What is a sports massage? Put simply, it's a type of manipulation using massage techniques to work through the soft tissue of the body.
Do I need to be a sports star to benefit from one? No! This is a common misconception, although a lot of athletes use sports massage to help them recover and progress, you don't need to be a top footballer or elite gymnast to get the benefits. If you have any aches, strain, soreness, tightness, lack of flexibility, poor circulation old or new injuries - a sports massage could help.
What will happen in my session? Before the massage starts a postural assessment will take place, this is where your posture, flexibility and alignment will be checked to see what areas of the body need to be worked on. This will help identify any areas that could be causing the problem. Be prepared to be moved to different positions and to move your body whilst having the massage takes place. The massage should not be painful, you will experience some discomfort, pressure and stretching but the massage should not hurt. You will also have some follow up care to do at home such as exercises and stretches, this is to make the most of your massage and recovery.
What benefits are there to a sports massage? Injury recovery and prevention Maintain and increase flexibility Improve blood flow Correct postural imbalances Reduce tension and stress on muscles Improve mobility Reduce pain