Sports massage is specifically tailored to different sports and sporting injuries. It is not a relaxing form of massage and can often be quite strenuous. It works by stretching tight muscles, stimulating inactive muscles and improving the condition of the soft tissue.
The aim of sports massage is to reduce the stress and tension that can build up in the soft tissues of the body during exercise. This form of massage is used to:
increase endurance
improve performance
reduce the chance of injury
reduce recovery time after an injury
What does a sports massage involve?
Before the massage begins, your therapist will talk to you about your health and lifestyle. They will ask you to lie on a massage table and will cover you with towels to protect your privacy and to keep you warm. They will probably use creams or oils to help them to massage your skin smoothly.
Sports massage borrows from techniques used in other disciplines like physiotherapy and osteopathy.
Techniques include:
soft tissue release: locking and stretching the tissues and muscles
neuromuscular technique: targeting trigger points in the nervous system to get rid of pain and tension
positional release: used to relax hyperactive muscles
fascial release: deep, slow kneading used to release the connective tissues around the muscles
You will be expected to move around quite a lot and communicate continually with your therapist so they can respond to how your body is feeling. You might feel some discomfort during a sports massage. Always tell your therapist if you are in any pain.
The health benefits of sports massage
One of the main benefits of sports massage is that it can prevent you from getting sore muscles after you exercise (known as 'delayed onset muscle soreness'). It will also help you exercise more efficiently and prevent some of the common ailments that go with exercise.
Sports massage may also improve your heart rate and blood pressure increase your circulation and lymph flow and help treat injuries, including shin splint, tennis elbow, sprains and strains.
Sports massage is often safe after an injury, although there are some injuries for which it is not suitable. If you are using sports massage for any health condition or injury, talk to your doctor or physiotherapist first.