Sports Massage

Sports massage is manual manipulation of the muscles geared specifically toward helping people who have physically demanding lifestyles and/or hobbies. This kind of therapeutic massage considers the impact of certain activities on specific joints, muscle groups, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue groups. The conscious focus of sports massage therapy maximizes the benefit of certain massage techniques and supports further physical exertion and activity. An initial assessment is used to create a specially informed massage therapy plan that will meet each individual athlete’s specific needs.

When muscles are regularly massaged by a professionally trained sports massage therapist, an athlete decreases their risk of injury. Massage provides the support that the body needs to perform safely and confidently. If an athlete’s muscles are knotted and overly stressed it will be difficult for them to support their body when playing a competitive sport or participating in rigorous exercise. This can lead to further muscle damage, intensified discomfort, and can even cause injury. A body’s joints need the muscles around them to be fully engaged and strong enough to safely and fully support the body’s movements. It is also far easier to strain muscles that are already tight. Regular therapeutic sports massage helps the body from being dependent on bound muscles and weak joints for support when it is time to perform.

Athletic massages are obviously a benefit to people who play professional sports, but these athletes are not the only people who can benefit from sports massage therapy. The emphasis on athletics comes from the high rate of physical strain and damage caused by long term participation in sport activities, as well as the training that often goes with them. However, there are plenty of activities that can have an equal or greater toll on the body’s physical well-being. Let’s take a look at some of the many groups of people who could benefit from a sports massage.

I have more than 2 years experience as a sports massage therapist with a professional sports team (The Cardiff Devils). During my first year, The Devils had less injuries than any year in the previous 10 years and won the league for the first time in 20 years. I am very proud to have been a part of The Devils recent success.