5th September 2010 
Sports & Injury Massage #01

Sports & Injury massage

Despite its name Sports & Injury Massage is suitable for even the most non-sporting amongst us. It is in fact aimed at anybody who has an area of dysfunction in the soft tissues of their body whether this is due to an injury, an overuse syndrome, tired or weak muscles, or postural imbalances.

Sports & Injury Massage is used by sporting professionals where injury and overuse are part and parcel of the activity they engage in. However, these same injuries and overuses also occur in non sporting people due to their occupation or lifestyle. Some examples of these are

  • Tennis Elbow

  • Golfers Elbow

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Shin Splints

  • Achilles Tendinopathy

  • Plantar Fasciitis

  • Other every day injuries and conditions can affect anyone during the course of their lives.

  • Muscle Strains

  • Frozen Shoulder

  • Stiff Neck /Whiplash

    What is common in all clients is that there is likely to be some muscular or joint pain that requires treating.

    Treatment of these conditions is targeted at both deep and superficial muscles using a combination of massage strokes and specific stretching techniques to help restore correct muscle function.

    Benefits of Sport & Remedial Massage

  • Relieves tired and aching muscles

  • Aids recovery from muscle strains

  • Improves mobility and flexibility by increasing joint range of motion

  • Supports sports training programs by normalising muscle length and tone

  • Helps in releasing muscle tension & restoring balance to the musculo-skeletal system

    When it is not suitable to have a Sport & Injury Massage

    A massage will usually have very beneficial effects, however, there are certain medical conditions that make it inadvisable. If you have any of the following contra indications, please do NOT book a massage:


  • Muscle ruptures - In the acute stage these may still be bleeding. Massage will increase bleeding and tissue damage and prolong recovery. After the initial 48 to 72 hours massage may be possible but it will depend on the extent of the injury.

  • Tendon ruptures -The above also applies to tendon injuries. Complete ruptures will need surgery, not massage.

  • Contusions - These are impact injuries causing bleeding within the muscle. Massage to a contusion may cause further damage and may lead to Myositis Ossificans (bone growth within the muscle

  • Myositis ossificans - A bad contusion or muscle rupture may begin to calcify (grow bone). Massage will make the damage worse.

  • Fever

  • Contagious or infectious diseases including colds and flu

  • Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol

  • Neuritis

  • Skin diseases

    This list is not exhaustive so please make us aware of any condition you feel is relevant when booking a treatment.

    What to expect on your visit for a Sport & Injury Massage

    Firstly it is important to state that because each client will have a different reason for coming for a Sport & Injury Massage no two treatments are exactly the same. That said, the therapist will need to make some observations, ask questions and do some tests to determine any underlying causes for the problem being assessed.

    A detailed case history of the condition will be taken by asking the client to fill in a brief questionnaire and the therapist asking additional questions relating to the history.

    Simply treating the spot where the client feels pain may not do anything but give temporary relief. Therefore, the therapist will employ some or all of the following techniques to assist in determining the nature and extent of any musculoskeletal imbalances.

    Postural Assessment

    A good posture maximises the function of muscles and joints. One of the goals of a Sport & Remedial Massage is to help the client develop and maintain the optimal balance between muscles and their relationship with the skeletal system.

    Postural dysfunction can be a result of faulty biomechanics, previous injury, occupation or sporting activity. Whichever of these it might be, or a combination, it will play an important role in influencing the therapist's approach to treatment.

    Depending on where the problem is in order to perform the assessment the therapist may ask the client to undress to shorts for male clients and to shorts & bra/sports vest for female clients. The therapist will ask the client to stand against the wall to enable a postural assessment be made.

    In general the therapist is looking for relative differences between the left and right side of the body. We all have slight variations between our left and right side, but sometimes these are the cause of musculoskeletal problems and will need to be addressed as part of any treatment.

    Testing for Range of Movement and Muscle Strength

    In the case of specific injury or weakness the therapist may ask the client to perform a series of simple movements to assess the range of movement of a joint and the strength of the associated muscles.

    Treatment Plan

    The therapist will then discuss the treatment plan with the client. The actual treatment will consist of both massage and specific stretching techniques which may be done seated or on a massage couch and may be done with or without the use of massage oils.

    Depending on the area of the body being treated the client may need to strip to shorts/panties but modesty is maintained at all times by use of towels such that only the specific area being worked on is exposed.

    Unlike the Holistic Massage a Sport & Remedial Massage is likely to be much more interactive with the client often taking an active part in stretching out tight muscles.

    After the treatment

    The therapist will allow you to get up slowly in your own time and get dressed in private.