort brought you in for sports massage treatment? And what have we been focusing on in session?
"After working 20 years in the property maintenance industry, I was beginning to experience aches and pains in my shoulders and back.
Charlotte assessed my posture and identified different areas to work on. I had an imbalance to my right side (I am right handed) caused by years of manual work which causes tension in my shoulders. I have a course of deep massage and myofascial cupping which helps to release a lot of tension."
What improvements have you noticed?
"My posture has improved a LOT. I am more conscious of bad habits and have rearranged my office desk to make myself more comfortable. I sleep better and the back pain has subsided to a manageable level in just 3 months."
How quickly did you begin to notice results from treatment?
"It took three sessions to sort out the worst of the back pain. The advice on posture and strengthening the back is something I am aware of all the time now. Charlotte has rebalanced my upper body and I feel a lot better than I did 3 months ago.”
Would you recommend sports massage treatment to others? If so, why?
"I wish I could have recommended sports massage to my younger self! So I have recommended RFLX to my colleagues, both younger and older than myself. I spend an hour every 3 weeks at RFLX to help my quality of life and give me the confidence that I can carry on working."
Final Thoughts
I really like Nick's story because it highlights something that isn't always obvious: you don't have to be doing physically demanding work every day to experience the effects of years of manual labour. Nick had spent 20 years working in property maintenance, and although his role had become more office-based, the effects of those years of lifting, carrying and physical work were still having an impact on his body.
His experience also highlights the importance of looking beyond the area where you're feeling pain. By assessing posture, identifying muscular imbalances and working on the areas contributing to tension, we were able to focus on more than just the immediate discomfort.
It's also great to hear how Nick has taken the advice from his sessions into his everyday life, making changes to his office setup and becoming more aware of his posture and back strength. For me, that's a really important part of sports massage treatment. It's not just about feeling better when you leave the treatment room, but helping you understand your body and make changes that support you long-term.
If, like Nick, you've spent years working in a physically demanding job, are now spending more time sitting at a desk, or are finding that old aches and pains are starting to affect your sleep, work or everyday life, sports massage may be able to help.
At RFLX Sports Massage in Bishops Cleeve, everything we do is tailored to you: your body, your goals, and what’s going to help you feel and move better long-term. Book your first appointment at RFLX Sports Massage in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham here