South Strasburg Wellness

Benefits of Sports Massage

Increased Circulation

One of the greatest benefits of deep tissue massage includes improving circulation to muscles and joints. Improving blood flow and reducing chronic muscle tightness helps to remove accumulated byproducts like lactic acid in muscles allowing athletes to train more and improve performance.

Reduced Muscle Soreness

Massage therapy helps to reduce soreness by stimulating recovery through increased circulation, and also through nervous system responses which relax tight muscles and improve overall function.

Injury Prevention

Athletes who engage in regular self care routines including stretching and massage improve their chances of performing injury free. While some athletes wait until injuries hit, others take a more proactive approach by ensuring their muscles get the recovery they need.

Mobility & Flexibility

Our sports massage can often include on table stretching for key areas like hamstrings and our groin muscles (adductors) which can be prone to injury in fast sports like soccer, football and hockey. Having optimal flexibility and mobility allows joints to perform at a greater capacity without increasing the risk of injury.

Sleep Quality

Studies have shown that regular massage therapy can contribute to deeper sleep, allowing the body to recover faster. Achieving optimal sleep gives our body the chance to repair muscles that are constantly being stressed in training or during games.

Treatment Examples

Running Pain - Outside Hip

Goal : Restore length to thigh muscles, decompress TFL, stretch groin muscles, reduce Hamstring tightness, mobilize IT Band between Quads & Hamstrings

Lower Back Pain - Golf

Goal: Improve hip mobility including glute internal rotators (Piriformis), reduce tightness in lower back muscles and reduce tightness in Quads, Hamstrings, and IT Band

Shoulder Pain - Cricket

Goals: Reduce tightness in chest muscles, deep internal shoulder rotators (Teres Major, Subscap, Lats), decompress upper back muscles, reduce tightness cervical neck muscles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can My Child or Teenager Get Sports Massage?

Yes ! As long as your child or teen can adequately understand the scope of massage therapy we can treat them. We've treated athletes as young as 10 years old. Parents are welcome to sit in during the session for added comfort.

Am I Fully Clothed During My Sports Massage?

Most sports massage sessions are treated like regular massage sessions which means treatments are under massage sheets. For many athletes seeking focused leg recovery however, often times patients will bring in a pair of loose fitting shorts incase they prefer to simply lay on top of the sheets. For back, shoulder and neck focused treatments our RMT's often prefer for patients to be treated without their shirts on and comfortably covered by sheets so we can access and treat muscles properly.

How Many Session To Achieve Relief or Improve Performance?

The honest answer is that it depends! Depending on goals, severity of muscle tightness and degree of pain, most patients benefit from 2-3 condensed sessions (weekly or biweekly) and then maintenance sessions spaced out once per month or on a as-needed-basis if symptoms reappear. Our RMT's will explain treatment expectations and educate patients based on what is optimal for treatment planning.