sports therapy BLOG

Written by Georgina AKA 'Miss-Fix-It'

Benefits Of A Sports Massage


Today you're going to learn EXACTLY what the benefits of Sports Massage are...

Whilst hopefully saving yourself time and money in the process!

In fact, if you put what you're about to learn from into action...

You'll be out of pain and back on form in no time!

That said; I'm sure you know what it feels like when your body just doesn't want to play ball, and you feel; tight, achy and tired.

YOU'VE MOST LIKELY TRIED THESE HOME REMEDIES TOO:

Hot Bath

Pain Killers

Stretching

Foam Rolling

Annoying your GP

Or my personal favourite...

BURYING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND HOPING IT WILL GO AWAY!

However; there will come a time when ignorance is no longer bliss. 

When your discomfort turns to pain...

Your tightness turns into restriction...

And that once dull ache - becomes a deep-seated aggravation.

Congratulations! You're now stuffed, and you've got not choice but to do something about it.

But what do you do?

Well, how about something that has been around for generations?

SPORTS MASSAGE HAS BEEN A METHOD OF PAIN RELIEF FOR OVER 3,000 YEARS!

what EXACTLY is SPORTS MASSAGE?

Sports Massage is a treatment modality that involves the manipulation of soft tissues, i.e.:

Muscles
Fascia
Nerves
Tendons
Ligaments
Fibrous Tissues
Synovial Membranes

To facilitate faster recovery from injury and/or exercise.

With the main goal being to restore healthy range of movement.

SO YOU CAN MOVE WELL AGAIN, WITHOUT THE PAIN!

WHY DO WE NEED SPORTS MASSAGE?

The need for Sports Massage will usually arise from muscle over-use during 'the big three', i.e.:

Posture

Prolonged periods of being slumped over a desk or behind a steering wheel.

Work

Overly repetitive small actions that can be just as harmful as manual labour.

Leisure

It's easy to end up feeling 'locked up' if your hobbies are physical, especially if you go to the gym/play sport.

Once muscle fibres are contracted (shortened) the 'tension' you feel could leave you in pain long after the activity is finished.

AND IF LEFT UNCHECKED MAY LEAVE YOU AT A HIGHER RISK OF:

Muscle Strains
Impingements
'Pinching' of tendons
risk of further damage
SubOptimal Biomechanics 

Which as I'm sure you can imagine...doesn't feel very nice...at all!

THE BENEFITS OF SPORTS MASSAGE

Now, don’t be fooled by the title ‘Sports’ Massage.

Just because you don't regularly participate in sport or physical activity, doesn't mean you won't benefit from this type of therapy.

If you work in a physical job, sit at a desk all day, do lots of driving or run around after your children then you also qualify...with flying colours!

Now being completely upfront and transparent...I honestly don't know why it's called Sports Massage.

A more accurate term would be; Life Massage (in my opinion)...

Not sure it would catch on though?!

That being said; here's the benefits of Sports Massage...

SPORTS MASSAGE CAN HELP TO:

Restore optimal biomechanical function
Aid better muscular contractions when training
Reduce muscular tightness & fascial restrictions
Reduce the pain in your neck/back from a desk job

A FRIENDLY warning about therapists

Just like any profession, you need to take care with who you go to for help.

Reason being; the title 'Massage Therapist' can be picked up with as little effort as a weekend certification.

What you really need is a 'Sports Therapist'...like me 🙂

Which unlike the term Sports Massage Therapist, means that I'm educated to Bsc level (at the absolute minimum!)

But how do you (as the consumer) know that you're working with the right person?

Well, that's easy...

IF YOU'RE HAVING A TREATMENT IN A SPA (WHERE YOU CAN GET A MASSAGE IN ONE ROOM AND YOUR NAILS DONE IN ANOTHER) YOU'RE PROBABLY IN THE WRONG PLACE!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at Beauticians,

They know more about bikini wax's and facials than I ever will!

My point is that getting a massage from a beauty therapist is fine...

For an all over, non-specific treatment...(Think shotgun approach)...

Where the beautician will just massage everything and hope for the best).

Whereas if you need to solve a specific problem, that may have been giving you trouble for some time...

Then you're going to need a sniper, i.e. A Sports Therapist...

Who can pinpoint exactly what's needed to get you out of pain fast...

And then provide an effective solution to resolve the issue in the short term and manage it in the long.

SPORTS MASSAGE ALONE ISN'T ENOUGH

In conclusion, I have one final consideration for you...

SPORTS MASSAGE ISN'T A MIRACLE CURE!

So whatever you do; don't make the mistake of thinking that injuries will be completely resolved, if all you do is get a Sports Massage.

Now don't get me wrong; Sports Massage will do it's job of alleviating tension and speeding up the recovery process.

But you have to understand that 'the tension' you're experiencing has been caused by your body compensating to accommodate your daily activities

And even if you isolate and stop the offending activity, the issue probably won't just 'go away'.

SO TO SUM IT UP, YOU'VE GOT THREE OPTIONS:

Keep doing what you're doing

And repeat the 'home-remedy' routine whilst popping pain killers like smarties.

Have a weekly massage

That will manage your symptoms, but never really resolve the underlying issue.

Seek out a REAL solution

Where you can finally get to the bottom of what's ailing you, once and for-all.

So, there you have it; everything you need to know about Sports Massage in an easy to read format, which I hope you found useful! 

In the meantime;

If you'd like to know what the difference is between Sports Massage and Deep Tissue Massage is, then click this link.

Oh, and one more thing...

Next time you're considering getting your tired and achy body looked at by a professional, here's your best option:

FIND A THERAPIST THAT WILL FIT THE IDEAL TREATMENT TO YOU NOT YOU TO THEIR IDEAL TREATMENT!

Thanks for reading!

BTW; if you'd like to find out how I may be able to help you, then all you need to do is click this link.


Birmingham's 'go-to girl' for busy professionals who need to resolve injuries and get out of pain fast.

Deep Tissue Massage Birmingham

Georgina | Sports Therapist | BSc (HONS) MSST

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