Sports Massage is a hands on therapy involving manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons). Before sport this helps to significantly warm up the muscle groups involved and prepares them for exercise. Post sport, Sports Massage helps to speed up the recovery process as well as removing metabolic waste and therefore reducing the onset of joint and muscle soreness.
Research has shown that using therapeutic massage can improve range of motion, decrease pain, help with lymphatic drainage and circulation, which all ultimately improve moods and help to restore a good night’s sleep.
I use many different techniques for sports massage, a combination of these techniques enable your body to feel in first class condition. I have listed below some of the techniques I use:-
Effleurage – introduces touch, light, slow movements, helps to soothe and relax muscles, good for lymphatic drainage.
Petrissage – used on deeper tissues for stretching muscle fibres, mobilising fluids and inducing relaxation. The techniques I use are kneading, wringing, picking up, skin rolling and muscle compressions.
Tapotement - this consists of a series of briskly applied percussive movements, using the hands alternately to tap or strike the muscles for a more invigorating effect. This technique helps to maintain and improve muscle tone.
Deep Friction - stimulates regeneration in connective tissue, helps produce vasodilation and increases blood flow into the area. Deep friction is a good technique to use for Iliotibial band syndrome, achilles tendonosis, tennis or golfers elbow.
Soft Tissue Release - this is an advanced manual technique which is used to assess and stretch soft tissues. It targets areas of increased tension within a muscle. This technique can be performed actively and passively.
Maintenance / Preventative Massage - this is perfect for a massage that can be given during rest from any heavy training schedules, I concentrate on the muscles that have been overused or are going to be used. Using cross fibre massage strokes helps to break down any fibrous tissue or adhesions which ultimately work towards releasing muscle tension.
Pre-event Massage – Fast-paced massage movements increases the amount of oxygen getting to the muscles, stimulates and prepares your muscles for peak performance.
Post-event Massage – Flowing movements to restore balance to your body’s tissues, helps to improve recovery time and relieve tension in and muscle spasms.
Sexual / Tantric / Erotic Massage for females - This can be performed by Males for Females and we recommend Male Massage
Other techniques I use in my treatments also include:-
- • Muscle Energy Techniques (MET’s)
- • Neuromuscular Techniques (Trigger Point Therapy)
- • Cross-fibre Mobilisation
- • Positional Release Techniques
- • Myofascial Release
- • PNF Stretching>
At Essex Sports Massage I cover a wide range of injuries that are not always sports related, these include:-
- • Tennis / Golfers Elbow
- • RSI
- • Back and Neck Pain
- • Headaches
- • Shoulder Pain
- • Nerve Compression
- • Tendinitis
Contact me on 07789 908793 or email on info@essex-sports-massage.co.uk for an appointment.
