| ge has long been used to enhance the health and | | | | production of joint fluid and generally loosens up |
| performance of athletes as well as to treat | | | | the body. A warm-up massage will usually avoid |
| sports related injuries. In many countries, a | | | | deep tissue work, which requires slow |
| separate branch of massage known as | | | | movements and more time, though some |
| “sports massage” has evolved for | | | | practitioners’ techniques will vary. A |
| precisely these purposes. There are a few | | | | pre-event sports massage should be a physically |
| important differences between the practice of | | | | invigorating, refreshing experience, yet it can also |
| sports massage and that of other types of spa, | | | | have the benefit of assisting the athlete’s |
| wellness or relaxation-based body therapies. For | | | | mental relaxation and focus. |
| instance, sports massage may incorporate both | | | | Cool-down |
| active and passive stretching activities and verbal | | | | A cool-down or post-event massage means a |
| feedback from the client or patient. Furthermore, | | | | massage that takes place within 48 hours of an |
| the treatments generally do not take place in the | | | | event or training session and is generally to aid |
| type of scenario in which the recipient simply lays | | | | the body in its recovery process from strain, |
| back and enjoys the massage in a passive, | | | | exertion or possible injuries. It is important to note |
| almost sleep-like state. In fact, some of the | | | | that massage should not be applied directly to |
| techniques are not designed to be at all relaxing | | | | injured areas at the acute stage (within the first |
| (depending on the type of sports massage) but | | | | 72 hours of an injury taking place). An injured |
| may be applied with the intent to energize the | | | | athlete could still receive a post-event massage, |
| athlete and can be at times uncomfortable or | | | | but the injured area should not be worked on until |
| even in rare cases, slightly painful. This does not | | | | inflammation, pain and swelling have sufficiently |
| mean that sports massages are never relaxing, | | | | diminished, unless a particular first aid technique is |
| pleasurable experiences. It all depends on the | | | | being applied, i.e. massage with ice. |
| manner of sports massage being employed and | | | | Maintenance massage |
| the underlying purpose behind it. In any case, the | | | | Regular sports massage is massage with the aim |
| over-all benefits of regular sports massage by | | | | of maintaining and improving the physical health, |
| qualified therapists far outweigh any physical | | | | performance and over-all wellness of the athlete. |
| discomfort that might occur during treatments. | | | | This includes promoting good circulation, lymphatic |
| Therapeutic sports massage is advocated for all | | | | drainage, improving muscle tone and specific |
| athletes from amateur part-timers to serious | | | | injury-related benefits such as the softening of |
| professionals or anyone wishing to maintain a | | | | scar tissue. Stretching to increase range of motion |
| healthy, pain and injury free body and a sound, | | | | and deep tissue work are techniques that would |
| peaceful mind. | | | | normally take place as part of a maintenance |
| Types of sports massage: | | | | massage. Massage also helps to relieve pain, |
| Warm-up | | | | causes the relief of endorphins and promotes |
| A warm-up or pre-event massage is a more | | | | relaxation, all of which are beneficial to the |
| vigorous, relatively brief and quick-paced | | | | athlete’s wellbeing. |
| treatment with the aim of warming up the | | | | For more information about sports massage and |
| athlete’s muscles in preparation for a | | | | injury, please refer to the article entitled |
| sporting event or training session. This is beneficial | | | | “Massage and the Treatment of Sports |
| in that it increases the athlete’s range of | | | | Injuries”. |
| motion, assists circulation, stimulates the | | | | |