What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage is a deeper style of massage that can be beneficial at various stages of a training routine regardless of what level you participate. Regular sports massage can help to maintain and improve muscle health, flexibility and ranges of motion. Sports massage has also been proven time and time again to improve blood flow. In turn, this will enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery into your muscles which will allow them to feel better and more robust.

Sports massage can be used to prepare the body for an event or after to help it return to a pre-event state.

It involves various movements and techniques that are used to try to help an individual’s body achieve maximum performance and physical conditioning, with a decreased risk of injury or pain and a quicker recovery.

Sports massage therapy is for everyone and has many different benefits for different individuals. 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. The treatment is tailored to the patient’s needs based on pressure, depth, and areas worked.

Benefits of Sports Massage

Injury Rehabilitation
Increase power and performance
Prevent injury
Improve recovery times
Increase muscle length and ranges of motion
Increased flexibility
Mobilize scar tissue
Increase tissue hydration
Decrease or eliminate pain
Increase blood flow to tissue and promote healing
Reduce inflammation

Potential Side Effects of Sports Massage

For the most part, sports massage is safe with very few side effects.

You may feel some discomfort during or after a sports massage for a day or two, but it should not cause significant pain. If you feel pain beyond what some call “the good kind of hurt,” tell your therapist right away.

It’s also possible that you could have a skin reaction to the massage oils used. We use a selection of massage lubricants which range from 100% natural ingredients and are also great for the skin, to coconut oil or baby oil for those who have particularly sensitive skin or allergies.

What should I expect?

Before the Treatment

Drink plenty and stay hydrated to help your muscles respond to treatment.

Avoid heavy meals or caffeine before your session.

You might want to wear comfortable sportswear for your session to enable your therapist to do their best work. You therapist may also ask for you to undress to your lower underwear.

What to Expect During a Session

On your first visit there will be a 15-minute initial assessment, which will include medical history and physical assessment of your movement, this will allow the therapist to perform the best treatment possible for you. Subsequent sessions will start off with a brief chat to check how you are doing, discuss the reason for your visit and determine the cause and effect of any issues you may have.

The treatment takes place on a massage table, which is covered with a new paper towel sheet after every client for hygiene. You will be given the privacy to change and place yourself face down on to the massage table. A towel will then be draped so that only the area of the body being worked on is exposed. The therapist will communicate with you throughout the treatment to assess your comfort levels and adjust pressure based on your needs.

Your session may also include a mixture of seated, standing, lying on your back on the couch (supine), on your front (prone) or on your side. Many techniques involve your participation to move limbs/parts of your body, so this is not a static/fall asleep opportunity I’m afraid! Towels are used to protect your modesty/keep you warm, and if required, we will use either massage lotion or oil to lubricate your skin whilst massaging (you will be asked if you have any allergies that might affect which lubricant we use). If at any time you feel uncomfortable, always let your therapist know so that they can alter their methodology accordingly – it is your treatment, your therapist is there to help you and make sure that you are happy with the way in which you were treated – all constructive feedback very much welcomed.

At the end of the session, you may be given some Post-Massage Support: Your therapist may recommend stretches, mobility exercises, or aftercare tips to keep your body feeling good between sessions.

Sports Massage is hands-on body work and not a pampering spa day, so you may feel some discomfort during or after for a day or two, but it should not cause significant pain.

After the Treatment

Sports massage therapy can be powerful, and some individuals will react more strongly than others, so we always advise you to do the following:

Drink plenty of water for at least 24 hours after your massage to help flush out metabolic waste. We'll offer water before, during and after your treatment.

Be prepared to feel like your muscles have had a really good workout for up to 48 hours post treatment.

Use ice/cooling gel if appropriate or as instructed.

Avoid intense exercise for 24 hours if deep tissue techniques were used.

Incorporate stretching or mobility exercises as recommended by your therapist.