The answer is a resounding NO…Sports massage has evolved!
It has moved beyond being just an uncomfortable “deep tissue” massage. There are many highly effective techniques available to a well-trained Therapist. It’s about listening to the client and their body and then working with it, not against it.
I believe there is a sweet spot for getting results. By working at the level just below where your body automatically tenses up and resists the treatment, your body is more willing to let go of any tension it’s holding on to. If deeper work is required then using relaxation and breathing techniques can really help too.
Many of the techniques used to release painful tension and improve flexibility would not even be considered as “massage” in a more traditional
sense.
Soft tissue release (STR)is where the Therapist makes a “lock” in the clients muscle and uses the action of the joint to stretch the muscle fibres and release the dysfunctional bonds. It can have almost instant effects on changing the tone of a muscle. I find it so effective that I use it in one way or another in almost every treatment.
Neuromuscular Technique (NMT) also know as Trigger Point Therapy is another technique I use a lot. This involves finding areas of tension or “knots” and applying a steady pressure for a short period of time in order to get the nervous systems attention. Often you will feel the tension literally melt away under the pressure.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is an active form of stretching that can help increase the range of motion at a particular joint. By activating the muscles around the joint and then relaxing them you open up a window that allows for a deeper stretch. Used in combination with other techniques I find PNF really effective and the results can hold for some time after a treatment.
These are just a handful of the techniques I use along side the good old fashioned deep tissue work that most people are familiar with.
Everyone is different and their bodies need different things at different times. Having a range of techniques makes it more likely that a treatment wil be effective and deliver what you need.
If you would like to know more please do get in touch.
Warm regards,
Lee
