Sports massage is great for athletes both professional and amateur.

Adding a sports massage regularly as part of your training program can help aid recovery, improve flexibility and mobility and help with injury prevention. However, Sports Massage is not just for athletes!

It is also great for muscle tightness and restrictions that occur as a result of modern life like sitting at a desk all day, driving a car or working in a manual job.

From athletes to office workers, we offer high-quality treatment sports massage in Fareham that helps relieve muscle aches and pains and gets you back to your best.

What is Sports Massage?

Sports Massage is a form of massage originally developed for athletes that involves working with their soft tissues to correct imbalances and problems caused by the repetitive nature of strenuous physical activity and trauma. Soft tissue is connective tissue including muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia and is manipulated by sports therapists using a verity of techniques including:

Effleurage – Long stroking movements using varying pressure and speed used predominantly to warm up the muscles, increase blood and lymphatic flow aiding removal of waste products and stimulate the peripheral nerves.
Petrissage – Kneading movements that compress and release the soft tissue. It is used to stretch the muscle fibres, relax muscles and increase the mobility of other tissues.
Frictions – Small movements applied over small areas of the skin that are usually done with the pads of the hands, finger or thumbs to achieve a deep massage. This is used to break down scar tissue, stimulate healing, realign new scar tissue and separate adhesions (small areas of chronically contracted muscle fibres). t
Myofascial Release – Gentle sustained pressure of the soft tissue to eliminate pain and restore movement.
Tapotement – Rhythmical alternative small strikes to the skin with the side of the hands or cupped hands. This stimulates the superficial tissue encouraging blood flow and stimulating the peripheral nerves.
​​​​Muscle Energy Techniques – Gentle stretching technique using muscle contractions of the athlete to relax and lengthen muscle tissue and fascia.

Types of Sports Massage

A sports massage is of most benefit a few hours to a couple of days after a hard training session or a demanding sporting event to help correct any imbalances in the soft tissue and relax the nervous system. However, pre-event sports and post-event massages can also be useful in the warm up and recovery from an event.A pre-event massage ideally would take place around 30 minutes and last a maximum of 20 minutes before an event. This should consist of a very light massage using predominantly effleurage and tapotement which primary aim should be to “wake up” the nervous system and warm up the muscles. No deep tissue techniques should be used as these have been shown to reduce muscle performance.

A post-event massage takes place straight after the event and should last 20-40 minutes. It aims to improve circulation and lymphatic drainage to engorge the removal of waste products such as lactic acid. It can use deeper massage technique than pre-event massage and usually involves some stretching.Like any change in the training program, you should aim to trial a massage before your event, especially if you’re keen to have a pre-event massage.

Pick a point at least two weeks out from your event and try and arrange a massage directly before a hard training session letting your therapist know you want a pre-event massage. The reason for this is that some athletes can feel “sluggish and heavy” after a massage and like new running shoes, new goggles or a new gel or energy drink it is always important never to experiment with these things on race day. Similarly, it is not a good idea to train straight after a massage – let your body relax and the benefits of the massage take effect!