Sports massage is designed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or function well during training.

But you don't have to be in the Olympics to benefit from sports massage. Sports massage is also good for people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. This is the type of sports massage that you see in the spa. Sports massage is a type of Swedish massage that stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids. Some sports massage movements’ use Trigger point Therapy to break down adhesions (knots in the muscles) and increase range of motion. The main purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. The massage will help prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Sports massage can help prevent those nagging injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete or a once a week jogger.

Sports massage other benefits; such as FEELING GOOD, sports massage reduces the heart rate and blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, reduces muscle tension, improves flexibility, and relieves pain.

Sports Massage can also include pre-event, post-event and maintenance techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance lessen chances of injury and reduce recovery time.

Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of techniques are used. The technique often involves a blend of traditional Swedish massage and Shiatsu specifically designed to treat professional athletes.

Each type of sport has different demands on the players. Each sport uses muscle groups in a different way. Sports massage is designed to address those specific concerns and may differ according to the sport the athlete plays. Sports massage can be aimed to help heal strained muscles and allow healthy ones to reach peak performance and maintain it while minimizing the risk of injury.

• Pre-event sports massage -- a short, stimulating massage 15 - 45 minutes before the event. It is directed toward the parts of the body that will be involved in the exertion.
• Post-event sports massage -- given within an hour or two of the event, to normalize the body's tissues.
• Restorative sports massage -- given during training to allow the athlete to train harder and with less injury.
• Rehabilitative sports massage -- aimed at alleviating pain due to injury and returning the body to health

A sports massage is a good choice if you have a specific problem -- a tender knee from running, for instance. It is also be a good idea to see a movement therapist, who can help you identify and correct the movement pattern that might be causing your injury in the first place. The therapist generally focuses in on the problem area -- a frozen shoulder or pulled hamstring, for instance -- rather than giving you a thorough full body massage.

Sometimes men who are new to the spa are more comfortable getting a sports massage because it sounds more masculine. That's fine, even if they don't have an injury.

No matter what type of massage you choose, the therapist should check in with you about what your needs and expectations are for the massage.

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