| Many therapists offer Sports Massage on | | | | achieve a specific goal when treating |
| their "Massage Menu" yet few understand | | | | athletes". He considers that there are |
| what Sports Massage is about. When a | | | | three principles that are vital to |
| client comes in requesting a Sports | | | | understanding what type of Sports |
| Massage, some therapists merely react by | | | | Massage to apply to an athlete at any |
| going in deep. Sports Massage is so much | | | | given time. These principles are: |
| more. | | | | Timing Technique and |
| Whilst Sports Massage does have some | | | | Intent |
| aims in common with other forms of | | | | The timing of Sports Massage is related |
| massage therapy, the usual experience in | | | | to when the massage is applied, is it |
| conventional massage is to aim to | | | | pre-event or post-event, during a |
| restore the normal function when someone | | | | maintenance period or possibly |
| is injured. But in sport there is no | | | | post-injury when rehabilitation is |
| 'normal' and athletes are always looking | | | | required. The technique refers to what |
| to improve and gain a competitive edge. | | | | massage/stretching/strengthening methods |
| Most athletes aim to reach a level of | | | | the therapists employs to attempt to |
| performance they can never achieve. | | | | achieve the intent, the desired outcome. |
| A Sports Massage therapist has great | | | | The intent of pre-event massage is to |
| potential to assist the athlete to | | | | warm up the muscles and to get blood |
| become better, rather than merely | | | | flowing through the muscles. The massage |
| normal. In striving to be better, the | | | | techniques generally used are |
| athlete attempts to systematically | | | | petrissage, vibration, percussion, |
| increase the level of training and | | | | compression, muscle broadening strokes, |
| thereby subjecting the body to gradual | | | | etc. With post-event massage, the intent |
| and controlled overuse. This overuse can | | | | is assist in the recovery process by |
| often create imbalances and problems in | | | | increasing venous and lymphatic |
| the soft tissues, which if ignored may | | | | circulation to assist with removal of |
| become chronic. Clearly this may hinder | | | | metabolic by-products and thereby |
| the athlete's performance and/or rate of | | | | decreasing muscle soreness so that the |
| improvement. Sports Massage can become a | | | | athlete can return to full training |
| key ingredient in an athlete's success | | | | faster. The massage techniques would |
| and this is why top competitors | | | | include effleurage, compression, |
| incorporate it as an integral part of | | | | petrissage, 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 Massage | | | | and tissue in optimum condition and is |
| as "the specific application of massage | | | | generally scheduled at a regular |
| techniques, hydrotherapy protocols, | | | | frequency (be it weekly or fortnightly), |
| range of motion/flexibility protocol and | | | | closely married to the athlete's |
| strength-training principles utilized to | | | | training program. |