Sports Massage
Sports Massage has many aspects. Designed to help athletes before, during and after training, it’s also useful for anyone who exercises to increase flexibility, prevent injuries and help with healing after a sports injury.
Having a good, honest and open relationship is critical to getting the most benefit from your massage. Thankfully, that’s what we strive to achieve at Active Recovery Clinic.
Pre-Event Massage
The general idea is to increase peripheral blood flow, neural activity and awareness.
The techniques should be light in depth but vigorous in nature: this will increase peripheral heat and mobilise the connective tissues of the area treated, making them more fluent/mobile. This also helps to ‘warm up’ the treated muscle groups, making them more prepared for activity and reducing potential injury.
Pre event massages should generally last approximately 5-7 minutes and can incorporate some stretching if indicated.
Post-Event Massage
Post Event massage is an attempt to restore the body to its pre event state. It is generally a broad handed rhythmical massage that looks to address:
- Reduction in peripheral swelling caused by exercise
- Reduction in neuromuscular activity
- Reduction in muscle tone that has increased during exercise. This may include cramps
- Restoration of range of motion. This may include light stretching
Anecdotally, athletes also suggest feeling:
- A decrease in ‘heaviness’
- Reduction in pain or discomfort
- Greater mobility
NOTE: athletes should always perform their own warm down prior to any post event massage. This is by far the best way to reduce lactic acid build up and reduce muscle soreness.
Maintenance Massage
To ensure athletes get the most benefit from maintenance massage, having a good, honest and open relationship with their therapist is critical. Thankfully, that’s what we strive to achieve at Active Recovery Clinic.
Many clients will opt for regular maintenance massages to assist with a range of benefits, including:
- Preventing injuries
- Increasing performance
- Improving range of motion, including perceived or identified limitations
- ‘Flushing’ out areas of tightness
Sports Massage techniques can range from stretching, light strokes to deeper strokes, trigger point work, even dry needling in particular circumstances.
Book an Appointment
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