Sports Massage

Along with Advanced Clinical Massage, Sports Massage at Body and Mind Studio is considered to be our speciality. Why? Our Sports and Clinical Massage Therapist, Paul, is a two-time English Channel swimmer and open water swimming competitor with swims ranging in duration from 20 minutes to over 13 hours in water temperatures as low as 3 Degrees Celsius! He fully appreciates the necessity to keep the body in peak condition to enable it to perform at the highest levels and having regular (weekly) sports massage and clinical massage, along with the correct nutritional supplements is key to this.

But sports massage is not just for athletes. It is useful for anyone with chronic pain, injury or range-of-motion issues and emphasises prevention and healing injuries to the muscles and tendons.

The Sports Massage - What is it?

Sports massage is a type of Swedish massage which stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids, but also uses other techniques including trigger point therapy to break down adhesions (knots in the muscles), myofascial release and stretching to increase the range of motion for example as may be required in the treatment of a ‘Frozen Shoulder’ (pictured right).

Pre-event Sports Massage - Prior to your sporting event, a sports massage will help your body respond well to the demands brought about by the increased activity and to facilitate maximum performance. The massage will improve flexibility and extension of the muscles, increase blood and nutrient supply to the muscles (for energy) and help to maintain and increase joint mobility.

Post-event Sports Massage - After your sporting event, a sports massage should be performed as soon as possible. It will help to remove metabolic waste, which in turn will help speed up the venous and lymphatic supply to avoid the muscles becoming painful and tender. This prevents stiffness, relieves tension, increases nutrients and oxygen to the muscles which will help to prevent fatigue. 

Above: Paul Hopfensperger uses Sports Massage techniques on a client with a frozen shoulder.

Benefits of Sports Massage

Regular sports massage is the most effective therapy for releasing muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculo-skeletal system. Received regularly this may help athletes prevent injuries, which might otherwise be caused by overuse. A constant build up of tension in the muscles from regular activity may lead to stresses on joints, ligaments, tendons, as well as the muscles themselves. These muscle imbalances may develop and often go undiagnosed until they are serious enough to cause the athlete discomfort or impede performance. It may be reasonably claimed that one of the greatest benefits of sports massage is in helping prevent injury.

Book YOUR Sports Massage appointment online here…

Whatever YOUR sport, Body and Mind Studio Sports Massage can benefit YOU! You can book and pay for your Sports Massage treatment online prior to attending or you can pay by cash on the day. Please call us on 01284 756 444 if you have any questions.