Sports Massage

Sports massage

Sports massage, also known as deep tissue massage or soft tissue manipulation, is a form of physiotherapy treatment that you certainly don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from, contrary to popular belief. Sports massage is an excellent treatment for people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. It is often recommended after physiotherapy treatment in the rehabilitation of injuries as it can continue work on the body’s soft tissues, muscles, tendons and fascia.

Sports massage is a hands-on therapy that combines a number of techniques. Whether you are training for a competitive sporting event or just carry everyday tightness, sports massage is a highly effective therapy for releasing muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculoskeletal system. Sports massage is typically used before, during and after physical events, as well as during training to keep the body in shape and in condition during off-season and pre-season. The aim of these massages are to prepare the athlete’s body so it can perform in peak condition, helping to reduce the effects of fatigue and muscle tension, and helps prevent  injuries occur during the event. Many athletes put so much effort into training, but very few put effort into taking good care of the body which helps them perform – even a 30-minute massage once a month can help prevent injuries and the overtraining of muscles. The massage techniques used are tailored to each individual depending on their needs.

Pre-event Massage

If you are preparing for a big athletic event, then it may be useful that you benefit from a pre-event massage. It can be performed anytime from 2 days before until immediately before the sporting event. It can help aid you in your preparation process by bringing warmth to specific tissues of the body and ultimately increase the blood flow to the deeper muscles.

Post-event Massage

If you have undertaken a sporting event, then it may be beneficial for you to have a post-event massage to ensure good and speedy recovery from the event. It will promote good circulation and lymphatic drainage which will help you heal and recover more efficiently and naturally.

Who can benefit from sports massage?

• Anyone taking part in sports or regular exercise through to the elite sportsman/woman.
• Workers who suffer stress/tension e.g. neck, back, shoulder pain/aches, migraines.
• Anyone feeling tired/sore/stiff.
• Anyone with a soft tissue injury e.g. sprains, strains, post-surgery.

Our specially trained therapists will usually concentrate on a specific problem area, rather than the full body, in order to combat the area of most concern to you. This treatment is a type of Swedish massage known to stimulate the circulation of blood and lymph fluids. Overall this massage is aimed at anyone who wants to alleviate pain due to injury and return their body to health.

As well as massage helping with sports injuries and preparation there are a lot of medical conditions where massage can be beneficial. Some of these problems are:

• Chronic pain
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Depression
• Constipation
• Back or neck pain
• Arthritis
• anxiety

Our specialist staff at Physiotherapy Matters have a wealth of knowledge and experience, working with patients of all ages and mobility to address their exact needs, adapting the type of massage to the individual to maximise the success of the treatment. With multiple specialists available for appointments at Physiotherapy Matters our patients can be confident they will receive treatment most suitable to them. Our professional massage specialists are available for people suffering from everyday aches and pains to competing athletes; whether you’re feeling stressed out from work or have a big race coming up our massage staff can help.