What is Sports Massage Therapy?

Sports Massage covers the management, manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues of the body e.g. muscles, ligaments and tendons.

It is usually a firm, and deep massage concentrating on the circulatory and drainage systems of the body and changing the resting tone of muscles.

Sports Massage can help at many levels:

• Improve blood & lymphatic flow
• Help to remove metabolic waste
• Sedate or stimulate nerve endings
• Increase or decrease muscle tone
• Increase or decrease muscle length
• Remodel scar tissue
• Help in mental preparation for sport participation
• Help to ‘oil the joints’ for those amongst us who have experienced joint stiffness

Is it only for people who are involved in sport?

Sports Massage can help with elite and recreational athletes for conditioning, training and injury recovery.

It can also however help the more sedentary amongst us! For example, anyone who sits in front of a PC for too long will know how good it feels to have their shoulders and back worked out!

Who can benefit from Sports Massage?

Most people of any age can benefit.

Including Children –after all, our bodies are all subject to life’s wear and tear, even at younger ages. We do ask however, that adolescents have a parent or guardian with them throughout the massage.

As members of the Sports Massage Association, our Therapists identify conditions or situations where Sports Massage would be ill-advised or detrimental and advise on alternative action if required.

What to expect during a consultation

The Therapist will take down some basic details in the case history to choose an appropriate massage approach to best suit your complaint.

You will then be asked to undress, in some cases to your underwear. Towels are used to protect modesty.

The practitioner will explain the techniques they would like to use, and make sure you are happy for them to precede.

During the massage you may be asked to lie on your back, front or side, but if any of these positions is difficult, an alternative approach can always be found.

Massage techniques may involve movements across your skin, applying pressure at specific points or moving joints and occasionally, stretching is used.