Sports massage therapy aims to relieve stress, tension and tightness in the body by manipulating soft tissue such as muscles, tendons and ligaments. Sports massage is a deeper and more intense massage than your typical Swedish massage treatments and can be more focused than your average deep tissue massage.
Sports massage and deep tissue massage have been adapted and modified over the many years, taking techniques from various other treatment forms in order to perfect the formula. Techniques were originally developed in order to help improve sporting performance and aid the rehabilitation process. However, it has proven beneficial for anyone with an injury, chronic pain, restricted range of motion or muscular aches. Further treatments have been developed to assist stimulation of muscular activity. For example, a pre-event massage will consist of fast, light techniques in order to aid blood circulation and stimulation of the appropriate muscles – these rapid massage techniques also trigger production and release of adrenaline.
Deep tissue massage generally covers a larger area of the body, often following a set routine of techniques to fit into a certain timeframe, spending equal time on both sides of the body. Sports massage tends to be more flexible, focusing more on specific regions of the body with more time spent on those required areas. Areas of the body in less need of the treatment wouldn’t be tended to in such detail. The techniques in both deep tissue and sports massage therapies are essentially the same and both massage styles can easily be incorporated into the same treatment to best suit your needs.
As well as benefitting those with a sporting background, sports massage is also beneficial to those with manual jobs, active lifestyles or even desk-based roles. Sports massage therapy can help to alleviate chronic problems caused by issues, such as poor posture, through a course of treatment.
Sports massage therapy is based on a combination of Swedish massage and various other techniques such as; frictions, vibrations, longitudinal stroking and stretching. Therapists require a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology in order to apply the correct pressures on the correct areas of the body.
Some of the benefits of deep tissue and sports massage include:
Increasing flexibility
Assisting in recovery
Decreasing the risk of injury
Relief from DOMS (delayed onset of muscle soreness)
Muscular relaxation
Breakdown of adipose (fat) cells
Toxin release