01Therapeutic massage
I want pain relief
50€ / 1 hour | 80€ / 2 hours
For back, neck or shoulder pain and for built-up tension.
What the session is like
Therapeutic massage · Barreiro
Pain always hasa cause.My job is to find it.
In Barreiro, south of Lisbon, by appointment only.
- CHEK Practitioner Level 2
- Therapeutic massage
- Personal trainer
- Combat sports coach
- Osteopathy student
- 5 stars on Google
- Barreiro · south of Lisbon
- CHEK Practitioner Level 2
- Therapeutic massage
- Personal trainer
- Combat sports coach
- Osteopathy student
- 5 stars on Google
- Barreiro · south of Lisbon
Where to start
How can I help you?
Choose the option closest to what you are looking for.
02Full assessment
I want to understand my pain
90€ / 2 hours
I assess posture, movement, breathing, sleep, digestion and stress. At the end you know what your main problem is and what to do next, with a written plan.
If you join the programme within 14 days, the 90€ are deducted from the first month.
What I assess03The Root of Pain programme
I want to resolve my pain
from 260€ / month
For those who have had the same pain for months. Includes the assessment, 90-minute sessions, a written plan and follow-up between sessions. You pay month by month, with no lock-in.
4 places available.
Tiers and guaranteeIf you do not know which to choose, start with the massage.
Low back pain in numbers
1 in 4
adults in Portugal has low back pain.
619 M
people worldwide have low back pain. It is the leading cause of disability.
9 in 10
cases of low back pain with no clear cause on scans.
The pain is felt in the back, but the problem may come from somewhere else.
What I look for
The origin of the pain, not just the place where it hurts.
How I work
Why does the pain come back?
Have you had massages that bring relief and, some time later, the pain comes back? Treating the place where it hurts without understanding why it hurts is like trying to dry yourself while still standing under the shower.
My initial work is like a detective's. I assess posture, breathing, sleep, digestion and stress level, I find what is feeding your pain and I build with you the path to resolve it.
I do not sell temporary relief. My goal is to help you live without pain.
The 5 domains
Where your pain may come from.
In the assessment I look at five domains, in order of influence. The domains above have more influence on the ones below than the other way round.
The root · where it comes from
The symptom · where it hurts
Domain 1
Mind
People with symptoms of depression are about 60% more likely to develop low back pain. Stress and emotions change breathing and muscle tension and can cause inflammation in the body.
Tap each domain to see the explanation.
See sources ▾
- Branco JC et al. EpiReumaPt. RMD Open, 2016 (prevalência de dor lombar em Portugal: 26,4%)
- GBD 2021 Low Back Pain Collaborators. The Lancet Rheumatology, 2023
- Maher C, Underwood M, Buchbinder R. Non-specific low back pain. The Lancet, 2017
- Brinjikji W et al. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2015 (protrusões discais em pessoas sem dor)
- Pinheiro MB et al. Arthritis Care & Research, 2015
- Smith MD, Russell A, Hodges PW. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 2006
- Smith MD, Russell A, Hodges PW. The Journal of Pain, 2009
- Skarpsno ES et al. Scientific Reports, 2021
I look at the body as a whole.
Usually there is one specialist for the back, another for digestion and another for stress. Each one sees their part. In the assessment I look at all of this together and go from why to why: what is causing the pain, and what is causing that. At the end we have a map of what is going on with you and of the path to follow to resolve it.
The 3 phases
How the programme works
The The Root of Pain programme follows this order in the first three months. You pay month by month and can stop whenever you want.
- 01
Month 1
Identify
The 2-hour assessment and the first sessions. We find what is feeding the pain and set your priorities.
- 02
Month 2
Restore
Hands-on work, rehabilitation exercises and breathing to give the body back the function it lost.
- 03
Month 3
Optimise
Habits, sleep, food and training so the body responds better to your day to day and, over time, you stop needing me.
The programme
The Root of Pain
For those who have had the same pain for months. We start by finding the origin of the pain and then work on it, month by month. In the same session I do hands-on work, exercises and breathing, and we talk about your habits.
Included in every tier
- Full 2-hour assessment (worth 90€)
- CHEK health questionnaire, exclusive to the programme
- Written plan with your priorities
- Hands-on work, rehabilitation exercises and breathing in the same session
- Habits, sleep, food and stress management
- Monthly sheet with the goals reviewed
- Follow-up on WhatsApp between sessions
Only the number of sessions changes between tiers.
Essential
2 sessions of 90 min per month
260€
per month · no lock-in
One session every two weeks, for those who want to move forward calmly and do the exercises at home between sessions.
Recommended
4 sessions of 90 min per month
440€
per month · no lock-in
One session a week. It is the pace I usually advise to start.
Intensive
8 sessions of 90 min per month
900€
per month · no lock-in
Two sessions a week, for those who need closer follow-up.
Guarantee
If at the end of the assessment you do not know what your main problem is and what to do next, I book you a second 1-hour session at no cost so we can settle that.
No lock-in
You pay monthly and can cancel whenever you want. If you do the assessment on its own (90€) and join within 14 days, that amount is deducted from the first month.
4 places available
I work with few people in the programme at the same time, so I can follow each one closely.
