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Sports Massage Therapy
Sports massage is a treatment that helps to identify and treat potential injuries early, which can prevent them from developing into significant problems. Sports Massage also helps aid in Post Injury recovery and releases tension in muscles through deep tissue massage and a variety of muscle techniques.
Many different movements and techniques are used in sports massage. Examples of these techniques include effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), compression, friction, tapotement (rhythmic striking), vibration, gliding, stretching, percussion, and trigger points. These movements and techniques are used to try to help the body achieve maximum performance and physical conditioning with a decreased chance of injury or pain and a quicker recovery.The aim is to maintain muscle condition, increase flexibility, enabling full range of movement, which will contribute to an overall better performance.
However, Sports Massage Therapy is not just for athletes…everybody can benefit!
Additional benefits:
- Increased joint range of motion (ROM)
- Increased flexibility
- Increased sense of well-being
- Decreased muscle tension
- Decreased neurological excitability (nerves more relaxed)
- Decreased muscle spasms
- Better sleep
It is also purported to:
- Decreased chance of injury
- Decreased recovery time between workouts
Regular massage reduces damage to the tissues, improves circulation, relaxes muscle spasm, improves flexibility, and reduces tension.
Sports Massages can be split into 5 categories;·
- Pre-Event – Designed to stimulate, this massage will focus on the areas of the body that will be exerted during the activity. Typically given 15-45 minutes before the event.·
- Post Event – Received within 2 hours of undertaking the activity, it aids the tissues to normalise.·
- Restorative – Often received regularly whilst training for an event or for those looking to improve their personal bests and train harder. Restorative sports massage works to enable further training by preventing injury.·
- Rehabilitative – Serves to alleviate pain from an injury and return the affected tissue to normal.·
- Maintenance – This is used for general wellbeing, maintaining flexibility and eliminating any tension areas from day to day activities.
What to expect?
An initial client assessment will include a range of exercises that will allow your therapist to observe your posture & symmetry, flexibility and mobility of the muscles and joints along with your range of movements through passive, resistive and active movements.It usually takes 24-48 hours to feel the full effect of a sports massage after which you should feel comfortable, rejuvenated and refreshed.