This first person is a Javelin thrower, training and competing at the highest levels. She presents herself to me with acute pain in the shoulder which is preventing her from throwing or achieving active strength work.
CASE STUDY 2
The second person is a self employed builder. He presented himself with a painful ankle after spraining it from climbing down from a roof. This is now preventing him from working.
CASE STUDY 3
The third person is a full time mother who has two young children. She has lower back pain and this is preventing her from picking up the children and completing routine work in the house.
In all of these studies, each individual is suffering from an inability to function normally or dysfunction.
In all cases the impact on their lives is considerable and also, in every case I was able to provide them with a valuable recovery service. That service involved the assessment of each individual’s medical history and current condition, the provision of treatment to address pain and support the body’s repair process and to advise and speed up the return to normal functioning and minimise the risk of injury.
Almost all dysfunction has a soft tissue element. Any illness or condition with a degree of pain results in tension in muscles which in turn affects posture and movement. Increasing levels of physical and emotional stress in people’s lives also brings with it increasing levels of soft tissue dysfunction.
Sports Massage
All About Sports Massage
The Physiological Effects of Sports Massage on the body
The Psychological Effects of Sports Massage
The Benefits of a Sports Massage
What Happens in the first Appointment
The stages of a Sports Massage
Oils I use
Location and Prices
Contact Details
About Sports Massage
For many people the term, “Sports Massage” may not be fully understood as there are many different forms of massage so it can be confusing as to what does what and how. I will explain how sports massage can work for you and in what ways.
Sports Massage basically refers to “Deep Tissue” manipulation. What is deep tissue, you may ask? What you have are different layers of muscles throughout your body. There are the “Superficial” muscles. These are the muscles that lay closest to the skin and which you can sometimes see on a well-developed physique such as for example, the Bicep muscle or the Pectoral chest muscles. Then you have the “Deep” muscles which lay underneath the superficial muscles and are not so visible to the eye. For example, if you know your muscles these can be e.g. the “Quadratus Lumborum” which are situated either side of your lower back and originate from the Illiac Crest and insert onto your 12th rib. These help with your posture. So now when you hear the phrase “Deep Tissue” massage, this is what it means, massaging not only the superficial muscles but also those deeper muscles that make up your body.
Sports Massage also applies a greater understanding of how the human body functions. What muscles do, what movement and how. Where the muscles originate from and insert to and how certain muscles are more prone to injury or tightness and why. Whilst the title may suggest a focus on working within sports and it is true to say that there is an emphasis on active clients, anyone who is suffering from a condition that limits their movement will benefit from a Sports Massage.
What I am doing here is to provide you with three different example cases that I have experienced. Each has its own separate problems which are preventing them from functioning fully in their day to day lives. Therefore I thought I would give you examples of these three clients so that you can see the breadth with which Sports Massage Therapy covers.
The Physiological Effects of Sports Massage on the body systems
• Removal of Metabolic wastes. (changes in living cells by which energy is provided and new material is assimilated )
• Lowering of pressure in the muscle tissues and fascia (skin) that will reduce irritation of nerve endings, leading to a reduction in pain.
• There will be a balancing effect of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) because of what will happen as the muscles relax, production of Adrenalin reduces and therefore blood pressure lowers allowing a greater parasympathetic dominance and relaxation.
• Soft Tissues are re-mobilised.
• Elasticity will improve.
• Exfoliation of superficial cells will occur.
• Vasodilatation (an increase in the size of blood vessels resulting in an increase of blood to an area) of surface capillaries will provide an increased supply of nutrients and oxygen to the reproductive layers of the skin.
The Psychological Effects of Sports Massage
• Massage can improve your (psychological) well being by either stimulating or reducing levels of stress.
• When a massage is performed vigorously it can help to increase your mental alertness and leave you feeling stimulated and ready for your activity which may be a run, a rugby match, a race etc.
• It is also effective in reducing anxiety and providing feelings of well being that will in turn enhance relaxation.
The Benefits of a Sports Massage
The improvement to tissue condition will reduce any muscle stiffness, pain and fatigue that you may have and also increase your flexibility and range of movement. Also, as excess tension is relieved and the hypertonic (decreased or loss of muscle tone) muscles are stimulated, improved balance will be gained and greater awareness of your posture will result and further develop over time.
You will also find that with sports massage, it will improve the speed and quality of soft tissue repair through effective treatment and post care advice.
What Happens in the First Appointment?
The first appointment I perform always consists of a little paperwork. This will only have to be done the once you will be pleased to hear. The paperwork is a Medical Questionnaire that I need for you to complete so that I am aware of any ailments you may have, for example any recent operations or any skin disorders etc.
