FAQ
Sports Massage Therapy and the many techniques used within each treatment has a direct positive effect on the skeletal, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular, lymphatic, digestive as well as respiratory systems.
A few frequently asked questions have been answered below, but if you have any other questions that are not featured, please do get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
How Is Sports Massage different from other types of therapeutic massage?
Some sports massage techniques are designed to shift an old or chronic injury back into its acute stage to trigger the body's natural healing process to complete the process of of repair.Through the incorporation of different techniques, Sports Massage is proven to be effective in:
- REDUCING SWELLING AND PAIN
- RESTORING BALANCE IN THE MUSCULOSKELTAL SYSTEM
- ENHANCING MUSCLE FUNCTION & JOINT MOBILITY FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
- AIDING THE SPEED OF RECOVERY FROM INJURY
Who is Sports Massage Therapy for?
What techniques are used?
Besides muscle and joint assessments, I use a number of different treatment techniques including;
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Frictions, applying deep pressure to tissues repeatedly, to break down fibrous adhesions or to soften scar tissue.
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Neuromuscular Technique (NMT),
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Soft Tissue Release (STR),
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Positional Release (PR),
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Muscle Energy Technique (MET) to improve muscle flexibility and joint range of movement. MET is a direct, non-invasive manual therapy often used to try to relieve pain, normalize joint dysfunction and increase range of motion, and can be applied safely to almost any joint in the body.
Many athletes use MET's as a preventative measure to guard against future muscle and joint injury. It is also used by individuals who have a limited range of motion due to a variety of causes;
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Connective Tissue Release (CTR) to knead, friction, stretch and release muscles and trigger points.
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Dry Needling - fine, short, stainless steel needles that don’t inject fluid into the body are inserted in to trigger point zones within your muscle or tissue. Dry needling is also sometimes called intramuscular stimulation. The points are areas of knotted or hyperirritable spots within taught bands of muscle. Dry needling helps release the knot and relieve any related muscle pain or spasms.
If appropriate for the problem, I also use myofascial kinesiology taping methods to elongate and support the treatment.
Is Sports Massage Only for Athletes?
Absolutely not. Sports massage is regularly adopted by individuals of all backgrounds, types and occupations. I treat individuals who live fairly sedentary lifestyles but work at a desk/computer for long hours, as often as assessing and treating those suffering a variety of sports injuries. Often individuals display postural adaptations to their daily routine, which has led to muscular weaknesses and imbalances creating trigger point referral pain, or compensatory pain and secondary injury.
When Should I have a Sports Massage?
What Should I Wear for a Treatment?
It is advisable to wear (or bring to change in to) some shorts and/or leggings. During the postural/dynamic assessment, it is necessary for me to be able to see the body's contours and alignment of joints. Some movement will be required, and so it is advisable to have something with you that does not restrict your ability to squat and lunge.
During the treatment itself, it is often necessary to work in contact with the skin, and so loose fitting shorts are ideal. Towels will also be placed over you for comfort and discretion.
How Do I Pay for a Treatment?
Payment may be made online, or in person after the treatment in cash or cheque.
Are there any contraindications to massage?
You will be asked to complete a short form outlining your personal details and the reason for your visit, which also contains a checklist of certain contraindications to massage. The therapist will look through this form prior to the start of the treatment and discuss with you anything that might be of concern. Based on this discussion, the therapist will decide to either continue with treatment and perform more thorough specific tests, in order to identify the appropriate treatment or, if necessary, refer you to your GP to obtain his/her consent for treatment to be administered. In this case, the therapist (with your consent), will write to your GP.
Are there any side effects to deep tissue massage?
How does Dry Needling differ from Acupuncture?
Are there any contraindications to receiving Dry Needling?
Yes.
• Recent radiotherapy
• Spontaneous bleeding or bruising
• Pacemaker or intra-cardiac defibrillator (electro dry needling) • Acute cardiac arrhythmias
• Open skin wounds or injuries
• Malignancy
• Haematoma
• Pregnancy (We do not recommend Dry Needling Therapy during pregnancy)
• Infections
•Tendency to bleed—anti-coagulant therapy
• Compromised immune system
• Previous adverse reaction to acupuncture or dry needling
• Unstable diabetics
• Unstable angina
• Epilepsy (stable or unstable) or schizophrenia
• Chronic oedema or lymphoedema
• Manic depression
• Fatigue