Sports Massage

Perhaps the greatest benefit of a sports massage is that it consists of specific components designed to cut down on sports-related injuries. It specifically alleviates muscle tension and inflammation post-event, and provides a warm-up to loosen muscles for amateur and professional athletes pre-event.

All athletes are looking to improve their sports performance and get a leg up on their competition be they Olympic athletes, professional athletes or weekend warriors. To do this, a rigorous training schedule is implemented in order to enhance their skills, strength, endurance and speed. Unfortunately, as the level of training is increased, so is the risk of injury.

As an athlete boosts their training schedule, they almost always overuse their muscles, causing strain, tears and imbalances in the soft muscle tissues. Additionally tragic is the fact that most athletes, in their quest to improve, ignore aches and pains until they turn into serious injuries. The more a sports injury is ignored; the more susceptible it becomes to further strain and injury.

One way to encourage muscle repair after training is with sports massage. Sports massage will help release any built up tension and lactic acid in the overworked muscles so that blood and oxygen can return to the muscle and effectively promote muscle repair. Sports massage, if received as part of a sports program, can help an athlete prevent injury due to overuse.

In addition to using regular sports massage sessions as part of your sports program, it can also benefit an athlete in the following ways:

Pre-Event Massage - can help athletes prepare for a competitive event. A pre-event massage is brief and invigorating, usually lasting 15-20 minutes. It is given within an hour before the sporting event, through the clothes to warm up the muscles.

Post-Event Massage should be calming and relaxing. Its goal is to ease muscle pain (by decreasing tension), muscle soreness (by dispersing lactic acid), and to reduce inflammation. A post-event massage should last no more than 15- to 20-minutes, and it should be administered through the athletes clothes. Post-event massages encourage the return of blood and oxygen to tense areas, and they flush out metabolic waste products that have built up during strenuous muscle use.

Soft Tissue Release

Soft tissue release is a form of bodywork designed specifically around the area of neuromuscular therapy . This type of therapy focuses on increasing recovery rates of muscular injuries, fixing muscular imbalances, and relieving chronic pain. Soft tissue release is a popular form of therapy among athletes as it is a quick and effective way of achieving strength and flexibility after muscular injuries.

The basic idea behind this approach is to apply pressure to the muscles while it is being stretched. This integrated movement technique helps to correct muscular imbalances, including areas that have been injured or have scar tissue. It's important to remember that this therapy allows you to communicate with your nervous system- it's not just a manipulation of tissue. The application of rhythmic pressure during a stretching routine is communicating to the nervous system the re-programming of the muscles. This eliminates the old muscle memory of how your nervous system thinks your muscles should normally be like, which is why pain persists. When trauma occurs to muscle tissue, the affected area becomes inflamed. But once the muscle memory is evoked during Soft Tissue Release, the muscles are encouraged to return to their normal state and the inflammation decreases

Even though it may sound painful, soft tissue release does not put the body through any more pain than it is already experiencing. However, the patient does not just lie still either as you would during a relaxation massage. It is expected for the patient to maintain an active role throughout the therapy session. This is required for the special movements and stretches to be effective. At the end of the session you will also be taught how to perform some of the exercise and stretches by yourself at home which is important to maintain the recovery progress. You do not need to undress completely, but less clothing and stretchable fabric is easiest to move around in during the procedure.

How do you know if Soft Tissue Release is the right therapy for you? Well, if you experience any of the following symptoms then you could probably benefit from the treatment: frequent sports injuries, back pain, soft tissue injuries caused by car accidents, carpel tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injuries, and office related injuries. Soft tissue release is an effective why to relieve muscle tissue pain and tension while preventing further damage.

Deep Connective Tissue Massage

Deep connective tissue massage is a form of intense massage that aims to release myofascial (connective tissue) restrictions in the body, and to break up any restrictive scar tissue. It has also been known to help relieve chronic tension, to increase the body's range of motion, to improve posture and to enhance the natural harmony of the entire body and mind.

Deep connective tissue massage is also said to restore the length and flexibility to the fascia (the fiberous tissue that surrounds the muscles and organs), by normalizing the tissue and by improving the strength and overall health of the entire fascial system (connective tissues throughout the entire body).

However the pressure that a massage therapist applies during a deep connective tissue massage is more intense, and massage oil or lotion isn't typically used.

The strokes of this type of massage are slower and more pressure is applied in order warm the muscle tissue and reach the deeper layers of muscle.

During a session, the massage therapist will focus on releasing tension from the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia (or connective tissues) with deep, intense strokes. When a therapist locates a chronic knot (also referred to as an adhesion), they will often focus on that area and include exercises to help improve posture, balance, movement, and relaxation. These steps are complementary to your weekly deep connective tissue massage sessions.

Deep Muscle Therapy

Deep muscle therapy releases myofascial restrictions within the body. The theory behind this type of massage is that when chronic knots (also referred to as adhesions) exist within the deep muscle tissues, the body's natural balance is thrown out. Until the natural balance is restored, injured fiberous tissues can cause chronic joint and muscle pain, poor posture and coordination, as well as a plethora of other health ailments.

