Your Comprehensive FAQ's About Sports Massage

Sports massage therapy is for everyone! Sports massage is not only for athletes or active sports people but for those whose jobs are physically demanding or for those whose posture maybe affected through their work, for example someone with a desk job or a driver. It doesn’t matter what you do or whether or not you are sporty or are young or old, sports massage is suitable for the majority of people   From the everyday athlete, gym-goer and weekend warrior to the elite sports athlete. If you exercise as part of your routine then often, your body may begin to generate some fatigue, therefore, it is vital to take care of the impact your workouts are having on your body.   You don’t need to be injured to benefit from a sports massage! Sports massage techniques can be beneficial for managing and treating injuries but are also great during training or competition to help keep your body in top condition.

Sports massage is a deep treatment, so it can be uncomfortable, especially when dealing with tight muscles or trigger points, but it should never feel unbearable. We will frequently ask you if the pressure is suitable or warn you if a deeper technique is required. Throughout the treatment you are in control of the pressure and the therapists will adjust pressure to your comfort level. Good pain means your body’s waking up; bad pain means stop. We advise you not to allow us to go above an 8 / 10 discomfort. Pain is a personal emotion which everyone tolerates differently. It is important you communicate with your therapist if you feel the pressure is too uncomfortable.

You may feel sore after your session but don’t worry, this is completely normal. Some treatments can be quite intense and experiencing mild effects like this afterwards is not unusual. You will always be advised of aftercare measures to manage this once your session is complete.

This depends on the areas of your body needing to be worked on, but we ask all patients to dress in (or bring along) appropriate clothing – lightweight, loose fitting, flexible is ideal and it’s highly recommended that you bring some shorts with you for unrestricted movement/assessment as direct skin contact is preferred. You are welcome to change at your appointment and will be left in private to do so. It is essential for us that you are relaxed and feel comfortable during your treatment.   For most appointments we ask that you bring some loose shorts with you (80’s running style short shorts are perfect!) or workout shorts for lower back/leg treatment works well (alternatively underwear, or a bikini for ladies). However, if you know that your treatment will not involve any lower body work then shorts are not necessary.   For ladies, sports bras are not ideal if treating your neck/shoulders and back as they do not allow full access (whereas a normal bra does!). If you prefer to remove the bra for comfort that is fine. You will always be given privacy to get changed and place yourself face down on the massage table before the treatment begins. We will always preserve your modesty by using towels to cover any exposed areas. It is important that you always feel comfortable, so you can bring a pair of shorts if you prefer.

How often you have massage therapy depends on many factors – training load, lifestyle or what your injury/problem area is and what your goals are.   Are you after some maintenance work? Then perhaps book every 2-4 weeks, but for most people once per month might be enough, especially if you take the time to do a bit of homework.   Do you have a long standing issue that you wish to get addressed properly? Then a number of sessions spread over a few weeks would be more appropriate. The number will depend on how much you do the exercises you get to help increase your mobility and how long the problem has been there but often 3-4 will clear most of it up.   An athlete in hard training? Perhaps once per week, or more, leading up to a competition.   As you see it all depends on your goals.

Typically, we advise highly active patients to have treatment on the evening before a rest day if they have one, or on a day where they have a lower training volume. Ideally, a patient should train and then receive a sports massage later that day.   For the patient, it means they don’t miss a training session, and for the therapist it means they might be able to work slightly deeper into the tissues.   If the sports massage has to be scheduled before a training session/event, then the pressure may need to be modified to avoid tenderness to tissues during the training session or competition.

Yes, sports massage can reduce post-workout soreness by increasing circulation and reducing inflammation. It’s a great tool for post-training recovery.

We like to think about future-proofing your body. Don’t wait for an injury to build up. Today’s lifestyle habits of being sat in a chair or on the couch for many hours a day or in front of a computer screen doesn’t allow the body to work or maintain itself as it’s supposed to. Add in some weekend activity after a stressful week and you’ve not got a good recipe.   So, if we take the time on a monthly basis to address muscular tension, improve movement patterns, address lifestyle factors, and ensure that we’re dealing with tweaks and aches before they become a major problem, then you’re going to feel better, move faster, and live a longer, pain free life.