Sports Massage Therapy
Sharon Hopkins
What is Sports Massage Therapy
An athlete, before a performance, is under immense stress
emotionally and physically and the body is also prone to
injuries. Practices before the event lead to constant build-up
of tension in the muscles and cause stress on joints,
ligaments, tendons, as well as the muscles themselves. Apart
from muscle tension, the athlete is also bogged down with
fatigue and injuries which may hamper the main performance.
Sports massage is the answer to emotional and physical well
being for an athlete before, after and during a performance.
Sports Massage is a specific type of massage which is generally
rendered before, during, and after athletic events to help
prepare the athlete for desired performance, to relax the
nerves and prevent injuries. This type of massage can be
rendered only by a professional who has a thorough
understanding of anatomy and physiology and particularly the
muscular and skeletal systems.
Sports Massage works deep to eliminate toxins embedded in
muscle fibers, remove adhesions, and minimize scar tissue
buildup. Muscle lengthening in sports massage helps restore a
range of motion and overall flexibility. Sports massage also
leads to improved circulation which aids better cell nutrition,
greater elasticity of muscle fiber, and reduced recovery time.
Sports massage is a blend of Swedish massage and Shiatsu
specifically designed to cater to the needs of professional
athletes. Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of
techniques are used including classic Swedish strokes,
cross-fiber friction, pressure-point work, and joint
mobilization.
Types of Sports Massage
Sports massage therapy includes pre-event, post-event,
maintenance and rehabilitation techniques that promote greater
athletic endurance and performance, reduced chances of injury
and faster healing.
Pre-Event
Pre-Event sports massage helps warm up the muscles by
stretching them and making them flexible for optimal athletic
performance. A pre-event massage also stimulates the flow of
blood and nutrients to the muscle, reduces muscle tension,
loosen the muscles and produce a feeling of psychological
readiness. A pre -event massage is best done up to two days
prior to the main event.
Post-Event
Post- event massage focuses on relieving muscle soreness,
minimizing the effects of fatigue and reducing the stress
levels in the body. It also helps reduce swelling, maintain
flexibility, promote blood flow to the muscle to remove lactic
acid and waste build-up and reduce cramping. This also helps
faster healing.
Prevention
This is more of a maintenance massage which can be done at
least once a week as a regular part of athletic training
programs. Preventive massage increases the flow of blood and
nutrients to the muscle and helps repair small tears due to
strenuous physical activity. It also keeps tissue loose so that
different layers of muscle slide over each other.
Rehabilitation
Sports massage is also used as a last resort in the event of
injury. Sports massage helps rehabilitate by minimizing the
adverse effects of scar tissue and adhesions caused to the
athlete and helps regain lost flexibility and strength.
Techniques in Sports Massage
There are three main techniques of massage frequently used in
sport, namely effleurage, petrissage and frictions. Most of the
massage techniques ensure the main pressure is directed towards
the heart to increase the venous and lymphatic flow. The
strokes also ensure that excess pressure does not cause any
damage to blood vessels. While effleurage is a preparatory
background stroke, petrissage allows detail work on the body in
releasing tension followed by friction.
Benefits of Sports Massage
The benefits of sports massage impact the physical,
physiological and psychological levels. A state of well being
is achieved only when all the three aspects are in balance.
Here is a compilation of the key benefits attained at each
level through a sports massage:
Physical effects of massage are:
• Deep massage causes the pores in tissue membranes to open,
enabling fluids and nutrients to pass through enabling removal
of waste products such as lactic acid.
• Deep massage encourages the muscles to take up oxygen and
nutrients which promote faster healing
• Sports massage stretches muscles to release tension or stress
caused due to excess physical activity
• Sports massage helps break down scar tissues which usually
affect the muscle, tendons and ligaments which impair
performance.
• Sports massage helps improve elasticity of tissues.
Physiological effects of sports massage are:
• Sports massage helps reduce pain.
• Muscles are relaxed after a sports massage
Psychological effects of sports massage include:
• Reduced levels of anxiety and stress caused due to relaxed
muscles and nerves.
• Sports massage stimulates a sense of well being and health.
Sports Massage Therapist
A sports massage therapist must be trained & certified in
Sports massage therapy from a school accredited by the American
Massage Therapy Association/Commission on Massage Training
Accreditation/Approval (AMTA/COMTAA) or their State Board of
Education. A professional therapist may also have completed an
additional training program approved by the AMTA National
Sports Massage Certification Program. Many sports massage
therapists also complete the National Certification Examination
for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
Other Suggestions
People who suffer from the following conditions or disorders
should consult a physician before under going a sports massage:
acute infectious disease
aneurysm
heavy bruising
cancer /hernia
high blood pressure
inflammation due to tissue damage
osteoporosis
phlebitis
varicose veins and certain skin conditions.
Open wounds
Muscle ruptures or Tendon ruptures
Contusions
Burns, Chilblains and Broken bones
Periostitis
Rheuatoid Arthritis and Gout
Bursitis
Myositis ossificans
Thrombosis
Artificial blood vessels
Bleeding disorders such as heamophillia
Tumours
Melanoma
About The Author: Sharon Hopkins features regular articles in
http://www.massagehealththerapy.com and introduces you to
Sports Massage Therapy, rendered before, during, and after
athletic events. She also writes on aromatherapy, yoga and many
other health sites.
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