Athletes need specific massage skills applied to them to reduce pain, enhance athletic ability, and to maintain high performance.
A massage therapist with a background in Strength and Conditioning, combined with sound knowledge of kinesiology, biomechanics, physiology, and anatomy is preferred for Sports Massage.
That person will not only have the head knowledge from academia, but also will have experienced the pain and suffering of sport and athletic training.
Athletes know and feel the abuse of physical trauma their body endures to achieve the highest potential.
That is why they seek out a Sports Massage Therapist.
Their goal is to relieve soft tissue injury, enhance circulation, improve muscular imbalances, reduce cramping, stretch hypertonic (tight) muscles and tendons, as well as reduce stress from sport (nervous system).
Sports massage is also preventive in that the practitioner is always looking for conditions that may be potential risk of injury.
As a massage therapist, some of my goals for the athlete are:
- Better mobility and flexibility
- Faster recovery time
- Reduce myofacial adhesions (constricted fascia)
- Increase in blood (hyperemia) in ischemic tissue (not enough blood)
- Lower fatigue
- Reduce edema (swelling)
- Excite the reflexes of the nervous system (pre-game)
- Identify potential risk of injury such as trigger points
- Reduce hypertonicity (tightness) in muscles
What can you expect the massage therapist to do after assessment has been made?
Speaking for myself, I like to warm up the area of concern with superficial effleurage and petrissage strokes.
This allows me to use my fingers to feel abnormalities in soft tissue.
Once they are located, I like to use four massage techniques to restore homeostasis:
- Compression: This is done by pressing the palm or fist deep into the muscle belly rhythmically. This causes blood to be drawn into the muscle.
- Cross-Fiber Friction: Going against the grain of the muscle and tendons with either the ulnar part of the hand, or forearm, releasing tension in muscle fibers.
- Trigger Point: With the thumb or tips of fingers, the knot in the muscle is pressed and held for 30 seconds. This breaks down its spasm.
- Stretching: Placing legs, arms, hips and back into extension while massaging increases flexibility and mobility for better biomechanics.
When is a sports massage the optimal treatment?
There are four areas in which sports massage is performed:
- Pre-game: Vigorous shaking, light percussion and gentle stretching only.
- Mid-game: Athlete directs therapist to area of concern only. Example: Right leg feels tight. This is a very short (5-10 minute) session.
- Post Game: Light stretching and light effleurage and petrissage to relax the body and help with inflammation.
- Restorative: This is what I only do. This is where athletes come to me for muscular peak performance and preventive maintenance.
Restorative massages are generally done in office and not on the field, and can last 90 minutes to 2 hours.
What if an athlete is injured? Will I still work on them?
The athlete must be diagnosed by a doctor and given the “all clear” for massage before a responsible therapist would help them.
The diagnosis helps the LMT to know what to do for post-injury rehabilitation, which may also include physical therapy.
Would sports massage be okay for people not in sport, but who work out, or have physically demanding secular jobs?
Absolutely! If your actively challenging your body each week, the maintenance of soft tissue is vital for general health and well being.
Give me a call if you’re interested in trying sports massage, I will do my best to help you.
Doug Holland, LMT