Sports massage involves the manipulation and mobilisation of muscles and soft tissues for pain relief, muscular repair, health maintenance and injury prevention. Many people assume that sports massage is only for athletes or for people that regularly practice sport, but it also works wonders in helping inactive people release painful tension and recover flexibility & movement. It is ideal for sudden injury such as a hamstring strain or shoulder injury, and also for long-term injuries such as neck or lower back pain.
Sports Massage uses many different massage techniques including: Deep Tissue, Soft Tissue Release, and stretching (see below). It uses a firm-pressure applied using thumbs, hands, knuckles, forearms and elbows helping to stretch out muscles that are shortened and tense, and break down any adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue).
It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as a stiff neck and shoulders common in office workers, tight legs and glutes or lower back stiffness and pain. It is also highly beneficial in reducing pain and discomfort in conditions such as whiplash, and after a fall or an injury.
Sports massage can be highly beneficial prior and post sports events to energise and prepare the athlete for the event, or to relax tight muscles, and release toxins after an event.
Prior to your sports massage a full consultation and assessment will be carried out to identify any problem areas and assess your general posture.
Your treatment will then be tailor-made to your needs, and include a combination of sports and remedial massage techniques such:
Deep-Tissue Massage: warms up the area being worked, and releases adhesions and tension in muscles and connective tissue.
Soft Tissue Release: an advanced technique where stretching & friction is used on a specific area rather than the whole muscle.
Myofacial Release: a very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion.
Trigger Point Therapy: requires deep palpation on a specific ‘trigger’ or ‘knot’ to relax the area.
Frictions: direct pressure over the soft tissue trauma area to manipulate the fibres. It is very useful for breaking down scar tissue and softening adhesions.
Tractioning and gentle mobilizations of a joint: specific movements and techniques to increase range of movement and release tight muscles.
Stretching: may be used to help to stretch and release tight muscles relative to the specific injury or condition.
Conditions Treated:
- Neck/Shoulder pain
- Overuse Injuries
- Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Muscular Strains
- Back Problems
- Runners Knee
- Tennis/Golfers Elbow
Sports massage will:
- Reduce muscular tension in the facia, break down scar tissue, and reduce spasm and chronic pain.
- Break down adhesions within muscles, tendons and ligaments.
- Improve the flexibility and elasticity of muscles, thus reducing pressure on joints, and restoring full range of movement.
- Reduce recovery time of a damaged or overworked muscle or tissue.
- Help prevent injury by treating any muscle weakness or problem area.
- Reduce stiffness and swelling by clearing out waste products and toxins.
- Assist in recovery from injuries, and reduces painful conditions (e.g. whiplash, falls, sports injuries, RSI, Fibromyalgia etc.)
- Improve postural problems due to tense muscles
- Improve lymph flow, blood circulation and nutrient delivery to the muscles.
Sometimes, this deeper style of massage may cause some minor soreness during, or in the days following the massage. This is simply the muscles releasing stored tension and toxins, and will fade within 24-48 hours leaving the client feeling more relaxed, with improved posture, improved sleep, and pain-free !
