Sports Massage

What is a Sports Massage?
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 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 is a Pre-Event Sports Massage?
A pre-event massage is a short, specific treatment immediately before (30 minutes- 24 hours before) a sports event. Massage aims to increase your circulation, flexibility and mental clarity to improve your performance.
A pre-event sports massage does not replace your warm-up but complements it. It is essential for your massage therapist to know your sport or activity and what muscles are likely to be used the most. Assessing your athletic condition and needs well before the event is also helpful. The pre-event massage is not the time and place to perform a deep or remedial treatment.
Your massage therapist should consider factors such as temperature, anxiety, fatigue and hyperactivity before your massage treatment. If you are cold, then more warming things need to be done. If you are already warmed up, your therapist will focus on flexibility. Soothing strokes may be called for to ease pre-event anxiety. As you can see, the pre-event sports massage will vary depending on you and your chosen sport.
The amount and depth of treatment is the most critical key to effective pre-event massage. Deep tissue work is usually contraindicated during a pre-event massage as it may cause too much of an increase in flexibility and may interfere with your muscle timing and strength.
A high-quality sports massage therapist will always keep your sports goal in mind!
What is a Post-Event Sports Massage?
Quick recovery is the primary purpose of post-event sports massage. Athletes push themselves harder during an event than while training. For example, during a marathon, most athletes run a greater distance during the event than they’ve ever run during their training. It’s your competitive spirit pushing you to the limit. A massage afterwards is vital to assist in a quick, pain-free recovery.
Your sports massage therapist will aim to relax your muscle tone, improve recovery circulation, and restore flexibility. This relaxation allows for a quicker recovery and prompt return to training without the usual stiffness and soreness.
Post-event massage can also be the first assessment for potential injuries and more serious medical conditions (heat exhaustion or hypothermia), which may be identified early and treated promptly.
The school of thought is about when you will achieve the best results in a post-event massage: immediately or the next day.
In an ideal world, such as professional sport, they have light daily or more substantial alternate-day massage. You be the judge as to what works best for you!
Massage Therapists
Massage FAQs
Your Ultimate Guide to Massage Therapy and Muscle Injury Recovery
If you're curious about the world of massage therapy and its benefits, look no further. This article will serve as your go-to resource as we explore the various conditions that massage therapy can treat and delve into its numerous benefits.
Let's discover the best massage techniques and learn about the difference between remedial and relaxation massage. We will uncover the wonders of trigger point therapy and acupressure in aiding muscle injury recovery.
For athletes, we'll explore the world of sports massage and discuss the best time to receive pre-event and post-event massages.
Additionally, we'll discuss how you can purchase massage gift vouchers for your loved ones. But that's not all—this article will also address common muscle injury FAQs, including diagnostic methods and the different types of muscle injuries. We'll dive into the best treatments for muscle injuries, including dry needling, strengthening and stretching exercises.
Whether you seek relaxation or are dealing with a muscle injury, this guide has all the answers to help you embark on your massage therapy journey.
Massage FAQs
- What Conditions Can Massage Therapy Help?
- What are the Benefits of Getting a Massage?
- What Are The Best Massage Techniques?
- PhysioWorks Massage - Money Back Guarantee!
Massage Styles
- What Are The Common Massage Styles?
- What Is The Difference Between Remedial & Relaxation Massage?
- How Does Trigger Point Therapy Help?
- How Does Acupressure Help Muscle Injury?
Sports Massage
- What is Sports Massage?
- When is the Best Time to Get a Pre-Event Massage?
- When is the Best Time for Your Post-Event Massage?
Massage Gift Vouchers
Common Muscle Injury FAQs
Diagnostic
- How Do You Know If It's A Muscle Injury?
- What are the 4 Types of Muscle Injuries?
- What are the Most Common Muscle Injuries?
- What is a Trigger Point In A Muscle?
- What Causes Post-Exercise Muscular Pain?
- How Do You Know If Your Back Pain Is Muscular?
- Tendinopathy vs Muscle Tear?
- Muscle vs Ligament Injury?
Treatment & Recovery
- What is the Best Early Muscle Injury Treatment?
- How Long Does It Take For A Muscle Injury To Heal?
- What Helps Muscle Strains Heal Faster?
- How Does Dry Needling Help Muscle Injury?
- How Can You Speed Up Muscle Recovery?
- What's the Benefit of Stretching Exercises?
- How Do Foam Rollers Help Muscle Recovery?