SPORTS / REMEDIAL MASSAGE THERAPY
Sports massage
Sports massage is designed to help athletes before, during, and after training. It is useful
for anyone who exercises to increase flexibility, prevent injuries, and help with healing
after a sports injury.
Sports massage is specifically tailored to different sports and sporting injuries. It is not a
relaxing form of massage and can often be quite strenuous. It works by stretching tight
muscles, stimulating inactive muscles, and improving the condition of the soft tissue.
The aim of sports massage is to reduce the stress and tension that can build up in the
soft tissues of the body during exercise. This form of massage is used to:
- increase endurance
- improve performance
- reduce the chance of injury
- reduce recovery time after an injury.
Remedial massage
Remedial massage is a complementary therapy that aims to treat
damaged, tense or immobile muscles. It is helpful for a number of problems that affect the
muscles, tendons, and bones.
Remedial massage is used to locate and repair damaged areas of the body and speed
up the body’s own healing processes. The pressure applied in this healing treatment
can be strong and deep or gentle and shallow, depending on the problem.
Problems with the muscles can trigger or radiate pain to other parts of the body.
Remedial massage aims to trace the original reason for the pain, tackling both the
cause of the problem and the symptoms.
Deep tissue massage
Deep tissue massage is similar to Swedish massage, but it goes further. Deep tissue
massage targets the inner layers of your muscles, tendons, and fascia (dense
connective tissue). Deep tissue massage uses many of the same stroking and kneading
movements as Swedish massage, but there is far more pressure. This pressure can
sometimes be painful.
It’s important to be open with your massage therapist about the level of pressure and
discomfort you wish to endure. This may be different for certain areas and throughout
the massage, feel free to communicate with your massage therapist before and during
the massage. Some massage therapists find the pain to be counterproductive to the
process and expect you to speak up if the pain is too much.
This type of massage facilitates healing by releasing contracted areas of muscle and
tissue. It can help increase blood flow to the soft tissues and may help to reduce
inflammation.
You should expect a fair amount of soreness in the days following your deep tissue
massage.
