Sports massage is a form of bodywork geared toward athletes and those who exercise regularly. Massage therapy is used to help prevent injuries, prepare the body for athletic activity and maintain it in optimal condition, and help athletes recover from workouts and sports injuries. Sports massage has three basic forms: pre-event massage, post-event massage, and maintenance massage.
As a player, you might use it to warm up your muscles, improve blood flow, and promote flexibility. It may also help muscle strains by aiding in recovery from a sports injury. Individual athletes, sports groups, and clubs can benefit from sports massage therapy offered by our experts at Kaizen Health Group.
Generally, athletes get a pre-event massage four hours before the competition. The main purpose of the massage is to improve performance and help prevent injuries. Pre-event massage is given as a supplement to an athlete’s warm-up. It helps increase circulation and reduce muscle soreness, muscle tension, and mental stress prior to competition.
The length of a pre-event sports massage is typically shorter than a regular conditioning massage, focusing on warming up the major muscles to be used and preparing the athlete mentally for competition. This type of massage also improves tissue pliability, readying the athlete for top performance.
Certain massage techniques can even calm a nervous athlete, and others can be stimulating. Pre-event sports massage is given before an event to improve performance and reduce injury.
The focus of post-event sports massage is on recovery, rather than the competition itself. This type of massage is designed to reduce muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that can occur after vigorous exercise. By helping the muscles to recover quickly, this type of massage can improve an athlete’s performance in future competitions.
Athletes often have a post-competition massage to help their bodies recover. This type of massage is focused on helping the tissues normalize, repair, and relax. The length of the massage maybe 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.
Maintenance sports massage is performed at least once a week as a regular part of athletic training programs, although professional athletes who have their own massage therapists may have maintenance massage as a part of their daily lives.Â
Not only does a maintenance massage increase the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscles, but it also helps keep the tissues loose. This allows different layers of muscle to slide easily over each other, reduces the development of scar tissue, and increases flexibility and range of motion. Maintenance massages are important for keeping your body healthy and pain-free.
Effleurage technique is a vital part of Sports Massage. Under this, our therapists spread oil all over your body and warm up the tissues. The technique is carried out in a smooth and rhythmical way, starting with a light touch to moving towards applying deeper pressure. Slow movements ensure increased circulation and stretching of tissues in the body.
Also, we take it slow to identify any abnormalities in the tissues that might need further attention. The technique helps to create a soothing and relaxing effect in the body and mind of the person and is a great therapy for athletes to have a peaceful time.
Petrissage, also known as Kneading, is a technique where our therapists compress and then release the soft tissues. Under this, we either apply direct pressure or squeeze the skin and the muscle. It helps to increase the mobility between tissue interfaces and stretches muscle fibers in the body. The pressure helps to increase the blood flow through the vessels. With this, waste products are removed from the body and muscles are relaxed.
Wringing is another technique used by our therapists often in sports massage. Under this, we lift the tissues away from the body and push them side to side using the movement of our hands. With this alternate squeezing and releasing action of our hands on the tissues, the blood circulation in the body increases and waste products are removed. It also brings oxygen and nutrients to the right area and improves the condition of the tissues. The technique also stretches muscle fibres to release tension and provides relaxation to your body.
Under the Hacking technique, we use the border of our palms to strike the tissues of the body in a light and brisk manner. This therapy helps to improve the blood circulation levels and stimulates the areas of hard tissue along with the muscle fibres
We repeat the process on the other side to offer you relief from shoulder pain or discomfort in muscles.
Trigger point is a small area of irritability in your body which can be found within a muscle or fascia tissue. These points are sensitive to touch so they usually hurt. The technique includes deactivating the trigger points by applying pressure. It helps to relieve the pain and tightness in the muscles and enhances the physiological function of muscles.
Trigger points are developed in your body after a trauma or when there’s tension as it causes the tissues to change into a shortened position. To remove this pain, our massage specialists apply direct pressure to these trigger points and allow the fresh blood to release in the body.
Sports massage treatment can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including:
At Kaizen Health Group, our massage therapists are experienced professionals in offering sports massage using the above techniques. If you are an athlete, then you are more likely to reap the benefits of this massage, but sports massage can be beneficial for everyone. We are here to help you get the best massage experience!
At Kaizen, we respect and understand athletes. Mississauga is home to many high-performance athletes, as well as those simply trying to stay fit and healthy. No matter your level of competition, we want to help you achieve your best.
That’s why we offer the best sports massage in Mississauga for athletes of all levels. Our team of Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) has experience working with athletes from a variety of disciplines, including:
Whether you’re an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, our RMTs will design a treatment plan specifically for you and your needs. We also offer pre-and post-event sports massage to help you prepare for competition and recover afterward.
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No, you do not need a doctor’s referral for sports massage. However, if you are currently seeing a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or another healthcare professional for an injury or condition, we recommend that you consult with them before booking an appointment.
For your convenience, we have locker rooms with showers at our clinics. We recommend that you wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the area being treated. If you are wearing a tank top or dress, please bring a pair of shorts to change into.
No, you do not need to remove all your clothes for your massage. However, we do ask that you remove any jewelry and clothing that will get in the way of the treatment. For example, if you are wearing a tank top and shorts, we may ask you to remove your tank top so we can massage your back.
During your sports massage, you will be lying on a comfortable massage table. You may be asked to breathe deeply and relax as the therapist works. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask the therapist at any time.
The frequency of your massages will depend on your individual needs and goals. For example, if you are training for a marathon, you may benefit from weekly massages leading up to the race. Or if you have an acute injury, you may need multiple sessions in the first week or two followed by maintenance massages.
Your RMT will work with you to determine the frequency of your treatments.
After your sports massage, we recommend that you drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins from your body. You may also want to avoid alcohol and caffeine for the rest of the day. We also recommend that you take it easy for the rest of the day and avoid strenuous activity.
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