Sports and Medical Massage

Sports and Medical Massage get lumped together in our practice since often the same techniques are utilized to help heal a sports injury, as are used to help recover from a surgery or injury.  We have a number of tools to help heal injuries or recover from surgery.  Some of the ways we work with injuries are as follows:

Myofascial Release

Passive Stretching

Cross fiber friction

Active Release Technique

Trigger Point Release

Deep Tissue

The list of medical issues treated with medical massage is exhaustive.  Some common conditions that we  treat regularly with medical massage:

1. Scoliosis

2. Frozen Shoulder

3. Sciatica

4. Stenosis

5. Surgical recovery

6. Muscle strain or tear

7. Poor posture

8. TMJ

9. Headaches

10. Whiplash

11. Rotator Cuff Injury

12. IT Band Syndrome

13. Plantar Fascitis

14. Tennis/Golf Elbow

15. Tendonitis

16. Arthritis

17. Muscle Spasms

18. Shin Splints

19. Ankle Sprain

20. Hamstring Strain

21. Knee Injuries

Research has shown just 45 to 60 minutes of deep tissue massage can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone levels, and decrease heart rate. A study from the University of Maryland found deep tissue massage was even more effective for treating chronic pain than some other medical treatment options. One of the most common culprits for chronic pain is inflammation in the body’s soft tissue, and by increasing blood flow throughout the body, this massage technique is often able to reduce that inflammation. Massage therapists may also work to loosen clusters of tight tissue resulting from physical stress, providing further relief for tense muscles.

Often athletes come in to get a massage prior to competing, or after an event.  The massage techniques utilized are completely different

Sports Massage can be divided into two categories:

Pre Event Sports Massage which utilizes very rapid strokes in order to get the muscles twitching rapidly.  The last thing you want to do to someone getting ready to perform is slow their muscles down.  Athletic performance can often be enhanced by a pre sports massage within a few hours of competing.

Post Event Sports Massage:  Unlike pre event massage, the post massage utilizes slow strokes and stretching.  Often after competing an athlete can be very sore.  The massage techniques can be very helpful in getting blood flow into the strained muscles and keeping the joints moving freely.  Top athletes utilize pre and post massage regularly to make sure their performance is continuing to be enhanced as well as preventing injuries.