Sports Massage - 

 

A Sports or Deep Tissue massage, originally developed for athletes, is primarily used where there has been a build up of stress and tension in the muscles due to physical activity. However, you don't have to be an athlete to benefit from a Sports massage. The stresses and strains of everyday life can also take a toll on your body. Muscles can be damaged doing a 100 metre sprint, running a marathon or simply walking to the shops.

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Although Swedish massage techniques are used, a Sports massage differs in that the main goal is not relaxation. The main goal here is to focus on problem areas, restore muscle flexibility and improve your range of motion, with relaxation becoming more of a secondary benefit.

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A regular Sports massage can help to alleviate overused muscles and minor injuries by speeding up the healing process. Massage can help to break down those niggling injuries that can interfere with your daily life before they become problematic. This can allow you to recover faster between training sessions, and to train with less risk of injury occurring as the muscles are being maintained in a healthier state. It can also help if you have a physically demanding job or suffer from postural issues.

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Sports massage does this by using additional techniques to relieve tension in the muscles, and helping to restore a more normalised joint function. Some of the techniques that may be used during your session are Myofascial Release, which helps to slowly stretch the fascia surrounding a muscle. Trigger Point therapy helps to release areas of sensitivity held in a muscle. Muscle Energy Techniques help to relax shortened muscles, strengthen weakened muscles and improve joint mobility. PNF stretching may also be used to help increase the resting length of tight muscles, again improving mobility. Not every technique will be used in each session but will be fully explained on the day, if required.

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These techniques may cause some discomfort at the time, but I will always check with you and work within your pain boundaries so please let me know if it becomes too much and I will adjust my pressure. You may also experience some soreness, as if you have been exercising, for a few days after but this should quickly resolve itself leaving you feeling better than before.

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As well as maintenance Sports massage can also help with events-

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Pre-event/Inter-event - a short, stimulating massage 15 - 45 minutes before the event. It is directed toward the parts of the body that will be involved in the activity.

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Post-event - given within an hour or two of the event, to help normalise the body's tissues.

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It is not advisable to introduce massage into your training schedule just before an event however, as you don't know how your body will react. It should be introduced during your training programme allowing your body to become used to the effects and giving you a chance to see how this impacts your performance.

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Remedial Massage -

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Following on from Sports, a Remedial massage uses the above techniques to help you recover from injury more speedily by helping with the rehabilitation process. It helps to create conditions which allow the body to heal itself and return you to normal health more readily. Massage helps you to recover from an injury by removing waste products, blockages, minimise scar tissue and adhesions, increasing the functionality of the muscles.

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Please see What to expect  and Benefits of massage for more information.

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So whether you are an athlete, a keep fit fanatic, a weekend enthusiast or simply experiencing aches and pains, a Sports or Remedial massage may be the answer.

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Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns over the suitability of having a Sports or Remedial massage. 

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