Sports massage

A blend of several techniques to fully release muscular tension.

Different people, and indeed different muscles, respond differently to different massage techniques. There are so many distinctive names for massage, or classifications of massage; the good news is we know pretty much all of them, and we will utilise whichever is the most effective for the person we are working with. The goal of each session is for our client to walk out feeling relaxed, refreshed and more mobile than when they came in.  So whether we use:

it doesn't matter, you and your muscles will be in safe hands.

Remember, things always happen for a reason. If you regularly suffer with an area of "tightness" in your body, for example (a "tight" shoulder or a "tight" back or a "tight" neck), it is highly likely that something somewhere else in your body is causing excessive work for the area you are experiencing pain. Therefore we will not only release the adhesions and restrictions within your area of complaint, but we will show you exercises and movement patterns to help keep your muscles as healthy as possible.

We offer two massage sessions:

Sports massage

(Essential session, 55mins)

The essential session is simple. You tell us which muscles you think need releasing and lengthening out... we do it! We start by carefully working through the superficial layers of those restricted muscles. As those tissues start to "melt" we then gradually work into the deeper areas of restriction, releasing tension and restoring tissue pliability. Once the muscles are moving freely again, we then show you specific movement patterns to help keep those tissues moving as they were designed to do. 

Following a sports massage, it is highly likely for you to experience improvement in joint mobility, improvement in efficiency of movement and a feeling of "normality". A feeling often underrated!

N.B. You don't have to be sporty to have a sports massage, we all have the same muscles!

Sports massage

(Integrated session, 90 mins)

Muscles don't just connect to bones, they actually connect to each other as well. There are many muscles that connect together and can span the entire length of our body. Therefore, what is going on in the foot can be influencing what is going on at the head, and vice versa. Muscles also connect to other structures in our body via our fascial system, read more below.

These connected lines throughout our body have been identified as anatomy lines, anatomy slings and anatomy trains. It has become more evident over the years that certain parts of these muscular lines are more restricted in areas that are different to where the person actually feels the most "tight". For example, the hamstrings (one of the most well known muscles to feel tight throughout the population) may actually feel tight because of the structures above or below them. The lower back muscles are located above the hamstrings and connect to each other via a ligament. If the lower back muscles are short, they may tilt the pelvis forwards causing excessive work for the hamstrings. In a similar fashion, the calf muscles are located below the hamstrings but still actually connect to them. If the calf muscles are short then they may pull down on the hamstrings, again giving the feeling of tightness in the hamstrings. 

So what would be most beneficial in terms of massage?  Working on the line that connects all those tissues described above. In a single integrated session, we would work out which line is in most need of releasing, and then work through that line usually spanning from head to toe.

It sounds complicated, but it really isn't. An integrated sports massage works through the entire length of your body, not just areas you think are restricted. Want to know more, just give us a call.

N.B. You don't have to be sporty to have a sports massage, we all have the same muscles!

Why have a sports massage?

Our muscles our responsible for movement, support and stability. Not only do they initiate our body's movement, they react to our body's movement. They are constantly alert and prepared for what we throw at them each and every day. We as a population are horrible to our bodies. We keep them in certain positions for hours upon end, or repeatedly instruct them to perform the same precise movements over and over again. As a result, certain muscles within our systems become tired, over-stretched or over-shortened. Exactly which muscles become a problem are different for each individual person, as what one person does on a daily basis is different to the other. However, the principles remain the same. Certain muscles will be overworked, under-worked, over-developed, under-developed, locked long, locked short etc. They need looking after. The purpose of a sports massage is to promote an optimal environment within the body in order for muscles to function fully, without restriction. 

The process.

A sports massage is a soft tissue manipulation of both fascia and muscle. Fasica is the term given to the fabric that helps bind the body together. It helps connect the structures in our body together such as: the tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, joint capsules etc. Therefore you may of heard the term myofascial massage or myofascial release.  As us humans move less and less, or move only in certain positions on a daily basis, the freedom between the layers of the muscle and fascia can become restricted. The term "adhesion" is then used to describe these areas of restriction. These areas of adhesion can restrict movement, muscle function and ultimately lead to pain. Sports massage directly targets these areas of adhesion and helps release them.