Massage therapy helps a host of ailments including stiff or injured muscles and now one health insurance company has decided to cover the service.

BF&M made the decision to include the service under health insurance coverage about six weeks ago.

Now patients/clients who may not have been able to pay for massage therapy personally will have access to the treatments.

Island massage therapists have welcomed the decision for which the Bermuda Massage Therapy Association has spend years appealing.

Massage therapist Robert Somner works out of the Bermuda Chiropractic Health Centre and specialises in sports therapy, postural observation, gait analysis, orthopaedic testing, myofascial release/unwinding, Suikodo and Swedish massage.

He said many Bermudians suffer from shoulder, neck and upper back problems and will benefit from BF&M's decision to cover massage therapy greatly.

"In fact in school, I chose to make that my specialty, because I knew Bermuda has a workforce that is mainly in offices," he said. "So I chose to take that on and when I came back I made that my target."

Mr. Somner came to his profession after completing an 18-month fast-track programme at ICT Northumberland College in Halifax, Nova Scotia,Canada in 2006 as a mature student.

"I learned all the stuff in as far as anatomy, physiology, techniques and pathic, which is a study on how the body works. I got good grades for my entire time there," he said of his studies. "It was interesting because I used to hate school.

"It was pretty difficult at first, but I was always into reading, so it wasn't really a problem, but it was getting back into the structure of going to school and all of that."

Many people who suffer from problems which benefit from massage therapy have poor posture habits and do not sit properly, he said. "It is all about awareness of yourself and your space and to be conscious of what you are doing," Mr. Somner said.

"You'd be surprised how much value you will feel totally with things like that. Your mind is like an antenna and if it is not aligned properly, your brain will not function properly."

He continued: "Your muscles are all an individual package of connective tissue or fascia a continuous system from your head to your feet .

"Now if you had an injury or an accident, first of all you will know about muscle memory. Connective tissue is not muscle, but it has memory as well.

"If you broke your arm and you had swelling, swelling is fluids that are helping you to heal, but it doesn't always leave.

"The myofascial release and unwinding helps to reverse the injury process and to increase your range of motion and break down the infection."

There are many massage techniques which can benefit pain sufferers, he added.

Suikodo is a derivative of Shiatsu, which Mr. Somner specialises in, but instead of pressure, it utilises mobilisation of the joints. "It utilises repetitive motions to stimulate a client's sensory and proprioceptive nervous system pathways to transmit continuous signals to the spinal cord and brain," he said.

"It emphasises the realisation that the brain is the body's control station, monitoring and controlling the tone of our muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone position and organs.

"Suikodo arises from traditions of Asian medicine, acupuncture and Japanese Shiatsu in particular, as it employs the energy mapping system known as meridians as well as back and abdominal reflex areas to establish treatment options."

Swedish massage utilises long flowing strokes to increase blood flow and promote circulation, Mr. Somner added. "It involves the use of the hands, forearms and elbows to manipulate the superficial layers of the body's muscular system," he said.

"Active or passive movements of joints may also be part of the massage treatment. Swedish massage incorporates the use of five main techniques with variations of the same: Effleurage long flowing strokes; Petrissage compressions and kneading motions; Frictions deep circular techniques to decrease adhesions; Tapotement briskly applied percussive movements; and Vibrations/Shaking.

"It also enhances lymphatic flow, which promotes proper drainage of the lymph vessels manually in order to encourage immune proficiency," said Mr. Somner.

These three healing methods can be incorporated into one treatment or used separately.

"When used together, the Swedish massage or the myofascial release may take up the bulk of the treatment, depending on the clients desired effect," he said. "With Suikodo used intermittently throughout the entire treatment as it is needed.

"In all instances, client education is paramount, so that a clear understanding of the treatment is established between client and therapist in regards to benefits, risks, side effects, alternatives and the actual procedures.

"For more information on Mr. Somner contact the Bermuda Chiropractic Health Centre on 441-296-7296 or wellness_connectionhotmail.com.