What is a sports massage?

Sports massage is a way of treating and manipulating the soft tissues in the body such as muscles, tendons and fascia. It is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances in soft tissue that are caused from repetitive and strenuous physical activity and trauma. It works by creating lots of blood flow to the specific area and transporting nutrients to the muscles. There is an assumption made that sports massage is just for people who take part in sports or regular physical activity. This is not the case, anyone can have a sports massage and feel the benefits.

How is a sports massage helpful?

A sports massage can increase performance and one of the ways it does this is increase range of movement at joints or muscles. It can decrease muscle soreness before hard exercise and it can reduce post injury recovery time. It also has a massive effect on psychological issues such as stress or tension that can build up by relaxation of the muscles. Sports massage can also prevent common muscle injuries such as strains or tears because it prevents the soft tissues becoming tight and irritated. 

Who can have a sports massage?

Whether you are an athlete recovering from a sports injury or a full-time desk job worker, a sports massage would be beneficial for you.

Examples of the types of patients we see at the Back and Body Clinic for sports massage:

• Recovering from a sports injury e.g. muscle strains/tears
• Suffering with tension/stress headaches 
• A regular gym member with overworked muscles
• Tradesman e.g. electricians and plumbers (who spend a lot of time bent over)
• Ante/post-natal women 
• General muscle aches and pains
• Patients who have been referred by a physiotherapist from The Back and Body Clinic

Types of techniques used in a sports massage:

• Soft tissue release (muscles, ligament, tendons and fascia) 
• Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) 
• Connective tissue release
• Transverse frictions
• Trigger point therapy
• Myofascial release

How can the Back and Body Clinic help?

All of the sports massage therapists at the Back and Body Clinic are experienced and highly trained in sports massage. Firstly, they will ask questions relating to the problem or issue and then potentially ask you to perform some specific range of movement exercises to help identify the problem. Then treatment will start and this could involve any of the above techniques to help resolve the issue. After the treatment , if needed, the therapist will then give you ways of alleviating and preventing the same issue again with exercises or self-myofascial release. 

Sports massage is a great way of maintaining the range of movement, mobility and flexibility within the joints and muscles to prevent any injury from occurring, a regular sport massage is definitely highly recommended.

If you are thinking of booking a sports massage appointment, call us today!

Written by our Sports Massage therapist Tyla Page.