Sports/Remedial Massage
Sports Injury Massage/Remedial Massage is a deep tissue massage done to create the conditions for the body's return to normal health after injury. It is used to treat strains, sprains, and any injury where the skin is intact. Deep tissue massage speeds up recovery and encourages more complete healing. Remedial massage is also used for conditions created by lifestyle such as repetitive strain and back pain. It is designed to increase the flow of blood and lymph, particularly in the injured areas.
During treatment there is tenderness in areas that are being treated, it indicates which muscles and tendons are injured. The therapist uses the patient's feedback to pinpoint the damaged tissue and to regulate pressure. The results are usually immediate; certainly within 3 sessions a big improvement will be seen with a skilful practitioner. Most patients feel a difference after 1 session. A recent injury, perhaps within weeks, will react and recover more quickly than a long-term injury. However they will all see improvement.
Sportsmen and women attend regularly to ensure that unnoticeably small injuries are treated before they reduce performance and become debilitating. Recurrent injuries are injuries that have never been effectively treated.
Some common conditions that can be successfully treated are:
• Achilles Injuries • Tendinitis • Shin Splints • Groin Strain • Cartilage damage • Tennis Elbow • Frozen Shoulder • Hamstring Injuries • Plantar Fasciitis • Scar tissue • Adhesions • Whiplash • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome • Repetitive Strain Injury
It is an unusual form of massage in that it does not set out to relax the patient; the intention is more to correct a muscle imbalance. It can also be used to treat general muscle soreness from over exertion.
Remedial massage is often used by athletes but is equally effective for non-sports people. For accidents such as falling down stairs or road traffic accidents, it is very effective. Many debilitating conditions that people associate with age can be traced back to an old injury and treated successfully with a return of free movement and strength.
Benefits of Sports Massage
Massage is effective therapy for releasing muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculo-skeletal system. Received regularly this may help athletes prevent injuries, which might otherwise be caused by overuse. A constant build-up of tension in the muscles from regular activity may lead to stresses on joints, ligaments, tendons, as well as the muscles themselves.
These muscle imbalances may develop and often go undiagnosed until they are serious enough to cause the athlete discomfort or impede performance. The skilled massage therapist will be able to detect variations in the soft tissues and by using the correct techniques, help the sports person maintain a much healthier physical state.