Athletes consistently push their bodies to their limits to achieve new feats of physical performance. Naturally, this places incredible strain on their muscles, bones and tendons, which, if not treated accordingly, can actually result in negative repercussions, such as severe injuries and musculoskeletal conditions.
In this article, our team at BodyMotion Physiotherapy explore sports remedial massage and when you should utilise it as an athlete.
What are Sports Remedial Massage Services?
Sports remedial massage is a practice developed to assist those participating in various forms of athletics and professional sport. It is used to help prevent injuries, prepare the body for athletic activity, maintain it in optimal condition, and to help athletes recover from workouts and competitions.
It is carefully designed to help athletes recover from the stresses of training, competing and associated injuries. As such, your physio will employ a range of specialist techniques to release tension, reduce pain, improve range of motion, and increase flexibility.
What are the Most Common Sports Therapy Massage Techniques?
Some of the most common techniques used in sports remedial massage include:
- Trigger point release: Used to release tight muscles causing pain or limiting the range of motion. Your therapist will apply targeted pressure to specific points on your body to increase blood flow and relax the muscle and fascia.
- Deep tissue massage: This technique releases deeper muscle tissue, which is helpful when needing to treat certain injuries, such as strains and sprains.
- Myofascial release: Again, designed to release tension, but this time in the connective tissue surrounding the muscles to improve range of motion and decrease pain.
Which Conditions Can Sports Therapy Massage Help Treat?
Sports remedial massage can effectively treat various conditions ranging from chronic pain to acute injuries. Here are some examples:
- Muscle strains: Sports therapy massage can help to loosen tight muscles and reduce inflammation, speeding up the healing process and preventing further injury.
- Tendonitis: A physio offering remedial massage can help to reduce inflammation and improve the range of motion in the affected area.
- Arthritis: Remedial massage reduces pain and stiffness in joints affected by arthritis.
- Chronic pain: Ongoing sports therapy will release tight muscles and improve circulation, reducing pain and improving range of motion.
If you are suffering from any of these conditions, sports massage therapy may be able to help you find relief.
When Will an Athlete Require Physio Remedial Massage?
As an athlete, you are always looking for ways to improve your performance and recovery. Sports therapy massage can be a great addition to your training routine, if used correctly.
Sports Therapy Massage: Before Competing
Pre-event sports massage is given within the hours preceding an event or strenuous training to improve performance and help decrease injuries. It is used to complement an athlete’s warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition.
It is normally shorter in length than a regular conditioning massage, focusing on the major muscles stressed in the activity.
Sports Therapy Massage: During Training Periods
Maintenance sports massage is a regular part of athletic training programs, although professional athletes who have their own massage therapists may even have maintenance massage daily.
Maintenance massage increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscles. What’s more, it keeps the tissues loose so that different layers of muscle slide easily over each other, reducing the development of scar tissue while increasing flexibility and range of motion.
Sports Therapy Massage: After Competing
Post-event sports massage is performed in the hours following an event to improve recovery (in fact, the sooner the massage is received, the better). It focuses on muscle tissue and can include stretching exercises, range of motion exercises, and strength exercises aimed at helping the body get rid of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes that accumulate during strenuous activity.
Explore How Physio Remedial Massage Could Assist in Your Physical Performance
At BodyMotion Physiotherapy, we offer a selection of sports massage services for our clients in Melbourne and the surrounding suburbs.
If you would like to learn more about how we can assist your athletic performance, please feel encouraged to contact us or book an appointment today. We can be reached by calling directly on 03 9873 3333, sending an email to info@bodymotionphysio.com.au, or leaving your preferred contact details on our online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
