Sports MassageS
in Cheltenham
What is sports massage?
Sports Massage was originally developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for physical performance, to perform well during training and to recover after a sporting event. However, sports massage is also beneficial for anyone with injuries, chronic pain or a restricted range of movement. The main goals of treatment is prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.
During a sports massage session, you will be fully clothed as the therapist works on your muscles. The length of time for each session depends on the type of treatment you're receiving, but generally lasts between 30 minutes to one hour.
What type of sports massage is right for you?
You might be thinking what is the difference between a sports massage and the relaxing massage you might have previously had at a spa? You might also ask is sports massage just for sporty people, or are they all just fancy names for the same thing? Well not quite!
There are many different types of massage and each one is designed to be suitable for a particular need. Below is a brief summary and definition of the most popular sports massage techniques we use at our Cheltenham clinic and what they are used to treat.
Sports Injury Massage
Many people might think that this is reserved for athletes, however it can have many benefits for anyone including tradesmen, people stuck behind a desk, and stay at home parents alike. This type of massage is commonly used to aid recovery from physical activity, but it can also be used to treat niggling pains in the neck when we are sitting behind a desk all day, or that twinge in the shoulder you got when playing with the kids.
Although some deep tissue sports massage techniques may be a little uncomfortable the treatment is about getting relief and relaxation from any prior muscular discomfort and to promote a faster recovery. Whilst you might feel some discomfort or mild pain, it shouldn't be excessively painful or unbearable.
Sports Remedial Massage
Sports remedial massage is used specifically in the rehabilitation process of various issues such as posture issues from working at a desk, sciatica, chronic low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, sporting injuries, repetitive strain injury, or injuries of the knees and ankles.
Remedial massage uses different levels of pressure depending on the problem and the goal of the treatment. Remedial massage focuses on healing injuries and relieving chronic pain.
Sports remedial massages can be of great benefit when used in conjunction with other physiotherapy treatments, Pilates exercises or as part of a full rehabilitation program.
Deep tissue sports massage
Deep tissue sports massage is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal issues, such as strains and sports injuries. It involves applying sustained pressure using slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. This helps to break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and reduces any tension in muscle and tissue.
Before your deep tissue massage, your massage therapist will want to know about your problem. A deep tissue massage can involve your entire body or it can concentrate on just one area. It’s not unusual to have some soreness for a few days following a massage, but the use of a heating pad or a cold pack wrapped in a towel may help to relieve any soreness you may encounter.
About sports massage
Sports massage differs from traditional massage in that it focuses on the body's movement system, instead of solely relaxing you physically and mentally. It can be used to treat sports injuries, improve sporting performance and may even help in preventing future injuries.
Our Cheltenham massage therapists use their hands or elbows to apply deep pressure to the muscles and connective soft tissues of your body in order to relieve your tension or pain. They use stretching techniques, joint mobilisation, myofascial and trigger point release to help restore balance to your body's functionality.
Whilst sports massages aren't supposed to hurt, don't be surprised if you experience some tenderness and discomfort, especially if your massage therapist is working on an area that's already injured, sore, or tight.
Benefits of sports massage therapy
It's easy to exclude it, but recovery is an important part of any training program. It is exactly the same if you're someone who is new to the gym or whether you are getting ready to run your next marathon. Any kind of exercise puts your body through tremendous stress, so you need to give your muscles and tendons the opportunity to properly repair.
Anyone who is a fan of exercise should also strongly consider massage therapy as part of their lifestyle choices. Massage therapy can be used before or after exercise sessions to help recovery and to prevent injuries by improving blood flow through your muscles, reducing inflammation around injured areas and increasing mobility in tight joints. It is the perfect way to include stress relief in your exercise program.
There are, however, other key benefits as well:
- Relieves muscle tension and soreness caused by physical activity.
- Improves circulation by increasing blood flow and oxygenation to the muscles. This speeds up recovery by delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
- Helps boost the immune system and reduce the risk of infection by reducing inflammation. It does this by promoting the removal of waste products from the muscles and increasing the flow of lymphatic fluid.
- Prevents injuries by identifying and addressing areas of tension and weakness in the muscles.
- Promotes relaxation and reduces stress by releasing endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
- Improves posture by releasing tension in the muscles that support the spine and other joints.
- Enhances performance by improving flexibility, range of motion, and muscle strength.
- Provides treatment that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Book now
Whether you're a professional athlete, an active person that is looking to maintain optimal physical health, or someone needing support recovering from an injury, you will find that sports massage therapy in Cheltenham is beneficial for everyone.
Book your appointment today and experience the rejuvenating benefits of therapeutic massages, as we work together to help you reach your fitness goals or maintain your active lifestyle.
Insured
We can either work directly with your insurance company or we can provide receipts for patients who use cash-based plans so you can reclaim your treatment costs.
Not Insured
You can book an appointment on a self referral basis, without the need for seeing your GP first.
Why Choose Us
No other local physiotherapy clinic can offer you the same level of physiotherapy and rehabilitation that we can, simply because they don't have our level of experience and our in-house gym facilities.
This is how we gained our reputation of treating patients when other physios may have failed.