What is Sports Massage?
Sports Massage combines classical Swedish-style massage, with compression, neuro-muscular and trigger point techniques to reduce soreness.
How does it work?
Sports massage aims to improve the suppleness and flexibility of muscles and joints, improve blood circulation, speed up the healing of damaged or stressed muscles, tissues and joints, and prevent future muscle and tendon injuries.
A sports massage can be carried out prior to a sports event, when it will stimulate circulation, calm nervous tension and prepare the individual for optimal performance whilst at the same time reducing the risk of injury. It can be carried out after a sports event, when it will relieve soreness and assist with the removal of lactic acid and other waste products. It is often used during training, when the practitioner will focus on speeding up the healing of existing injuries and preventing the development of future injuries.
What does it involve?
The client is usually asked to remove their outer layer of clothing so that the practitioner can work directly onto the skin. The massage is carried out whilst the client is lying on a massage couch or table and, depending on whether it is pre-event, post-event or a training massage, the therapy can take from thirty minutes to two hours.
What are the benefits?
The main benefit of sports massage is that it improves muscle flexibility, blood circulation and reduces swelling, aids the prevention of sports injuries and assists the body with recovery and repair after sports injuries have been sustained.
What are the side effects and when should it be avoided?
Sports massage, although relaxing and soothing, can also be quite vigorous. If the client has muscle soreness the massage may, initially, cause some discomfort. Sports massage should be avoided if you have open wounds, muscle tears, sprained ligaments or burns; varicose veins, phlebitis, thrombosis, cancer, tumours, melanoma or haemophilia. This therapy is also unsuitable for anyone with infectious skin disease such as a fungal infection or herpes. People with diabetes should be aware that sports massage will have the same effects as exercise.
The technique can be adapted into four main types of massage:
Training Massage to prepare the body for peak performance. It is very vigorous and deep, almost painful. It should be done at least a day before the competition.
Preparation Massage just before performance. It should be slow and light, pleasant and stimulating.
Break Massage during performance to accelerate change of fluid in the muscles thus restoring and rebalancing their energy. It is slow, not painful and short lasting.
Anti-fatigue Massage after a performance to drain the wastes away and restore a proper level of oxygen in the muscles, and promote relaxation.
Sports Massage can be very vigorous and deep, sometimes painful.
See also
massage and the
A-Z Guide on the website,
www.themassageguide.co.uk for different massage techniques
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