Sports Massage

You don’t have to be a competitive athlete to benefit from this program! Sports massage is geared toward professional athletes and weekend warriors alike to help improve sports performance, boost flexibility, and address existing or potential injuries. Delayed muscle soreness (24-48 hours after exercise) may be caused by a number of factors. These include minor muscle or connective tissue damage, local muscle spasms that reduce blood flow, or a buildup of waste products.

Trigger points may also cause muscle soreness and decreased flexibility. These are specific spots in the muscle and tendons which cause pain when pressed, and which may radiate pain into a larger area. Heavily exercised muscles may also lose their capacity to relax, causing chronically tight (hypertonic) muscles, and loss of flexibility. Lack of flexibility is often the cause of sore muscles and predisposes you to injuries, especially muscle tears and pulls. A variety of strokes and techniques are used to help reduce muscle tension, increase range of motion, improve soft tissue function, reduce swelling, as well as decrease muscle stiffness and fatigue.

A sports massage treatment will depend on the goals of the individual athlete. Sports massage can be broken down into three categories: pre-event massage, post-event massage, and maintenance massage.

Pre-event massage is performed one to two days before a competitive event. The goal is to increase blood flow, warm and relax the muscles, and stimulate circulation. This will increase the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, as well as mentally stimulate the athlete. Most of the time, the massage will consist of quick, pumping strokes. At this time, no deep tissue or specific work is done.

Post-event massage is performed one to two days after an event. The focus is to aid the recovery process by reducing inflammation and soreness, increasing range of motion (ROM), and helping muscle trauma and microtears to heal.

Maintenance work will include regular massage work including myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and deep tissue to address any injuries or imbalances through massage, stretching, and strengthening.