Sports & Remedial Massage

History

Today, there are many forms of massage available to assist us in maintaining our health and wellbeing. Sports massage has been accepted in America, Canada and Australia for many years now, while in the UK, the practice became known and more widely used in the 1990s.

The modern rigins of sports massage commenced in the Olympics in Paris in 1924. Naavi Nurmi from Finland claimed that the therapist he brought with him and using special massage techniques was instrumental in him winning 5 gold medals. In the US it was first used as a restorative activity for boxers and those involved in track and field. This was further developed by Jack Meagher, author of Sports Massage, who witnessed techniques now associated with sports massage in France during World War 2.

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How is it carried out

As with all massage therapies, the client and therapist work together to identify the specific issue or issues the client would like to address. This initial consultation also provides the therapist with additional information in terms what techniques they will use, the duration and number of sessions potentially required.

This assessment may include identifying the client’s range of motion at and around the affected area. Sports massage is carried out in a treatment room or sometimes at the location of the event the client is participating in. It commences with general massage techniques to help you become accustomed to your therapist’s touch, warm your body’s tissues and increase your blood flow.

It will also help the therapist to identify any tender areas at the outset, so the relevant pressure can be applied later on. Working with the client, the therapist the works on deeper tissues to mobilise fluids, stretch muscles fibres, break down scar tissue and aid relaxation.

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Techniques used

A sports massage therapist will use a variety of massage techniques depending on what you need. Sports massage typically begins with a variety of stroking movements, ‘effleurage , a gliding motion usually carried out with the whole palm of the hand and the fingers. This helps you become accustomed to your therapist’s touch, warm your body’s tissues and increase your blood flow. It will also help the therapist to identify any tender areas at the outset, so less pressure can be applied later on.

They will then use a massage technique called ‘petrissage’ – kneading designed to work on deeper tissues, to mobilise fluids, stretch muscle fibres, identify areas of tension, scar tissue, and aid relaxation.
Friction techniques are used, aiming at breaking down lesions and even scar tissue, and separating muscle fibres. Frictions might feel uncomfortable or even slightly painful, so don’t be afraid to tell your therapist to go more gently on particular areas. The fingers, thumbs and forearms of the therapist maybe used to carry out this technique

Compression is another technique often used during sports massage. This deep acting method can be used on “trigger points”, specific points on the body that can be firmly compressed in order relieve pain and discomfort in and around the area

Throughout the massage the therapist will ask for and welcome any client feedback

During the conclusion of the appointment the therapist and client will review carry out a review of the session in order to inform future appointments

Benefits of sports remedial massage include

• Improve performance
• Ease tense, aching and sore muscles
• Increase range of motion
• Prevent further injury
• Enable speedier return to training
• Speed up rehabilitation
• Reduce injury time duration

Price

30 mins £25
60 mins £40
90 mins £55