Sports Massage

Why is sports massage so helpful?

Sports Massage focuses on treating soft tissue, improving flexibility, increasing range of motion in the joints and decreasing muscle stiffness.  It is often interchangeable with Deep Tissue Massage.

Many elite athletes consider sports massage as an essential part of their training and recovery routine.  Benefits include training more effectively, improved performance, injury prevention and quicker recovery.

Recently, a study by Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada showed that deep massage after an intensive workout, causes muscles to enlarge and grow new mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells, and which are responsible for converting nutrients into useful energy.

The size and number of new mitochondria increased when participants had 10 minutes of deep tissue massage after intensive exercise, improving endurance performance by increasing the rate that muscles can utilize oxygen.

Muscle Energy Techniques

Clients are asked to contract/use a muscle group against a resisted force provided by myself. On relaxing, the muscle is put into a stretch – useful for tight muscles and increasing muscle length, where muscle imbalance is shown. The movement is always within a comfortable range for the client.

Muscle Testing

Is used where a muscle imbalance is felt to be present, ie short/tense muscle or long/weak muscle. This will help me provide the right kind of strengthening and stretching exercises required for you to do.

Postural Assessment

Tests are carried out at the consultation and when appropriate. Postural assessment is carried out at the beginning and sometimes, at the end of the treatment.