Sports Therapy or Therapeutic Massage for Athletes

Therapeutic massage for athletes is often referred to as Sports Massage Therapy. It has as its focus the specific athletes under its treatment. They and their concerns as they pertain to their sport are the focus of sports massage. This is a specialty area of classic massage therapy. Its intent is to assist the body to achieve maximum physical results. It works to protect the body against pain and injuries while boosting the performance.

Therapeutic massage has been an important element of athletic training and health care since ancient times.  Both the Greeks and the Romans realized the significance of the practice in both maintaining the general health and improving the physical performance of athletes. In the late 19th century, rubdowns became a primary part of athletic training. Today, in the 21st century, massage has become an integral part of many athletic events and training programs. From local sporting events to national championships to the Olympics, therapeutic massage is gaining standing as a regular part of training and performance for all athletes.

The type of sports massage therapy varies according to the sport, timing, the environment, status of the tissue and the medical history of the athlete. These variables affect the type and the goals of the practitioner of sports massage. He or she must be aware of the different techniques and expectations for each element as it alters in accordance to the sporting world.

Categories of Sports Therapy

The choice of techniques and the duration of the massage will vary according to the timing and category of sports massage. There are several different categories. These are event, maintenance and treatment. How close the timing is to the event will determine what type of technique the therapist applies. In sports massage there are 3 different sub-categories of event massage: pre, inter and post.

If it is pre-event, the type of massage needs to maximize both the physical and mental performance. It should be brisk and stimulating. Inter-event massages are lighter. They are to improve the circulation and drain or remove any metabolic toxins. A Sports massage during this period is to keep the athlete relaxed and focused. The Post-event massage is to prevent muscle fatigue. It is to help increase the flow of blood to the heart and muscle cells. The massage helps to remove toxins and increase the smooth flowing of the lymphatic system. If there has been an injury or strain, sports massage speeds up recovery and reduces micro-trauma.

Therapeutic massage therapy for maintenance and treatment.

• Maintenance massage is to help keep the body in shape and functioning smoothly.

• Event Massage is usually body-part specific, maintenance is a full body massage. Event massages also tend to be fully clothed while maintenance massages may be clothing optional. The setting also differs. Event Massage may take place in a locker or directly on the field.

Massage for the sake of body maintenance usually occurs in a clinical setting. This category of sports massage intends to minimize the negative impact of exercising for the sport. It is to help keep the athlete focused on his or her training and competition goals. As with all the categories of Sports Massage Therapy, the practitioner tailors it to meet the specific needs of the individual athlete and their sport.

Treatment massage takes place in a clinical atmosphere or setting. It is more focused than maintenance massage. It is limited to working on and with the affected parts. It may work on a muscle, tissue or joint. Its main intention is to bring back the athlete to physical health and competition quickly through enhancing the healing process. As with all forms of sports massage, this treatment is specifically directed towards the sport of the specific athlete.

The techniques are based on its origins in Swedish Massage. They include the 5-basic movements. These are Effleurage, Pétrissage, Friction, Tapotement and Vibration. In addition, sports massage uses rhythmic compression and active assistive techniques. These are unique.

Sports Massage does have its origins with Swedish or Classic Massage, but it differs in several ways. The massage is brief and focused on specific muscles, joints or body parts. Swedish Massage is a full-body massage. Another difference is the pace and its purpose.

Sports Massage applies it techniques at a rapid pace. The purpose is not to soothe but to stimulate.