Sports Massage Common Ailments
- Restorative sports massage - given during training to allow the athlete to train harder and with less injury.
- Rehabilitative sports massage - aimed at alleviating pain due to injury and returning the body to health.
- Pre-event sports massage - a short, stimulating massage 15 - 45 minutes before the event. It is directed toward the parts of the body that will be involved in the exertion.
- Post-event sports massage -given within an hour or two of the event, to normalize the body's tissues
Treatment Options - 30mins or 60mins
Sports massage was originally developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or function well during training. Sports massage emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.
But you don't have to be in the Olympics to benefit from sports massage. Sports massage is also good for people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area.
When Should I Get A Sports Massage?
A sports massage is a good choice if you have a specific problem -- a tender knee from running, for instance. It is also a good idea to see a movement therapist, who can help you identify and correct the movement pattern that might be causing your injury in the first place.
The therapist generally focuses on the problem area -- a frozen shoulder or pulled hamstring, for instance -- rather than giving you a full-body massage. Sometimes men who are new to the spa are more comfortable getting a sports massage because it sounds more masculine. That's fine, even if they don't have an injury.
What Happens During Sports Massage?
Sports massage is very similar to Swedish massage in that it stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids. Some sports massage movements use trigger point therapy to break down adhesions (knots in the muscles) and increase range of motion.
Choose Another Treatment
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage promotes relaxation, eases muscle tension and creates other health benefits.In all Swedish massage, the massage therapist lubricates the skin with massage oil and performs various massage strokes that warm up and work the muscle tissue, releasing tension and breaking up muscle "knots" or adhered tissues, called adhesions.
Sports Massage
Sports massage was originally developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or function well during training. Sports massage emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.
But you don't have to be in the Olympics to benefit from sports massage.Relaxation Massage
Relaxation massage is very similar to a gentle Swedish Massage that uses smooth, gliding strokes.The primary purpose will be to help you relax, and your massage therapist will probably move at a slower pace and use lighter pressure.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue.
Deep tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is also a more focused type of massage, as the therapist works to release chronic muscle tension or knots (also known as "adhesions.")
Indian Head Massage
Relaxation massage is very similar to a gentle Swedish Massage that uses smooth, gliding strokes.The primary purpose will be to help you relax, and your massage therapist will probably move at a slower pace and use lighter pressure.
Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage benefits both mother and unborn baby. It can help with back pain, fatigue and other pregnancy related common ailments such as morning sickness, constipation, headaches, indigestion, and heartburn.
Pregnancy is a period of time, more than any other, to consider health and happiness a priority.