Sports massage is a rapidly evolving sub speciality within the field of professional massage therapy. Having its origins dating back to the Greek and Roman times. It combines both classical and specific techniques designed to provide therapeutic impact for the unique physical and biomechanical needs of athletes.

Some athletes leave nothing to chance in their attempt to produce faster speeds, lower times, maximum effort and peak performances. They are incorporating the latest sports technology in their programmes. More of these athletes at the recreational, amateur and professional level have discovered the benefits of Sports Massage Therapy.

Sports Massage Includes

Pre Event: Complements the warm- up prior to athletic events by stimulating circulation, increasing flexibility, calms nervous tension and prepares the athlete for maximum output.

Post Event: Reduces the effects of muscular tension, muscle fatigue and muscle soreness, aiding in recovery of the athlete by assisting venous return and removal of lactic acids.

Training and Conditioning: Regular fine tuning will help eliminate trigger points and biomechanical stress, relieving the tender areas before they became problems areas, enabling the athlete to train harder and more consistently this lengthening the athletes career.

Restoration/ Rehabilitation: Sports Massage Therapy can be a good adjunctive treatment in both chronic and acute injuries, aiding in the speed of injury healing.

The Positives:

• Increase joint range of motion
• Allows maximum storage of nutrients and oxygen
• Less energy wastage
• Enhances good lymphatic and venous return
• Maximises available power potential
• Less friction/ resistance over the joint
• Less potential join degeneration
• Less likelihood of injury

The Negatives:

• Restricts joint range of motion
• Restricts maximal nutrient/ oxygen storage
• Decreases energy: as it takes energy to keep muscles tight
• Restricts lymphatic and venous return
• Can causes or lead to muscle cramp
• Reduces maximum available power output
• Carrying around dead weight (Unproduced muscle mass)
• Predisposition towards potential injury

How does it work?
It assists in restoring the normal functioning of your muscles, lymphatic, nerve, circulatory, skin and connective tissue systems. After competition/ training or to enhance the abilities of the above mentioned system prior to competition/ training by:

• Releasing muscular spasm and tension
• Releasing fibrosis and adhesions on soft tissue
• Stimulates local blood supply
• Increase nutrient supply to your body tissue
• Helps with the elimination of lactates
• Reduces fluid retention and oedema
• Increases venous return to the heart
• Restores and reintegrates kinaesthetic and awareness.