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Sports Massage Pre-Event: Only available @ event site, Please call for details. Post-Event: 50 min $75 100 min $150 Maintenance: 50 min $90 100 min $180 Sports massage is a form of bodywork geared toward participants in athletics. It is used to help prevent injuries, to prepare the body for athletic activityand maintain it in optimal condition, and to help athletes recover from workouts and injuries. Sports massage has three basic forms: pre-event massage,post-event massage, and maintenance massage. Pre-event massage is given shortly before an athlete competes. It consists mainly of brisk effleurage to stimulate and warm the muscles and petrissage to help muscles move fluidly and to reduce muscle tension. Asthe massage progresses, the pressure increases as the massage therapist uses percussive strokes and cupping to stimulate the muscles to contract and flex. Thepart of the body being massaged varies from sport to sport, although leg and back muscles are common targets for this type of massage. Pre-event sports massage is done to help prevent serious athletic injury. It helps to warm up the muscles, stretching them and making them flexible foroptimal athletic performance. A pre-event massage stimulates the flow of blood and nutrients to the muscles, reduces muscle tension, loosens the muscles,and produces a feeling of psychological readiness. Post-event massage is usually given 1–2 hours afterthe competition is over in order to give dilated bloodvessels a chance to return to their normal condition. Post-event massage is light and gentle in order not to damage already stressed muscles. The goal is to speed up removal of toxic waste products and reduce swelling. Very light effleurage will decrease swelling while light petrissage will help clear away toxins andrelieve tense, stiff muscles. Post-event sports massage helps reduce the swelling caused by microtraumas; loosens tired,stiff muscles; helps maintain flexibility; promotes blood flow to the muscle to remove lactic acid andwaste build-up; and reduces cramping. In addition,post-event massage helps speed the athlete's recovery time and alleviates pulls, strains, and soreness. Maintenance sports massage is done at least once aweek as a regular part of athletic training programs,although professional athletes who have their own massage therapists may have maintenance massage daily. Maintenance massage increases the flow of blood andnutrients to the muscles. It also keeps the tissuesloose so that different layers of muscle slide easily over each other. Maintenance sports massage also helps reduce the development of scar tissue while increasing flexibility and range of motion. Deep effleurage and petrissage are used to relax and tone knotted muscles.The goal of all sports massage is to maximize athletic performance. Athletes in different sports will concentrate the massage on different parts of thebody. Conditions that generally respond well to massage as acomplementary therapy include: • muscle pain and stiffness • muscle strain • edema (swelling) • muscle soreness • muscle sprains • muscle tension • sore spots • repetitive strain injuries • tendinitis Massage can help these conditions, but it should neverbe used to replace skilled medical care. Precautions Massage may be an appropriate technique for helping certain sports injuries, especially muscle injuries,to heal. When treating an injury, however, it is best to seek advice from a qualified sports therapist or aspecialist in sports medicine before performing anymassage. Certain ligament and joint injuries that need immobilization and expert attention may be aggravated by massage. People who suffer from the following conditions or disorders should consult a physician before participating in a sports massage: acute infectious disease; aneurysm; heavy bruising; cancer; hernia;high blood pressure; inflammation due to tissue damage; osteoporosis; phlebitis; varicose veins; and certain skin conditions. Individuals who are intoxicated are not good candidates for sports massage. Appointments Available on Wednesday and Friday w/Sethanie |
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