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Sports Massage

Sports Massage is also a variation of Swedish Massage.  It includes some aspects of Trigger Point Therapy.  Sports Massage is a method of treating athletes.  It is usually injury or athlete specific in its application.  Sports Massage emerged as a means to address the needs of athletes.  This includes equine athletes.

The techniques of Sports Massage include

Effleurage

Petrissage and

Frictions. 

In addition, there is compression and cross-fiber massage. 

Sports Massage Therapists may also utilize Deep Tissue Friction (DTF).  DTF was introduced by an Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr.  James Cryiax.  It is similar to the friction used in Swedish Massage but goes deeper.  It is usually applicable in situations of tendon damage and where there are micro-tears and problems to the joints and tendons.

Sports Massage also differs from Swedish Massage in another way.  While the intent of both is to heal, Sports Massage is very specific in its intent and application.  It is for athletes.  Its popularity in sports has seen its inclusion in all major sporting events.  These include the Olympic Games.  Accordingly, Sports Massage is divided into 3 areas of application: Maintenance, Event and rehabilitation.

Maintenance massage ensures the athlete can train harder and lessens the chance of injury.  Event massage is divided into 3 components: pre, inter and post.  The former is a short-stimulating massage to invigorate the blood and relax the muscles needed to get the job done.  The inter event checks for any signs of damage and helps condition of the next event.  The post event may be a 1 to 2 hour massage intended to normalize the tissue of the athlete’s body.

The most common type of sports massage, however, is rehabilitative.  Its purpose is to ensure the athlete is restored to complete physical health as quickly as possible.  It works on the effected areas to increase circulation, cut down on healing time and to restore balance to the musculo-skeletal system.

Sports Massage Therapy offers athletes of all ages and ranges benefits.  It will reduce the possibility of injury, increase range-of-motion and even the elasticity of muscles and decrease recovery time when illness strikes.  The end result of a regime of sports massage therapy is improved performance on the field.