Let’s be frank here, a well-executed sports massage in Singapore is far from the dimly-lit pamper session you’d encounter in a spa. It’s going to be awkward, possibly painful, but most importantly, it’ll work. Built in its entirety for the physically active, a sports massage integrates techniques from other types of massages to become an initiative that seeks to include a comprehensive and rehabilitative mechanism that manipulates the soft tissue to avoid injury, alleviate muscle or tendon pain, or rid the soft tissue of any tension that they-experience.
Sports massage experience can vary from person to person based on what their injuries or aggravations are, which is highly useful for athletes, gym-goers or for those who are desk-bound from 9-5. The reasons people settle on a sports massage will vary just as experience can vary. Some may have chronic problems such as tight calves from running, or sore shoulders from sitting at a desk, or they may have suffered a recent sprain or accident injury, even those who have recently undergone surgery opt for treatment; sports massages are often used for those who suffer from migraines and tension headaches.
Unlike a full body massage, the therapist may concentrate on different areas of the body until a pre-treatment assessment has been completed. A client assessment should include a series of exercises that will allow your therapist to evaluate your muscle and joint posture & alignment, flexibility and agility along with your range of movements through passive, resistive and active movements. Be conscious when the massage begins; that’s when things get interesting!
The therapist is qualified to locate your pain level and function just below it while helping you to control any discomfort through your breathing techniques. Sports Massage primarily uses myofascial release techniques to stretch the fascia; a hollow fibrous connective tissue network composed of elastin and collagen that covers the body’s organs, bones, muscles, and tendons. Bad posture and physical trauma will cause the fascia to become rigid and lose elasticity, resulting in decreased flexibility; strengthening and relaxing it during a sports massage can relax the underlying fascia and tissue to restore flexibility and movement.
Specific technical methods to be used include:
Trigger point work: trigger points shape a normal part of the muscle and can cause pain directly without explanation. It is possible to eliminate the trigger points by using the cycles of isolated pressure and release.
Muscle Energy: This technique also employs an aggressive muscle contraction against a resistive source and is primarily used to stretch, strengthen and relax tight postural muscles.
Soft Tissue Release: Designed to stretch tightly localized areas of tendons, fascia and muscles. Identify the tissue and orientation of its fibres, then apply either the active, passive or weight-bearing technique. But this list is not exhaustive, and techniques can also be used which function in synergy with the nervous system.
