What is Sports Massage?
Sports massage is designed to help athletes before, during and after training to reach their maximum potential. The aim of sports massage is to reduce the stress and tension that can build up in the soft tissues of the body. It works by stretching tense muscles, stimulating inactive muscles, and improving the overall condition of your soft tissues.
Muscular stress and tension often develop during physical activity as a result of overuse or even misuse of your body parts. A good massage not only helps to reduce pain, but also improves recovery between activities, increases flexibility and improves the overall performance of the muscular system.
Looking for more ways to remove pain and stress? Why not try relaxation massage or remedial massage!
How Does Sports Massage Work?
Sports massage therapy often involves techniques used in other disciplines like physiotherapy and osteopathy.
Certain massage techniques are calming while others are used to stimulate the muscles. Some of the common techniques include:
- Soft tissue release
- Positional release
- Fascial release
- Neuromuscular technique
- Longitudinal gliding
- Trigger Point therapy
- Transverse friction
- Compression massage
- Cross-fibre massage
Types of Sports Massage
There are various types of sports massage, with different techniques used and for different purposes. The different types include:
Maintenance Massage: this type of massage is used to help athletes perform their best at their sport by working on specific issues and preventing sport-specific injuries. An effective maintenance massage can help athletes maintain or improve range of motion and muscle flexibility.
Pre-event Massage: this is a short (10-15 minutes) massage given within 4 hours before an event to help reduce muscle tension and enhance circulation before a big game or activity.
Recovery Massage: this massage is given after an event to enhance recovery of the major muscles. It focuses on relieving muscle soreness, providing better flexibility, and reducing the chance of future injuries. It is generally relaxing and mentally calming.
Rehabilitation Massage: this type aims to speed the healing process from muscle cramp, tear, bruise, ache and injury.
Who Should Get a Sports Massage?
It is a common misconception that sports massage is only for elite athletes.
The truth is – this type of massage is for anyone and everyone who do strenuous activities in their daily routine.
While sports massage promises to improve the performance of an athlete, it also aims to help those with chronic pain or injury from daily physical activities.
Whether you have developed pain or injury from running a marathon, hiking over the weekend, or working in the garden, a sports massage therapy can help you relieve that discomfort and keep you active. It is beneficial for anyone who routinely engages in physical activity, as it helps to increase muscle flexibility, prevents injuries, and aids healing after an injury.
A sports massage therapy is as perfect for athletes as for mothers with small children, gardeners, construction workers, primary school teachers, and other people who use their bodies vigorously at work.
Sports massage is a good choice if you have a specific problem, such as tender knee from running, a frozen shoulder, or pulled hamstring. The massage is generally tailored to focus on the problematic area instead of the whole body.
Benefits of Sports Massage
There are many benefits of a sports massage therapy, including:
- Increase endurance
- Improve performance
- Reduce chance of injury
- Improve recovery
- Prevent soreness and stiffness
- Increase efficiency
- Improve heart rate
- Improve blood pressure
- Increase circulation
- Promote lymph flow
Given the benefits of a sports massage, it is extensively used to relieve lower back pain resulting from sports-related injury, reduce tension and increase mobility of quads and hamstrings, as well as enhance the endurance and performance of runners.
Effects of Sports Massage
A sports massage therapy leads to a number of positive effects in the body, including physical, physiological and psychological effects.
Physical effects
- Improved flow of blood, lymph and other fluids
- Better mobility of soft tissues
Physiological effects
- Reduced production of stress hormones
- Vasodilation (stretching) of the blood and lymphatic vessels due to relaxation
- Reduced contraction of muscles due to muscle relaxation
Psychological effects
- Increased production of adrenaline and endorphins
- Stimulated mental and physical states
Looking for more ways to relieve stress and pain?
Why Choose Us?
We provide the best sports massage with a specially-trained therapist who understands the application of a wide range of techniques. It is our goal to tailor your massage to your specific needs and make sure that it supports as well as promotes your best performance.
We believe that our sports massage therapy can make a significant difference to your recovery and health, and we are dedicated to make this service accessible to everyone.
Getting a sports massage every week or two may be a great addition to your normal regimen, whether your physical activity comes in the form of an intense sport or simply your daily activities.
Location
Northern Sports and Remedial Myotherapy is located in Bundoora, Victoria.
Address: 7 Luton Way, Bundoora VIC 3083
Lasting Pain Relief For All Ages
Get in touch with us for a friendly chat or book in for a session.
You can tell us if you have a preferred method of treatment, come in for a session when you see fit, and discuss any health challenges with us.
We are here to help!