Sports Massage is a treatment that has been developed for those involved in a sporting activity to aid recovery from injury, to prevent injuries from occurring initially and to increase the person’s performance, however, sports massage is of great benefit to the gardener, those with desk jobs, builders as well as the weekend athlete.
Some of the techniques involved in a Sports Massage are similar to those found in other massages such as the use of effleurage, a long deep type of stroke over an area which is used to warm the muscles up and to begin to remove unwanted toxins.
The use of petrissage and friction techniques are also similar to other types of massage, this is where the muscles are mobilised and a deeper pressure is applied in order to release tension.
Trigger points or knots may be found in the muscles, which can be thoroughly dispersed after a thorough sports massage.
Sports Massage differs from other types of massage as it uses these techniques and others which are applied very deep inside the muscles, thus creating less pressure on the joints and therefore reducing pain in that particular area.
In a Sports Massage, the practitioner will not just treat the muscles but all the other soft tissues as well, such as the ligaments, tendons and the joints.
Stretching techniques are also involved in a Sports Massage treatment, such as Soft Tissue Releases. These and other techniques such as Muscle energy techniques are not found in other types of massage.
These techniques are applied to lengthen short muscles that are also tense, to decrease pain, ease off joint pain and pressure, plus reduce injuries.
A Sports Massage is a unique treatment like no other massage treatment as there are a combination of pressures, with deep pressure locating pain to relaxing stretches.
Muscles will be manipulated in order to make them relax and the overall pain and tension will decrease. I myself wouldn’t describe sports massage as relaxing as it is designed to locate a problem and deal with it.
What does a Sports Massage treatment involve?
Before any therapy I will make a thorough assessment of your condition, including the location and type of pain you are feeling, I will assess your range of movement in the affected area and look at what other postural patterns that may be showing themselves, that may be exacerbating your condition.
I will then explain what I have found and how I intend to proceed.
My treatments are carried out on my electronic massage table and will involve me applying pressure and specific techniques to your muscles.
Your Sports Massage will typically include:
- Deep Tissue Massage techniques that allow me to directly treat the deep muscles and other soft tissues that cause pain.
- Soft Tissue Release Techniques and assisted stretches that break down adhesions in the tissues and remove “knots” from problem muscles.
- Joint mobilisations and manipulations, which further relieve restrictions and restore pain-free movement to the affected area.
