What is sports massage?
Maintenance massage
Event massage
Rehabilitation massage
The benefits
Can’t I just rest?
Practitioner: Simon Heale
Phone: 07932 393972
Email:
Location: 174 Weston Park, Crouch End, London N8 9PN
Practitioner: Tam Peverall
Phone: 07529 427 425
Email:
Location: 174 Weston Park, Crouch End, London N8 9PN
What is sports massage?
The prime purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity.
Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Above all, it can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether one is an athlete, ardent keep fitter or a once a week jogger.
This treatment is not just for the sports person: anyone can benefit from sports massage, including people in physically demanding jobs and those not quite so obvious occupational, emotional and postural stress may produce many similar characteristics to sports injuries). Sports massage tends to be deeper and more intense. It is based on the various elements of Swedish massage and often incorporates a combination of other techniques involving stretching, compression, friction, toning, and trigger point response techniques similar to Acupressure and Shiatsu. The skilled therapist brings together this blend of techniques, knowledge and advice during treatment, to work effectively with the client to bring about optimum performance and to provide injury free training and minimise post event injuries.
There are three areas where sports massage is used to benefit athletes – Maintenance, Event & Rehabilitation
Maintenance massage
A regular massage treatment programme based on the therapists understanding of anatomy and of the muscles used in a given sport and which are likely candidates for trouble.
By concentrating on particular muscle groups the therapist can help the athlete maintain or improve the range of motion and muscle flexibility.
Event massage
Pre-event and post-event massage therapies are tailored for distinct purposes. Pre-event treatment is used as a supplement to an athletes warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition. It is tailored to the needs of the athlete and his/her event and can be relaxing or stimulating as appropriate.
Post-event massage, on the other hand, is geared towards reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with rigorous exercise.
Various sports massage techniques enhance the bodys own recovery process improving the athletes ability to return to training and competition, and reducing the risk of injury.
Rehabilitation massage
Even with preventative maintenance, muscles cramp, tear, bruise, and aches, sports massage can speed healing and reduce discomfort during the rehabilitation process.
Soft tissue techniques employed by sports massage therapists are effective in the management of both acute and chronic injuries.
Trigger point techniques reduce the spasm and pain that occur both in the injured and compensation muscles.
Cross-fibre friction techniques can help with healing by the improved formation of strong and flexible repair tissue, which is vital in maintaining the full pain-free range of motion during rehabilitation.
In all cases, such massage techniques are employed in collaboration with other appropriate medical care.
The benefits
Your body is nourished, cleansed and maintained by your blood and lymph systems. Pumped by your heart, your blood circulates oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, where they are converted in to energy.
A by product of this process is lactic acid, which is filtered out with toxic wastes and carried away by your lymph system – the same miraculous ‘sanitary system’ that is in charge of your immunity, protecting you from disease.
When activity becomes strenuous, however, this process loses its efficiency. Energy requirements exceed supply, and your feel it when the force of your swing at a tennis ball, for instance, isn’t as hard after two hours of play as it was when you started.
A similar problem occurs with too little activity – when you’re at your desk too long and find your mind slower, your irritation higher, and tension grabbing your neck and shoulders.
In both cases, lactic acid accumulates. Your muscles become cramped and sluggish. Blood and lymph flow decrease, and fatigue sets in.
Can’t I just rest?
Rest is your body’s natural means of recuperation. It takes time, as you know, and in the active, demanding pace of life today, there is rarely enough time for sufficient rest.
The result is that the damaging effects are compounded, day after day, affecting not only the way you feel and function, right now but also your future well being.
CoreHealth at Crouch End 10K run May 2009-2012
Simon and his fabulous team of massage therapists were on hand again for this year’s race on May 18th, offering free Sports and Remedial Massage therapy.
CoreHealth helped Joe swims the Channel, June 2009
Simon Heale supported Joe Labuschagne South African born GB Tri-Athlete who attempted the arduous Channel Swim.
Simon provided Joe with regular Sports Massage and Sports Hypnosis to get him through the punishing training schedule fully fit and prepared him mentally for the challenge. The swim took place in June 2009. For more information click here