We all know that many sports-people and athletes benefit from Sports Massage. It is a widely recognised treatment, used to assist training, performance and reduce risk of injury. However, it can also be hugely beneficial to people who are less active too, and is frequently used alongside Physiotherapy and Osteopathy, assisting with prevention and recovery from a range of different musculoskeletal conditions. Before I became professionally trained and qualified in Sports & Remedial Massage, I always used to consider Sports Massage as something people only book in to recover from injury, or receive at the end of a marathon. Because it is named "Sports" Massage - I never really considered that it could apply to everyday habits and activities too!

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Before I start listing many of dysfunctions and discomfort that Sports & Remedial Massage can help with, let me get the "science-y" bit out the way...

 

Your muscles (combined with your skeletal and nervous system) are what makes your body move. There are different layers of muscle fibres within your body - some are deep, and some are more superficial. Everything is connected;

- bones attach to other bones (via ligaments)

- muscles connect to other muscles (via fibrous tissue called aponeurosis and fascia)

- but your muscles predominantly attach to your skeleton (via tendons)

* these are all connective tissues made of collagen and fibrous cell tissue. They differ in length, thickness, strength, and elasticity

- your nerves travel from your spine to your limbs, weaving through the many different layers of muscles 

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So, when your brain and nervous system produce a signal for your limbs to move, the signal travels down the relevant nerve branch associated with that motion, and your muscles contract (bunch up) which then pulls on the tendon and bone that the muscle is attached to (like a lever), allowing your body to generate movement. Muscles not only control movement, but they also help stabilise you throughout your daily life. For example, the muscles that attach to all 24 of your vertebrae (spine) stabilise your spine and keep you upright when you sit, stand, walk. or run etc. Another example is your quadriceps, which main function is to straighten the leg. If these muscles didn't engage - we literally wouldn't be able to stand up! Hence why the elderly tend to have more falls and balance issues, due to muscle wastage (loss of strength) and a decrease in muscle tone. strength and power decline. The pro­cess begins earlier than you might think. Sarcope­nia (defined as age-related muscle loss) can begin at around age 35 and it typically occurs at a rate of 1-2% a year for the typical person. After age 60, it can accelerate to 3% a year. On average, adults who don’t do regular strength training can expect to lose 2-3kg of muscle per decade. (And most people don’t see the number on the scale going down, which means they are replacing that muscle with fat.) Fast-twitch fibers, which provide bursts of power, are lost at a greater rate than slow-twitch fibers, which means you’re not only growing weaker but also get­ting slower.

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The more I learn and the more people I see with injuries and pain that is affecting their daily life, the more I realise that it's crucial to look after our muscles. (Myself included!) When your muscles become shortened and tight (whatever the cause... Whether it's due to an impact injury, overuse, muscle imbalance, repetitive movements, or poor posture patterns) this can pull on the bones your muscles are attached to - more than they are designed to do. This can lead to pain, dysfunction, and can pull your posture out of whack, leaving you feeling wonky and unconfident in your own body. Sports & Remedial Massage Therapy includes posture analysis, deep tissue techniques focusing on trigger points and stretching your muscle tissue - with the aim of reducing pain, muscular tension, discomfort and restricted movements. I have the continual goal of striving to source the root cause of your issue at the forefront of my mind during each session, and depending on your specific symptoms, I may send you away with some strengthening exercises and/or mobility stretches if I feel it's necessary and will help you outside of the treatment. The range of people and musculoskeletal conditions I see on a daily basis is hugely diverse. Sports Massage can be used to help alleviate a wide variety of conditions, including:

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• Postural related pain (sedentary desk work, anterior pelvic tilt, rounded shoulders, tight hips etc.)

• Repetitive Strain Injuries

• Releasing Muscle Tension & Pain 

• Overuse Injuries

• Tendonitis

• Relief from DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)

• Neck, shoulder and back pain

• Sciatica

• Plantar Fasciitis

• Golfers and tennis elbow

• Achilles Tendonitis

• Whiplash

• Muscle Strain

• ​Restricted ROM (range of motion)

• Lack of flexibility

• Tension Headaches & Migraines

• TMJ (tight/clenched jaw) 

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Shin-splints

• Muscle spasm & cramps

• Anxiety

• Insomnia

• Depression

• Reducing the risk of injuries 

• A natural pain relief

• And many more... 

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Whether you’re active or inactive person, sports massage has a place for everyone’s needs and is certainly worth investigating. The variety of people that come to me for help is hugely diverse! If there’s slight anomalies in your posture, or you have difficulty in certain movements. You might be surprised at what could be holding you back!

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If you have an injury, medical condition, or are taking medication and you are unsure if Sports Massage is appropriate for you, please see the contraindications listed here. Always speak to your Doctor if you have any concerns, and if you contact me I will do my best to answer any questions you may have.

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