Sports Massage is often based on Swedish massage and uses techniques involving deep tissue work, cross-fiber friction, trigger points and stretching. It enhances the removal of metabolic wastes and relieves muscle soreness caused from workouts or competition. It can enhance an athlete’s sport performance and extend their career.The technique focuses on the deep layers of muscle tissue aiming to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the fibers of the muscle, tendons, and fascia (connective tissue surrounding muscles, bones, and joints). By incorporating Friction and Trigger Response Techniques, it helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue.
- Maintenance: regular massage can help maintain and improve flexibility.
- Pre-event: a supplement to an athlete’s warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and tension, prior competition.
- Post-event: used to reduce muscle spasms and metabolic build up that occur with rigorous exercise.
- Rehabilitation: It can be used as rehabilitation; by speeding up the healing process on acute or chronic muscle, tendon and ligament injuries.
Anyone besides athlets can benefit as well from this massage therapeutic technique, from people in physically demanding jobs to those whose occupation demands sustained mental activity increasing the danger of emotional and postural stress.
