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Sports massage is a form of massage which is growing in popularity
It is used by athletes, both professional and amateur, as well as many non-sporting individuals due to its many benefits.
A regular sports massage can help prevent injury by improving the condition of the muscles.
During sports competition periods, participants take precautions against injuries by training, eating a healthy and balanced diet and by doing massages.
A Pre-event Massage can be taken from 2 days to 2 minutes prior the competition; it prepares the body and muscles to the explosion of the event. Stimulates the muscular system and focuses of course, in the main muscle groups used during the competition.
A pre-event massage leaves the body relaxed and stimulated, which is crucial for a good performance.
Post-event Massage ensures that athletes warm down properly given that sometimes and due to exhaustion or disappointment they fail to do so.
The massage, in this instance, can have the same effect as a warming-down routine by stretching the tissue and removing muscle waste.
The treatment in this instance is slow, thorough and lots of care is taken into consideration; calming the body down; signaling the end of the competition and indicating that is time to start recovering.
The treatment path
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Evaluation (by looking and asking questions)
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Palpation (feeling local areas with finger tips)
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Effleurage (stroking)
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Petrissage (kneading)
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Tapotement (percussion)  -
Friction
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Cross fibre massage
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Along fibre massage
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Trigger pointse
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Neuromuscular technique
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Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
Most common Sports injuries include:
Rotator Cuff Injuries (Shoulder rotator muscles)
Frozen Shoulder
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Runner's Knee (Illio-tibial band syndrome)
Tennis Elbow (Lateral epicondylitis)
Golfers Elbow (Medial epicondylitis)
Shin Splints
Sprains (Ligaments)
Strains (Muscles)
Torticollis (Neck injury)
A good therapist can identify muscle tightness, trigger points and scar tissue which if left untreated may lead to injury.
Therapists should have a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the human body, in order to provide an effective and efficient treatment.
Most Therapists have undertaken a sports massage qualification, although it is also a skill taught in courses such as sports therapy, physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation.
A sports injury massage will last an hour as various tests are performed and different techniques used.
In many cases, injuries are treated on areas related to the area of the original injury which can be on a different part of the body altogether.
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