Prices
Price list
You can pay in cash, MB Way, Revolut or bank transfer. If you need to reschedule, you can do it at no cost up to 24 hours before.
Therapeutic massage
1 hour
50€
Therapeutic massage
2 hours
80€
Massage plan
4 1-hour sessions · valid 3 months
180€
Online self-assessment
health questionnaire and PDF report · credited on the assessment
29€
Full assessment
2 hours · written plan
90€
The Root of Pain · Essential
2 sessions of 90 min per month · assessment included
260€ / month
The Root of Pain · Recommended
4 sessions of 90 min per month · assessment included
440€ / month
The Root of Pain · Intensive
8 sessions of 90 min per month · assessment included
900€ / month
Want to give someone a session? There are gift vouchers in PDF, valid for 12 months.
New · online self-assessment
Understand where your pain comes from, at home, for 29€.
The health questionnaire I use with my clients, answered at home. You receive a PDF report with the body systems under most load, what that may mean and how they influence each other. The 29€ stay as credit on the 90€ full assessment.
Ruben RochaSelf-assessment report
The systems under most load
- Adrenalhigh
- Gastric functionhigh
- Liver and gallbladderhigh
- Blood sugarhigh
- Muscles and nerveshigh
Example with made-up data · 6-page PDF
Gift vouchers
Give someone a massage.
A 1 or 2 hour massage or the full assessment. You choose, pay online and receive the voucher as a PDF right away. It is valid for 12 months.
See vouchersFrom 50€
Free
What you can do without paying anything
Before booking, you can get a better idea of your case and of how I work.
The 5 domains questionnaire
Sixteen questions, about three minutes. At the end you see the signs you have in each domain and where it makes sense to start.
A look at your result
At the end of the questionnaire you can leave your name and contact. I look at your answers and send you a message with what I think and where I would start. No commitment.
Guide: why pain comes back
A short PDF (in Portuguese) that explains why pain comes back, the 5 domains, the 3 phases and how the programme works.
★★★★★
My best help in recovery. I am preparing for the Ironman and Ruben has been my lifesaver.
★★★★★
Ruben is an excellent massage therapist. He helped me solve a problem that had been there for many years.
★★★★★
Ruben took the time to understand the reason for my visit, and used the session to get to the root of the problem. I left the session feeling at peace.
★★★★★
Very professional. I recommend him to anyone who wants to get to the root of the problem and be treated with wisdom!
★★★★★
His sensitivity for finding the critical points is fantastic and hard to explain, you have to try it… When it ended I felt light. I loved it and will repeat whenever I can.
★★★★★
A welcoming place and a highly competent, dedicated, caring and talented professional. You leave with good prospects of continued, significant improvement, and lighter and more relaxed than ever!
See more reviews on Google
Reviews translated from Portuguese.
Ruben Rocha
CHEK Practitioner Level 2 · Osteopathy student
About me
I have lived with pain too.
I injured my knee and my shoulder on the mat and the recovery was slow and frustrating. The frustration of not being able to train pushed me to study the body in depth. Years later, I traded a software office in Lisbon for manual therapy, and I have not stopped studying since.
My goal is not just to treat symptoms. It is to understand why things happen and get to the root of the problem. With every client, the goal is for them to stop needing me.
“Nobody should get used to living with pain.”
Read my storyQuestions
Frequently asked questions
If the goal is to relieve pain and tension, start with a therapeutic massage. If the pain always comes back and you want to understand why, start with the full assessment: it is the first step of The Root of Pain programme. If you do not know which to choose, start with the massage.
No. You can book the massage directly. In the first session I do a brief assessment, about 15 minutes, and explain what I see. The 2-hour full assessment is for those who want to resolve the cause and not just the symptom.
Massage costs 50€ (1 hour) or 80€ (2 hours). The full assessment costs 90€ and lasts 2 hours. The Root of Pain programme starts at 260€ per month with the assessment included. You pay in cash, MB Way, Revolut or bank transfer.
Above all back, neck, shoulder and knee pain, chronic pain, injuries, muscle tension, limited mobility, posture, tension headaches and recovery after physical effort. If you have questions about your case, talk to me on WhatsApp.
There is no ideal number. It depends on the origin and duration of the symptoms, on your routines and on how the body responds. Many people feel relief right in the first session. To resolve the cause, I recommend The Root of Pain programme, paid monthly with no lock-in.
You can reschedule up to 24 hours before, at no cost, through the link you receive in the confirmation email. At the last minute, talk to me on WhatsApp and we will find the best solution.
In Barreiro, at R. João Caeiro 1L, Loja 10, 2830-222 Barreiro. The space has no reception: I work by appointment only, online or on WhatsApp. I also receive people from Lavradio, Baixa da Banheira, Moita, Seixal, Almada and Lisbon.
Want to understand what is going on with you?
If you are in Barreiro, on the south bank or in Lisbon, come and see me. Book online or talk to me on WhatsApp.
Talk on WhatsApp · +351 930 400 196- Where
- R. João Caeiro 1L, Loja 10
2830-222 Barreiro, Portugal
Get directions - When
- Monday to Friday: 7 am to 8 pmSaturday: 9 am to 1 pmSunday: ClosedBy appointment only.