What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage is the management, manipulation and rehabilitation of soft tissues of the body including muscles, tendons and ligaments.

 

Who can have a Sports Massage?
Everyone and anyone from babies to the elderly, professional sports people to office workers!  You do not need to be a sports performer to benefit from a sports massage.

What are the benefits?

·        Improve circulation and lymphatic flow

·        Assist in the removal of metabolic waste

·        Sedate or stimulate nerve endings

·        Increase or decrease muscle tone

·        Increase or decrease muscle length

·        Remodel scar tissue when required

·        Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation

·        Help recovery after Sport

·        Rehabilitation

 

What symptoms can Sports massage relieve?

·        Repetitive strain injury

·        Sprains

·        Tension

·        Fatigue

·        Spasms

·        Injury prevention

·        Injury recovery

 

What techniques do we use?
Effleurage: It is a stroking technique, using the palm and fingers gently moulding to the contours of the body to apply the massage oil and forms the first and last movements of most massages. 
Petrissage:  Means to knead and uses the pressure of the hand and or fingers to break down tension in specific muscle groups.  
Friction: Using the thumbs or fingers in specific areas of tightness or for working closely on a small area e.g. around joints.   
Hacking: Basically chopping with loose wrists - palms facing together, with the little fingers closest to the muscle group being worked on.  
Cupping: This is done by forming a cup shape with the hands and then gently striking the muscles with the palm to create a vacuum against the skin – this movement should sound like horses hooves. 
Beating: The hands are loose fists with the little fingers towards the muscle group to be worked on.  Alternating fists to strike the muscles sounds like a light clicking.
Vibration: The muscle is gently vibrated by the palm of the hand or by the finger tips – with the masseur contracting their own arm muscles.
Neuromuscular Therapy: It is the utilisation of static pressure on specific points to relieve pain.  This technique manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system.  You may have heard this technique referred to as Trigger Point Therapy.
 

How can we help you?
We will carry out a full assessment and recommend the appropriate massage techniques which best cater to your needs.