Sports Massage
Ease your pain, soothe your mind: Discover the benefits of sports massage.
What is Sports Massage?
Sports massage is a type of therapeutic massage that is specifically designed to meet the needs of athletes and active individuals. It is a hands-on therapy that uses a variety of techniques to manipulate the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, with the goal of enhancing athletic performance, reducing the risk of injury, and helping the body recover more quickly from training and competition. However you don’t have to be an athlete to benefit. In today’s world of office work and sitting at desks for hours on end, our muscles can suffer as they shorten and lengthen depending on the relationship between your body and your computer chair and desk.
Sports massage can help to restore function to muscles and tendons in the bodies of patients, suitable for people with injuries, stiff joints and restricted range of motion and chronic musculoskeletal issues.
What does Sports Massage consist of?
During a sports massage the therapist uses a variety of techniques with the aim of stimulating blood circulation and lymph fluids, plus breaking down knots in the muscles (also known as adhesions) and stretching to reset the resting length of the identified problematic muscle. As muscles that cross a painful joint relax, they release the joint and can increase the range of motion of that joint.
Sports massage therapy is not meant to be painful but can be slightly uncomfortable, especially when the therapist is working on a sensitive and problematic area. The therapist assesses the client’s posture during the initial consultation and is able to note the changes during the treatment.
Who is our Sports Massage Therapist?
Suzy Holmes-Beddow, MSc Sports Therapy
Do I need to be sporty to need a Sports Massage?
No, not in the slightest. We are all physically active, some more than others, and the toll of everyday life can build up in the human body. Quite frequently we don’t realise how much it has built up until it manifests as aches or pain. Postural muscles can shorten when sitting for too long, stress can build up in the shoulders or back muscles can tighten when playing with our children. Everyone could do with a sports massage every once in a while!
What can I expect from a Sports Massage?
At the beginning of your treatment, your Sports Massage Therapist will take a brief case history, including any contraindications to treatment. The thearpist will then ask you to take a place on the treatment couch, then begin using a variety of techniques as they begin releasing the tension in the muscles and increasing blood flow to each area using firm pressure and a variety of strong techniques. If there is any discomfort, please tell your therapist and they will adjust the pressure accordingly.
When should I have a Sports Massage?
If you’re preparing for a big event like a marathon or other endurance event then a Sports Massage is best timed 48 to 72 prior to the event. You should have reduced your training and the closer to the event you will want a lighter massage to avoid post-massage soreness during the physical activity and may want to communicate this to your therapist. If you have just finished a big event, having a massage within 72 hours is optimal to assist in the recovery of the muscles before you go back to training.
Ideally sports massage should be a regular part of training to avoid injuries, especially in the increase of intensity prior to competition.
Sports Massage Initial Consultation
First Visit
Sports Massage Follow-up Treatment
Follow-up treatment
