We’ve all heard of Sports Massage; however, for many of us, we have no idea what it actually entails. Imagery of marathon runners and high level athletes may pop in to our heads of people hopping onto a table in an open air setting at an event. Now you may think, “I don’t go to events or I don’t train like that… sports massage isn’t for me.” Many people think this, but before you dismiss sports massage, let’s take a look at what it really is.
- Sports massage is made up of 3 types: pre-event, post-event, and maintenance. Not every person will opt for all three. Some people choose to get maintenance massages only and others will only receive massage as part of an event. The main difference between the 3 is the intention. Each plays a role in enhancing your overall athletic performance and can be tailored to meet the needs of the event that you’re in or training for.
- The speed is faster than a Swedish massage (especially for prevent and there is a focus on stretching. This is because the therapist’s intention is to prepare the body for activity. A faster pace and more rhythmic compression and percussive motions are used to promote the body’s readiness to move. The stretches are also tailored to the client for the sport that they are doing or training for. Even someone who regularly golfs or plays tennis but not competitively benefits from sports massage because the repetition of the types of motions performed should be counter-balanced with massage and stretching.
- Sports massage is very often performed while the client is clothed. Many sports massage clients are worked on at events and because of the time proximity between the massage and the match/race/etc., the movements used in sports massage can be done without oils and over clothes. This makes Sports massage a great option for those who experience anxiety about receiving a massage due to not wanting to disrobe.
At Body Logic, we offer maintenance Sports Massage as an option for sports enthusiasts at all levels who want to help improve their ongoing performance between events through bodywork and stretching. Pro athletes work regularly with massage therapists as part of their training and now you can, too.