Sports Massage – Rajan Chaudhary
The ultimate philosophy behind any Massage (Bodywork) is that anything less than maximum physical efficiency can lead to a problem in performance or even injury. Alongside peak-performance and injury prevention, the method used at Avenue Clinic is built on the premise that the greatest asset any moving body can have is its complete freedom and ease of motion.
What is Sports Massage?
Sports massage is a systematic beneficial manipulation of the soft tissues of the body that focuses on muscles relevant to a particular physical discomfort, for a particular sport or activity. Sports massage is designed to prevent and relieve injuries and conditions that are associated with exercise. It can be used to relieve and reduce the stress and tension that can build up within the body’s soft tissues while exercising or during long term use.
Sports massage was originally developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance (pre-performance), recover after a big event (post performance), or function well during training. It is now also used as an aid for the prevention and healing of injuries, reducing soreness and tension, and improving relaxation by reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
Sports massage can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete or a once a week jogger.
Sports massage has numerous benefits for athletes and non-athletes and is an excellent aidduring physical rehabilitation. Even after a long walk your muscles can become knotted – despite stretching. Knots can also develop in areas of old injuries and through overuse thus affecting the balance of the body and its posture. Sports Massage is a useful tool in helping to alleviate the symptoms of such wear and tear by relieving the stress on muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.
When Should I Get A Sports Massage?
A sports massage is a good choice if you have a specific problem, like an injury, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The session will concentrate on a specific area in need of treatment (lower back, neck, shoulders), and any other part of the body which may be considered an associated cause or effect.
It is also a good idea to see a movement therapist, who can help you identify and correct the movement pattern that might be causing your injury in the first place. If further management is reuired then you may be referred on to an osteopath or other health professional as is appropriate
Many elite athletes consider sports massage an essential part of their training and recovery routine. Many athletes have reported that a sports massage helps them train more effectively, improve performance, prevent injury, and recover quickly. As well as professional athletes, many recreational sportsmen and women enjoy sports massage on a regular basis.
If you are training for any activity such as a marathon, swimming, biking or walking, you may want to begin using sports massage to work out the kinks and knots before they cause problems during the activity.
Although sports massage is aimed at people who regularly push their bodies through strenuous exercise, it can benefit non-sports players too. If you’re running around with small children all the time, or you have a physically demanding job, a regular sports massage may help you.
What are the Benefits of Sports Massage?
Sports massage can treat a variety of ailments and injuries that may occur as a result of exercise or over-use as well as allowing you to train or move more efficiently.
Many benefits from sports massage have been reported based on experience and observation.
They include:
• Increased joint range of motion (ROM)
• Increased flexibility
• Increased blood flow
• Increased elimination of toxicity from tissues (lactic acid)
• Increased sense of physical ease
• Decreased muscle tension
• Decreased stimulation of the nervous system
• Decreased possibilities of muscular injury
• Decreased muscle spasms
Male and Female Athletes
Sports massage does have some aims in common with other forms of massage and it is especially important to have a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology, in particular the muscular and skeletal systems. By understanding these systems and the effects of exercise, we may also appreciate how massage may benefit the sports person and becomes an integral part of the athlete’s training program.
In developing skill, strength, stamina, suppleness and speed in training, the body is subjected to gradual and controlled overuse. It is this overuse that may often create problems and imbalances in the soft tissues. If these imbalances are ignored and allowed to become chronic then it is likely that more serious injuries may result. Regular sports massage is a way to help identify and begin treating these problems so helping to maintain physical efficiency to stay free from serious injury.
Sports Massage for Workers
Massage, applied skilfully, is effective therapy for releasing muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculo-skeletal system. Received regularly this may help reduce the repetitive strain placed on overworked tissue and thus prevent injuries.
Even after one week of constant use smaller muscles of the forearm, hand, arms and neck can start to store incredible amounts of tension. This can lead to Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), joint pain in the hands, shoulders, neck and back. A constant build up of tension in the smaller stabilising tissue from regular activity, such as daily work, may lead to high levels of physical stresses that may only become apparent months or even years later.
This is a common feature of desk workers, labourers who sit for accumulative periods in poor postural positions unable to sense whether their body’s are under tension. The injury may manifest through a simple activity unrelated to the working posture. Regular Sports massage and Movement Exercise can help to identify postural dysfunction before its symptoms go too deep into the tissues of the body.
If you are unsure whether to have a Sports Massage or any other type of Bodywork – it is advisable to confirm with the Clinic whether it is a suitable treatment or get in contact directly with the Therapist.
A Sports massage treatment can leave you feeling a little tired or sore, so plan to go easy on yourself for a while afterwards. Massage can have a
dehydrating effect on the body, but you can combat this by drinking plenty of water before and afterwards. not a good idea to eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol Before And After the hours leading up to your massage and for at least up to 1-2 hours after.
Contraindications
Sports Massage is not recommended if you have:
a fever or any infection or illness
any open wounds, recent bruising, muscle tears, sprained ligaments, contusions,
chilblains or burns
any serious medical condition or illness
a skin infection
If you have any questions please feel free to contact the clinic on 728 798.
References:
• MACKENZIE, B. (2000) Sports Massage
BEASHEL, P. & TAYLOR, J. (1996) Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport.
