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 keeps you flexible and your motions fluid, while helping with the prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.
Of course, you don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from sports massage. Sports massage is also great for people with stiffness, minor injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion.
The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area, like neck, shoulders, or lower back, rather than a full-body massage (but there are exceptions). They borrow techniques from a range of massage modalities, including Swedish massage, that stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids and trigger point therapy to break down muscle knots and increase range of motion. Sports massage can be done on a table or mat with the client in loose-fitting clothes, or disrobed to their comfort level.
Here’s when sports massage works:
• event prep–a short, stimulating massage 15 – 90 minutes before the event. It is directed toward the parts of the body that will be involved in the exertion.
• event recovery–given within 24 hours of the event, to normalize the body’s tissues.
• training–given any time during training to allow the athlete to train harder with less injury.
• rehabilitation–aimed at alleviating pain or soreness due to minor injury or muscle stress and returning the body to health.
No matter what type of massage you choose, our therapists will check in with you about what your needs and expectations are for the session. If you’re unsure if sports massage is the right massage style for you, just ask! We welcome the opportunity to further your wellness with the best session possible.
