What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage is a specialized type of massage that has been proven effective in relieving aches, pains and other discomforts that occur in specific parts of the body, such as the neck, shoulders, arms and knees, areas prone to injury due to strain or overuse through physical activity. 

Sports massage involves a systematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body that focuses on muscles relevant to a particular sport.

Sports massage was originally developed to assist athletes both as a preventive measure against injuries as well as relieving physical trauma caused by sporting mishaps. But while the treatment is geared toward athletes, everyone can benefit from sports massage therapy both for its physiological and psychological qualities. Sports massage can help maintain the body in better condition. It can also cure and restore mobility to injured or swollen muscle tissue, reduce fatigue, and overall improve physical performance whether on the playing field or in workplace labor or simply doing strenuous and/or repetitive yard or household chores.

Sports massage therapy has also been effective in helping to manage stress, which often can be a key concern prior to participating in an athletic competition, although, again, everyone can benefit from this therapy in simply dealing with the stresses that come from our fast-paced everyday lifestyle. Results are achieved by the massage releasing neurotransmitters called endorphins. Endorphins act as the body's natural pain reliever. When released through properly applied sports massage techniques these endorphins decrease anxiety, provide pain relief, improve mood and enhance a person's state of emotional well-being.

For the person engaged in athletic pursuits, sports massage provides superior benefits to enhance  physical ability, regardless of the activity or level of participation from amateur to professional, and can be applied pre- or post-game, during training or, if necessary, rehabilitation.

At Academy Massage our registered therapists offer sports massages that are both relaxing and performance enhancing. Some massages can be applied on the day of a specific event. We recommend that for anyone participating in sports or any strenuous physical activity to speak with one of our professional massage therapists to discuss a plan that works best for you.

With another summer now upon us, your friends at Academy Massage want to see you keep fit, stay limber and remain active to enjoy all that the season has to offer.