Deep muscle therapy aims to relieve the chronic tension throughout the muscles and fiberous tissues within the body. Its known to greatly increase flexibility and range of motion, and its also known to greatly improve posture and restore the body's natural harmony.

When a practitioner performs deep muscle therapy on a client they aim to encourage the lymphatic and circulatory systems. This promotes the release of hazardous toxins in the body, and it also encourages the body to repair any damaged cells.

Although the techniques used by deep muscle therapy practitioners are very similar to Swedish massage, the strokes are applied with more pressure in order to stimulate the deeper muscles and surrounding tissues. A therapy such as deep tissue therapy depends largely on client-therapist trust. This is because deep tissue therapy is often uncomfortable, compared to a traditional relaxation style of massage, and the therapist will only massage as deeply as the client is comfortable with. This means that the client must keep their massage therapist informed of their pain tolerance at all times during the session.

A deep muscle therapy session can range from 20-mintues to 1-hour. During the session the client will lay on the massage table. The therapist will typically not apply any massage oils or lotions to the area being deeply massaged, as they want to access the deep muscle tissues deep below the skins surface.

Deep Tissue Structural Integration

Deep tissue structural integration is a style of massage that works with the long-term patterns of resistance in the connective tissues and muscles of the body. These natural limitations of the body are at many times the causes of numerous physical and non-physical pains. The technique uses a combination of deep tissue massage (also called myofascial release) and structural integration therapy.

Deep tissue bodywork helps to strengthen, relax, and release the natural restrictions of the different connective tissues of the body. The focus is not on immediate pleasure, but on the long-term goal of altering the muscles structures and limitations. This doesn't mean however that the treatment is not relaxing, because many patients find great pleasure in the therapy. Furthermore they gain relief from pain and other long lasting benefits, such as the ability to move tension-free.

Structural integration is a treatment though which the patient is re-educated about their body through a series of exercises involving touch and movement. It promotes the release of stress and targets troubled functioning. Its main purpose is to promote a healthy relationship between the body and gravity. The ultimate goal of structural integration is to produce a body that is light and fluid, balanced, free of stress and pain, and at ease with itself and gravity. 

A normal session lasts approximately one and a half hours in length. Throughout the session the patient is placed in a number of different positions, not just left in the standard position of lying on the stomach. Patients will move from their back to their front, to their sides and sometimes will be placed in a seated position. This allows for the body to be worked from a number of angles. The therapist uses his hands, arms and elbows to work the connective and muscle tissue. The clients are also active during the treatment, as they are asked about their movement patterns, and also need to breathe into the areas being worked or to move the joints. 

The patient does not have to fully undress for the therapy, but both men and women are asked to where thong-style underwear to allow for the most freedom of movement. Women are also asked to wear a bikini style bathing suit top. The therapist does a lot of postural assessment throughout the treatment so the patient will be asked to do various different movements during the session.

The deep tissue structural integration therapist tailors each session specifically for the individual needs of each client. Usually he will focus on the particular area of the body, which needs the most tension reduction and relief. Some common areas needing attention are the back, shoulders, and neck, but the therapist will attend to any other problem areas of each individual patient. The treatment helps to relieve stress and pain but to also help improve the performance of daily activities. Other benefits of deep tissue structural integration include improved appearance and alignment of the body, enhanced physical performance, improved mental functioning and increased physiological efficiency. 

Muscle Energy Technique

Muscle energy technique (or MET) is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition, a theory that explains that muscles on one side of a joint will always relax to accommodate the contraction of muscles on the other side of that joint when indirect pressure is applied. MET is often applied to patients who suffer from muscle spasms.

Muscle energy techniques are applied to a patient in order to lengthen shortened or spastic muscles, to improve weakened ligament and muscle strength, and to improve range of motion. This procedure is performed when a patient is asked to contract a muscle for approximately 5-seconds against an anti-force applied by the therapist. The muscle contraction is performed by the client 2 or 3 times in a row in the hopes to stretch the muscle further each time.

Muscle Energy Technique is derived from Osteopathics . The theory behind MET suggests that if a joint isn't used to its full range of motion, its function will lessen and it will be at risk of suffering strains and injuries. This form of muscular therapy makes use of a patient's own muscle energy (the force); while the therapist presents a stationary surface (or anti-force) the patient will contract their muscle against in order to stretch the muscle and joint to its full potential.

Muscle energy techniques can be applied safely to almost any joint in the body. Many athletes use MET as a preventative measure to guard against future muscle and joint injury. However, its mainly used by individuals who have a limited range of motion due to back, neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, unsymmetrical legs, hips or arms (for example when one is longer or higher then the other), or to treat chronic muscle pain, stiffness or injury.

