Sports Massage:
Sport massage is the manipulation of soft tissue to improve performance and endurance, preventing injuries and loss of joint mobility. The therapist explores the tissue, working deep into the muscle to stretch and loosen tight or knotted fibres, increasing blood and oxygen supply. This promotes healing, relieving pain and improving joint flexibility. Manipulation of injured tissue prevents adhesions forming and creating scar tissue, resulting in a faster return to activity.
What can I expect in a treatment?
Your first treatment will involve a health and well being questionnaire followed by a postural analysis and range of motion tests to identify problem areas and treatment options. Treatments will involve both soft and deep tissue massage as well as advanced osteopathic stretching techniques, known as METS (Muscle Energy Techniques).
Soft tissue massage involves gently manipulating muscles to increase blood flow and warm up the muscle prior to performing a deeper tissue massage. A popular technique used in deep tissue massage is trigger pointing. Trigger points are areas within muscles, which are hyperirritable and often affect an individual's range of movement causing general weakness and pain. These are treated during the massage using repeated compression. Soft Tissue Release can also be used, and this is a combination of stretching an area and using frictions to increase mobility, decrease scarring and break down any fibrous adhesions.
An example of METS
At the end of the treatment, Post Care Advice is always given; this usually consists of a range of exercises, which complement those given during the session. Postural and lifestyle advice can also be given.
Who is it suitable for?
It is suitable for anyone and everyone; you do not have to be a sports person to benefit! Recommended for any injury, sports massage aids the speed of recovery, easing pain whilst restoring range of movement and flexibility. Treatments are beneficial both before and after any sporting event, and when done regularly can be an excellent means of preventing injuries and problems.
Some of the many conditions it can benefit:
- Tight muscles/muscle fatigue
- Muscular aches and pains
- RSI
- Frozen Shoulder
- Tennis/golfer's elbow
- Muscle spasms
- Lower back problems/pain
- Spinal curvatures/ Posture problems