Sports Massage is a special form of massage and is typically used before, during, and after athletic events. The massage was originally developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or function well during training. Sports massage emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.
Sports massage is a type of deep tissue massage that stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids. Some sports massage movements use trigger point therapy to break down adhesions, or trigger points (knots) in the muscles, and increase range of motion.
You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to benefit from sports massage, weekend warriors can benefit as well. It is also good for people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area, depending on the sport.
There are four types of sports massages:
- Pre-event sports massage – a quick, stimulating massage 15 – 45 minutes before the event. It is directed toward the parts of the body that will be involved in the exertion. It can help increase blood flow and help loosen the muscles.
- Post-event sports massage – given within an hour or two of the event, to normalize the body’s tissues. A sports massage given after the event can help prevent soreness and muscle spasm later. It can also help treat or prevent injury.
- Restorative sports massage – given during training to allow the athlete to train harder and with less injury.
- Rehabilitative sports massage – aimed at alleviating pain after an injury has occurred. It focuses on the part of the body that is hurt and uses a mixture of massage techniques to increase blood flow among other things.
The main purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. The massage will help prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Sports massage can help prevent those nagging injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete or a once a week jogger.
To make an appointment with our knowledgeable, experienced massage therapist call our office at 214-495-6400.
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