Sports Massage
Sports massage is the technique of kneading and manipulating soft tissue in order to help prevent sports injuries, treat injuries already incurred and improve performance.
As participation in sports becomes more popular at all ages and performances improve from year to year, more is demanded of the athlete. Regular Sports massage is part of the training programme of all top sports people.
The prime purpose of Sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break these down quickly and effectively. Above all, it can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether one is an athlete, ardent keep-fitter or a once a week jogger.
Anyone can benefit from Sports massage, including people in physically demanding jobs and those not quite so obvious (occupational, emotional and postural stress may produce many similar characteristics to sports injuries).
Sports massage tends to be deeper and more intense than other massage approaches. It is based on the various elements of Swedish massage and often incorporates a combination of other techniques involving stretching, compression and friction, toning and trigger point response techniques similar to Acupressure and Shiatsu.
The skilled Therapist brings together this blend of techniques, knowledge and advise during treatment, to work effectively with the patient to bring about optimum performance and to provide injury-free training and minimise post event injuries.
There are three areas when Sports massage is used to benefit athlete:
Maintenance Massage
A regular massage treatment programme concentrating on particular muscle groups can help the athlete maintain or improve range of motion and muscle flexibility.
Event Massage
Pre-event treatment is used as a supplement to an athlete’s warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition. Post-event massage is geared towards reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with rigorous exercise.
Rehabilitation
Even with preventative maintenance, muscles cramp, tear, bruise and ache. Sports massage can speed healing and reduce discomfort during the rehabilitation process.
Who can it help?
Whether you’re an enthusiastic amateur or an elite professional, we can help with the prevention & treatment of common sporting injuries. Here at the Refresh Wellness we have an experienced team of therapists/trainers with many sporting connections. Our disciplines include, swimming, netball, track, martial arts, horse riding & cycling.
Work Related Strain
This type of injury is becoming an increasing problem for many people. 350 million working days are lost in Britain each year as a result of occupational strain. There are many conditions associated with work – these are largely due to disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints – particularly the arms, hands and back. Causes of these problems vary from:
Whether driving a car, a bus or a lorry, or even as a passenger, you can suffer driving related back pain. Driving can give you neck pain, headaches, eyestrain, shoulder pain, wrist & elbow pain, back pain, hip & knee pain and foot & ankle pain.
In all these cases, we can help to reduce pain and your offer advice on back pain management, including simple stretches to prevent problems in the future.
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI’s) include Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, Tenosynovitis and Tennis & Golfers Elbow (Epicondylitis).
Manual Handling & Lifting injuries include pulled muscles & tendons, ‘slipped discs’ (Intervertebral Disc Strains), ‘Sciatica’ and low back pain.
Poor Working Posture can contribute to daily aches and pains whether you lift heavy loads, sit at the PC incorrectly or drive for long periods. An Osteopath can correct or advise on posture and movement, as well as give you instructions on back care and preventative exercises.
Habitual bad posture as a result of a poorly designed work station can place undue strain on the spine so creating back and neck ache. This is very common across occupations as administrative or managerial staff sit at desks all day, factory workers stand on a production line for hours on end, while sales reps & lorry drivers sit in vehicles and plumbers, electricians & carpenters work in the most awkward of positions.