Sports Massage

What is sports massage?

Sports massage is designed to help athletes before, during and after training. It is useful for anyone who exercises to increase flexibility, prevent injuries and help with healing after a sports injury.

Sports massage is specifically tailored to different sports and sporting injuries. It is not a relaxing form of massage and can often be quite strenuous. It works by stretching tight muscles, stimulating inactive muscles and improving the condition of the soft tissue

The aim of sports massage is to reduce the stress and tension that can build up in the soft tissues of the body during exercise. This form of massage is used to:

  • increase endurance
  • improve performance
  • reduce the chance of injury
  • reduce recovery time after an injury

Sports massage is treatment given with the understanding of anatomy and physiology and the particular demands placed upon the body by the client and their specific sport.

Sports massage focuses on preventing and treating injury while also enhancing athletic performance. Therapists will commonly use a mixture of Swedish and deep tissue massage techniques. Your massage therapist will usually finish your sports massage with some gentle stretch therapy.

A sports massage’s principal mandate is returning you to your desired sports activity with the same or an even better level of function. Sports massages can include more aggressive techniques that approach muscles more deeply.

Sports massage will often utilise various modalities such as remedial massage, trigger point therapy, cross fibre techniques and deep tissue work. Primarily, the difference lies with function. That is, returning you to your chosen activity in optimal function.

 

What conditions can sports massage treat?

Sports massage may … help treat injuries, including shin splint, tennis elbow, sprains and strains

 

What are the benefits of sports massage?

One of the main benefits of sports massage is that it can prevent sore muscles after exercise (known as ‘delayed onset muscle soreness’). It also helps someone to exercise more efficiently and prevent some of the common ailments that go with exercise.

Sports massage may also improve heart rate and blood pressure, increase circulation and lymph flow, and help treat injuries, including shin splint, tennis elbow, sprains and strains.

Sports massage is often safe after an injury, although there are some injuries for which it is not suitable. If you are using sports massage for any health condition or injury, talk to your doctor or physiotherapist first.