When the nervous system has been affected by trauma—whether physical, emotional, or psychological—the body doesn’t just “get over it.” Trauma leaves its imprint in the tissues, the posture, and most crucially, in the autonomic nervous system. What many people in Slough and beyond don’t realise is that manual therapy, particularly massage, can support nervous system regulation and help the body transition from survival mode back to safety.
Massage is not just about relaxing muscles. It’s about creating safety for the entire body system—especially after trauma.
Trauma and the Nervous System: Why the Body Stays Stuck
After a traumatic event, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS)—our fight or flight mode—can remain overactive. Instead of resetting once the threat passes, the body stays hypervigilant, even when logically, you know you’re safe. This can show up as:
Constant muscle tightness or pain
Difficulty sleeping
Chronic anxiety or irritability
Startle responses or jumpiness
Digestive issues and shallow breathing
Emotional numbness or mental fog
This is the hallmark of dysregulated vagus nerve activity, a crucial part of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Massage can help re-engage the parasympathetic system—rest, digest, and recover.
How Massage Helps Rewire the Body’s Response to Stress
At Muscle Therapy By Tom, every session is tailored to address what your body holds—not just where it hurts. Trauma-informed massage work focuses on resetting the nervous system in a safe, measured, and restorative way.
Massage affects the vagus nerve, fascia, and interoception (how we sense ourselves internally)—three key elements that play a role in trauma recovery. Here’s how:
1. Stimulating the Vagus Nerve
Gentle, rhythmic massage stimulates the vagus nerve indirectly, signalling safety to the brain. As a result, breathing slows, heart rate drops, and the body exits fight-or-flight mode. Over time, this enhances vagal tone, meaning the body becomes more resilient under stress.
2. Releasing Fascia That Stores Trauma
Fascia is the body’s connective tissue web, and it’s highly responsive to stress. After trauma, fascia can become stuck, tight, and unyielding. Through myofascial release, tension stored in this tissue is gently unraveled—often leading to profound emotional and physical relief.
3. Restoring Sensory Feedback
Many people dissociate from their body after trauma. Massage helps reconnect mind and body by activating sensory pathways—bringing awareness to safe touch, grounded breathing, and presence in the here and now.
Signs You May Benefit from Trauma-Aware Massage
If you’re in Slough and noticing any of the following, your nervous system might be in a prolonged stress state:
You feel “on edge” all the time
You’re easily overwhelmed by noise or touch
Your muscles ache even when you haven’t trained
You have trouble relaxing or switching off
You struggle with deep sleep or waking up rested
You’ve been through injury, loss, or emotional stress and never felt quite the same
Massage offers a safe, structured space to reset. At Muscle Therapy By Tom, clients regularly report feeling clearer, lighter, more in control—and better equipped to face day-to-day stress.
Techniques That Support Nervous System Reset
Not all massage techniques are suitable for trauma recovery. That’s why Tom works with a blend of soft-tissue methods designed to calm the system, not overload it.
Craniosacral-Inspired Touch: Gentle work around the head, spine, and sacrum to balance fluid pressure and promote a sense of safety.
Slow Myofascial Release: Focused, sustained pressure that releases long-held tension patterns in fascia.
Diaphragmatic Work: Gentle massage around the rib cage and upper abdomen to free breathing patterns and activate the parasympathetic response.
Grounded Swedish Techniques: Long, flowing strokes that regulate the nervous system without overstimulation.
The emphasis is always on slow, intentional, and non-invasive work. Sessions are client-led, with clear boundaries and space for integration.
Supporting Mental Health and Emotional Healing
Massage is not a replacement for therapy or counselling. But it is a powerful adjunct to mental health support. By calming the nervous system and releasing stored tension, massage helps the body become a safer place to live in. This, in turn, supports deeper emotional processing and self-regulation.
For many in Slough, this kind of therapy is the missing link between talk therapy and true bodily healing.
📍 Muscle Therapy By Tom – Located in The Gym Group Slough
💆 Trauma-aware massage therapy focused on nervous system recovery and physical resilience
🌐 Book your session at www.muscletherapybytom.co.uk
📞 Contact for a confidential consultation or WhatsApp for availability