UK: Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd.
DAVIS, B. et al. (2000) Physical Education and the Study of Sport. UK: Harcourt
Publishers Ltd.
McARDLE, W. et al. (2000) Essentials of Exercise Physiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
BEASHEL, P. & TAYLOR, J. (1997) The World of Sport Examined. UK: Thomas Nelson &
Sons Ltd.
GALLIGAN, F. et al. (2000) Advanced PE for Edexcel. Oxford; Heinemann Educational
Publishers
BIZLEY, K. (1994) Examining Physical Education. Oxford; Heinemann Educational
Publishers
GRISOGONO, V. (1984) Sports Injuries. UK; John Murray Publishers Ltd.
CHEW, M. (2008) The Permanent Pain Cure. London; McGraw Hill
LIDELL, L. et al. (1991) The book of Massage. Spain; Artes Graficas Toledo
RITTER, M. & ALBOHM, A. (1987) Your Injury. USA; Cooper Publishing Group
LINDSAY, R. et al. (1994) Treat your own Strains, Sprains and Bruises. New Zealand;
Spinal Publications Ltd.
UNGARO, A. (2002) Pilates. London; Dorling Kindersley Ltd.
Remedial Massage
Remedial Massage Therapy, or Soft Tissue Therapy, can be considered Advanced when Integrated with the whole body. A whole-body approach comes from a greater depth of knowledge of the Anatomy and Physiology of the human body with reference to its ‘Internal Landscape’ and inner-connectivity.
The model we use is KMI (Kinesis Myo‐fascial Integration ) & Anatomy Trains Dissection Research based on the work of Tom Myers. Our practitioners are trained by Tom Myers himself and are certified to carry out the 3-Series using the Anatomy Trains Model.
Anatomy Trains allows for easy analysis of whole body soft-tissue patterns and the development of strategies for unwinding them. The Anatomy Trains method is most effective for chronic, long lasting problems that persist despite standard, muscular based bodywork.
Localised areas of discomfort can be worked on in isolation or with a view of anatomical relationships to the rest of the body thus giving a more holistic approach. In this sense we use the term ‘Structural Integration’ or ‘Structural Bodywork’.
Structural bodywork is a method of hands on deep tissue massage. The bodyworker and the receiver work together in active collaboration to affect a change in the posture, structure and function of the body. We use a whole body strategy that takes advantage of recent scientific discoveries in the way that the fascia (connective tissue) works in the human form. As bodyworkers, we help you correct any imbalance which may impede postural function and so enhance your awareness and ability to be well in your body.
Poor posture over time leads often to chronic patterns of habitual tension that may lead to muscle pain, joint dysfunction, headaches, constipation, sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, loss of vitality and libido.
The vision that Structural Integration or Structural Bodywork gives, is one of the most powerful massage tools. It is the ability to see and read a posture and understand where a strain may be originating from which gives a in-depth understanding of where best to focus attention during any remedial treatments.
Remedial Massage following these protocols allows us to work with clients to change not just their structure but even the way they feel about their bodies and, sometimes, their lives.
It is a different paradigm but most definitely the evolution of all soft tissue and massage based practices. An increasing number of specialists such as Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Physiotherapist are now using soft tissue and Myofascial Techniques as part of their work. It is a progressive step to enhance the ability to create change in the human body.
KMI Structural Integration and Anatomy Trains Theory achieves results by using the following:
Complete Body Image and Postural Assesment
Skeletal Alignment and Support
Tensegrity & Length
Ability to hold and release Somatic-emotional change
Range of motion and generosity of movement
Benefits Include:
Reduced Pain • Ease of Movement via improved Connective Tissue and Joint Function• Increased Breathing Capacity • Enhanced athletic performance • Less risk of sports injury • Better posture • More Energy •
Self confidence • Less stress
As with all the treatments we offer, work can be focused strictly on problem areas such as the Feet & Lower Leg, Deep Pelvic Tissue, Lower Back, Neck-Shoulders and Back, and the Arm Lines.
Pre & Post Natal Massage
Specific massage therapy geared towards supporting a new mother through the physical and emotional changes she will experience. Due to the physical changes women experience, postural imbalances can arise causing pain and discomfort, massage during these times can reduce or eliminate these problems, releasing muscular tension, improving postural balance and improving circulation. The full body treatment will involve joint mobilization, gentle stretching, with soft tissue and fascial release techniques being used where necessary.
The massage treatments are designed to support and enhance the mothers well-being, making for a great pregnancy and birth experience. We focus not only on massage therapy but also on educating the mother on specific exercises to improve discomfort and breathing practices that will assist through difficult emotional times and the birthing process. Education on specific acupressure points that help to illiminate pain during birth.
Treatments typically last 1 1/4hour
Thai Yoga Massage- Nicky Jenkins
A type of massage treatment that involves stretching and deep rhythmic pressure massage. This form of bodywork is performed on the floor but can also be performed on the massage table, the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used. The massage follows the Sen Lines (somewhat analogous to Chinese Meirdian lines). The therapist uses hands, feet and elbows maintaining constant contact with the body moving the recipiant through a full sequence of stretches and rhythmic palming pressure. The session typically lasts 1 1/2hour. This treatment is ideal for all, but will enhance performance of those who are involved in regular sporting activity.