Sports Massage is the term applied to the discipline of using massage for the specific benefit of all sports and exercise participants. It covers the management, manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues of the body eg. muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Sports massage should be tailored to each individual¹s needs to positively enhance ones ability to perform.

Benefits of sports massage:

• Improve circulation & lymphatic flow
• Assist in the removal of metabolic waste
• Sedate or stimulate nerve endings
• Increase or decrease muscle tone
• Increase or decrease muscle length
• Remodel scar tissue when required
• Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation

Sports massage can be beneficial at various stages of participation. For example:

• The conditioning / training phase
• Pre competition
• Inter competition
• Post competition
• Post travel
• Injury prevention
• Injury recovery

Regardless of whether you exercise or play sport to keep fit, or compete from club to international level, then sports massage may have something to offer you.

Members of the Sports Massage Association will be able to identify anyone for whom sports massage would be ill-advised or detrimental to their short or long-term, well being. They will assess each individual and provide the appropriate massage techniques, and advise on alternative action if required.

(c) Sports Massage Association - Reproduced with permission

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