Introduction to biomechanics


Sports Massage - An Introduction

Many therapists offer Sports Massage onachieve a specific goal when treating
their "Massage Menu" yet few understandathletes". He considers that there are
what Sports Massage is about. When athree principles that are vital to
client comes in requesting a Sportsunderstanding what type of Sports
Massage, some therapists merely react byMassage to apply to an athlete at any
going in deep. Sports Massage is so muchgiven time. These principles are:
more. Timing  Technique and
Whilst Sports Massage does have some Intent
aims in common with other forms ofThe timing of Sports Massage is related
massage therapy, the usual experience into when the massage is applied, is it
conventional massage is to aim topre-event or post-event, during a
restore the normal function when someonemaintenance period or possibly
is injured. But in sport there is nopost-injury when rehabilitation is
'normal' and athletes are always lookingrequired. The technique refers to what
to improve and gain a competitive edge.massage/stretching/strengthening methods
Most athletes aim to reach a level ofthe therapists employs to attempt to
performance they can never achieve.achieve the intent, the desired outcome.
A Sports Massage therapist has greatThe intent of pre-event massage is to
potential to assist the athlete towarm up the muscles and to get blood
become better, rather than merelyflowing through the muscles. The massage
normal. In striving to be better, thetechniques generally used are
athlete attempts to systematicallypetrissage, vibration, percussion,
increase the level of training andcompression, muscle broadening strokes,
thereby subjecting the body to gradualetc. With post-event massage, the intent
and controlled overuse. This overuse canis assist in the recovery process by
often create imbalances and problems inincreasing venous and lymphatic
the soft tissues, which if ignored maycirculation to assist with removal of
become chronic. Clearly this may hindermetabolic by-products and thereby
the athlete's performance and/or rate ofdecreasing muscle soreness so that the
improvement. Sports Massage can become aathlete can return to full training
key ingredient in an athlete's successfaster. The massage techniques would
and this is why top competitorsinclude effleurage, compression,
incorporate it as an integral part ofpetrissage, passive movements and light
their training regime.stretching. The intent of maintenance
So what is Sports Massage?massage is to keep the athletes muscles
McGillicuddy(1) defines Sports Massageand tissue in optimum condition and is
as "the specific application of massagegenerally scheduled at a regular
techniques, hydrotherapy protocols,frequency (be it weekly or fortnightly),
range of motion/flexibility protocol andclosely married to the athlete's
strength-training principles utilized totraining program.



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