| Many therapists offer Sports Massage on their | | | | These principles are: |
| "Massage Menu" yet few understand what Sports | | | | · Timing |
| Massage is about. When a client comes in | | | | · Technique and |
| requesting a Sports Massage, some therapists | | | | · Intent |
| merely react by going in deep. Sports Massage is | | | | The timing of Sports Massage is related to when |
| so much more. | | | | the massage is applied, is it pre-event or |
| Whilst Sports Massage does have some aims in | | | | post-event, during a maintenance period or |
| common with other forms of massage therapy, | | | | possibly post-injury when rehabilitation is required. |
| the usual experience in conventional massage is to | | | | The technique refers to what massage/stretching |
| aim to restore the normal function when | | | | strengthening methods the therapists employs to |
| someone is injured. But in sport there is no | | | | attempt to achieve the intent, the desired |
| 'normal' and athletes are always looking to | | | | outcome. |
| improve and gain a competitive edge. Most | | | | The intent of pre-event massage is to warm up |
| athletes aim to reach a level of performance they | | | | the muscles and to get blood flowing through the |
| can never achieve. | | | | muscles. The massage techniques generally used |
| A Sports Massage therapist has great potential to | | | | are petrissage, vibration, percussion, compression, |
| assist the athlete to become better, rather than | | | | muscle broadening strokes, etc. With post-event |
| merely normal. In striving to be better, the athlete | | | | massage, the intent is assist in the recovery |
| attempts to systematically increase the level of | | | | process by increasing venous and lymphatic |
| training and thereby subjecting the body to | | | | circulation to assist with removal of metabolic |
| gradual and controlled overuse. This overuse can | | | | by-products and thereby decreasing muscle |
| often create imbalances and problems in the soft | | | | soreness so that the athlete can return to full |
| tissues, which if ignored may become chronic. | | | | training faster. The massage techniques would |
| Clearly this may hinder the athlete's performance | | | | include effleurage, compression, petrissage, |
| and/or rate of improvement. Sports Massage can | | | | passive movements and light stretching. The |
| become a key ingredient in an athlete's success | | | | intent of maintenance massage is to keep the |
| and this is why top competitors incorporate it as | | | | athletes muscles and tissue in optimum condition |
| an integral part of their training regime. | | | | and is generally scheduled at a regular frequency |
| So what is Sports Massage? McGillicuddy(1) | | | | (be it weekly or fortnightly), closely married to |
| defines Sports Massage as "the specific application | | | | the athlete's training program. |
| of massage techniques, hydrotherapy protocols, | | | | Thus Sports Massage is not about going deep nor |
| range of motion/flexibility protocol and | | | | it is learning one technique. The requirement for |
| strength-training principles utilized to achieve a | | | | the therapist is to apply the appropriate |
| specific goal when treating athletes". He considers | | | | treatment at the appropriate time, which takes |
| that there are three principles that are vital to | | | | education, skill and experience. |
| understanding what type of Sports Massage to | | | | (1) M. McGillicuddy. "Three Key Principles of Sports |
| apply to an athlete at any given time. | | | | Massage". May 2003, Volume03 Issue 05. |