What is Sports Massage

Sports massage is a form of massage involving the manipulation and rehabilitation of soft tissues of the body including skin, muscles, fascia, ligaments and tendons.

Sports massage assists to correct problems and imbalances in soft tissues, thereby enhancing performance, aids recovery and prevention of injuries.

However, contrary to popular belief, sports massage is not just for athletes. Many day to day problems can be treated using sports massage, as the practitioner will individually tailor a treatment plan to meet your specific needs.

Benefits of Sports Massage

The techniques used by sports massage practitioners have been developed to ensure effective and efficient results are gained from each massage. The benefits of sports massage include:

• Release of muscle tension and pain
• Improve circulation & lymphatic flow
• Reduces discomfort from DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
• Improves posture and flexibility
• Speed up the healing of damaged or stressed muscles, tendons and joints
• Assists in mental preparation for the sporting event

How is Sports Massage Different from Other Forms of Massage?

Other forms of massage, such as holistic or Swedish massage have similar aims, in that it promotes relaxation of the mind and body and assists with the removal of waste products. However, a sports massage practitioner is primarily concerned with:

• Muscle and skeletal alignment
• Exercise and how it affects the body
• Injury prevention and promotion of recovery from exercise

Who Can Enjoy a Sports Massage

Anyone who participates in regular activity may benefit from a sports massage.

If you engage in regular physical activity, sports massage can be beneficial at various stages of participation. For example:

• During training or preparing for an event
• Injury prevention
• Injury recovery

Regardless of your experiences in sport or exercise, whether you exercise socially or compete to an international level - sports massage may have something to offer you.

A full consultation will be carried out before your first treatment to ensure that sports massage is right for you and to devise an individual treatment plan to meet your specific needs.

What Happens During a Sports Massage Treatment

Alongside the full consultation, prior to your first treatment Postural Assessment and Range of Motion Tests will be performed. This is to devise your individual treatment plan.

You will be asked to remove appropriate clothing in private and make yourself comfortable on the massage couch, with large towels to cover you.

During the massage, only the part of your body being massaged will be exposed in order to protect your modesty. Massage lotion will be applied to the skin to allow free movement of the massage techniques and to nourish the skin.

Due to the depth I work and the pressure applied, sports massage may cause some soreness during or after the massage. However, you should feel the benefits within a day or two.

After-Care Advice

Sports massage has a detoxifying effect on the body and you can encourage this by drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for the next 24 hours. Also try to avoid any strenuous exercise for 24 hours following treatment and try to rest and allow your body to heal from within.