Sports Massage - When To Get A Sports Massage
Sports massage was designed for athletes, but is useful for anyone with chronic pain, injury or range-of-motion issues.
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, but may also look for muscular imbalances elsewhere that may be contributing to the problem.
What Happens During Sports Massage?
Sports massage is a type of Swedish Massage that stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids. It often includes deep tissue massage with trigger point therapy to break down adhesions (knots in the muscles). Active and passive exercises are also used to increase range of motion and flexibility.
There are four types of sports massages:
- 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.
- Restorative sports massage: given during training to allow the athelete to train harder and with less injury.
- Rehabilitative sports massage: aimed at alleviating pain due to injury and returning the body to health.
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 often focuses in on the problem area -- a frozen shoulder or pulled hamstring, for instance -- rather than giving you a thorough full-body massage.The therapist will consult with you about what your needs and expectations are, as well as gauging appropriate pressure.
View a sports massage video
View sports massage for shin splints
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