Sports Massage

Clinic 88 has the most experienced group of Sports Massage Therapists in the Country.

From Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championship Therapists to National team support, NBA and COE basketball academy, Canberra Raiders, ACT Brumbies, Canberra Capitals, Australian Triathlon,  local Football, Ice Hockey, Hockey, Tennis and more! Clinic 88 prides itself on delivering a best practice service within the sporting arena. Our therapists work effectively and efficiently within sports medicine teams and as individual therapist from National to local sports

What is Sports Massage?

Sports Massage has many aspects.  From pre-event warm up massage to post event cool down massage, injury prevention to maintenance.

Pre-Event Massage

Pre-Event massage generally takes place at the event site and within 20 mins of the start of exercise.

The general idea is to increase peripheral blood flow, increase neural activity and awareness.  The massage should take place while the athlete is sitting up as when you lie down (and even more so when you close your eyes) your body produces particular blood constituents that makes you tired and ready for sleep.  You would only ever do this for those people who are over excited or are involved in a sport that necessitates a calm demeanour like archery.

The techniques should be light in depth but vigorous in nature.  The vigorous action will increase peripheral heat and mobilise the connective tissues of the area treated, making them more fluent/mobile.  The heat developed in vigorous massage helps ‘warm up’ the treated muscle groups making them more prepared for activity and reducing potential injury.  deep massage should be avoided in big prime mover muscles (the big muscles that create power like pecs and hamstrings) as this can potentially create a feeling of lack of coordination or discomfort (or both).  The only time a prime mover should be massaged at depth in a pre-event massage is when there is a pre determined reason such as old scar from an injury or chronic tightness (always do this at a training before attempting at game so the athlete can feel the result).

Pre-event massages should generally last approximately 5-7 minutes and can incorporate some stretching if indicated.

Post-Event Massage

Post-event Massage is an attempt to restore the body to its pre-event state.  In this circumstance the athlete should be lying down to encourage blood back to the heart and out of the periphery.  Note that the athlete should always have performed their warm down prior to a post event massage (usually a reduced effort of the same type of exercise – light jog if running, slow swimming if swim race, etc). This is by far the best way to reduce lactic acid build up and reduce muscle soreness.  Post event massage has little affect on lactic acid removal (some evidence that it helps a little bit) hence the athlete performing their post event warm down prior to massage.

Post event massage is generally a broad handed rhythmical massage (and sometimes static digital pressure for trigger point development or areas of increase tone) that looks to address:

• a reduction in peripheral swelling caused by exercise
• reduction in neuromuscular activity (calm down the over excited nervous system)
• reduction in muscle tone that has increased during exercise.  This may include cramp.
• restoration of range of motion.  This may include light stretching.
• there are a number of physiological affects that science hasn’t quite worked out yet.

Anecdotally the athlete suggests:

• A decrease in the feeling of ‘heaviness’
• Reduction in pain or discomfort
• Greater mobility

All these are very difficult to measure as it is often the athletes perception rather than a quantitative event (measurable).  Hence there is poor scientific evidence although the anecdotal evidence is strong.

Maintenance Massage

Maintenance massage is the most sort after type of sports massage in the clinical setting.

Importantly the athlete should have a predetermined idea of what they want/need and make sure that is passed on to the therapist.  If you are unsure then make sure you ask the therapist what they believe is best for your current situation.  Please don’t just jump on the table and expect exactly what you after as there are plenty of different types of maintenance massage possibilities and a good relationship between the therapist and athlete is essential (and often with the coach, strength and conditioning staff if in an elite setting).  Hence if you are after a broad handed rhythmical type sports massage (often called a ‘flush’) then you need to suggest this.  If you want it light then tell the therapist (they should ask you anyway), if you want light on the calves, heavy on the hammies and some range of motion stuff around the hips then ask for this.  If you have no idea what you want or need, then ask the therapist.

 Your therapist needs to know:

• What your sport is – sport specific muscle groups and ROM are very important
• About your current training status
• If you have and current or pre-existing injuries, areas of chronic or acute tightness
• If you have any performance issues

If you want to get serious then ask for a screening!  Then you will have identified areas of weakness, tightness and a focus on your treatment clinically and at home.

Maintenance massage is usually predetermined by a few factors:

Type of sport, sport specific target areas and ranges of motion

Post screening follow up that looks to prevent injury and increase performance (athletes often get a musculoskeletal screening which identifies areas of tightness, weakness that are potential injury risk factors and performance reduction qualities)

Range of motion specific which focuses heavily on sport specific ranges of motion and areas that athlete has perceived or identified limitations

The athlete may have specific areas they want addressed such as range of motion (like shoulder internal rotation for swimming), areas of fatigue/perceived tightness (post gym or efforts in running or on the bike, etc)

‘Flush’ which is a broad handed type rhythmical massage (similar to post event) with occasional deeper strokes (where areas of tightness are identified or known chronic tightness).

Techniques:

The techniques used in sports massage can range from stretching,  light strokes to deeper strokes, trigger point work, even dry needling in particular circumstances.  The work that you receive will be determined by what you ask for, your sport, your circumstances, your injury if you have one, your level of training, etc, etc.  Be prepared to have a conversation with your therapist to ensure you get what you are after.

The results should include:

Increased range of motion to match your sport specific necessities (please note that some sports need marked ranges of motion – like gymnastics – whereas some only need mobility in particular areas (like running)

Decrease in tone in areas that have been determined by yourself or the therapist

Reduction in nerve irritability (tethering in fascial or connective tissue build up or old scar, or muscle tightness that is compressing a nerve)

Pain or discomfort reduction by alleviating trigger points, reducing nerve irritability, mobilising fascia and connective tissue, reducing tone

Increase in strength due to the reduction in the factors (above) that inhibit maximal muscle activation

Recovery. All these factors above are important aspects of recovery.  While you recover by re-hydrating, nutrition, rest and sleep, stretching, ice baths, etc, sports massage will address those aspects that cannot or have missed.