Scary, painful, scary Sports Massage eh? When you say to your friends you have an appointment scheduled, they wince in anticipation about what you have let yourself in for. Because everyone knows that they are the worst massages you can ever have. Aren't they?
Sports Massage DOES NOT HURT. Or it shouldn't anyway. Although the majority of the population are led to believe they are excruciating, and that's thanks to the massage therapists, providing unsafe treatments, whilst having done no form of Sports Massage or Sports Therapy qualification. So I, a first class honours degree graduate in Sports Therapy with over 5 years experience in clinics and rugby clubs, am trying to break the preconception that Sports Massage is brutal. Its happening, one client at a time, and they are telling their friends and then they are telling theirs etc etc you get the gist.
If you do your research on your Therapist and their membership society, you will known you are in safe hands.
What does Sports Massage entail?
Sports Massage involves manipulating soft tissue, in areas of the body that hold tension, adhesion and scar tissue. The area worked on is dependant on what you do for work, your exercise routine and previous injuries. Your Sports Therapist will work on the relevant musculature using specific techniques to increase blood flow, encourage breakdown of adhered muscle fibres and create isolated stretch to particular areas.
Can I have a Sports Massage if I don't play any sport?
Yes. Anyone can have a Sports Massage. Whether or not you exercise at an elite level or partake in a weekly yoga class. Massage can help you. Day to day activities create build up tension in particular muscles, this creates imbalance and overuse and this can eventually lead to pain.
What are the benefits of Sports Massage?
-Improved recovery
-Pain reduction
-Increases range of motion and flexibility
-Reduces the risk of injury
-Minimise muscle tension
-Deep relaxation
-Mitochondrial development
Will there be any negative effects?
Sometimes after a Sports Massage a person will experience tiredness, this is expected due the metabolic waste being released into the lymphatic system. The body is working hard to remove this waste and sometimes people feel lethargic. Increased water uptake is always advised immediately after a massage to prevent or lessen these after effects .
Localised soreness and slight bruising is sometimes felt if a particular area has been worked on with deep techniques.
How often should I have a Sports Massage?
The answer to this question is as much or as little as you like, you will know your own body and how it responds, everyone is different and people will feel lasting benefits for different periods of time.
Usually, elite athletes will receive a Sports Massage once weekly. Amateur athletes and regular gym goers will usually have a massage once fortnightly. Generally active people once every two to four weeks.
One thing I will add is to try and use massage as maintenance rather than a cure. I have a lot of clients coming into my clinic with a Sports Injury, wishing they had been attending my clinic for regular Sports Massage sessions, as their injury may not have happened in the first place. Prevention is better than cure.
How long do the sessions last?
An initial consultation will last an hour, this is so we can conduct a full medical history report and carry out a relevant assessment to help you receive the best treatment for your needs.
Thereafter, treatments offered are 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes in duration.
When shouldn't I have a Sports Massage?
There are a few circumstances when a massage is not recommended, these reasons are for your own safety. A contraindication is described as a reason not to provide someone with a massage as it may / most likely will have a negative affect. The main reasons are listed below:
-Cold / Flu
-Open wounds
-Acute injury
-DVT
-Undiagnosed lumps and bumps
What are the main reasons people come for a Sports Massage?
There are endless reasons for attending a sports massage appointment, the main indications are listed below:
-Maintenance
-Muscle tension
-Overuse and Overtraining
-Muscle imbalance
-Whiplash
-Muscle spasm
-Headaches and Migraines
-Scar tissue build up from previous injury
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to send a message via the comments or Contact us page.