Sports Massage Therapy
If you’re doing any kind of sport or exercise, regular sports massage treatments will improve your performance: speed up your recovery phase between trainings, help to increase your flexibility and hence reduce risk of injury.
...and for everyday-life
Are you working on a computer all day and you’ve got tense shoulders, maybe a headache from time to time? Or have aches from gardening or picking up the children/shopping/washing? Then a sports massage treatment can help identify the problem and reduce the tension which could improve your posture and movement.
A constant build-up of tension in the muscles from regular activity may lead to stresses on joints, ligaments, tendons, as well as the muscles themselves. These muscular imbalances often go undiagnosed until they are serious enough to cause discomfort or impede performance.
Massage is a great preventative.
Benefits
- Reduce fatigue, stress and tension
- Help improve the quality of your sleep
- Soothes aching, tired and over-worked muscles encouraging relaxation and repair
- Work out tension in the muscles breaking down “knots” and enabling weak muscles to be stimulated
- Improves circulation and tissue elasticity by encouraging the flow of oxygenated blood bringing nutrients to the area and removal of waste products in the lymphatic system
- Reduces the effects of scar tissue
- Stretching the muscles helps to elongate the fibres
- Can also invigorate muscles prior to activity
A maintenance programme is recommended after any initial problems have been resolved, helping to keep them to a minimum and help prevent reoccurrence.
The initial session
The initial session will comprise of taking a full medical history and a discussion of the signs and symptoms for which you are seeking help. A physical assessment looking at posture, muscle balance and range of movement will be carried out. After initial diagnosis, a course of treatment will be agreed. The treatment will probably consist of deep tissue massage and a stretching session. Post-care advice will be given.
What do I wear?
During the session you will be covered with a towel, which is removed only to allow access to the area of the body that is being worked on. Usually clients wear underwear and shorts - which are especially recommended for the initial consultation.
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and your permission will always be sought before working on any areas of your body. You will be actively encouraged to take part in your own treatment - including giving frequent feedback as to whether the techniques being used/areas being worked on feel helpful, relevant and not too painful.
Does sports massage hurt?
Sometimes sports massage can feel a little uncomfortable, usually indicating problems in that area.
Please remember that you are always in charge, so if you’re uncomfortable in anyway please say.
It is not unusual to feel a little post massage soreness for a day or two after a deep massage. This is normal and shows that useful work was done - and that the body is healing.
Post treatment care and advice
Firstly, take it easy. You have been totally relaxed during your treatment and hopefully you are feeling much better. Try not to have too many things in your diary after leaving your treatment.
Drink plenty of still water. Massage stimulates the circulatory system which encourages blood flow - especially to the treated areas. This in turn stimuates the lymphatic system which removes all the waste materials and requires hydration.