When we hear “sports massage”, we often think about athletes, people who play sport or people who have been injured playing a sport. This term can be misleading; this massage technique is not solely for athletes.

A sports massage can have significant benefit for non-athletes. Yes, a sports massage was developed to help athletes recover from sporting events which allow them to function a high level, but people with chronic pain, limited motion and other injuries can benefit too.

Benefits of a sports massage

Differing to other types of massage, a sports massage typically focuses on one particular area, usually a problem area. The area will usually be the subject of the entire appointment. Common injuries or problems that benefit from this type of massage are pulled hamstrings, knee pain, tendonitis or frozen shoulder.

These types of injuries are often a direct cause of sports activities like running, tennis, cross fit and team sports. However, the same injuries can come from any activity and will benefit from a sports massage.

Receiving a sports massage will help reduce muscle tension and pain, improve range of motion in the affected area and overall flexibility, shorten recovery times and prevent future injuries. A sports massage also has some benefits you may not have known about, including lowering blood pressure and increasing blood circulation.

Before getting a sports massage, it’s important to find a suitable therapist. Seeing a therapist that is specifically trained, qualified and experienced is critical. Using somebody who doesn’t fit the mentioned criteria can end up causing you more damage. If you are unsure, just ask about their qualifications. Only trust a therapist with specific and specialised training, in-depth knowledge proper techniques. Typically, a physiotherapist is the person you want doing the massage, but there are other decent qualified therapists. Physiotherapists are commonly expensive and require you leaving the house, not ideal when you have an injury. With Blys, you can get qualified sports massage therapists in the comfort of your home, all you do is book online.

Depending on when you get a message, it will have different outcomes. A pre-activity massage helps ready parts of the body, most likely to be exerted or prone to injury. A post-activity massage will help rebuild tissue immediately after exertion. A remedial massage helps keep the body performing to the best of its ability during training. Finally, a rehabilitative or recovery massage aims to lessen pain and treat injuries.

What you and your kids should expect

The session will depend on the desired outcome and the injury or problem. Unless there are multiple issues or injuries, the therapist will focus on one area. You will not receive a full body massage.

For example, if you are experiencing a torn or pulled hamstring, your therapist will concentrate on the affected leg to break down scar tissue and stimulate blood flow, aiding the overall recovery process.

A sports massage will be a combination of different massage techniques. A quality therapist will rotate between deep tissue or trigger point therapy to release muscle knots, then Swedish massage to promote blood flow. Furthermore, you will be given post massage exercises to do at home that continue healing your injury further.

A sports massage is not there to help you relax; it is aimed to help heal. That means it’s not uncommon to feel pain or discomfort. The pain and discomfort will vary depending on how severe the injury is. In some cases, a session can become too painful, at this stage you need to alert your therapist and work out a way to make the session more comfortable.

Some people think all sports massages must hurt to be successful; this is not true. However, they often cause soreness post session, this is normal.

It’s essential to stay in communication with your therapist while the session is happening. You need to both be aware of the desired outcomes of the treatment. If you remain in constant communication with your qualified therapist, they can help treat a great number of injuries. Remember, you DON’T need to be an athlete to benefit from a sports massage.