Sports Massage & Rehabilitation

Sports massage works by engaging deeply with the soft tissue structures of the body allowing improved muscle function, flexibility, and mobility. It is also highly recommended during pre and post events to both prepare the muscles and assist recovery.

Following sports injury, treatment doesn’t simply involve administering a ‘deep tissue massage’. Rehabilitation is a potentially complex process which endeavours to focus on the specific area of dysfunction. It focuses on applying specific knowledge to an advanced remedial massage treatment to bring about repair and recovery.

Rest can, very often, be proposed as an improvement strategy but rest, combined with an effective rehabilitation programme is likely to result in a quicker, more effective treatment regime.

SPORT MASSAGE has been recognised as invaluable in both prevention and treatment of sport injuries. Many athletes and teams use sport massage for toning muscles and joints before events and for treating them afterwards. Utilising sport massage within your training programme will help you to identify and treat potential injuries which can lead to the development of serious problems.

At Aberdeen Osteopathy and Massage Clinic we use a combination of massage, stretching, strengthening and mobilising techniques to increase flexibility and enable full range of movement.

Sport and remedial massage is a treatment that concentrates on specific problems by realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues. This rehabilitation technique works by breaking down adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. Adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue found in muscles, tendons or ligaments) can block circulation, cause pain and inflammation and limit movement.

The rehabilitation treatment will typically involve a combination of deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and stretching. Applied skilfully, it is a most effective therapy for relieving muscle tension and restoring balance to the musculoskeletal system. One of the greatest benefits is to help prevent injury, by identifying potential over-use problems before they become over-use injuries.

Who is sports massage for?

You do not have to be an athlete. Sports massage suits anyone who puts their body through repeated effort: runners, cyclists, golfers, swimmers, climbers, gym-goers, people who do heavy manual work, and people training for a first 10k as much as those chasing a marathon time. It is used in three ways: as regular maintenance during training to keep muscles moving well, before and after events, and as part of rehabilitation after a minor injury once the acute stage has passed.

What to expect at your appointment

Your therapist will ask about your training, your event calendar if you have one, any injuries past and present, and what you want from the session. Sports massage is firmer than a relaxation massage and works into specific muscle groups, so expect some discomfort over tight spots; it should never be more than you can breathe through, and your therapist will adjust the pressure if you ask. The session often includes assisted stretching and may end with exercises or stretches to do between visits. Wear or bring shorts and a vest top so the muscles can be worked on easily.

Sports massage or the osteopath?

If you have pain that started suddenly, a joint that feels unstable, swelling, or a problem that has not improved with rest, book an assessment with our osteopath first. Abdul will diagnose the problem and may use sports massage as part of the treatment plan or refer you to one of our therapists. If you know what you are dealing with and want hands-on work on the muscles, book sports massage directly. The two work well together, and the team shares notes.

Prices

Sports massage is £52 for 45 minutes or £68 for 60 minutes.