Sports Massage
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Sports Massage at Carlton Road Clinic
Both
of our sports massage therapists completed their training with the London School
of Sports Massage. As competitive athletes ourselves, we understand the importance
of maintaining a consistent training programme and work with our clients to
prevent those unplanned layoffs due to injury.
What is Sports massage?
Massage has been practiced in its many forms worldwide for thousands of years. In the 19th century Pehr Henrik Ling, a Swedish physiologist and gymnastics instructor who later became known as the father of physical therapy, developed the massage system commonly known as Swedish massage. Modern day Sports massage combines the five basic Swedish massage techniques of effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration, along with other manual techniques such as trigger point work and stretching, to achieve a therapeutic effect on the soft tissues of the body.
Benefits of sports massage
The benefits of sports massage are caused by two types of response in the body, a mechanical response as a result of direct pressure and stretch to body tissues, and a reflexive response resulting from stimulation of the nervous system. These responses occur either on their own or more often simultaneously.
Body tissues rely on blood for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients, and for the removal of waste products. Massage improves circulation mechanically by assisting the flow of blood back to the heart, and reflexively by dilating the blood vessels. By increasing circulation massage can help improve the health of organs and tissues, and can also reduce the pain associated with ischaemia (reduced blood supply).
After injury, massage can help reduce swelling by stimulating the lymphatic system and minimise the formation of scar tissue in the injured tissues. Pain is decreased through the release of endorphins and through interference with the body’s pain receptors.
Massage can be used to relieve muscle tightness, stiffness and spasm, and increase muscle length and flexibility. By increasing blood flow to muscles, massage can help reduce muscle fatigue and soreness after exercise. Some massage techniques can also help to tone weak muscles.
In summary, sports massage can help to reduce muscle soreness and fatigue, decrease musculoskeletal pain, reduce tissue swelling and stiffness, accelerate healing and relieve symptoms associated with nerve entrapment.