Treatments

SPORTS MASSAGE

What is a Sports Massage?

Sports massage tends to be deeper and more intense than therapeutic massage. It is based on the various elements of Swedish massage and often incorporates a combination of other techniques involving stretching, compression, friction, toning, and trigger point response techniques similar to Acupressure and Shiatsu.

The skilled therapist brings together this blend of techniques, knowledge and advice during treatment, to work effectively with the client to bring about optimum performance and to provide injury-free training and minimise post event injuries.

What are the benefits and effects?

There are three areas where sports massage is used to benefit athletes.

Event Massage:

  • Pre-event and post-event massage therapies are tailored for distinct purposes. Pre-event treatment is used as a supplement to an athlete’s warm-up to enhance circulation and reduce excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition. It is tailored to the needs of the athlete and his/her event and can be relaxing or stimulating as appropriate. Post-event massage, on the other hand, is geared towards reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with rigorous exercise. Various sports massage techniques enhance the body’s own recovery process improving the athlete’s ability to return to training and competition, and reducing the risk of injury.

Maintenance Massage:

  • A regular massage treatment programme based on the therapist’s understanding of anatomy, and muscles used in a given sport. By concentrating on particular muscle groups the therapist can help the athlete maintain or improve range of motion and muscle flexibility.

Rehabilitation:

  • Even with preventative maintenance; muscle cramps, tears, bruising, and aches can happen. Sports massage can speed healing and reduce discomfort during the rehabilitation process.
     
  • Soft tissue techniques employed by sports massage therapists are effective in the management of both acute and chronic injuries.
     
  • Trigger point techniques reduce the spasm and pain that occur both in the injured and “compensation” muscles.
  • Cross-fibre friction techniques can help with healing by improved formation of strong and flexible repair tissue, which is vital in maintaining full pain-free range of motion during rehabilitation.
     
  • In all cases, such massage techniques are employed in collaboration with other appropriate medical care.

SPORTS THERAPY

What is Sports Therapy?

Sports therapy similar to Physiotherapy is the diagnosis and treatment of all musculoskeletal problems including sports injury and post-operative rehabilitation. Treatment incorporates all aspects of health education including electrotherapy, mobilisation,  prescribed exercise therapy.

Acute injuries are assessed and treated to settle immediate symptoms and an individually tailored rehabilitation program is then formulated with the patients goals in mind to bring them back to their pre-injury health.

Sports therapists work closely with other experts including Personal Trainers, Yoga and Pilates instructors to improve and maintain optimal mobility and core stability specific to a patient’s needs.

 What Conditions Do Sports Therapists Treat?

 Joints including:

  • Arthritis, injury, pain, swelling, stiffness
  • Back and neck pain – protruding / prolapsed discs
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Knee Injuries including ligament & cartilage damage
     

Posture including:

  • Postural problems including chronic neck / shoulder discomfort
     

Injuries including:

  • Sports Injuries – to muscle, ligament, cartilage, capsule and tendon
  • Muscle and ligament tears / strains
  • Whiplash
  • Tennis elbow, golfers elbow 
 

Occupational including:

  • Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
  • Sports therapists can treat almost all conditions which have one of these symptoms; pain, weakness, stiffness, loss of movement.
 

 Pre & Post Operative rehabilitation:

  • Joint replacements
  • Joint aches and pains
  • A.C.L. reconstructions
  • Scar tissue treatment
  • Fractures and trauma

 Rehabilitation used:

  • Exercise programs that are patient specific
  • Muscle imbalance correction
  • Muscle and Joint Stability work
  • Liaising with your personal trainer to advise on appropriate exercise
  • Preventative advice
  • Postural re-education
  • Appropriate stretching
 

 

Member of Sports Therapy Organisation ‘UK’s leading Association for Sports Therapists.