sports massage

Before a performance, a participant in sports or athletics can suffer stress both emotionally and physically, causing the body to be more prone to injuries. Practices before the event can lead to a build-up of tension in the muscles and stress on joints, ligaments and tendons.

Sports Massage is a specific type of massage rendered before, during and after sports and athletic events to help prepare the subject for their desired performance, to relax nerves and prevent injuries. It can be rendered only by a professional who has a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology, particularly the muscular and skeletal systems.

Sports Massage helps eliminate toxins in muscle fibers, remove adhesions and minimise scar tissue buildup. It also leads to improved circulation which aids better cell nutrition, greater elasticity of muscle fibre and reduced recovery time.

Sports massage is a blend of Swedish massage and Shiatsu, specifically designed to cater to the needs of athletes. Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of techniques are used including classic Swedish strokes, cross-fiber friction, pressure-point work, and joint mobilization.

 

Types of Sports Massage

Sports massage therapy includes pre-event, post-event, maintenance and rehabilitation techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance, reduced chances of injury and faster healing.

 

Pre-Event

Pre-Event sports massage helps warm up the muscles by stretching them and making them flexible for optimal athletic performance. A pre-event massage also stimulates the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscle, reduces muscle tension, loosen the muscles and produce a feeling of psychological readiness. A pre -event massage is best done up to two days prior to the main event.

Post-Event

Post-event massage focuses on relieving muscle soreness, minimising the effects of fatigue and reducing the stress levels in the body. It also helps reduce swelling, maintain flexibility, promote blood flow to the muscle to remove lactic acid and waste build-up and reduce cramping, aiding faster healing.

Prevention

This is more of a maintenance massage which can be done at least once a week as a regular part of athletic training programs. Preventive massage increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscle and helps repair small tears due to strenuous physical activity. It also keeps tissue loose so that different layers of muscle slide over each other.

Rehabilitation

Sports massage is also used as a last resort in the event of injury. Sports massage helps rehabilitate by minimizing the adverse effects of scar tissue and adhesions caused to the athlete and helps regain lost flexibility and strength.

 

Techniques in Sports Massage

There are three main techniques of massage frequently used in sport, namely effleurage, petrissage and frictions. Most massage techniques ensure the main pressure is directed towards the heart to increase the venous and lymphatic flow. The strokes also ensure that excess pressure does not cause any damage to blood vessels. While effleurage is a preparatory background stroke, petrissage allows detail work on the body in releasing tension followed by friction.

Benefits of Sports Massage

The benefits of sports massage impact the physical, physiological and psychological levels. A state of well being is achieved only when all the three aspects are in balance. Here is a compilation of the key benefits attained at each level through a sports massage:

Physical effects of massage are:

• Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open, enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through enabling removal of waste products such as lactic acid
• Deep massage encourages the muscles to take up oxygen and nutrients which promote faster healing
• Sports massage stretches muscles to release tension or stress caused due to excess physical activity
• Sports massage helps break down scar tissues which usually affect the muscle, tendons and ligaments which impair performance
• Sports massage helps improve elasticity of tissues

Physiological effects of sports massage are:

• Sports massage helps reduce pain
• Muscles are relaxed after a sports massage

Psychological effects of sports massage include:

• Reduced levels of anxiety and stress caused due to relaxed muscles and nerves
• Sports massage stimulates a sense of well being and health

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2009 HFM Wirral Ltd. All Rights Reserved -

HFM-Wirral-Complementary-Therapies-Fitness-Lifestyle-Wirral-Cheshire-Merseyside

Wirral is a Metropolitan Borough of the County of Merseyside, bordered by Cheshire. It lies between Liverpool and Chester.

Sports Massage in Wirral

 

Treatments:

part body: £30 (45 mins)

half body: £40 (60 mins)

full body massage: £50 (90 mins)

 

 

Rose Player

Paul G Clarke