What is Sportsmassage?

by Norm St.Onge, LMT ProTouch Massage & Muscle Therapy Townsend, MA protouch@tiac.net ..........(978)597.5219

Given the growth & popularity of massage over the past few years, it's doubtful that there's many people that haven't seen, heard, or experienced some form of massage therapy. However, the needs of athletes (and yes, despite the many 'pub races' runners are still considered athletes) are different from someone wanting a stress-relieving, relaxation massage. Although reducing pre-race stress is beneficial for the runner, the main goal(s) of sportsmassage is not stress reduction.

Sportsmassage can be broken down into 3 categories;

Pre-event Massage
Post-event Massage
Training Massage

Pre-event Massage: Reduces muscular tension and increases flexibility. It can enhance the athletes psychological state allowing for better concentration & focus. Warms-up the muscles and prepares them for intense use. Increases circulation of blood & lymph fluids; essential to properly fuel the muscles and flush out metabolic wastes.

Post-event Massage: Reduces muscular tension & promotes relaxation allowing for a quicker recovery time. Helps prevent lactic acid soreness and may also help prevent or minimize swelling due to minor injuries. Particularly after endurance events, such as a marathon, the post-event massage is a time to evaluate the athlete for signs of injury, dehydration or heat exhaustion. Most runners are probably familiar with post-event massage. You've been fortunate to have a therapist volunteer their time (in the hopes of getting some business) to provide a quick rubdown after the race.

Training Massage: This is, in my opinion, the most valuable form of sportsmassage yet it is often the most overlooked.

Helps prevent injuries to muscles & tendons.
Helps heal acute injuries and alleviate chronic problem areas.
Helps reduce muscle spasms & cramping.
Increases joint range-of-motion which means more fluid movement with less effort.
Reduces the strain and discomfort of training which, in turn, will help you train more consistently and with better results.

All of these benefits add up to increased performance.

What is a training massage session like? First, you'll need to find a qualified therapist (a future article will address this in-depth). Before your session begins you should communicate your needs to the therapist; health history, any injuries, particular problem areas, how & when it hurts, etc.. A session may run anywhere from 30 minutes for a singular minor problem to an hour or more for multiple problems or a particularly stubborn area. The therapist will focus their work on the problem area and may use; heat, ice, deep tissue therapy, cross-fiber friction, myofascial release, passive and/or active movement, stretching, and a host of other techniques to bring about the desired results. These sessions can be a little uncomfortable as deep-seated adhesions and scar tissue are broken down. The therapist should always work within your tolerance; if you find it is too uncomfortable - speak-up!

How often should I get a sportsmassage? This is an open-ended question. If you have an injury or particular problem you want addressed it may take several sessions to get to the real root of what's going on. If you're a casual runner and just want to get the kinks worked out a session every 2,3, or 4 weeks may be all you need. Obviously, the more you train, the more competitive you are, or the more predisposed you are to injuries, the more frequent your sessions will need to be. Your therapist can help you determine a treatment/maintenance plan best suited to your needs.

IMPORTANT: Massage therapist are not doctors. We do not diagnose medical conditions, illnesses or diseases nor do we prescribe any form of treatments or medications. We encourage you to discuss your health status, treatment options and decisions with your primary care provider.

What is Sportsmassage?

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