Sports Massage
in Cheltenham
What is sports massage?
Sports Massage was developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for physical performance to perform well during training and to recover after a sporting event. However, sports massage is also beneficial for anyone with injuries, chronic pain or a restricted range of movement. The main goals of the treatment are prevention and to heal injuries of the muscles and tendons.
During a massage session, you will be fully clothed as the therapist works on your muscles. The length of time for each session depends on the type of treatment you're receiving, but generally lasts between 30 minutes to one hour.
What type of sports massage is right for you?
You might be thinking what is the difference between a sports massage and the relaxing massage you might have previously had at a spa? You might also ask is sports massage just for sporty people, or are they all just fancy names for the same thing? Well not quite! The following describes the main types of sports massage we use at our Cheltenham clinic and what they are used to treat.
Sports Injury Massage
Many people might think that this is reserved for athletes, however it can have many benefits for anyone including tradesmen, people stuck behind a desk, and stay at home parents alike. This type of massage is commonly used to aid recovery from physical activity, but it can also be used to treat niggling pains in the neck when we are sitting behind a desk all day, or that twinge in the shoulder you got when playing with the kids.
Although some deep tissue massage techniques may be a little uncomfortable the treatment is about getting relief and relaxation from any prior muscular discomfort and to promote a faster recovery. Whilst you might feel some discomfort or mild pain, it shouldn't be excessively painful or unbearable.
Sports Remedial Massage
Sports remedial massage is used specifically in the rehabilitation process of various issues such as posture issues from working at a desk, sciatica, chronic low back pain, neck and shoulder pain, sporting injuries, repetitive strain injury, or injuries of the knees and ankles.
Remedial massage uses different levels of pressure depending on the problem and the goal of the treatment. Remedial massage focuses on healing injuries and relieving chronic pain.
Sports remedial massages can be of great benefit when used in conjunction with other physiotherapy treatments, Pilates exercises or as part of a full rehabilitation program.
Deep tissue sports massage
Deep tissue sports massage is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal issues, such as strains and sports injuries. It involves applying sustained pressure using slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. This helps to break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and reduces any tension in muscle and tissue.
Before your deep tissue massage, your massage therapist will want to know about your problem. A deep tissue massage can involve your entire body or it can concentrate on just one area. It’s not unusual to have some soreness for a few days following a massage, but the use of a heating pad or a cold pack wrapped in a towel may help to relieve any soreness you may encounter.
About sports massage
Sports massage differs from traditional massage in that it focuses on the body's movement system, instead of solely relaxing you physically and mentally. It can be used to treat sports injuries, improve sporting performance and even prevent future injuries from occurring.
Our Cheltenham massage therapists use their hands or elbows to apply deep pressure to the muscles and connective soft tissues of your body in order to relieve tension or pain. They use stretching techniques, joint mobilisation, myofascial and trigger point release to help restore balance to the body.
Massage therapy can be used before or after exercise sessions to help recovery and to prevent injuries by improving blood flow through your muscles, reducing inflammation around injured areas and increasing mobility in tight joints.
Benefits of sports massage therapy
The benefits of massage include:
- Relieves muscle tension and soreness caused by physical activity.
- Improves circulation by increasing blood flow and oxygenation to the muscles. This speeds up recovery by delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
- Helps boost the immune system and reduce the risk of infection by reducing inflammation. It does this by promoting the removal of waste products from the muscles and increasing the flow of lymphatic fluid.
- Prevents injuries by identifying and addressing areas of tension and weakness in the muscles.
- Promotes relaxation and reduces stress by releasing endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
- Improves posture by releasing tension in the muscles that support the spine and other joints.
- Enhances performance by improving flexibility, range of motion, and muscle strength.
- Provides treatment that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Book now
Whether you're a professional athlete, simply looking to maintain optimal physical health, or need support recovering from injury, our Cheltenham sports massage services are beneficial to a diverse range of people.
Book your appointment today and experience the rejuvenating benefits of our therapeutic touch, as we work together to help you reach your fitness goals and live a pain-free, active lifestyle.
Insured
We can either work directly with your insurance company or we can provide receipts for patients who use cash-based plans so you can reclaim your treatment costs.
Not Insured
You can book an appointment on a self referral basis, without the need for seeing your GP first.
Why Choose Us
No other local physiotherapy clinic can offer you the same level of physiotherapy and rehabilitation that we can, simply because they don't have our level of experience and our in-house gym facilities.
This is how we gained our reputation of treating patients when other physios may have failed.