Giving you the ins and outs of the types of people who usually receive this type of massage, benefits, techniques, stretches, etc.

Ross Mollenhauer

Ross Mollenhauer

In this blog, we’ll be making sense of Sports Massage. Giving you the ins and outs of  the types of people who usually receive this type of massage, benefits, techniques, stretches, etc.

Hello everyone and welcome to our third  Making sense of Massage Blogs.  In this blog, we’ll be making sense of Sports Massage. Giving you the ins and outs of the types of people who usually receive this type of massage, benefits, techniques, stretches, etc.

I hope this isn’t a dumb question but Who usually gets a Sports massage? No there are no such things as dumb questions asked about this blog. Sports Massage is used regularly (or should be used regularly) by your favorite Athletes, Olympians. (Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi) or anyone who is physically active such as runners, swimmers, cyclists, footballers, tennis players & regular gym-goers.

This guy should definitely be receiving regular Sports Massages before and after he struts his stuff on the track. What on earth is a Sports Massage? Sports massage is pretty much a mishmash of many different techniques and performed very quickly. It can be made up of Swedish massage ( Relaxation Massage) Sports Massage involves a lot of effleurages, which improves blood circulation and allows the oxygen to move through the body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep tissue massage – which targets and breaks up  your muscle knots and areas of tightness

Remedial Massage – A Remedial Massage is where the qualified therapist assesses and treats the muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues of the body to rehabilitate, and to manage any pain and injuries the client may be experiencing.

Myofascial release – when we are working on myofascial release we are working on a thin layer of connective tissue under the skin. There is only one fascia in the body and it covers all organs and muscles. This will help ease your chronic pain.

Joint mobilizations – The therapist applies pressure on your joints while the client is in an active position.

What are the benefits of a Sports Massage? MY oh my, there are so many benefits. But where to start??

It can help  prepare you for your best performance at events as it can help you focus

  • Reduces fatigue
  • Relieves muscle swelling, tension, and knots.
  • It helps alleviate pain and prevent such injuries that greatly affect flexibility, mobility, response time, and overall performance in athletic events.
  • Increases your circulation – to ensure less soreness of muscles & tendons
  • Prevention of blood pooling • Breaks down scar tissue & adhesions
  • Prevents & reduces the likelihood of injury
  • Waste product removal – is an outcome of pushing swelling & sweeping waste product into lymphatics & blood flow for removal.

Did you know that the correct use and technique of a sports massage can impact on an athlete’s performance? Well, now you know. (There is pressure on your Therapist  to perform our best work to keep you healthy and performing your best.) It is more than a treatment for injuries; sports massage produces overwhelming benefits for athletes physically, emotionally and physiologically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How often should I receive a Sports Massage?

During physical activity- especially during difficult or challenging activities- muscle tension builds up in your body’s soft tissues. This makes them become weary and overused. This in turn results in minor injuries and lesions. This can cause you a lot of pain and poor athletic performance. If the muscles become injured this could mean a significant amount of recovery time and no sports, gym, running, etc for you.

We know that this will be the end of the world as you know it, (REM were singing about not being able to play sports as a result of injury … weren’t they?? lol) so, to prevent this from becoming a reality, A sports massage should be received both before and after a game or event.

Pre – Event This type of massage should be given within 48 hours before your game or event to improve circulation, free up ligaments, tendons, and joints. It would be ideal to have a 15-minute massage just before your game or event.

Post-event It is ideal to once again have a sports massage included as part of your cool-down routine after strenuous exercise to get your blood flowing and to decrease inflammation.

We would recommend a Sports Massage within 48 hours after exercise especially after a big game or event. It is also great to receive a sports massage as part of regular maintenance in between your events to keep your body feeling its best. Depending on your body and the level of activity, we at Swift Results Massage would recommend either weekly or fortnightly treatments.

To achieve the best results it is recommended that you Communicate with your therapist:

Prior to your massage let your therapist know what results you want to get from the massage

  • During your massage; it is important to provide feedback to your therapist if you are uncomfortable.

It is common for there to be some pain during the treatment; this should be a feel-good pain; and no more than an 8 out of 10 on the pain scale. If your Massage Therapist goes above your pain threshold please let them know so they can take the pressure down like John Farnham!!

  • After your treatment, it is advisable to let your therapist know how you are feeling to ensure you leave the appointment feeling well. Some side effects of the massage could be feeling light-headed or dizzy. If so it is recommended to wait before driving a car or going home until you feel better.

Post Massage Tips

  • For chronic long term injuries, a heat pack is best.  However, a cold pack will be best for acute conditions.
  • Stretching – your muscles will feel more flexible after a stretch. (a clip of a stretch may be added)
  • Drink more water than you usually would in the next 24 – 48 hrs (2.5 – 3 Litres) as this helps flush the toxins from your body. After exercise and massage, your body will need to be rehydrated.
  • At the end of your day, it is advisable to have a warm bath with 1 – 2 cups of Magnesium salts to help re-bind your muscle fibres and get you ready to perform at your best the next day. Sulfates are beneficial to maintain healthy joints, skin and nervous tissue.
  • Bathing in Magnesium salts assists with Reducing inflammation, • Increasing blood flow, • Flushing toxins from the body; and helps build key protein molecules in the brain tissue and joints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, that’s all from us for now folks. I hope we have made sense of Sports Massage for you. Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and if you have any questions or comments feel free to ask. Please leave any comments or questions you may have as we would love to hear from you. Please visit our massage website
for more advise, hints and tips as well as viewing our range of massage products.

Until next time