Month: May 2026

When someone walks in with a right hamstring that's sore, tight or knotty, the problem is almost never living in isolation. 1. Bilateral imbalance is one of the biggest causes of unilateral pain If the right hamstring is sore, the left often becomes: Shortened Overworking Quietly tight Stabilising more during gait That imbalance increases load on the right side. Treating both restores symmetry so the right side isn’t constantly being pulled back into dysfunction. 2. The pelvis doesn’t move independently on each side A tight left hamstring can: Posteriorly tilt the left side of the pelvis Rotate the pelvis slightly Increase tension through the right hamstring as it tries to stabilise So even if the left side isn’t painful, it can be...

Article by Savva Filactou — Sports Massage Practitioner helping clients recover, move better, and stay injury‑free.     ‍♂️ Why symmetrical sitting matters Sitting with both feet planted on the ground and the pelvis level keeps the spine, hips, and ribcage in a neutral, balanced position. This reduces unnecessary muscular compensation and prevents the body from drifting into asymmetrical patterns that create tightness, irritation, or overuse on one side. When you sit unevenly — one leg crossed, one foot tucked under, leaning to one side — the body has to stabilise the imbalance. That’s where problems start. What happens when you sit asymmetrically When one foot is off the ground or the pelvis shifts, the body automatically...

Why stretching the glutes improves glute function Stretching the glutes isn’t just about “loosening tight muscles.” It actually restores the conditions the glutes need to fire properly, stabilise the pelvis, and produce force. 1. It resets the length–tension relationship When the glutes are chronically shortened (from sitting, driving, or training without mobility work), the muscle fibres sit in a position where they can’t generate force efficiently. A simple stretch restores optimal resting length, which means the glutes can contract harder and more cleanly. 2. It reduces neural inhibition Tight glutes often create protective tension around the hip. That tension sends a message to the nervous system: “Don’t let this muscle work too...

Muscle imbalances - Click this link.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) and Transverse Soft Tissue Release: A Case Study [Article] SPORTS MASSAGE |STUDENT THERAPIST ARTICLES AND CONTENT |ILIOTIBIAL BAND SYNDROME (ITBS): A LITERATURE REVIEW, CASE STUDIES, MASSAGE THERAPY MASTERCLASS, CLIENT ADVICE LEAFLETS AND PODCAST |CO-KINETIC JOURNAL OCTOBER 2015 (ISSUE 66) [GROUP OF ARTICLES]   Does stretching the iliotibal band (ITB) conjure up scenes of torture? For many clients it seems to be a rite of passage, if the treatment has not taken a client’s breath away it can lead to doubts of how good a therapist is or how successful the treatment was. This article will challenge the old school of thought, 'deeper is better' when it comes to treating the ITBS, and that giving it a bit...