What is Sports Massage?
Despite sounding like the preserve of Olympic athletes, sports massage can
be used to relieve all sorts of conditions, not just sport-related problems.
If you're experiencing aching shoulders, lower back pain, muscle cramps or
you've pulled a muscle, sports massage may help.
Sports massage works on the superficial and deep muscles of the body,
as well as the surrounding soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons.
General aches and pains can affect how efficiently you train and can develop into a serious injury if left untreated,
affecting your quality of movement in all aspects of your life.
There are a number of common fallacies associated with sports massage. Members of the public often believe
that sports massage is only suitable for sports participants or persons who have been injured through playing
sport. Another common misconception is that sports massage has to be painful in order to be effective. Both of
these opinions are incorrect.
Sports massage can be suitable for everyone, irrespective of whether they play a sport or not. Sports massage is
most certainly used during rehabilitation following injury, but the fact is that most sports massage is delivered to
perfectly fit and healthy individuals. There is no doubt that sports massage can, on occasions, result in temporary
discomfort, but a professional practitioner will tailor a massage to ‘meet the need' of the individual and the
experience should not necessarily be painful.
It is a deep and more scientific massage treatment, tailored to the individual. After a full assessment, this intense
deep tissue massage facilitates positive changes in your muscles and physical wellbeing. Massage techniques of
deep stroking, cross-fibre friction and vibrations will be used.
Injury prevention is another area where the importance of sports massage should not be underestimated. Massage
is the only actual treatment that can be applied specifically to help prevent injury. This is not only in a sports context
but also in terms of posture and stress.
By stimulating the blood circulation through the body with massage, the waste that has accumulated is removed
more quickly and completely and more fresh blood from the arteries is supplied for repair and nutritional needs to
damaged muscles.
Benefits of Sports Massage
Benefits include:
Despite sounding like the preserve of Olympic athletes, sports massage can
be used to relieve all sorts of conditions, not just sport-related problems.
If you're experiencing aching shoulders, lower back pain, muscle cramps or
you've pulled a muscle, sports massage may help.
Sports massage works on the superficial and deep muscles of the body,
as well as the surrounding soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons.
General aches and pains can affect how efficiently you train and can develop into a serious injury if left untreated,
affecting your quality of movement in all aspects of your life.
There are a number of common fallacies associated with sports massage. Members of the public often believe
that sports massage is only suitable for sports participants or persons who have been injured through playing
sport. Another common misconception is that sports massage has to be painful in order to be effective. Both of
these opinions are incorrect.
Sports massage can be suitable for everyone, irrespective of whether they play a sport or not. Sports massage is
most certainly used during rehabilitation following injury, but the fact is that most sports massage is delivered to
perfectly fit and healthy individuals. There is no doubt that sports massage can, on occasions, result in temporary
discomfort, but a professional practitioner will tailor a massage to ‘meet the need' of the individual and the
experience should not necessarily be painful.
It is a deep and more scientific massage treatment, tailored to the individual. After a full assessment, this intense
deep tissue massage facilitates positive changes in your muscles and physical wellbeing. Massage techniques of
deep stroking, cross-fibre friction and vibrations will be used.
Injury prevention is another area where the importance of sports massage should not be underestimated. Massage
is the only actual treatment that can be applied specifically to help prevent injury. This is not only in a sports context
but also in terms of posture and stress.
By stimulating the blood circulation through the body with massage, the waste that has accumulated is removed
more quickly and completely and more fresh blood from the arteries is supplied for repair and nutritional needs to
damaged muscles.
Benefits of Sports Massage
Benefits include:
- De-stressing tense postural muscles, improving spinal alignment and reducing tension headaches
- Restoring normal tissue flexibility and strength following sports injury or illness
- Improving muscle endurance before an event or workout and reducing the likelihood of injury
- Increasing blood flow to tissue, reducing swelling and helping to improve muscle toning and conditioning
- Helping to address muscular imbalances throughout the body :
The National Register of Sports Massage
The National register of Sports Massage is held by the Sports Massage Association (SMA) and can be found on the SMA's website listed on
the 'Services' page of this website. The National Register was establishes to help safeguard and to promote the health and interests of
people using the services of sports massage practitioners.
Rather than members of the public and other health professionals requiring an in-depth knowledge of the ever increasing number of sports
massage courses and qualifications in the UK, the National Register enables you to check to what level a practitioner has proven competence.
The Sports Massage Association is an independent body and does not derive any income from training and educating practitioners - as such
it is the only body in the UK that can independently assess both individuals, training courses and qualifications that form the basis of the
National Register
The National register of Sports Massage is held by the Sports Massage Association (SMA) and can be found on the SMA's website listed on
the 'Services' page of this website. The National Register was establishes to help safeguard and to promote the health and interests of
people using the services of sports massage practitioners.
Rather than members of the public and other health professionals requiring an in-depth knowledge of the ever increasing number of sports
massage courses and qualifications in the UK, the National Register enables you to check to what level a practitioner has proven competence.
The Sports Massage Association is an independent body and does not derive any income from training and educating practitioners - as such
it is the only body in the UK that can independently assess both individuals, training courses and qualifications that form the basis of the
National Register
- BEWARE - standards of training and practice vary enormously - at the best your treatment could be ineffective, at worst
it may cause injury.
- QUALIFICATIONS - Under current law anyone is able to call him or herself a sports massage practitioner or sports
massage therapist. Therefore it is very important that any practitioner you visit is a member of the Sports Massage
Association - they will have the letters MSMA after their name.
- ENVIRONMENT - Sports massage practitioners work in a variety of settings, in clinics, leisure centres, at clubs and
events and many are also prepared to travel to your home.
- REMEMBER - always ask if your Sports Massage Practitioner is a member of the SMA - if so they will have a current
membership card, certificate and also an insurance document provided by the SMA.
| Sports Massage Association Approved |
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| Tel. 01865 764463 / 07905808612 |
