Sports Massage

• What is it?
• Benefits
• Competition pre-event massage
• Competition post-event massage
• Competitors & Players Clinic

Sports Massage is treatment of the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue) designed specifically to aid the individual involved in physical activity.

It does not matter at which level the individual participates: individual/team recreational, individual/team club competitive, individual/team regional, national or international level, anyone can benefit, as long as the practitioner is a fully-qualified Sports Massage Practitioner and SMA/ISRM member.

Sports Massage is different to Swedish or Therapeutic Massage, in that the practitioner needs to have studied anatomy, physiology and pathology of injury as well as additional knowledge of soft-tissue techniques and their effects on the sporting individual. A practitioner who is not fully qualified in these areas can cause damage to the individual and his/her future performance through their lack of knowledge of what is appropriate.

Sports Massage in a clinic setting has the following benefits:

• Helps the body to recover more quickly from strenuous activity
• Helps to prevent DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
• Reduces muscle tension and aids relaxation
• Can increase flexibility and joint range-of-movement
• Keeps the soft-tissues in an optimum state for maximum performance
• Can identify sub-clinical level conditions which may be treated before they become problem injuries
• Can improve a debilitating condition and/or facilitate healing after an injury
• Helps to ensure the correct psychological state of the receiver is maintained

Treatments are designed specifically for the individual and the circumstances within which they train and/or compete and may include referral to the Chiropractor (Dr Pamella Chu), at the Clinic. Referrals are non-mandatory, but are the considered advice of the practitioner.

Competition pre-event massage is an invigorating massage working on the main muscles to be used in the event/game to ensure that physiologically they are in prime condition. It aids both performance and post-competition recovery. It is not designed to address aches/pains or the symptoms of underlying conditions. However, is essential in ensuring you feel in ‘tip-top’ condition to perform. It is a great body boost if you’ve had a stressful week mentally or physically. In a clinic setting, it should be performed less than 48 hours before the start of the event/game. If you are looking for pre-event massage at an event, go to our Events Massage page.

Competition post-event massageis a ‘recovery’ massage working on the main muscles used in the event/game to ease out the tensions of full exertion, ensure that there is no lingering fluid or waste left in the soft tissues and help identify any sub-clinical issues requiring further treatment. In a clinic setting, recovery massage is best performed within 48 hours of the finish of the event.If you are looking for post-event massage at an event/game, go to our Events Massage page.

Competitors & Players Clinic: a Monday Evening open-door clinic offering recovery treatment and advice on a first-come basis, to those who are experiencing some aches/pains or stiffness following their weekend exertions.