Leah Thorvilson, 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier and client.
Sports Therapy uses sports massage, deep tissue massage and can incorporate assisted stretching to enhance athletic performance. It helps you recover from fatigue, overtraining or chronic injuries that hamper training. This is great for:
- -Running
- -Triathlon or Marathon Training
- -Competetive Athletes (Hockey, Football, Tennis, Rugby, Volleyball, Basketball)
- -Yoga
- -Daily Workouts
We have worked with Olympic and professional athletes, high performance teen athletes, performing artists and weekend warriors. Although all sessions are individualized to your needs, the following is an example of where and when sports massage can be implemented into your athletic regimen.
While Training
Deep tissue techniques are used on athletes as a regular part of their training routine. The purpose of this advanced treatment is to help athletes attain and maintain their optimal physical training condition (flexibility, pain management, injury prophylaxis). Specific knowledge of the sport is used to appropriately treat each person’s needs.
Rehab Treatment
Results-oriented techniques are applied to aid injuries or disability conditions that may be encountered between events back to health. Extensive anatomical knowledge is used to understand the injury and what is needed to help restore the athlete to their previous level of physical and psychological fitness. Knee, hamstring, achilles/heel, and shoulder repepetive use injuries are commonly addressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is sports massage different from other types of therapeutic massage?
- -The basic techniques in sports massage can be the same as the basic techniques in any other forms of therapeutic massage.
- -Techniques may be provided more firmly and deeper than a general massage therapist might.
- -Frictioning techniques may be used to break down adhesions and soften scar tissue.
- -Designed to reduce the risk of an injury or enact the body’s healing response to treat injuries.
Does it hurt?
- -Some soreness may result from the the deeper pressure for 1-3 days after treatment – this is much like soreness following a good workout.
- -Deeper work allows us to manipulate muscle tissue more effectively. This can induce a deeper relaxation but can also border on uncomfortable when working on problem areas.
- -The massage should never be so painful that it causes the patient to tighten up or tense with pain. This would be of little benefit as the therapist is working against the body.
How should I prepare for a sports massage?
- -Know any specific areas you will want to have treated. Decide if you want to address the whole body with focus on an area, or just want to focus strictly on one area.
- -Consider whether or not you think you will prefer to try some light stretching to further increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
- -If stretching is desired, bring a pair of compression shorts that afford you modesty and comfort when stretching.
- -If sensitive areas (hip flexors, abdmoinals, adductors, etc) will be addressed, bring clothing (compression shorts, sports bra, etc) to ensure modesty and comfort when working on these areas.
What is the environment of a sports massage treatment at Meridian Bodywork?
- -A warm, professional space with a relaxed environment and mellow contemporary music. Much like a normal massage space.
- -Linens for proper draping are provided, client is ALWAYS covered in sensitive areas. Compression shorts and sports bras can be worn to allow the client to achieve the best sports treatment and stretching without having to deal with draping.
