Sports Massage treatment is geared towards athletes, from professionals to weekend warriors.
Sports massage treatment will depend on the athlete’s sport, whether they are coming in for pre event or post event treatment, any acute or chronic injuries and the individual goals of the athlete. For athletes coming in before or after an event, the goals of the session will be different so a Sports Massage can be very beneficial before or after workouts/races or just in general for maintenance.
How does sports massage help?
Sports Massage can help runners by enhancing preparation for a race, reducing recovery time after a race and can help to maintain optimal muscle health during training. Regular sports massage can promote flexibility, reduce muscle fatigue and improve endurance. These benefits can help prevent injuries and can help decrease recovery time for rehabilitation of an injury. Sports Massage also feels good! It can help a runner relax before an event, and prepares their body and mind for optimal performance.
Athletes can benefit from receiving a pre event massage before their race, preparing both the body and mind for optimal performance. Massage has been shown to increase blood flow locally so a massage administered to the lower body before a race can be beneficial. Pre event massage is done 2 days prior and up to the time of the race. During this time, no deep work is done and the massage is more general, focusing on the areas specific to running. Areas of focus would be upper/mid back, lower back, hips and legs.
Post event massage can be extremely beneficial for recovery after a race. Studies have shown that sports massage after an event can increase local blood flow and circulation which will help the muscles heal faster. This can help to decrease an athlete’s recovery time. Post event massage is done either right after or up to 2 days after a race. The massage will still be lighter at this time, but can be deeper than pre event massage.
Sports Massage will benefit anyone that exercises. It doesn’t have to be before or after an event. For anyone participating in regular physical activity, Sports massage therapy every week or two may be a great addition to your exercise regimen. Discuss with our massage therapists to find a plan that will work best with your schedule, level of activity and budget. Contact us today.