Myofascial Release

In practice, Myofascial Release is a gentle therapy, consisting of a mixture of light stretching and massage work. During a session, the therapist will apply hands-on massage strokes in order to release tension from the fibrous bands of the muscles, bones, nerves and joints, by unblocking any scar tissue or adhesions due to injury in the muscles and surrounding tissues.

The therapist will often use light to moderate traction and twisting strokes to apply the appropriate tension on the soft tissue, and to achieve a full reflex range of the muscle. This slow and subtle technique can be used to unblock fascia and muscle throughout the body restoring total physical harmony.

Myofascial release is a safe therapy that can be used as a preventative method or to promote the healing of an injured, stiff or painful muscle. However, this therapy has also been affective in treating patients with sloppy posture, chronic fatigue, severe tension and anxiety, as well as repetitive stress injuries of the muscular-skeletal system.

Myofascial release therapy is applied hands-on, in kneading-style strokes that are meant to stretch, loosen, soften and lengthen muscle tissues. The strokes are applied with gentle pressure, and held for approximately 2-mintues in order for the stretch to have its full effect on the muscle. Typically the same stretch is performed more than once by the therapist until the muscle is totally relaxed and a release is felt. The therapist will always apply massage in the direction of the muscle fibers to encourage the full range of motion of the muscle.

A typical Myofascial Release massage lasts an hour, and afterwards clients often rave about the total release of body tension they experience. This is why the treatment is often recommended to soothe a plethora of pain-associated conditions including migraine headaches, menstrual cramps, menopause-related pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, Fibromyalgia, whiplash and muscle spasms.

Neuromuscular/ Trigger Point Therapy

A neuromuscular therapy massage is applied in various pressures by the therapist, using a combination of effleurage or gliding, petrissage or grasping, friction, muscle energy, and strain/counter-strain massage techniques. First the therapist will locate the muscle spasm in the back and then concentrate the hands-on treatment to this area by applying continuous pressure for about 30-seconds with their fingers, knuckles and elbows. The same pressure must be maintained by the massage therapist for the entire 30-seconds in order to encourage proper blood flow in the area.

Typically, painful muscle spasms occur when our muscles lack adequate blood flow. When this occurs, lactic acid accumulates in the muscle. Anyone who has worked out will be familiar with the formation of lactic acid in muscles - it accumulates in, and causes soreness in muscle tissue following a strenuous workout. Neuromuscular therapy is applied on this same principal. It disperses the lactic acid, so the deficient muscle can begin to accept a clean supply of oxygen and blood flow.

During your first neuromuscular therapy session, you may be surprised when you feel some discomfort and pain during the massage. This is normal at first, and as the massage therapist adds more pressure to their stroke the muscle spasm/trigger ponitwill melt away. After a few neuromuscular therapy massages, clients will often claim that the pressure was painful, but in a good way.

Typically, before a neuromuscular therapy massage begins, the practitioner will tell the client to alert them immediately if the pressure is painful. The therapist will often check in with their client during the massage to ask if the stroke pressure is too light, too hard, or comfortable. The therapist will then adjust their pressure according to their clients verbal cues.

Often clients will experience some muscle soreness following a neuromuscular therapy massage. However, like with exercise, the muscle soreness will disappear within a few days and the clients body will feel more relaxed for typically about a week following the treatment.

Neuromuscular Integration and Structural Alignment (NISA)

Neuromuscular Integration & Structural Alignment, aims to stretch, loosen and soften the body's fibrous tissues that surround the muscles and organs in our bodies. This stretching and loosening is important in order to restore function and maintain muscle elasticity.

Many of us have had our mothers tell us to sit up straight. Well I know we hate to admit mother was right, but our body's fascia shortens, hardens and causes us pain mainly due to sloppy posture. Undesirable posture can also result in other problems such as shortness of breath. It can also painfully restrict the way we move and cause chronic joint and muscle pain if posture is not corrected over a long period of time.

Neuromuscular integration and structural alignment is a beneficial treatment that starts with improving the posture. In essence, this therapy does exactly what it suggests it restores our proper body alignment (mainly posture) in order to relieve pain, restricted breathing and restricted movement.

Strain / Counter Strain

Once the practitioner is able to identify their patients tender points they will be able to choose a suitable strain/counter strain technique to help correct it.

With strain/counter strain, by using palpation and passive positional procedures, the therapist could restore pain-free movement. The gentle technique of strain/counter strain puts the client in a comfortable position for approximately 90-seconds. During this time the patients muscles will naturally reset to their proper positions. Its an important part of the healing process for the muscles to be at their natural tension and position before the strain/counter strain techniques are applied.

Once the muscles are in their natural position, the strain/counter strain treatment is applied by the practitioner, who gently stretches the injured muscle in its natural position; while at the same time shortens the dysfunctional tender point so that it becomes rebalanced with the rest of the body. When the original position is resumed, the muscles are now realigned in their natural position and the pain should disappear.

Strain/Counter Strain emphasizes the correction of abnormal muscle movements and placements for example if one hip or shoulder sits lower than the other.