by Emily Laguzza

Welcome back everyone. Today I am going to talk about a massage technique perhaps even more misunderstood then Deep Tissue (for my discussion on Deep Tissue check out last month’s issue).

The most common misconceptions concerning Sports Massage are the beliefs that if I do regular sports or exercise then I need a “Sports” massage, coupled with the misunderstanding that sports massage is relaxing.

Sports massage, as I was taught, is a fast 30min full body massage composed of quick compressions, drumming and some stretches while the client remains completely clothed. Many people mistake Sports Massage for sport specific injury treatment. This is not the case. The massage is designed to help pump up and cool down the body in conjunction to a bout of intense exercise. In this Sports massage is very effective and used by professional Athletes around the world. 

Of course, you don’t need to be a professional Athlete to benefit from a Sports Massage; anyone preparing for a long run or heavy prolonged lifting is an excellent candidate. However, keep in mind the massage will be most beneficial if done within 20mins before or after exercise.

As one can image 30mins of this type of massage is not relaxing nor is it particularly effective in dealing with injuries and muscle strains. If you are looking for treatment of a specific injury or hoping to relax I would recommend staying away from Sports Massage. If you like the idea of: compressions, drumming, and/or stretching but, not the quick pace your therapist should be able to accommodate you as these techniques are not exclusive to Sports Massage. Make sure to inform your therapist if any of these techniques cause pain. Even stretching should not be taken beyond your body’s current limit. If you’re wanting a deeper stretch a little pre-massage cardio warm-up will help lengthen those muscles and extend the benefits of the stretch.

For someone looking to try Sports Massage I would suggest checking if your local gym has any therapists on hand, or if a local self-employed therapist would be able to meet you at the start of a marathon. 

Thank you for reading. For any questions on this article or massage in general please feel free to email me at gracefultempestmassage@gmail.com. Join me next month for one of my favorite massage topics, Injury Treatment.

Till next time,

Emily Laguzza

Graceful Tempest Massage, Licensed Massage Practitioner

West Seattle-206.765.7018

         web site:  www.gracefultempestmassage.com

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