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SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY
FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT
We understand about muscles - often the most
ignored part of the body.
Remedial and Sports Massage Therapists
realize
that the mental, physical and emotional stresses involved in competitive
sports often contribute to injuries by affecting the muscles.
So what can Sports Massage do?
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Assists in your
warm-up routine preparing your muscles for action.
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Aids flexibility - massage can stretch your
muscle fibers in every direction - not easy to achieve with stretching
alone.
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Better flexibility
means you can train for longer and at a higher level.
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Increases the
circulation of blood with its oxygen, nutrients and healing hormones.
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Increases the
circulation of venous blood and lymph through the body assisting in
draining and detoxifying.
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Decreases tension and
that uncomfortable tightness that persists long after the exertion.
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Speeds up recovery
time.
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Allows you to train
more easily and without discomfort.
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Means that the muscles
repair more easily with less scar tissue and any scar tissue formed it
is laid down in the direction of the muscle fibers so is less likely to
re-injure (a common problem).
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Helps you to train at
a higher level because of reduced tension.
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Helps to restore or
maintain a healthy structure - essential to avoid chronic conditions
developing and to keep in peak condition.
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Improves whole body
awareness - you will know when you’ve trained enough or when it is time
for another Sports / Remedial massage.
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Encourages relaxation
- increased alertness - leading to better concentration and focus.
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Gives an opportunity
for specific focusing - such as visualization techniques.
It makes you feel good,
and if
you feel good,
it's so much
easier to go for it!
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After the event - the
ultimate reward - a Sports massage.
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To soothe aching, tired
and overworked muscles slow the body down, relaxing and thus encouraging
repair.
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To decongest muscles so
that full recovery can occur and training can recommence.
Sports
Massage Therapy is being used more and more by sports people of all ages
and disciplines. It is used in training and is now offered (as it was in
ancient times) at the Olympics.
Research is currently being done into the effects
of this therapy. However, as national and international athletes are seen
receiving massage, so more and more sports people - both amateur and
professional - are seeking Remedial and Sports Massage Therapists.
Who is the athlete anyway? The painter, window
cleaner, computer operator, lorry driver, etc…all require the above care.
ADVANCED REMEDIAL MASSAGE
The
main effects of Advanced Remedial Massage therapy are on The Mechanics of the Body
The
Principals of Body Mechanics rely on Leverage, Balance and Biomechanics.
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Correct mechanics
allows movement of body fluids, muscles and joints.
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Muscles - only muscles
move joints - spasms need to be released allowing balance to restore.
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Improves postural
muscles.
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Advanced Remedial Massage Therapy releases
adherent tissues and facial restrictions so joints move more easily.
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With easier movement -
the muscle pump is assisted.
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Muscles of respiration
work more efficiently - aiding the respiratory pump, essential for
efficient circulation.
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Encourages the laying down of the minimum of scar tissue and
fibers
along the same direction as the muscle fibers.
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Gives the body space
to heal itself.
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Increases awareness.
If the
structure (foundation) is faulty then
the whole mechanism cannot work
efficiently.
The Circulatory System
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The arterial
circulation of oxygenated blood to the cells.
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The venous system
returning de-oxygenated blood to heart, relieving congestion.
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The lymphatic system
transporting excess fluid, protein and waste products form the
interstitial space to the circulation.
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Circulation to the
blood vessels is improved. Walls of blood vessels need to be soft and
pliable to assist filtration, elimination and absorption.
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Assists the
inflammatory response.
The Nervous System
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Brains, which extend
via the spinal cord from which the nerves to all organs, muscles and
joints arise. The brain releases endorphins as a response to the
treatment.
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The autonomic nervous
system.
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The sympathetic nervous system - involved
in the General Adaptation Syndrome - involved in increasing energy, the
‘fight or flight' response.
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The parasympathetic nervous system - that
calms everything down and encourages rest and repair.
The far-reaching effects of an imbalanced structure include
gynaecological, gastro-intestinal and respiratory problems. Pathologies
such as irritable bowel syndrome and other bowel pathologies,
dysmenorrhoea and asthma will also manifest an area of facilitation in
the spine.
The associated area will be painful or at least sensitive and
there is most often a lesion or subluxation present. By using certain
massage techniques on the spine, many conditions can respond for this
reason.
Conditions most often treated and helped:
Back Pain, Frozen Shoulder, M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), Migraine, Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI),
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Muscle Strains, Tennis Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow,
‘Tilted Pelvis’, ‘Sciatica’, Arthritis, Asthma and other respiratory
disorders.
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