Once the paperwork has been completed I will need to carry out a few tests. These are nothing to worry about and it enables me to find out the problem more efficiently. I have given you an example here of what the tests consists:
EXAMPLE CASE STUDY 1
A client came to me with lower back pain. I firstly observed his posture. (Did he, e.g. have rounded shoulders or a pelvic tilt for example). If this is the case it could be because of the way he holds himself that he has lower back pain. I would also observe certain bone formation around the spine area, hip area and shoulder area to make sure everything appears level with each other.
Secondly, I would test the Range of Movement. As the back is a very delicate area one must be careful when performing any tests. My client would perform all Ranges of Movement by themselves so they know how far they can go. This test tells me where any discomfort may be or, where a certain area is preventing them from performing their full range of movement possibly due to tight muscles that could have been caused by an injury.
Thirdly, I would Palpate the area. By this I mean I would touch the area concerned to establish any discomfort or the exact location of the problem.
Lastly I would perform what is called a ‘Special Test’. There are many of these depending on the exact location of the problem. These Special Tests tell me which muscles may be tight, which muscles may not be working correctly and in the right order and also to identify the root cause of the problem.
With the tests over, I would then perform the massage. The tests are only done to this level on our first appointment. I would however carry
The Stages of a Sports Massage
A Sports massage is performed through different levels. These are:
The first stage is called Effleurage. This is the foundation stroke for the majority of massage treatments. As with most techniques it is progressed from superficial to deep and from quick to slow as the depth increases. Effleurage is used to:
• Introduce the sports massage therapists touch to the client
• Introduce the massage lubricant
• Warm up the soft tissues
• Apply superficial strokes to the soft tissues
• Apply deep strokes to the soft tissues
• Link other sports massage techniques
• Conclude the treatment.
Effects of Effleurage
• Increased circulation at the level of application
• Improved skin condition
• Increased relaxation of soft tissues
• General relaxation of client
The second stage is called Petrissage. This is applied with each hand “passing” over the soft tissues to the other. Soft tissues are lifted, rolled, squeezed or pressed to stretch and separate them. Petrissage is used to:
• Mobilise muscles or groups of muscles
• Reduce inter-muscular congestion
• Reduce fascial tension
• Address inhibition of free movement of muscles or muscle groups
• Increase mobility of muscles through transverse manipulation
• Improve facial mobility
• Increase circulation
• Improve skin condition , especially elasticity
• Reduce fibrous adhesions in muscles fibres and fascia
Once Effleurage and Petrissage have been performed, the next stages are to treat the effected areas. Depending on the nature of the condition I would either Friction the soft tissue or Trigger Point the area.
To explain this more clearly; Friction basically means a directed pressure to manipulate soft tissue. Frictions involve the application of a force onto a specific area of relaxed soft tissue and are used to:
• Target scar tissue to return a greater of proportion of muscles fibres to the best possible function by realigning muscles fibres and improving localised circulation
• Soften fibrous adhesions
• To influence the soft tissues to repair and muscle fibres to remodel in the correct way.
Trigger Points are a little more complicated to explain. So let me try to explain. Trigger Points basically are in connection with the neuro-muscular system. For example if I was to find a certain area of your body whilst I was massaging and when I manipulated it another area of your body jumped, it would mean that this was a Trigger Point as it is connected with your nervous system making it react that way. One treats Trigger points differently to say a Friction Point. In some cases you may not know you have a Trigger Point until it was compressed. Effects of Triggers Points are:
• Reduces local pain
• Reduces referred pain
• Increases soft tissue mobility
• Improves circulation
• Gives local and general relaxation
Oils I use!
When performing a sports massage I use a Therapeutic Massage Oil. The ingredients are as follows :-
Sweet Almond Oil
Jojoba Oil
Lavender Oil
Peppermint Oil
Rosemary Oil
Verbena Oil
Very Important – Please ensure that you advise me of any allergies you may have to any of the above ingredients, as I am able to use other, more suitable creams and oils.
After the massage I can remove all oils used if you so wish. Some people do not like oil to be left on their skin. I use cologne to remove the oils. The ingredients are as follows:-
Alcohol
Aqua
Parfum
Aroma
Blue Colouring.
Very Important – Again, please inform me of any allergies you may have prior to the Sports Massage.
Location and Prices
As with Personal Training, I will come to your house providing this is based within the Surrey area (otherwise a small fee may be charged to incur the extra travelling costs)
I have my own equipment which consists of a couch, oils and a selection of relaxing music. I will need you to provide two large (Bath-sized) towels and one small towel please. Depending on the area for the Sports Massage, please wear loose fitting clothing such as shorts or tracksuit bottoms etc.
Finally, and before I arrive will you please choose a room for your Sports Massage that has been pre-warmed. This will help the massage oils to work more effectively and enhance your massage experience.
Sports Massage (one hour) £ 45.00
5 Sessions Pre Booked Package £210.00 (savings of £15)
10 Sessions Pre-booked package £400.00 (savings of £45)
Contact Details
Telephone : 0777 581 3711